I have always bragged that Camp Nebagamon is a place where EVERYONE has a voice, where shy campers become leaders as counselors, where normally quiet kids belt out “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” where Dungeons & Dragons aficionados are as valued as daring Big Trippers, where more than 30 languages announce the diversity of voices on the signposts in front of the Big House. It is, after all, a place of “welcome for all.”
Hence, the theme of this issue of The Keylog. You’ll find stories about different kinds of VOICES — from post-meal announcements (the famous YAKDM award) to songs (the creation of “54849”) to an alumnus who has job security as the voice of Porky Pig. But of course, voices are also the integral element in “keeping the fires burning.” And it has become particularly apparent to me in recent months and years that these voices have legs.
One of the true joys of directing Camp Nebagamon is the chance to connect and re-connect with people who were formative in my camp experiences or who were simply formative in fostering the greater Nebagamon experience. Rare is the job where the correspondence and encounters are nearly universally positive. I get to be the recipient of expressions of gratitude and nostalgia, almost on a daily basis.
90th Reunioners
Recently, this has been clearer than ever — at Nebagamon’s 90th reunion in 2018, for instance, where hundreds of alumni wandered the grounds with goofy smiles on their faces and voiced their love for camp in countless ways. It was also evident when we produced THANKS FOR THE PINES, the beautiful coffee table book about Nebagamon (still available via the website!) that includes a collection of short essays in which alumni and directors voice their passion for the place. And in 2020, when Covid shut camp’s doors for the first time in 90-plus years, countless campers and counselors and parents and alumni voiced their support — again, in myriad ways.
Indeed, if there has been a silver lining to the Covid crisis, it has been in the form of reconnection. Nostalgia quenched by modern technology. For instance, my own cabinmates (LJ-4 of ’82) have sporadically scheduled online gatherings, and it is always a pleasure to see familiar faces and rehash familiar territory. But we are among many such Zoom cabin reunions — and even trip reunions for the participants in Long Trip ’83 and the 1973 version of Camp Scandia, a Nebagamon-sponsored six-week tour of Scandinavia. Of the 19 Scandia trippers, 12 of them managed to participate last August.
Frank Sachs has put together a couple of Zoom collectives. One, which he describes as “for old-timers who started at camp in the late ‘50s and through the early ‘60s,” included the late Larry Cartwright, a mainstay at camp for nearly two decades. The other group is called “The Hits Brothers,” and (while it has since expanded) it started with a group of back-in-the-day bros (Guy Sachs, Terry Bond, Stan Strauss, Rand Shapiro, Bob Chukerman) who obviously found some free time amid their HITS world tour. So there has been a resurgence in the convergence of voices and faces.
Zoom reunion of Voyageur 1983
But Steph and I also have heard from scores and scores of voices recently — in the wake of our announcement that camp is transitioning to a not-for-profit model guided by a board of directors, an attempt to assure Nebagamon’s viability for another 90-plus years and more. It has been profoundly heartening to receive positive feedback from voices representing every generation of camp alumni.
Just a snippet of some responses from Facebook alone: “That is very cool! I love the idea of keeping camp continuing the same place it’s been for so long!… So happy to know that someday (god willing) my grandchildren will be able to go to Nebagamon… Very exciting! A fantastic plan to keep CN going strong for generations to come… A brilliant move to protect camps legacy… KTFB for real — so happy about this durable future for Camp Nebagamon!”
These voices of support — resonating and reverberating loud and clear — have always sustained Steph and me, just like alumni support plays such an important role in sustaining camp. And, of course, Nebagamon’s sustainability is the whole point of this new paradigm — a means of making sure that camp will remain the same old place where everyone has a voice.
Among the world-changing entities introduced in 1958 — NASA, the microchip, the Barbie doll — one cannot overlook the Leo Bearman Award. That year, counselor Bob Wood received the inaugural honor, named after the 1950s counselor whom Nardie and Sally Stein described (in Keeping the Fires Burning) as having had “a love affair with the microphone.” The Steins also gave the award a nickname that has endured: YAKDM, as in “You Are King of the Diarrhetic Mouths.”
Creativity is a constant at Camp Nebagamon — whether it’s Cruiser Days or Council Fires or GTC acts. But perhaps nowhere is that more effectively on display than during post-meal announcements. Over the years, counselors have energized campers in countless ways — about a village activity or Wanadoo offering, about a missive from Chief A.K. Agikamik or a goofy Wednesday theme, even (and often) about a not-so-unusual afternoon in archery or art or athletics. And some counselors truly do seem to love the microphone. So The Keylog contacted some YAKDM winners from years past and asked them to recall some mouthy memories.
Ryan Glasspiegel (2007): Before I earned the award, oddsmakers would have made Jackson Breyer a heavy favorite. He had these really extravagant, dramatic announcements that frankly were more compelling than mine. I think I won it as something of a lifetime achievement award from spending five years on staff and working to get better at making the announcements fun. Adam Kaplan got a kick out of how my body would sway with my words, and as the judge and jury of the distinction I presume his amusement from that had something to do with my victory. A couple things I remember, which may or may not have been from the year I actually won it, were playing the ESPN NFL Primetime theme music — that Chris Berman has narrated highlights over since I was a young kid — over the audio system for an announcement. When I worked in tennis, I would start announcements by asking what the word of the day in the project was, and much of the rec hall would yell, ‘HUSTLE!’
Ron Koretz (1986): I remember winning the YAKDM award like it was 35 years ago. You had to pretend it wasn’t important to win, but I tried hard. And I did want to win. I admit it! It was hard work as I spent so much time planning announcements and thinking of new and creative ways to entertain the camp. Every YAKDM winner had their “schtick” and I had a few. But most importantly, standing in front of the camp day after day and making people laugh — and having them look forward to hearing from me! — gave me a self confidence that helped define the person I became.
