News From Elizaville

About 25 years ago, we started including in each newsletter reports of Random Scatico Sightings (RSSes). That moment, away from the 12523, when you randomly connect with a fellow Scaticonian. Through the years we’ve had RSSes on six continents (still waiting for one from Antarctica) and across generations spanning more than 50 years (keep wearing those Scatico shirts). From sports fields to theaters; subway cars to mountaintops; from the deli on the corner to in front of the Taj Mahal in India and the Trevi Fountain in Rome. (Maybe thoughts of camp when they tossed those coins over their shoulders into the water and made a wish?)

When news of an RSS reaches us, we can palpably feel the warm sense of community and see the smiles. Even when the RSS involves former campers and staff who never shared an actual summer in Elizaville, the brotherhood and sisterhood still emanates.... And every once in a while, the RSS feels so incredibly in the moment and magical. Maybe like this one, sent in just this past August. First, some scene-setting and background....

Each summer when our graduating campers head off on a weeklong Service Trip (in 2023, a return to Cabarete, Dominican Republic, to run a day camp in partnership with the DREAM Project), we use their now-empty cabins to offer a 1-week Scatico-in-Training program for first-time overnight campers. In conjunction, what’s nicely evolved in recent years, is the opportunity for recent college graduates who were former campers and staff to take time away from the “real” world (usually jobs and/or graduate school) to return to camp, work for a week, and positively impact the next generation . This year’s eight staff (Matt Stuttman, Jack Heineman, Ben Bochner, Mack Madorsky, Emma Bochner, Francesca Rubinson, Maggie Brown, and Samantha Wilner) have now spent more than 100 total summers at Scatico (an average of 12.5 years each, if you’re doing the math at home), more than 25 of these summers as counselors.

The weekend after their week as SIT counselors, Matt, Jack, Ben, and Mack (who also all happened to have been former bunkmates), decided to celebrate the 1-week session by attending a concert at Madison Square Garden. Backdrop in place, now for the RSS... They recognized (could it really be?) Yon Zloof, who spent one summer at Scatico as a counselor back in 2009—their counselor when they were nine years old. And, of course, Yon not only remembered them, but recalled specific camp stories and moments.

At camp, we often speak of how life moves in circles—circles that create community and connect us generation to generation. We sit in circles around campfires. We watch in silent meditation as the concentric circles fill the crib on boys’ side after a graduating Upper Senior throws a rock in the lake on the final Friday night of summer. We listen as graduating Soopers lead the girls’ camp in singing Joni Mitchell’s “The Circle Game.”

There seems something wondrously circular about an RSS with four staff just returned from providing a first camp experience for 7- and 8-year olds, recognizing a counselor from when they were 9 years old (14 years ago); a counselor who shared time with them at Scatico for only a single summer. It also speaks to the power of the camper-counselor relationship. As my father used to say to staff during orientation each summer, “No matter what job you have for the rest of your life, no matter what success or adventures, you’ll never have a job more important than being a camp counselor, because you’ll have the chance to make a difference in the life of a child.”

Staying In Touch

Our first “Staying In Touch” column of the 2023-24 off-season and, as always, we’ll start with Random Scatico Sightings (RSSes)—unplanned sightings of members of the community outside of the 12523.... A triple RSS for 2024 Upper Senior Sam Ryan. First, while attending the U.S. Open he ran into Ben Bochner and Jack Heineman (longtime campers and counselors—see story in the previous section). Sam then spotted 2023 Upper Senior Jahbari Chiddick. And then, a few weeks later, another RSS for Sam when he met Harry Klein and his dad Ben (Harry en route to a Sophomore bunk reunion)

... As the Soopers and Upper Seniors got set to board their NYC to Dominican Republic flight for their Service Trip in July (to organize and run a day camp) they were spotted by Scatico alumnus and current staff parent Beth Metzendorf (photo with trip leader Jane Rosenfeld). Jane added the following note (and we love this type of Scatico minutia): “My first summer as a division leader in 2013 was for Kate Metzendorf's group [Beth’s oldest daughter] when she and her bunkmates were Inters—and then 8 years later, her first summer as a counselor, she was on my staff when I was the Jinter DL in 2021!”....

In non-RSS news, congratulations to Zach Brody, who went from camp counselor to ESPN2 Major League Baseball broadcaster on August 20, covering a Washington Nationals—Philadelphia Phillies game. Previously attending a 2-week broadcast camp, Zach had been selected from among more than 100 high school students for this honor.... On a postcamp trip to California, Argentinian counselors Mayco Garcia, Julieta Martos, Jesica Pedrocca, and Tomas Molinolo made sure to visit former Argentinian counselor Gaston Brouet and his husband Markario. Julieta, Jesica, and Tomas joined Mayco and Gaston on the Scatico Honor Society this year (as staff members who have spent at least three years at Scatico)....

Audrey Fleischner and Piper Davis sent in the photo to the right from the Houston wedding of Rebecca Schwartz (Audrey’s former bunkmate and Piper’s aunt).... At Wake Forest University in North Carolina to give Grand Rounds Lectures, current camp doctor Eric Strauss visited with current WFU sophomores (and Scatico counselors) Aidan Rogers and Ethan Rosenberg....

