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Monthly Archives: August 2018

Meet The Brass at Camp Robin Hood – Michelle Brockmann

Since the 1940’s, Camp Robin Hood has been owned and directed by former campers. We are proud to continue that nearly 90-year tradition. With more than 150 combined summers at camp our Leadership Team, affectionately called “The Brass” by campers, staff, and alumni, understands the unique responsibility of preserving the Robin Hood experience.

In this series of blogs, you’ll meet each member of The Brass as they share some of their favorite memories of summers in the Realm. Up first is Michelle Brockmann, Assistant Director at Camp Robin Hood and one of the many camp moms in the Realm who are available to make every camper feel at home each summer.

  • Name: Michelle Brockmann

  • Camp Nickname: Camp Mom
  • Years at Camp Robin Hood: I just completed my 29th summer in 2018
  • Position at Robin Hood: I am an assistant director at camp – I help in all areas including staff training, staff support, camper well being, logistics of transportation and money, whatever needs attending to really.

  • What’s Your Favorite Camp MemoryI have so many favorite memories – the day I met Jeremy (my now husband) when I interviewed for the waterski position, our wedding day at camp, so many occasions when I saw my children try new things, make new friends, achieve new goals. So hard to pick!
  • Favorite place in the Realm: My favorite place in camp is the waterski area – love looking at the lake from the dock.

    “We are always here for each other, we are a family, we are home.” –Michelle

  • Favorite Camp Song, Quote or Food: The welcome song. We sing it to guests who visit during a meal. “Come around any old time and make yourself at home” is the first line. I like the message that sends – we are always here for each other, we are a family, we are home.

  • What does magic in the trees mean to you: The magic in the trees – to me that signifies the opportunity to create magic in a special place with great people. After many years of coming to camp I have realized that although the physical campus is beautiful, it is the people who make it magical. All of us – campers and staff alike – come with the same common goals of making friends and trying all kinds of new things while feeling safe and supported in our efforts. So we, the inhabitants of the realm in the past and of the present,  are really the magic in the trees
  • Advice to young campers: Don‘t be afraid to be yourself here. It is safe to be yourself here. Home life is different from camp life, home friends are different from camp friends. Try new activities here and discover new talents here.

Finally, I would like to add something that I am very proud of…our girls camp. When I first arrived here it was in its infancy – it had begun three years earlier. There were about 30 girls at that time. I have watched it grow into the fabulous program that it is today. I remember adding age groups and picking the group names over the years as our population grew and eventually our numbers caught up to the boys camp numbers… and surpassed them!

I adore watching these little girls become confident women. They are a constant source of joy in my life. I have seen so many of them transition from camper to counselor to color war captain to getting married and having young campers of their own. I am blessed to have been a witness to their journeys and to call them my friends. I am humbled by the friendships that camp has afforded me and I am eternally grateful to John and Joan Klein for hiring me and making me part of their camp family.

About Camp Robin Hood’s Girls Camp – In 1980, then owner and director John Klein and his wife Joan decided to add what is now the biggest part of our camp family and legacy – Girls Camp, making Camp Robin Hood the brother/sister camp we know today.

You can learn more about The Brass, the leadership team at Camp Robin Hood, here. If you’d like to learn more about summers in The Realm and enrolling your child contact us today!

Meet The Brass at Camp Robin Hood – Lizz Ward

With more than 150 combined summers at camp our Leadership Team, affectionately called “The Brass” by campers, staff, and alumni, understands the unique responsibility of preserving the Robin Hood experience. In this series of blogs, you’ll meet each member of The Brass as they share some of their favorite memories of summers in the Realm.

Meet Lizz Ward, whose official title is Office Manager at Camp Robin Hood but she does so much more behind the scenes to make sure our summers and reunions at always memorable.

  • Name: Lizz Ward
  • Years at Camp Robin Hood: I just completed my 9th summer at camp
  • Position at Robin Hood: Office Manager is my title but I handle a great deal, from overseeing the infirm to making sure the yearbook is completed. I assist in the general operations of camp, plan 4th of July and the NYC Reunion among many other things. I also assist with camper recruitment and retention.
  • What’s Your Favorite Camp Memory: I have several. Most revolve around hiking with campers. My favorite though would have to be hiking Mt Washington one summer with the Foresters. I held back with a camper who wasn’t used to hiking and he wanted to quit so many times as he didn’t think that he could make it all the way. We made it to the top together and he was so proud of himself and that accomplishment. It meant a great deal to me that I was able to share that moment with him. That summer he even received most improved in Hiking!
  • Favorite place in the Realm: The Waterfront at sunset

“The bonds that campers make here can’t be found anywhere else. I am happy that I get to share in that with my children.” – Lizz

 

  • Favorite Camp Song, Quote or Food: I have always loved the Goodnight Song. The part that always stands out for me is the line “thy sons well guarded from all sorrows held firm in bonds of bright green hue” this is also painted on the back of the Boys Camp sign and it was one of the first things I remember about Robin Hood. I never fully understood it until my sons became campers and spent their summers here with their camp brothers. Camp is a safe place to be yourself and make lifelong friends. The bonds that campers make here can’t be found anywhere else. I am happy that I get to share in that with my children.
  • What does magic in the trees mean to you: I love watching a shy, timid camper come out of their shell at camp. We strive to always try new things and encourage our campers to do the same. The first time they jump off the tower at the waterfront, dance on stage in front of the whole camp, pick up a bow and arrow for the first time and hit the target. The smile on their face says it all. That to me is the magic in the trees.
  • Advice to young campersBe yourself! Camp is a safe place to be who you are without all the outside influences. 

You can learn more about The Brass, the leadership team at Camp Robin Hood, here. If you’d like to learn more about summers in The Realm and enrolling your child contact us today!

Farewell DC – Cheers to 15 Years

Sol, DC, and Woody at Camp Robin Hood

As a member of our extended camp family, Sol and I wanted to let you know that our dear friend and co-director David “DC” Cole is retiring from Camp Robin Hood this Fall. For the past 15 summers, DC and Woody have worked diligently to ensure that Andy Friedman, founder of Camp Robin Hood, and John Klein’s legacies and mission live on. 

We are so thankful for the years DC spent with us and wish him, Jamie, and their daughters only the best. They will always have a special place at camp and will always be part of Robin Hood. Both Sol and I are eternally grateful for DC and Jamie’s service and dedication to the Realm. 

I’ve worn many hats in my 45+ years connected to Camp Robin Hood: camper, staff member, visiting Green and White judge, parent of two campers, and 15 wonderful years as co-director. I am now humbled and excited for the challenge of taking over as Robin Hood’s full-time, year-round director. I’m dedicated, not only as director but as a parent myself, to ensure that each and every one of your children feels at home in the Realm.

– Richard ‘Woody’ Woodstein