Michael Deutsch (2018): I won the award in 2018. At that point, I was one of the older cabin counselors. The main reason I won it was because of a bit called “Hot Cakes & Hot Takes.” It was a news/sports opinion show parody. We first did it during the Paul Bunyan Day Council Fire. I have to give a special shout out to my co-writer, the hilariously sharp Charlie Gordon. The segment was me sitting down at a table in front of the fire while eating leftover cold pancakes from breakfast and complaining in a raspy voice about how things had “changed” around camp. For example: “#FruitZone: Back in my day we didn’t have fruit, we had scurvy!” And “#LazyDays: Back in my day we woke up at 6 AM every day, and we complained about it. But it taught us how to complain!” Ironically, considering this award, the most memorable was the rant/desperate plea begging my fellow staff members to stop making so many morning announcements as we didn’t have enough time for cabin cleanup, that some announcements could be put on the project board, and for the campers to use the project board to plan their whole day. It was a great experience to be able to win an award for just eating pancakes and being grumpy.
Grumpy Michael Deutsch
Adam Bezark (1976, 1978): The YAKDM Award is probably the single greatest honor I have received in my entire lifetime. When we were campers, we’d listen to announcements like an eager radio audience, waiting for the “fun ones” that would liven up a meal. Our heroes — Ken Kanter, Buzzy Katz, Bob Schreiber — were the guys who we could count on to grab our attention or crack us up. By the time I became a counselor, I counted audio recording among my countless nerdy obsessions. I’d scraped up money to buy a fancy — and heavy — portable cassette recorder with Dolby Stereo and handheld microphones (iPod? What’s an iPod?), and I lugged it all over camp. I used it constantly to produce weird voice recordings, ad parodies, and music tracks for my announcements, council fires, and cabin projects. I figured out how to patch the deck into the Rec Hall PA system and thought I’d found Nirvana. Perhaps my YAKDM Award was inevitable, but I was just having fun doing stuff with recordings. As a non-athlete, there weren’t many awards I could aspire to. I was never going to be a Big Tripper, a Davis Cupper, or even a Skish champion. I was a terrible Chef’s Cap contestant. So the only honor that meant anything to a dork like me was that wooden microphone. I was floored when Nardie called my name at the Final Awards Ceremony. The biggest shock, though, was winning the YAKDM a second time two years later. I’m not sure how many have “double-YAKked” since. With that exalted achievement, I could die happy.”
Big Pete Peterson, Adam Bezark and his recording device
Ken Kanter (1969, 1973): How honored I am to send a few words about the YAKDM award! Let’s begin with the fact that it was named in honor of Leo Bearman, a distinguished counselor in my camper days. It was a joy to fast forward 40 years, when his granddaughter (and David Bearman’s daughter) Rachel was accepted to Hebrew Union College as a rabbinical student, and I could make the YAKDM connection with her! I read the inspiring response that Adam Bezark provided, and I only wish I had been so aspirational in this “honor.” Unfortunately, even though I was given the YAKDM award at that momentous penultimate day of the camp summer, I never worked to ‘win’ the YAKDM prize. I probably received it because I was involved in a lot of activities (GTCs, choir, camp musicals) that seemed to require lots of campers, staff, and lots of reminders!”
Jonathan Gerstell (2013): Credit for my YAKDM award really should go to my trusty colleague in the archery project, Shooty. As some readers may recall, Shooty was a sock puppet who would make archery announcements. Shooty would speak in a very silly, high-pitched voice, and it seems people got a kick out of it. I don’t recall the experience being particularly competitive; really all I can remember is it was a lot of fun.
Ric Best (2011): The highlight of my YAKDM run was a CNOC-run election to let campers vote to determine the menu for the last cabin cookout of the week out of the three options: enchilada pie, pesto carb, or mac n pep. A CNOC staff member was picked to run the “campaign” of their respective dish over a week, and I was assigned to the latter. After teaming up with Rose Mendelsohn (she played Mac, and I played Pep) we staged an elaborate series of campaign announcements, including a spin on the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet from up on the projector area in the back of the rec hall by the “WIN OR LOSE BE A GOOD SPORT” sign. We ultimately lost, but in our concession speech we declared “Mission Accomplished” as an homage to the iconic 2003 George Bush declaration. Like all good jokes, it was understood by exactly zero campers, but they laughed anyway.
Bud Schram (1964, 1965): One of the highlights of my many summers at Camp Nebagamon was the annual awards ceremony along with the final GTC, Sunday Service and Council Fire… and the Final Banquet lovingly prepared by Chef August Jaschi. The awards ceremony not only recognized athletic achievements, but also (going along with the CN philosophy) included awards for Nature Lore, Photography, CNOC, Fishing, Rover Boy, Schramming, and several awards that are no longer presented. But the Leo Bearman Award continues. Being a two-time recipient was truly an honor. I always looked up to Leo when I was a camper.
Joe Laskin (2008): I do feel particularly proud that, not only did I win the award as a first-year junior counselor, but I won it mostly after an impressive second session performance, and under tough conditions — after being moved from the tennis project to air riflery. I didn’t have too many creative announcements, in my opinion. I mean what can you really do for SI or Wannado in air riflery? That said, I did launch what I thought of as a “grassroots” campaign against the tennis program, where I centered my focus around the under-utilized tennis backboard (which now is a climbing wall)! Funny thing is: I loved the backboard, and was so sad to see it go years later. And while I wouldn’t characterize it as “quantity over quality,” I think I had more rec-hall announcements than just about anyone… by a long shot. That was my main strategy.
