CIT x DREAM Virtual Service Project + Fundraiser

As many in the Camp Scatico community know, since 2015 our CITs have traveled to the Dominican Republic to work alongside The DREAM Project and help run a one-week day camp for 80+ Dominican children. The trip is a highlight of the summer as we bring the magic, fun and learning of camp to an under-resourced community, and connect with children who otherwise would never have a traditional camp experience. Sadly due to Covid-19, 2020 will be a summer without camp, for both us and for our Dominican campers.

But just because our summer plans have changed, doesn't mean that the learning and playing has to stop. As part of DREAM’s #DREAMenCASA (#DreamAtHome) initiative (which you can learn more about at the video below), the 2020/21 CITs will be creating fun activity packets for our Dominican campers to keep them engaged, laughing, learning, and even practicing a little English, during their summer quarantine. Each packet will include an activity book that the CITs will make themselves (think word searches, spot the difference games, coloring book pages, etc), and a puzzle. DREAM will then deliver the packets to our campers and community members.

A 501 c-3 nonprofit organization, The DREAM Project provides more than 1,000,000 hours of quality education to more than 8,000 children through 17 different programs across 27 communities in the Dominican Republic. That’s a lot of numbers… but basically DREAM is an incredible non-profit with multiple programs (a Montessori pre-K, an after school program, a job training program for young adults, the list goes on!) that impact community members of every age. The summer camp Scatico runs for children in Sabaneta, is just a small piece of the DREAM puzzle.

During this difficult time, DREAM has had to rethink a lot of their in-person programs, children across the island have had to do without schooling, and the Dominican Republic’s economy at large has suffered from lack of tourism. #DREAMenCASA represents DREAM’s efforts to pivot and address the needs of the community amid the coronavirus. Through the initiative, DREAM is proud to provide food, educational materials and online resources to thousands of children, youth, and community members while they remain safely at home. Learn more at the video below!

WHAT WE’RE DOING + HOW YOU CAN HELP!

The 2020/21 CITs are donating their time and talents to help create the activity booklets we mentioned above as part of the #DREAMenCasa initiative! We’re excited to provide our campers with a dose of camp fun, and to make a connection with them a year before we’ll hopefully be down there again, meeting them in person, and playing side-by-side.

The CITs also launched a Custom Ink fundraiser and created the below LIMITED EDITION CAMP SCATICO x DREAM T-SHIRTS (!!) to raise money for DREAM. The T-shirts were 100% designed by the CITs. They come in green and grey, and the front has the new Scatico 100th logo, and the back reads “a dreamer keeps on dreaming” in a heart of hands. The quote is both an homage to the DREAM project, and a line from the song “For Our Hands Are Strong,” which girls side sings at every Friday Night service. The money from the T-shirt sales will go towards printing and distributing as many activity booklets as possible, as well as purchasing puzzles to go along with each kid’s booklet. Any extra we raise (fingers crossed!!) will support DREAM’s other #DREAMenCasa programs.

ONE LAST THING… FOR FORMER CIT’s

Do you remember the “dinámica” we’d do in the mornings, “El Barco Se Hunde”?! How could you forget! Well, DREAM is trying to raise awareness about their programs and work by creating a viral, virtual “El Barco Se Hunde” video with AS MANY former DREAM volunteers as possible… so that means all of YOU! Below are the instructions with how to participate, and a video explaining it (you’ll recognize many familiar faces in the video!).

INSTRUCTIONS

Film as many of the below clips as possible, and email them to nicki@scatico.com!

• 1 to 2 clips of you, and/or you and friends/ family walking around clapping to the beat in the video

• 1 to 2 clips of you, and/or you and friends/ family exclaiming “Si mi capitán!!!”