When 2024 Sub Demi Yarkon heard Scatico head nurse Patti Press was in her school running a flu clinic for teachers, she made sure to stop by the health center for a visit (and a newsletter photo).... Ben Bochner (from RSS fame at the U.S. Open— see above) is teaching for the academic year in Olon, Ecuador, at the school run (and founded) by Ishai Eshed (boys’ waterfront director) and Laura Gold (girls’ art director). Ben’s in the photo to the right with two of their three daughters—Eden and Stav....

Congratulations to Ari Cuevas, who was a featured speaker at an NYC fundraiser for DREAM (the non-profit Scatico partners with in the DR.) Ari, who has spent the past two summers as a Scatico staff member, shared how she started in DREAM’s first-ever Montessori class as a 3-year-old and last year was certified through their Montessori teacher training program....

Photos from October divisional reunions (everyone invited—not all could attend): 2023 Sub-Juniors headed south to Florida for Oliver Mark’s Bar Mitzvah (and bunk sleepover) and the 2024 Upper-Seniors-to-be got together at the home of Dylan Senior....

From Campus (in the 12523) to Campus

We often hear from alumni who share how their Scatico experiences (as campers and staff) prepared them for some seminal moment in life—first jobs, parenthood, college... Not just in terms of how the experiences of group living provide specific soft skills (empathy, resilience, optimism, learning how to compromise and set communal goals...), but how their camp friends are there to provide support and understanding (and fun) in the right ways and at the right times.

Maybe taking this to the extreme, head counselor Kerri Winderman sent in the photo with five former campers at the University of Michigan (four were counselors last summer). From left to right, Laine Greissman, Mason Lava, Kerri, Leah Zerwitz, Tyler Winderman, and Jordan Klein. (Kerri was there to drop Tyler off at school—and also to seize any opportunity possible to visit her alma mater.)

Although Logan Cooper (a Freshman at the University of Richmond) couldn’t claim four Scatico peers as classmates, one of his co-counselors from 2023, Jacob Schumer (also a former camper), is a year ahead at school and was there to provide a welcome. Also there at drop-off were Scatico alumni Jon and Andrea Baron Cooper (Logan’s parents) and Stacy Lipton Schumer, Matt Schumer, and Ally Lipton MacArthur (respectively Jacob’s mom, brother, and aunt).

On the Horizon

In the Winter Issue of the Camper Newsletter: Results from the 2023 Camper Survey (last chance to send back your forms) as well as updates on program and capital plans for next season.
For Staff: We have already heard from many of our counselor and support staff about returning for the summer of 2023. As a reminder to eligible counselors, please contact us about your interest in applying for a job in 2024.
For Families: Campers (and parents) love visiting Scatico in the off-season. The fall foliage season may have come and gone, but winter looms on the horizon. Sledding on the golf course hills. Taking in the ice-fishing on the lake. Walking across the lake from the Clubhouse to the Woodshop. Obligatory stop(s) for pizza at Sal’s or ice cream at Holy Cow. Just email in advance so we can provide a weather update (and confirm snow cover or if the lake is frozen.)

Break Out the Drone

That first crisp, sunny Fall day after the leaves have started to change color? You got it! Time to break out the drone for some photos and different camp perspectives.

First: View (kind of) from the Sunset Trail. That’s the boys’ ballfields at the bottom. The overnight site is in the woods to the left of the ballfields. The brown swath in the mid-ground is the cornfield seen during the summer from the Sunset Trail viewing area. In the background, Hunter Mountain (about 30 miles distant).

Second: Girls’ Back Campus (bottom left); Canteen, Admin, and Driving Range (center); and Girls’ tennis courts (bottom right).

One thing about aerial photos—no sense as to the hills on the ground (the 100 -foot elevation difference from the lake to the courts).

Home Sweet Home (at least when not in Elizaville)

For the analytically and statistically inclined, the percentages include 2023 enrollments and first-time campers already registered for 2024. Campers represent 12 states, 1 district, 9 countries, 5 continents, and 1 world.

Westchester 24.7%
NYC 18.2%
New Jersey 13.8%
Connecticut 8.8%
Long Island 7.8%
California 5.6%
International* 5.0%
Metro DC 3.8%
Other** 3.4%
Massachusetts 2.6%
Upstate, NY 2.3%
Florida 2.0%
Pennsylvania 2.0%

*International includes Spain, France, Hong Kong, Austria, Ghana, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and Ecuador.

** Other includes North Carolina, Colorado, Texas, Vermont, and Illinois.

From Across the Pond to the 12523

Left—In Sheffield, England, in October, a group of 12 counselors, who first met at camp during the summer of 2022.... From left to right (sort of): Kara Howe, Kristin Howe, Andrea Perez, George Richardson, Hannah MacArthur, Ben Sargeant, Rachel Bird, Michael Oscher, Amber McGovern, Ross MacPherson, and Josh Thompson. Seven of the 11 were back on staff in 2023. Kara, Kristen, and Michael are already planning to return in 2024 (after skipping this past year), along with George, Ross, and Rachel (who will receive Scatico jackets and join the Honor Society this summer as 3-year counselors).

Right—After meeting as 1-week Scatico-in-Training bunk- mates in July, Isla Tatom (from Chicago) and Eliza Stothard (from England) connected for an August playdate in London while Isla’s family was on vacation.

Fall 2023, Edition 103, Issue #1