Kyle Hopkins (2002): For me YAKDM stardom wasn’t necessarily something I was seeking (at least not at first) but was something that came out of being in a cabin group of kids and young men who could make each other laugh. And it was surely a byproduct of the hours and hours spent with a staff of guys that all genuinely enjoyed being around each other on the fishing dock. After a couple of early season announcements got the Rec Hall rolling, we realized that YAKDM fame was within our grasp and then it became something to focus on. My campers and I would plot and scheme to create silly announcements. During projects, as we sat on the dock waiting for the behemoth 5-inch bluegills, we would make each other laugh by creating parodies of songs and endless puns about fishing. Camp always offers these extended periods of time where you don’t need to focus on schoolwork or bills or politics or bullies or fears or the future. Instead you can live in the moment and exert all of your brain capacity to figure out how a human being can move their body and facial features to completely recreate the movements of a Big Mouth Billy Bass as it sings “Take Me to the River.” When it culminates in the execution of the perfect Big Mouth Billy Bass announcement and you involve the boys from your cabin and the staff members from your project — and when the whole camp family feels true joy from what you’ve spent the afternoon creating — I think we get one step closer to understanding the meaning of life. We are experiencing a collective effervescence that somehow makes us all feel connected in a beautiful way. And when I look back on the years I spent at camp, it is these little moments that stick with me most and always make me smile.
Every Sunday morning for many decades now, the voices of Camp Nebagamon’s choir have rung out from next to the Chuck Hirsch Shrine. Andrew Gordon directed the choir in the 1990s… and it directly led to the creation of a new camp song. The Keylog asked Andrew for some memories about the singers and the song:
The Camp Choir has always been paired with Sunday Service, and it functions as a source of entertainment to complement the more subdued Camp traditions on Sunday morning. With an “exclusive” for performing before and after Sunday Service, there’s opportunity for those who participate, along with a unique challenge to learn the selected songs in a short period of time. Nebaga-Sound, as it would be called in the 1990s, required some inspiration and energy.
For many, joining a “choir” would not intuitively seem fun. Competing with other Camp activities for participants, Nebaga-Sound would need to attract campers and counselors who were being pulled in many directions. A camper could go to a goggle for MOCA, sign up for Target shooting… or go to Camp Choir practice. And don’t forget the fact that half the group might be in Pictured Rocks or the Porcupine Mountains at any given time! Suffice to say that having everyone at rehearsal was always difficult
Still, campers who contributed to Nebaga-Sound would provide a steady stream of young singers. Others would participate to support the Sunday service speaker. And some just liked music. We’d meet in the Rec Hall or Big House living room with transcribed lyrics (by hand). Occasionally, we had sheet music, which helped the guitar or piano player. Usually, we just had a cassette (yes, it was those days). We would play, pause, rewind and replay the tricky parts to help the melody sink in. Eventually, everyone would usually catch on, just enough!
Andrew Gordon leads the Sunday Choir in 1994
By Saturday afternoons and into Sunday morning, the time left for practice would be dwindling, and practice would take on greater priority. With 15-20 kids (and some counselors) singing, a guitar player and/or a piano player, and the same songs played over and over, those working in the Big House office must have gotten a few tunes stuck in their heads! Sometimes, Sunday was a first and final rehearsal all at once, with the added benefit for some of missing cabin clean up! At this point, everything would finally come together.
The musical tastes of the Sunday Service speaker would typically determine what we performed. While we would sometimes sing current hits that many knew well, we were often handed songs near and dear to the speaker that almost no one knew. The range of music included songs like “On the Road Again“ by Willie Nelson and “Everybody Hurts” by REM. Some songs have faded from memory, but I have an enduring memory: the satisfaction of working together with campers and counselors from all over the country (and even all over the world!) to pull off a performance in a short period of time.
In the mid-1990s, the first end-of-camp retrospective slide show came to life, and if I am not mistaken it was E.J. Hahn who had the idea of having Nebaga-Sound sing a new camp song to accompany the visual. I was asked to “write” it. Eventually, I settled on adapting Warren Nelson’s “Illustrated End Song,” which was aptly named. With new lyrics and a few twists, Camp Nebagamon had a new song — “54849” — which is now a staple after every GTC and has become a sort of anthem celebrating what we love about Camp. In more recent years I have served as the camp doctor for a week each summer, and it’s always gratifying to see the pride and passion that this song, originally produced for Nebaga-Sound, brings to campers and counselors.
This Keylog dedicated to VOICES would be incomplete without inclusion of an alumnus who has devoted his life to that subject. Bob Berger (Cincinnati/Los Angeles 75-77) is a prolific voice actor, having lent his talents to hundreds of cartoons, movies, commercials, promos, and interactive video games. He has earned three Emmy nominations, has performed in a one-man show, has served as the grandstand announcer for the Hollywood Christmas Parade, and has taught animation voice-over workshops for 35 years. At one time or another, he has voiced characters ranging from Luke Skywalker to Tweety to Marvin the Martian.
Even before Bob (he is “Bob Bergen” professionally) roamed Camp Nebagamon for three summers, he was drawn to one voice in particular — one of the most iconic voices in animation history. He realized his dream (and has been realizing it for nearly three decades now) as the voice of Porky Pig. In fact, you can watch how Bob has perfected Porky’s voice here.
The Keylog caught up with Bob and asked him a few questions before it was time to say, as only Porky can, “Eh-thuh-the-eh-that’s all folks.”
The story goes that when you were five years old you told your parents you wanted to grow up and be Porky Pig. Why that character? Why that voice? Why not Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse or Popeye?
