The Arrowhead Archives

The Arrowhead

Camp Nebagamon's Monthly Newsletter

Volume XC

Number 9

December 2018

Return to Our New Style

The More Things Change…

By Adam Kaplan

The last page of our brochure poses a question that we are often asked.  “How has camp changed over the years?”  The written response is, “Not much…what’s truly important…the traditions and values of Nebagamon remain the same.”  (Full disclosure: those words were written by our predecessors, the Wallensteins, so I guess even in our brochure not much changes!)

I love the constancy of this place.  I love that when we sit in the Rec Hall, we are sitting on the same chairs and at the same tables as literally thousands of others before us at Nebagamon. I love that the songs that we sing at the end of our meals are the same ones that have been sung for decades after breakfast. (I love that multiple camp directors before me butchered those songs with the same cacophonic aplomb as I do every morning!)  I love that, at the Council Fire Ring, we sit on the same wooden planks that thousands of campers before us have sat on Sunday nights, throwing our arms around each other, fighting back tears during poignant Keylogs, and singing the same beautiful songs that have concluded every Council Fire.  I love that the words, that I have the true honor of speaking every Sunday night, are the exact same words that have been spoken by each of the three sets of camp directors that have preceded us over these past 90 (90!) years at Nebagamon.  There can be little doubt that the traditions and “sameness” of the place over the years are a large part of its strength, richness, and character.

Maintaining this continuity is an important part of our job as stewards of Camp Nebagamon.  We take our roles, as guardians of this tradition, very seriously.  Protecting the history and legacy of Nebagamon is part of virtually every decision we make as directors.

And there is little doubt that we have help in protecting camp’s traditions. Our camper, staff, and alumni base are a fiendishly loyal and committed group.  They zealously work to maintain Camp Nebagamon as the special place that it has been for so long.  As is the role of groups like these, when changes are posed, they are met with a wary eye.  One of my favorite stories relating to this comes from our very first summer as directors. For those of you that did not know, despite my having grown up as a camper and staff member at Nebagamon, just prior to becoming the director of Nebagamon, I had been directing a camp in the San Juan Islands of Washington.  While there, admittedly, I worked pretty hard to make them more Nebagamon-y, but I also learned some things there too.  One of the things I learned was the Ping Pong Ball song, a totally silly song that is a ton of fun to sing.  So, in my first year at Nebagamon, I started to sprinkle that Ping Pong Ball song into the morning routine sometimes.  The boys eventually took to the song and recognized how much fun it was.  But, in the offseason, I received several scathing notes from alumni warning me not to ruin Nebagamon by trying to change things…..like bringing in ANY new songs! By their reckoning, there were to be no Ping Pong Ball songs belted out in the Rec Hall.  No way…no how!

Eventually though, as our credibility as camp directors grew and people began to trust that we had no intentions of destroying camp (even if we had a fondness for songs about tiny white balls that clearly endangered young minds), people became much more accepting of new ideas that we brought to the table in an effort to keep camp current.  When we built the climbing wall over a decade ago, we were really pleased with the reaction of our camp family.  By and large they got behind it and realized that this could become a logical and wonderful part of camp moving forward.  The same was (mostly) true when we introduced waterskiing in 2014.  People get it…the place, while its roots and values will never change, does need to grow and even CHANGE sometimes.

It is with this in mind that we are so excited to share with you this new Arrowhead format.  The truth is that this is not the first significant change we have introduced to our monthly newsletter.  Several years ago, in an effort to reduce our paper use, we went to an online PDF format for the Arrowhead.  This change was welcomed by all but a few of you who still insisted on a printed Arrowhead, declaring that the Arrowhead was a special piece of correspondence that could only be enjoyed in a special room of the house where computers were not handy (aka the JOP!).  After using this format for quite a few years, we are upgrading again since an online version allows us to incorporate fun elements that are not possible with a PDF. This new format will allow for more photos, games, and general richness.  We are psyched and hope you are too.  (Plus, the non-PDF format will work great for those “special room” readers who can now enjoy the Arrowhead on their smartphones.  But, did you folks ever stop to think about the incongruity of washing your hands fastidiously after spending time in that room….but not the phone? Hmmmmmm…..)

The same portion of the brochure that I referred to at the beginning of this missive concludes by saying, “The Camp Nebagamon experience still strengthens character, engenders compassion, inspires self-discovery, creates lifelong friendships, and provides boundless fun.”  We could not be more excited than to introduce our brand new Arrowhead format that will allow us to connect easier, have more fun, and strengthen our camp family.

ENJOY!