• 1 to 2 clips of you, and/or you and friends/ family pairing up with one person holding another like a baby “BEBE”

• 1 to 2 clips of you, and/or you and friends/ family pairing up with one piggy backing on the other like a backpack “MOCHILLA”

• 1 to 2 clips of you, and/or you and friends/ family freezing like a tree “ARBOL”

• 1 to 2 clips of you, and/or you and friends/ family making a house with a person in it like in the video “CASA”"

• 1 to 2 clips of you, and/or you and friends/ family dancing bachata

Opening Day Thoughts from Cory

Opening day.  It is the beginning of a journey.  It is a long hard road to get here.  For some it is a long travel, for some a first time through the gates, for some a recognition that this is the last dance.  But for all, it is something special.  I have been there, the night before, that nervous energy keeping you up late into the night, excitement, nervousness, where am I sleeping, who are my counselors, did I pack enough mad libs, is it chicken patties for dinner tomorrow…My family had the tradition of going to ihop every opening day morning.  For me as I grew older it was making sure I had the perfect song queued up as I pulled off Jackson Corners Road exit to make that final 8-minute drive into camp.  That unmatched feeling of finally arriving and pulling through the gates and knowing that I was home again.  

Opening Night, 2017. Photo by Cory.

For the staff we have usually been at camp a week for orientation by the time opening day comes around.  We have spent the week bonding and working on goals to accomplish for the summer.  The talk is of adventure and what the summer could potentially look like, the reality in most of these discussions is that we are all awaiting the arrival of the purpose.  We need the campers.  The lifeline of the experience.  The ones we are all waiting for. 

As the cars trickle in, slowly at first, counselors finish hasty showers, and begin tucking in their white shirts for the last time that summer.  

We all for the first time get to see the growth that has happened in the year since we last met here.  The ten months have changed us all in our own ways.  There are a lot of laughs and reunions. There is a lot of energy.  There is nervousness, and some tears as I watch first year campers say goodbye to their parents.  I can only guess there are also these same feelings on the other side of the dark windows as parents drive away.  

The day is a manic one. A special thing to witness.  It is the end and a beginning.  White shirts and green shorts are now everywhere. Balls are flying and campus is packed with kids of all ages.  

For the first time of the summer a bugle blows to indicate dinner is upon us.  We all shuffle down to the mess hall. We all take our spots in the circle around the flagpole.  

I watch from my spot in the middle. I see the youngest campers learning where they will lineup for the summer, knowing that in due time they will make their way around this circle.  I look to oldest campers who will lead us this summer, I look all around the circle and I realize that we are all back home.  And like that, we are off…

I am thinking of all the camp families today and I hope wherever you are, you are doing well.  

To all the campers and staff, I am sending a big hello and I will miss all of you.  Luckily for us the magic will never run out, so we’ll pick up right where we left off when the time comes.   

- Boys Head Counselor, Cory Schwartz. 6.27.2020

Scatico Pen Pals

At camp we’ve had Camp Sisters, “Peanut” Pals, Kindness Day, and more… programs where random acts of kindness and small camp-themed surprises (bed signs, canteen candy, book and game swaps) brighten our summer days. Camp is also, usually, one of the only times of the year we actually write and receive letters!

While we may be missing mail addressed to the 12523 this summer, we can still keep the spirit (and that feeling of excitement when there’s a letter waiting for you on your bed) alive through Scatico Pen Pals!! Anyone who is interested can sign up using the form below, and then we’ll match you with a surprise Scatico Pen Pal (matches won’t be co-ed). We’ll then create a schedule— by this date send your Pen Pal a welcome letter, by this date your favorite candy, etc.— so you’ll be guaranteed to have a dose of camp in your mailbox all summer long!

Use the form below to participate, and we’ll email people who their matches are by the first week of July.

Opening Night Divisional Zooms

While we can’t physically be together in the 12523 this summer, there are so many ways we can still connect, share, and keep the camp spirit alive!

To kick things off (virtually) this summer, we are scheduling Opening Night Zooms for each division led by a Scatico counselor! While boys side and girls side divisions may be scheduled at the same time, the zooms are NOT co-ed, so please find the appropriate link for your divisions’ Zoom in the schedule below.

These are based on what division campers would have been in 2020. If you’re not sure, click the buttons below to view a bunk list.