I get asked that all the time. Honesty, cuz I could do him. I found his voice and personality charming and funny, even at 5. Now, I also do a mean Popeye…jussayin! But there was something about Porky that I just found endearing. I guess it’s kind of like a kid who is drawn to a favorite baseball player, or favorite musician, etc. I was drawn to Porky! (no pun intended!)
You are a dedicated Looney Tunes historian. Was that true as a child, and how did your interest manifest itself and grow?
I was obsessed with cartoons as a kid. In school, when a teacher asked me a question, I would answer as Porky Pig. I remember in a 9th grade math class I was asked to come up to the blackboard and figure out some problem. I looked at the blackboard for a few minutes, put the chalk down, and told the teacher, “Ya know, I’m going to be Porky Pig someday. I don’t need to know this.” Growing up, in the days before VCRs and DVRs, I had a tape recorder next to the TV at all times. I would record cartoons. I would record interviews with animation professionals, from animators to voice artists. Anything I would see in TV Guide that said cartoon or animation, I would record. I wanted to learn the history of the business and the people behind it.
You’ve pointed out that Porky Pig has evolved over the years, depending on the director or producer’s interpretation of the character at the time. Is there a particular era that you model your version after?
If I’m not told by the producer what they are looking for in Porky for a project, my sweet spot is mid–‘50s. The Duck Dodgers, Drip Along Daffy, Robin Hood Daffy era. This is when I feel Mel Blanc really honed the character. And each of these were directed by Chuck Jones, who was one of the best in driving Porky’s humor and personality. Blanc passed away in 1989, and I did my first Porky gig in 1990. Since then, the world has changed a lot! From home computers to cell phones to Uber, there are current pop culture references that Blanc never experienced. The hard part for me is to keep the integrity of the character with today’s pop culture references. Every show, every director is different. My process is to always honor and respect the writing. That said, if I ever take creative issue with a line or scene, I have no problem asking, “Hey, can I try one take just for me?”
You were a camper at Nebagamon in the mid-1970s. Was there someone there at the time — or some event or experience — that inspired you or your chosen career path?
He probably doesn’t know how much of an impact he had, but Adam Bezark was a huge influence. His GTC evenings were a blast, and he had me participate a few times. Not long before I graduated high school, Adam was working as a tour guide at Universal Studios. I contacted him and we had lunch at the commissary. A few months later, I also became a guide. Adam had already left Universal, but he made a huge impact. Nardie and Sally were big influences! Just terrific people! Another influence was Larry Cartwright, whom I heard recently passed away. I was born without a right foot, and kids can be, shall we say, a tad cruel at times. Larry was there for me. He was my champion. From a shoulder to cry on to a life coach who pushed me to get over it/back on the horse. At times he was pure tough love, which I think all kids need. I’m sad he’s gone. I’d tried for years to find him on social media, just to let him know what an important impact he had on me.
How did you break into the voice acting business? And did you ever meet your idol, Mel Blanc?
The day after we moved to L.A. when I was 14, I called Mel Blanc after finding his number in the phone book. During that call, he mentioned the name of the studio he was working at that week. He didn’t say the day or time, just the name of the studio. So when I hung up from him, I called that studio pretending to be Blanc’s assistant and got the day and time of his recording session. When we got to the studio, I told the receptionist we were guests of Mel Blanc, and she showed me where he was working. I got to watch him in action recording Looney Tunes. I was in heaven! I only met him one more time a few years later when he was signing his autobiography.
I started studying voiceover and acting when I was 14. At 18 I was introduced to my first agent by Casey Kasem. I hit the jackpot with my first agent, who represented everyone from Mel Blanc to Orson Welles. In fact, my first audition was with Orson Welles. For the first five years, I had day (and night) jobs to pay the bills. At 23 I was able to quit my last day job and have worked as a full-time actor ever since.
Is there a certain challenge to being a voice actor — versus an on-camera actor — that most laypeople don’t realize?
You only have your voice to rely on. An on-camera actor can use a look or expression to emote during a moment in film. Every emotion in voiceover is vocalized. In theater or on-camera, you have your body and space to work with. For voiceover, you must stay on mic. You still use your body to bring out the performance. But you must always stay on mic. Acting is reacting, and you have your fellow actors to work with. Often in cartoons, and especially an animated feature we record solo. I did a film called The Emperor’s New Groove where I voiced a squirrel. All of my scenes were with Patrick Warburton, who played Kronk. We have terrific on-screen chemistry, but we were never in a recording session together.
What has been your favorite moment of your career?
The guy who animated Bucky the Squirrel in The Emperor’s New Groove was working on an animated project with Paul McCartney. He asked me to voice a character in a pitch reel to try to get the film financed. This gig was not even a big money maker for me, but it was a chance to work with Paul McCartney. I don’t think the film ever got made, but it was a fun and surreal life experience I will never forget. When I walked into the session, the producer said, “I’ve been looking forward to this: Porky Pig, meet the Beatle. Beatle, Porky Pig.” I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that!
Want an inspiring way to experience CN year-round? Leave it on your coffee table. There are still copies of THANKS FOR THE PINES: A Celebration of Camp Nebagamon available here. Hundreds of photos, dozens of essays, countless memories. Open it any time you’re feeling wistful.
Keep us posted! You can send life updates to Louis Levin in the Camp Nebagamon office ([email protected]) or directly to Keylog editor Brad Herzog ([email protected]).