Hope to see you at a reunion this winter!

Nebagamon Photo History Book For Sale Now!

At camp’s 90th Reunion this past Labor Day weekend, we introduced the book, “Thanks for the Pines: A Celebration of Camp Nebagamon.” We’ve received so much positive feedback that we’ve decided to make this piece of camp history availableto the whole camp family. Full of photos from Nebagamon’s archives and personal expressions frommany of camp’s icons, this book is a must-have for the camper (or camp alumni!) in your life. You can read more about the book, take a peek inside, and order your copy at our website.

To ensure your book arrives for the holidays, we encourage you to order soon. Contact the camp office with any and all questions, or email briggs@campnebagamon.com.

News of the Camp Family – December 2018

Compiled by Adam Fornear

Fornear asked to include this photo with his article — where is his elbow?!

At the moment I’m sitting in this cool, little, hip coffee shop on the square in downtown East Troy, WI… my hometown.  I, as have many of you, returned to my hometown for a feast of turkey, pie, and lots of family time.  There was no shortage of any of that these past couple of days.  But one of the many great things about coming home for a little bit is that I get to walk the familiar streets of my childhood. The Square of East Troy is the city center of this quiet little town, where back in the day, we used to ride our bikes, shop at the old hardware store (now this very coffee shop!), and where I held my first job ever (with a W-2) at Giles Restaurant washing dishes. I still chuckle as I head up to the square when I pass this one house on the left… You see, when I was 11 years old, I had a paper route (without a W-2) where I delivered papers from my sweet trick BMX bike I had oh so long ago.  Anyhow, I’m riding down the side of the road, chucking papers and moving right along when all of a sudden, my bike comes to an abrupt stop and I go flying over the handlebars, slamming into the back of the parked car that I biked into.  I’m still laughing…and the lesson here is, always keep your head up when biking!

While I was home, I also was able to throw down some turns on the telemark skis at Alpine Valley the other day.  Alpine was the “mountain” where I learned how to ski, and broke a couple of bones doing so.  Well it was a great night of skiing with a high school friend and his twin daughters.  We didn’t hit the big jumps like we did in our youth but it was still a blast.   Anyhow, I bring all of this up still with the 90th reunion on my mind.  It was a real treat to have those memories of my 20 plus years at camp but also it was even more special to see all of those in attendance to walk those familiar steps of the past.  To see how a community nestled on 77 acres could be so influential in peoples lives and great memories abound.  We are so lucky to have camp in our lives!

Soon I will be joining Adam Kaplan on the East Coast for the second reunion tour of the season.  Hopefully you can join us in your respected city and share loads of those great camp memories with us.  Till then, send me some news for the next publishing of the Arrowhead and have a great day! Email me (Fornear) at fornear@campnebagamon.com.

IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW that in St. Louis, Dylan Scissors ran cross-country this fall while Griffin Scissors played defensive tackle for his football team. Patrick Meehan meanwhile stayed busy running cross country and Micah Franzel is playing hockey for his school. Mo Mills graduated last spring from Occidental College.  Down south in Atlanta we learned that Sam Montag played an Ooompa Loompa in his school’s play, Charlie and Chocolate Factory.  Sam also played football this fall.  Ben Montag is a catcher for his school’s baseball team and recently competed in a baseball tournament in Florida.  Aiden Capes captured the role as an extra in the Walking Dead.  Owen Rosenthal plays basketball for his schools’ team and Marc Rosenthal runs cross country… really fast… he was 4that state this year!  Jacob Greenwald is captain of his ultimate frisbee team and they recently won their championship game.  Jacob is also captain of his basketball team.  Nelson Mendels plays for his high school ultimate frisbee team while Chase Herbert played football and wrestling.   Cameron Louie stays busy playing soccer.  We had a brief stop in Louisville and while there Levi Gladstein informed us that he is playing squash and basketball for his school’s team.  From there the reunion went north to Detroit.  Noah Yaker shared with us that he is playing tennis for his high school team. Jack Wineman is starting for his high school JV hockey team, and was also to be captain.  Max Rontal continues to compete for his school’s ski team and Jonah Rontal is spending time at the local climbing wall.  Myles Rontal plays the trumpet and was recently nominated as Hustle Player of the Week for his basketball team.  