Opening Night Zoom Schedule

Thursday June 25, 5-6 PM

• Girls Side: Juniors + Jinters with Marlee + Emma Georger-  Bring an object to the Zoom from your house that is meaningful to you/ tells something about who you are! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89699340039

• Boys Side: Freshmen + Sophomores with Chase Madorsky + Matt Stuttman- Bring a piece of paper and a pencil for a game! https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72124116768

Thursday June 25, 8-9 PM

• Girls Side: Soopers with Sammi Salmirs + Lauren Rosh-  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89057759840

• Boys Side: Upper Seniors with Jack Heineman- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81645014695

Friday June 26, 5-6 PM 

• Girls Side: Inters with Marlee + Emma Georger-  Bring a piece of string or yarn that is big enough to tie around your wrist to the Zoom! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88323203688

• Boys Side: Sub-Juniors Ben Holzer + Matt Stuttman- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84362319795

Friday June 26, 8-9 PM

• Girls Side: Seniors with Jamie Rosh- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83253350199

• Boys Side: Seniors with Ben Putzer- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88352466942

Saturday June 27, 5-6PM

• Girls Side: Centers with Lauren Rosh- Bring a piece of string or yarn that is big enough to tie around your wrist to the Zoom!  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82630106249

• Boys Side: Juniors with Ben Holzer + Matt Stuttman-  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85421848166

Saturday June 27, 8-9 PM

• Girls Side: Subs with Rachel Waxenberg- bring an item from your house that’s been keeping you sane during quarantine!  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89693388843

• Boys Side: Sub-Seniors with Matt Gross - bring an object from your house that reminds you of camp!-  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85744620889

Sunday June 28, 8-9 PM

• Girls Side: Debs with Mackenzie Press- Bring an object to the Zoom from your house that is meaningful to you/ tells something about who you are! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86127563080

• Boys Side: Inters with Mack Madorsky- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82780761882

Behind the Scenes Virtual Tours

Week 1- The Clubhouse with David Fleischner

Week 2- The Admin with David Fleischner

WEEK 3- BOYS + GIRL SOCIAL HALLS

WEEK 4- THE CANTEEN

WEEK 5- THE PIXIE HOUSE

WEEK 6- CAMPFIRE SITES + SUNSET TRAIL

Virtual Activity Book

We’ve got a mega activity book for Scaticonians to enjoy and chip away at over their quarantine days, with highlights including recipes from Chef Ally, sports trivia from Chase Madorsky, movie trivia from Noah Levine, word puzzles from Audrey Fleischner, and a whoooole lot more. Major shoutout to John Hickey for putting it all together and supplying plenty of activities of his own!

Virtual Mad Libs!

Fun fact! Did you know Mad Libs were invented in 1953? A summer camp staple for decades, Mad Libs are a Rest Hour and pre-lights out favorite and for this #ScaticoThursday we’re releasing a special camp-themed edition!

Click the button below to download a high-quality PDF for filling out!

Virtual Music Project

Camp is so closely associated with music. From songs played in the bunk, to speakers perched on porches and in the grass during activity, to traditional songs collectively belted out at meals or around campfires… a lot of Scatico memories come with a soundtrack.

Perhaps, at least in recent decades, no two songs are more “Scatico” than the Girls Alma Mater and “I Don’t Want to Go Home” by Southside Johnny. These are songs sung by all Scaticonians, arms around each other, swaying to the beat.

See the video results of one EPIC virtual music project, below:

Virtual Yoga with Brian Helfman

This week’s virtual activity is yoga with longtime Scatico camper, counselor, and CIT trip leader, Brian Helfman!! Brian is a certified yoga instructor and as many former CITs know (in the DR he starts each morning with group yoga), a session with him provides a much-needed moment of calm, and incredible reset for the body and mind. Tune in Sunday 4/26 at 5PM EST on our Instagram Live— all levels and ages encouraged.

Virtual Apache Relay

Across three continents, and with batons made of paper towel holders, straws, dumbbell weights, and more, Scatico’s virtual Apache Relay was a true testament to the creativity, resourcefulness, and slightly quirky fun we do best at camp. In backyards and in parks, in swimming pools and basements, location does not matter when you’ve got the Scatico spirit. Thanks to all the campers, parents, staff, alum (and siblings!) who participated. Altogether, this feels like a true slice of camp. Plus, it’s not every apache relay that ends at a palm tree.