Joe Kirkish (Houghton, MI 52-58), now 96 years old, was the camp photographer (both officially and unofficially) for many years. He has published a 330-page memoir, Long Exposure. It is available online from various outlets, where it is described as “a lively and probing self-portrait by Joe Kirkish, a living legend of Michigan’s Copper Country.” Here’s a snippet from Joe’s Amazon.com bio: “Besides teaching from 1956 to 1988 in the Humanities Department at Michigan Technological University, Kirkish also founded WGGL (the FM campus station that became one of the charter NPR stations). For over sixty years, he has been a columnist for Houghton’s Daily Mining Gazette… Kirkish’s career as a photographer also spans many decades. Beginning in his teens, he did freelance work, first for the Gazette and eventually for college and daily newspapers throughout the region. In addition, he developed the photography program at Camp Nebagamon (Wisconsin), which houses a collection of his work shot there from 1952 to 1967.”
Joe Kirkish
Hugh Broder (Detroit/NYC 66-69, 74-75, 16-19) and Jeremy Kotin (Chicago/NYC 94-96) teamed up to produce the film He Went That Way about a remarkable road trip in which a serial killer and man who trained a famous chimp wind up together on a road trip. Believe it or not, it’s based on a true story. They are hoping to release the film (starring Jacob Elordi and Zachary Quinto) early next year… Matt Hoffman (Glencoe/Highland Park, IL 73-78, 80) picked up a statuette at the Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards last December. He won for editing “Sweet Home Chicago,” a music video that raised a good sum of money for the Arts For Illinois Relief Fund. The video featured performers ranging from Julia Louis Dreyfus and Jim Belushi to George Wendt and the Joffrey Ballet. Matt also was nominated for the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s “Celebrating Sir Andrew Davis: From Mozart to Stravinsky.”
Larry Held (Houston/Armenia 74-78, 83-92, 14-17) is currently heading USAID’s Armenia Integrity Project, a five-year project intended to reduce opportunities for corruption and reinforce public demand for improved governance and accountability in Armenia. Before that, he spent nearly four years in Ukraine, and he sent in a sad update regarding the tragedy there and experiences of his wife Sara and son Ari: “Yes, the situation in Ukraine has been devastating all around. Mostly Sara and I are feeling helpless sitting here in Armenia and wishing we could help folks in Ukraine more. Fortunately, my former staff there is safe and sound but a couple had harrowing experiences getting out of Kyiv. One in particular was trapped in a basement in Bucha for 10 days. One of Ari’s basketball teammates had his apartment complex destroyed but he and his family survived. No words.”
2016 village directors
Peter Blair (Memphis/Charlotte 86-90, 92-98, 01) has been named President and CEO of the Lynnwood Foundation in Charlotte, NC. The foundation maintains and preserves The Duke Mansion (a national historic site in Charlotte) and operates The Lee Institute, which focuses on building collaborative community leadership… Nebagamon associate director Adam Fornear (Duluth, MN 92-94, 96-97, 01, 04-22) was named Member of the Month for January by the Lake Nebagamon Volunteer Fire Department… Rob Wile (Chicago/Miami 97-01, 03-05) is a business news reporter for NBC Digital… Sam Prince (St. Louis ’02-’07,’12,’15) is the Regional Admissions Counselor for his Alma Mater, Bard College. Traveling to high schools that are west of the Mississippi River… Travis Timm (Austin, TX 12) is a firefighter in his hometown… Jonah Docter-Loeb (D.C. 11-17, 19-21) was awarded a $5,000 prize for his start up, Reveal, as part of a Carleton College Start Up Fellowship competition… Arthur William Brook Young (Isle of Skye, Scotland 15-16, 19) has started a new folk band, called Carnan, with a friend…. Heidi Serwer (Chicago, family camp) has released a new record called Palm Tree on the Drywall. It’s available for digital download on Bandcamp and iTunes, or you can check it out here!
Our productive alumni:
Andy Cohen (St. Louis, New York City 78-83) — Lucy
Andrew Schram (Boston 94-99) and Yuan Zhang — Eli
Tucker Slosburg (Kansas City/Seattle 93-99, 02-11) and Krista Slosburg — Adira
Barry Dan (New York 95-01) and Jackie Iger — Miles
Derek Iger (Culver City, CA 98-03) and Alix Henick — Olive
Joel Saslawsky (Memphis 02-08, 10-12) and Stephanie Saslawsky — Sophie
The Camp Nebagamon Charities website www.cncharities.org is dedicated to both the Camp Nebagamon Scholarship Fund (CNSF) and Camperships For Nebagamon (CFN). Learn about different donation options, read about each charity, and more.
New Level of Alumni Support for Nebagamon-Affiliated Charities
Nebagamon’s alumni community has stepped up support for our affiliated charities in recent years in meaningful ways. In addition to generous direct support for both Camperships for Nebagamon and the Camp Nebagamon Scholarship Fund, alumni have increasingly encouraged donations to one or both funds as memorials and to honor happy occasions. Camp Nebagamon Charities also instituted a virtual keylog program, a means of giving while thanking someone special (you can donate and fill out a message here). Contributions are split evenly between Nebagamon’s two affiliated charities. You will receive two separate emails confirming your contribution to each fund. If you’d like to give a unique donation to CFN or CNSF of if you’d like to give a gift in honor or memory of someone, please use the CFN-specific and CNSF-specific donation pages.
CNSF helps hundreds of children and teens who experience poverty and disability attend non-profit summer camps that specialize in meeting their needs. Recipient camps (located near communities where Nebagamon campers live) offer expert therapeutic and adaptive recreation and a nurturing environment for kids who have been exposed to adversity and trauma. Children are among peers and role models for success at these camps as they enjoy friendship, adventure and personal growth — opening new possibilities for a more positive future.
CNSF was founded in 1947 by Muggs and Janet Lorber, Nebagamon’s founding directors, and administered for 50+ years by Nebagamon’s former directors, Nardie and Sally Lorber Stein. Check out our Instagram and Facebook page to learn more!