IN THE WHERE-ARE-THEY-NOW DEPARTMENT: Mark Blumenfeld (St. Louis ’06-’11,’13) is an environmental health and safety coordinator for Millipore Sigma in St. Louis.  Jeffrey Burnstine (Chicago/Atlanta ’05-’10,’12-‘14) is working in the commercial real estate business. Grant Rosskamm (Boulder, CO ’01-’05,’07-‘18) is teaching art at Federal Heights Elementary School.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RECENT ENGAGEMENTS go to Max Alpert (Memphis ’03-’07,’09-‘12) and Hayley Grossman (Louisville/Memphis)

BAR MITZVAH CONGRATULATIONS go to Jonah Rontal (Detroit) and Zach Riven (Dallas)

Caretaker Joe is Set Back by the Snow

By Caretaker Joe Crain

Mother Nature continues to run a month ahead in the weather department here in the North Woods of Wisconsin. Although it did look like things were going to return to normal, with the first week of the month’s temperatures reaching near normal temps of the low-40s, that ended abruptly on the 7th, when the high temperature dropped below freezing and we were greeted with a snow storm that deposited eight inches of snow. After the storm passed we found ourselves smack in the middle of December with temperatures stuck in the middle-twenties for highs, and teens and single digits for lows! It wasn’t until the 14ththat we had a brief return to November-like temps with three days in the mid to lower 30’s. After that brief visit back to what the calendar claimed was November, the bottom dropped out again and we saw only one 40-degree reading the rest of the month, and only three days that made it above freezing!! Oddly enough, even with all of this December-like weather throughout the month, it did manage to rain a bit the day after Thanksgiving, (the last 40 degree day of the month!) which promptly froze over the next day as the temps dropped back below freezing. The brief encounters with normal temps and the splash of rain dented our snow cover some, but didn’t melt it off completely, and with a couple of days of lake-effect snow thrown in at the end, we finished up with about three crusty inches of snow on the ground, and lots of slippery sidewalks.  As I’m writing this on the morning of the 28thof November the temperature outside is 3 degrees, making me wonder if Mother Nature is going to run ahead again through December.

Although my roller skiing of the roads around Lake Nebagamon had to end with the first big snow on the 7th, there was enough snow to cover the roots and rocks on the trails through Camp and I have been able to ski them on four occasions already! My first two tours happened the week of the 11th, just before the brief warm up, and with another bit of snow the weekend of the 17th, things were thin but good enough again that I was able to shuffle and glide around Camp for another couple days before the Holiday break. Unfortunately the rain the day after Turkey Day left the snow too thin and crusty to ski Camp, as well the roads have been left too icy and snow covered to roller ski, so the only option left for my pre-ski season training is the elliptical in my basement. Not nearly as inspiring as gliding through the woods on the back side of the Upper Diamond, nor as picturesque as rolling past the lake on County Road B, but if this fall continues as it has been I’ll be back on the CNST (Camp Nebagamon Ski Trail) any day now.

As you can imagine, the December like weather has had a negative impact on the two big fall chores we do each November: leaf blowing and wood splitting. Strangely this is the second year in a row that these two annual chores have been negatively impacted by early-winter-like weather! Last year, you may recall, we were stopped midway through leaf blowing with a 10-inch snow storm that hit even earlier than this year’s seven-incher! Last year’s fall-chore-stopper storm was deeper, but short lived, as the temperatures returned to normal and both the leaf blowing and wood splitting were completed after the snow had melted off by mid-November. This year the snow stopped us one day from completing the leaf blowing, with only the tennis courts not getting cleared. But with no warm up and a lot of snow left on the wood pile, we have not been able to split a single log! The first time in my 24 years at camp that those two chores have not been completed! I guess I know what we will be busy with as soon as the snow melts next spring, but who knows maybe December will end up being like a November and we will get it done before the start of 2019.

Hoping you all have a great Holiday Season with friends and family, it’s Caretaker Joe At Camp.

The Road Show Rolls On

Adam Kaplan and Adam Fornear are traveling the East Coast for December’s leg of the 2018-2019 Camp Nebagamon reunion circuit. Listed below is the schedule, which, as usual, is subject to change.  A few weeks prior to each reunion, we will email invitations to members of the camp family in the communities we’ll be visiting. Please be courteous and RSVP to the host families.

City Dates Reunion Details
New York City December 2nd 2:00 PM
D.C. December 3rd 7:00 PM
Chicago January 13th Heller Nature Center, 2:30 PM

2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park

 

Twin Cities January 16th 6:30 PM
London March 17 TBA
San Diego TBA
Los Angeles TBA
San Francisco TBA
Denver TBA

More Enrollments Arrive

Summer 2019 registrations continue to pop up in our inbox! If you haven’t registered yet for this summer, we encourage you to do so soon! We are also excited to welcome new campers to Nebagamon for a fun-filled summer.  Listed below are all campers who are currently enrolled.