The following individuals, foundations, and corporations supported CNSF from November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022:
Jerry Abeles, Kahn-Abeles Foundation
Kathy and Rick Abeles
Scott Abramson
Steve Addison
The AK Guys
Mary Allen
Hayley and Max Alpert
American Express Foundation (Matching Gift)
Anonymous Donor
Pam and Tom Arenberg
Steve Arenberg
Susan Arenberg
Art and Marian Auer
Andrew and Elizabeth Baer
Camilla and Frank Baer
Deb and Joe Badt
Nancy and Richard Baer
Kathy and Stuart Barnett
Bob and Linda Barrows
Charlie Barrows
Jim and June Baumoel
Herb Behrstock
Rick Bendix, Jr.
Allen Bennett
Patricia Bentley
Babs and Bob Benton
Ronald Berk
Howard and Rhoda Bernstein
Rita Bernstein
Peter Bloch Family
Michael Blonsky
Adam Bloom
Lisa and Paul Blumberg
Jim Blumenfeld and Chris Cooney
Carolyn and Rodney Borwick
Elizabeth and John Breyer Jr.
Hugh Broder
Dale Brodsky
Matt Brody
Nyda and Phil Budig
Jeff Burnstine
Jeffrey and Susan Callen
Mark Caro and Mary Dixon
Larry Cartwright (In Memory)
Leway Chen and Marilyn Ling
Jessica Cheng
Bob and Stacie Chukerman
Ellen and Scott Chukerman
Reid Chukerman
Andy Cohen
Carol Bayersdorfer Cohen and Ed Cohen
Evelyn and Louis Cohen
Jeff Cohen and I. Autumn Le Greenberg
Mitch Cohen and Stephanie Tomasky
Bonnie and Mike Cole
Jeff Colman and Ellen Nissenbaum
Zack Colman Family
Buddy and Marilyn Cooper
Jim and Suzy Cornbleet
Stuart Cowles
Neal and Sally Cukerbaum
Charles Dan
Jennifer Daskal
Gene Dattel and Licia Hahn
Becky and Raven Deerwater
Michelle and Stan DeGroote
Dan DeHovitz Family
Elissa DeLuccy
Michael Deutsch
Bill and Leann Dexter
Jessie and Scott Diamond
Lou and Marilyn Diamond
David Dreifus and Jennifer Sosensky
Jed Dreifus
Jon Dreifus
Bill Dubinsky and Elizabeth Moss
Ellen and Henry Dubinsky
William Eastman and Cynthia Garnholtz
Sarah Eberhard
Steve Ehrlich
Bob Elisberg
Peter Fechheimer and Jeannette McNeil
Kelli Cohen Fein, M.D. and Martin Fein
Jim Feldman and Christine Taylor
Nancy Fendrich
Amarinder Bindra and Amy Foxman
Amarinder Bindra and Amy Foxman Wedding (In Honor)
Brad Foxman
Judy and Ron Foxman
Marjorie and Terry Franc
Cindy and Steve Frank
Roxanne Frank
Janet Freed
Bill and Laura Freeman
Dan Freund
Marilyn Freund
Barbara and Richard Fried
David and Debbie Friedman
Jodi and Matt Friedman
William Friedman
Greg and Osnat Gafni-Pappas
Faith Haber Galbraith
Betsy and Spencer Garland
Alan Geismer, Jr.
Ben and Logan Gerber
Diane and Toby Gerber
Aliza and Jim Gerstein
David and Ellen Gibbs
Ricky Gitt
Bob and Susan Glasspiegel
Brian Goldberg
Lindsay and Michael Goldberg
Bill and Susan Goldenberg
Chad and Debbie Goldenberg
Stephen Goldfarb
Elaine and Mike Goldman
Thomas Goldman
Abby and Michael Goldstein Family
Joanie and Mark Goldstein
Jonathan Goldstein
Jack Goodman
Marty Gradman
Jim and Martha Gray
Josh Gray
Roger Greenbaum
Greene Family Foundation
Scott Greenwald
Debbie and Paul Guggenheim
Bill and Cheryl Guthman
Alan and Julie Halpern
Howard and Wendy Handler
Jon and Judith Harris
Ted Harris
John Hart
Paula Hassinger
Sara Feinstein and Larry Held
Barnett and Shirley Helzberg, Jr. Foundation
Bill and Jaye Hensel
Jaime Hensel
Alice and Joe Herz
Barbara Herz
Bob and Karen Herz
Amy and Brad Herzog
Bud and Hazel Herzog
Dana, Oliver and Quincy Hirt
Jennifer Hodges
Ellyn and Matt Hoffman
Joanne and Richard Hoffman
Mitch and Sara Hoffman
Douglas and Hallie Hohner
Cathy Ann Kaufman Iger and Mark Iger
Dan Jackson
Ted Jadwin
Craig and Shari Jankowsky
Jan Jankowsky
Anne and Fred Joseph III
Ed Juda
Caryn and Harlan Kahn
Ken Kanter
Stephanie Hanson and Adam Kaplan
Laura Dembo and Andy Kaplan
Cheryl Bondy Kaplan and Mark Kaplan
Jean and Steve Kaplan
Michael Kaplan
Jami and Nick Kasle
Jennifer Gilbert-Kaufmann and Robert Kaufmann
Dmitri and Irene Kaznachey
Euan and Jane Kerr
Wendy Bloom and Arthur Kessler
Micki Klearman
Aimee Kleiman
Heide and Jim Klein
Klein Family Foundation (Steve and Yael Klein)
Jay Kolbrener
Bud Kolbrener II
Lauri and Ron Koretz
Rick and Stephanie Koretz
Alan Korn and Claudia Simons
Kerry Kornfeld and Andrea Wilson, M.D.
Andrea and Brian Kramer
Eric Kramer and Sara Jill Rubel
Danielle Brinker and John Kramer
Janet Koestring and John Kupper
Laura Lai
Emily and Michael Laskin
Joe Laskin
Dan Laytin
Nancy Laytin
Michael Lefko
Rose Lenehan
Bob and Cissy Lenobel
Syd Lerner Family
Jill and John Levi
Jeff Levinson
Lia Grigg and Dan Levis
Joshua Levy
Hoagie Lippman
Steve Loeb
Tom Loeb
M.J. Lowe
Richard Lowenthal
Leslie and Paul Lux
Ken and Laura Mack
Kitty and Mike Maidenberg
Jorie and Robby Malk
Nancy Marcus
Dru Margolin
Margot and Patrick Materer
Todd Maurer
Jack and Lynn May
Nancy Brown, M.D. and Andrew May
Matt and Norah Meadows
Medtronics (Matching Gifts)
Beth and Mike Melton
David and Deborah Mendelson
Mike Mendelsohn
Julia Gittleman, Ph.D. and Tom Mendelsohn
Misa Galazzi and David Michel
Malcolm and Paula Milsten
Zach Mollengarden
Erika and John Montag
Jamie and Leah Myers
Kristin Ahlberg and Phil Myers
Bill Nefsky
Bob and Mary Nefsky
Brian Neil
Rick Cohn and Ben Neuman
Lee Anne Hartley and Tom Nevers
Robert Oppenheimer
Brenda and Sandy Passer
PepsiCo (Matching Gifts)
David and Rachel Perlman
Jan and Joe Plas
Jim Platt and Deborah Snyder
Jennifer Pritzker, IL ARNG (Ret)
Arthur and Henry Pulitzer
Lisa Pulitzer
David and Kim Reich
Steve Reichert
Gloria and Lionel Reiman
Leon Jacobson and Lissy Reiman
Renee Reiner
Frank and Joan Revson
Joshua Berman and Lillian Ringel
Jay and Jennifer Riven
Hana Ruzicka Rivkin and Steven Rivkin
Larry and Michele Rivkin
Don Robertson
Janet and Lee Rodgers
Cindy and Jon Rogen
Anthony and Marya Rose
Jim and Sherri Rosen
Kathy and Skip Rosenblatt
Ellie and Trent Rosenbloom
Carol and Roger Rosenthal
Marc Rubenson
Trish Russell
Chris and Frank Sachs
Karen and Ken Saland
Mike Samuels
Jon and Sue Scharff
Karen Schiff
Bennett and Shelley Schmidt
Helen and William Schneider
Fred and Pat Schonwald, Jr.
Lynn and Max Schrayer
Carol and Jeff Schulman
Andrew Schwarz
Monique and Robert Schweich
Arlene Semel
Colleen Carroll and Mitch Semel
Joe and Sara Shacter
Jodi and Tom Shapira
Susie Ansehl and Rand Shapiro
Jackie Mack and Ted Silberstein
Bob and Natalie Silverman
Linda and Ron Sklar
Daniel and Rey Skora
Bill and Judy Sloan
Grace Slosburg
Krista Nelson and Tucker Slosburg
Geula and Josh Solomon
Nancy Chasen and Don Spero
Frank and Mindy Star
Irene and Norton Starr
Elena Stein
Nardie and Sally Stein
Perrin and Ted Stein
Corky and Rick Steiner Family Foundation
David Stern and Mary Elizabeth Calhoon Stern
Bob Striker and Patrice Tetta
Philip and Rebecca Susser
Theo Tannahill
TAWANI Foundation
Alan and Jo Anne Travis
Madge Treeger
Donald Ullmann
Jackie and Steve Waldman
Judy and Roger Wallenstein
Esther Starrels and John Wasserman
Catherine Weber
Harriet and Paul Weinberg
Michael Weinberg II
Cathy and Craig Weiss
Adam and Deborah Winick
Lee Wurtzburger
Emily and Jason Yale
David Zalk
Cory Zigler
John Zuraw
Camperships for Nebagamon (CFN) was established in 1995 to enable children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to have a camping experience. Over the years, the CFN endowment fund has provided camperships for boys to attend Nebagamon and girls to attend Camp WeHaKee. Campers receiving camperships help to diversify their camp communities by virtue of their racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic status. In addition, CFN continues the tradition of support to sons and grandsons of Nebagamon alumni who demonstrate financial need.
Over the past decade, more than 500 Camperships have been given out to more than 250 boys and girls attending Nebagamon and WeHaKee. Over $2 million has gone to support the cost of tuition and related expenses for these boys and girls.
The following individuals, foundation, and corporations supported CFN from November 1, 2021, through April 30, 2022:
Keith Abeles and Amy Levin
Kathy and Rick Abeles
Cecelia and Mickey Abramson
Scott Abramson
Steve Addison
Chuck and Ruth Adler
The AK Guys
Richard Allman
Hayley and Max Alpert
Amazon Smile Foundation
Pam and Tom Arenberg
Jeanne and Michael Aronoff
David and Lisa Aronson
Art and Marian Auer
Deb and Joe Badt
Andrew and Elizabeth Baer
Nancy and Richard Baer
David and Karen Balser
Drew and Jenna Barnett
Kathy and Stuart Barnett
Bob and Linda Barrows
Charlie Barrows
Brad Baumgarten and Deborah Ernest
Jim and June Baumoel
Lynn and Robert Behrendt
Herb Behrstock
Rick Bendix, Jr.