2nd Grade Campers: Elliott Kleiman and Lazer Rosenbloom

3rd Grade Campers: Jake Finkelstein, Gabe Fisher, Eli More, Julian Saddleton, Sagiv Siegel, Jacob Solomon

4th Grade Campers: Jack Agran, Sam Cohen, Tate Gell, Will Gray, Miles Hall, Charlie Heist, Ari Held, Eli Hoffman, Logan Hoffman, Aidan Huberman, Gibson Kapp, Eli Karp, Gus Karsh, Chase Kornblet, Coulson McConnell, Linus Quinn-Pasin, Matan Radwin, Noah Schriftman. Seth Starhill, Juddah Thacker, Tanner Toback, HJ Walberg, Aaron Zelvy

5th Grade Campers: Austin Abeles, Brooks Coyle, Emmet Felner, Levi Gladstein, Charlie Goshko, Jackson Green, Nicholas Kallos, Milo Karsh, Nathaniel Kehrberg, Johan Kleiman, Ben Laytin, Cameron Louie, Ryan Mack, Drew Malk, Reece O’Connor, Mason Pedroza, Micah Rosenbloom, Syd Rosenbloom, Jonathan Schiff-Lewin, Benji Solomon, Asher Toback, Levi Whalen Stewart

6th Grade Campers: Atlas Barnes, Solomon Cravitz, Matthew Gordon, Ollie Gray, Jack Hughes, Ezra Maidenberg, Sam Montag, Auden Osburn, Ori Radwin, Zach Riven, Jacob Rolfe, Wesley Schwartz, Asher Sigman. Kobi Silver, Milo Solomon. Micah Stone, Eli Terman, Murray Wieseneck

7th Grade Campers: Alexander Averbuch, Jasper Braunschweiger, Joel Fisher, Levi Gell, Mark Gingiss, Gabriel Heller, Chase Herbert, Jack Krupnick, Jacob Lutsky, Hudson McConnell, Sam More, Milo Peterson, Ben Polonsky, Jonah Rontal, Matan Siegel, Lawson Weeldreyer, Josh Wells, Eli Zelvy

8th Grade Campers: Sebastian Alderman, Caleb Caraway, Michael Cohen, Charlie Duncan, Adam Eberhard, Nick Fleisher, Emmitt Gerstein, Jacob Greenwald, Ben Hackney, Nurali Kuanyshbek, Seth Lambert, Jacob Laytin, Josh Marcus, Rolando Martinez, Nelson Mendels, Henry O’Connor, Jake Paderewski, Rahul Pai, Nathan Starhill, Ollie Tannahill, Steven Weeldreyer

9th Grade Campers: Sam Bloch, Justin Blumberg, Jordan Carlin, Jesse Chan, Charlie Cohen, Ben Effress, Nick Friedman, Jesse Gell, Jackson Goldblatt, Jack Goodman, Jack Gordon, Trevor Harriman, Daniel Heller, Matthew Hooper, Gabi Huberman-Shlaes, Julian Jackson, Kasper Jorgensen, Peter Kallos, Jonah Karafiol, Adam Lewis, Miles Lokken, Sean McSherry, Eli Moog, Jake Powers, Brady Rivkin, Jack Rivkin, Daniel Sabados, Ben Shacter, Jason Shacter, Toby Shapin, Gabriel Sloan-Garcia, Nate Wells, Solomon Wexler, Nate Woldenberg, Noah Yaker

Congratulations to our December Birthdays!

December birthdays include:

December 1st  Jack Rivkin

2nd        Asher Corndorf, AJ Filley Brown, Wil Livers, Jeremy Margolin

4th        Ron Gaare, Alberto Martinez Trevino, Henry Pulitzer

5th        Raymond Tolentino Santana

6th        Benjamin Montag

7th        Oliver Gray

8th        Max Kennedy

10th      Drew Klearman, Ori Radwin

11th      Ivan Becerra, Ralph Greil, Carlos Ramirez-Deida

13th      Zachary Troeller

16th      Ben Hanson-Kaplan, Zach Sulivan, Trevor Wallace

17th      Anthony Gutierrez

19th      Charlie Cohen

20th      Orion Kornfeld

21st      Steven Weeldreyer

22th      Matthew Naranjo

24th      Zachary Herman

28th      Billy Galpern

29th      Cian Duffy, Henry Freilich, Mickey Silins, Lawson Weeldreyer

30th       Alex Fuller

31st      Corrado Mosconi