Allen Bennett
Babs and Bob Benton
Peter and Sarah Beren
Bert and Joan Berkley
Bob Best and Linda Tate
Adam Bloom
Alison and Andy Bloom
Bob Bloom and Alison Kamine
Lisa and Paul Blumberg
Susan and Tony Blumberg
Jim Blumenfeld and Chris Cooney
Ronald Borod
Adam and Julie Braude
Elizabeth and John Breyer, Jr.
Hugh Broder
Dale Brodsky
Barbara and Jim Bronner
Ann and Ken Brown
Jean and Mark Burnstine
Jeff Burnstine
Mark Caro and Mary Dixon
Larry Cartwright (In Memory)
Bob and Stacie Chukerman
Ellen and Scott Chukerman
Carol Bayersdorfer Cohen and Ed Cohen
Jeff Cohen and I. Autumn Le Greenberg
Lisa and Sherman Cohen
Bonnie and Mike Cole
Kevin Cole
Jeff Colman and Ellen Nissenbaum
Jon and Suzi Colman
Mary Connelly
Joe Crownhart
Jennifer Daskal
Jerry Dattel
Jane Davis
Becky and Raven Deerwater
Michelle and Stan DeGroote
Elissa DeLuccy
Michael Deutsch
Bill and Leann Dexter
Ian Diamond
Jessie and Scott Diamond
Steve Domsky and Deborah Pollack
David Dreifus and Jennifer Sosensky
Bill Dubinsky and Elizabeth Moss
Bob Dubinsky and Sara Rubenstein
Steve Ehrlich
Deborah and Joe Eppstein
Fred Fechheimer
Dan Feldman and Gayle Weiswasser
Jim Feldman and Christine Taylor
Mary and Richard Fisher
Brad Foxman
Dan and Julie Frank
Michael and Molly Frank
Adam Frapart
Bill and Laura Freeman
Bill Friedman and Marissa Jones
Jane and Sam Friedman
Jodi and Matt Friedman
Lisa and Steve Friedman
Greg and Osnat Gafni-Pappas
Judy Garfinkel
Betsy and Spencer Garland
Alan Geismer, Jr.
Scott Genshaft
Ben and Logan Gerber
Laurie Bruder and Tom Gerson
David and Ellen Gibbs
Ricky Gitt
Heather and Seth Gladstein
Bob and Susan Glasspiegel
Bill and Susan Goldenberg
Chad and Debbie Goldenberg
Stephen Goldfarb
Frederick Goldsmith
Malcolm and Mildred B. Goldsmith
Jonathan Goldstein
GOOGLE, Inc. (Matching Gifts)
Janice Anderson and Tom Gram
Jim and Martha Gray
Josh Gray
Greene Family Foundation
Scott Greenwald
Debbie and Paul Guggenheim
Bill and Cheryl Guthman
Jon and Judith Harris
John Hart
Paula Hassinger
Mike Heldman
Bill and Jaye Hensel
Jaime Hensel
Joel Hensel
Amie and Fred Herbert
Alice and Joe Herz
Barbara Herz
Bob and Karen Herz
Jennifer Herz
Amy and Brad Herzog
Bud and Hazel Herzog
Carol and Richard Hillsberg
Jason Hirschhorn
Marilyn and Joseph Hirschhorn
Douglas and Hallie Hohner
Anne Ledell-Hong and Nathaniel Hong
Maggie Horvath and Alex Stone
Cathy Ann Kaufman Iger and Mark Iger
Derek Iger
Helaine and Warner Isaacs
Dan Jackson
Amy and Craig Jacobs
Craig and Shari Jankowsky
Kathy and Mike Jay
Anne and Fred Joseph III
Ed Juda
Bob and Fiona Kahn
Caryn and Harlan Kahn
Amy and Jim Kalishman
Diane and John Kalishman
Nancy Kalishman
Ken Kanter
Daniel, Suzanne & Noah Kanter
Steph Hanson and Adam Kaplan
Cheryl Bondy Kaplan and Mark Kaplan
Marjorie and Robert Kaplan
Benjamin Katz
Jennifer Gilbert-Kaufmann and Robert Kaufmann
Dmitri and Irene Kaznachey
Euan and Jane Kerr
Klein Family Foundation (Steven and Yael Klein)
Tom Kolbrener
Bud Kolbrener II
Elissa and JK Koretz
Lauri and Ron Koretz
Rick and Stephanie Koretz
Kerry Kornfeld and Andrea Wilson
Eric Kramer and Sara Jill Rubel
Danielle Brinker and John Kramer
Roberta De Araujo and Ron Kreisman
Dan Laytin
Nancy Laytin
Eli Lehrer
Rose Lenehan
Bob and Cissy Lenobel
Jeff and Suzanne Levi
Jeff Levinson
Lia Grigg and Dan Levis
Hoagie Lippman
Courtney and Eddie Loeb
Henry Docter and Elizabeth Loeb
Tom Loeb
Andy Mack
Ken and Laura Mack
Jorie and Robby Malk
David Manowitz
Fred and Joyce Marcus
Dru Margolin
Julie and Steve Mathes
Robert Matz and Peggy Warner
Erin McDaid
McKinsey & Company (Matching Gift)
Matt and Norah Meadows
Bill Mendelsohn and Peggy Tracy
Don and Marji Mendelsohn
Lauren Martini and Matthew Mendelsohn
Mike Mendelsohn
Julia Gittleman, Ph.D. and Tom Mendelsohn
Audrey and Danny Meyer
Bo and Lois Meyer
Nancy Meyer and Marc Weiss
Misa Galazzi and David Michel
Zach Mollengarden
Jean Moog
Zach Muzik
Spence Myer
Kristin Ahlberg and Phil Myers
Bill Nefsky
Bob and Mary Nefsky
Andy and Peggy Newman
Gregg and Jodi Newmark
NMSC – New Markets Support Company (Matching Gift)
