Blog
Blog

Tag Archives: robin hood staff

Meet The Brass at Camp Robin Hood – Scott Rimer

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 Scott Rimer, who has been our Athletic Director for 3 years and has over 20 years of summer camp experience before joining us. Scott also has the task of coordinating all of our campers favorite out of camp trips and excursions each summer.

  • Name: Scott Rimer
  • Camp Nickname: Scotty
  • Years at Camp Robin Hood: I just completed my 3rd summer in 2018
  • Position at Robin Hood: Director of Athletics and out of camp trips
  • What’s Your Favorite Camp Memory: Obviously beating West End this year or anytime I get to go on an excursion with the Foresters of 2018
  • Favorite place in the Realm: The back porch of the office or the upper basketball court
  • Favorite Camp Song, Quote or Food: There is an “Andy Says” quote right outside my bunk on a set of steps. It reads, “Look forward, not backwards.” I look at it at least once a day and find that it means so much not only at camp, but also in life.
  • What does magic in the trees mean to you: It means that there is some force, some impetus, some dynamic energy that exists at Robin Hood, probably from all the happy people who came before, that drives people to be one. It drives people to be kind and loving. It drives people to be accepting and tolerant. It drives people to break out of their comfort zone and live free of all the implications of the world if only for seven weeks. The “magic” does not discriminate between boys and girls, between young and old, between Americans and foreigners, or between campers and staff. It is truly a feeling you get as soon as you pass under the front gate sign. Lucky for us it gets trapped by all the majestic trees that cover the campus.

    “Do not take anything for granted. Try it all. Learn from your failings and try again.” -Scott

  • Advice to young campers: Do not take anything for granted. Try it all. Learn from your failings and try again. Have no regrets when you make your Saxon/Scribe (your final summer as a camper) speeches. Then take all that this place has given you and give it back to your campers when you are on staff.

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 – 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!

Staff Updates…

thumbnail

Check out what our staff are up to!

Ailbhe O’Conner 

Hi All! I am back in Galway, Ireland and just graduated with my Masters in Finance. I recently began training as a business consultant for KPMG. I am also working hard to balance my new job with Premier League Basketball.

Favorite camp memory: Playing in the waves on Beach Day. I also enjoyed coaching the Archers at a basketball tournament at Indian Acres, it was so much fun! Last but certainly not least, I miss life in Siberia with the Bows and dancing in the Dining Hall at lunchtime! 

Jordan Lawrence 

Hi everybody, what a great summer! I am now living in Sydney, Australia working for a major bank. I love to spend my time at the beach, jogging along the costal paths, and of course lifting! I get camp sick when I think of the amazing kids who shared their summer with me and the awesome 2014 staff who worked hard to ensure a memorable summer for everybody.

Favorite camp memory: So many memories, but the one that sticks out for me is the cookout lead by the Saxons after hiking Mount Katahdin. Over 10 miles and 12 hours on the mountain and they still had the energy to make a really special dinner to celebrate their achievement. The Saxons of 2014 sure know how to grill a steak! 

Marj Kozloff 

This fall, I started my freshman year at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. I made the mistake of signing up for Organic Chemistry as a freshman, but still manage to make time to hang out with Gabe Gordon and the most honorable James Newmyer. After a summer of running around with the Quills, I’ve slowly readjusted to spending my time with people my own age. I still get my fill of hanging out with younger kids by tutoring local third graders in reading. Maybe Chuck will let me help out with the study group next summer!

Favorite camp memory: The highlight of my summer was bringing Christmas to camp mid-July. The Quills spent the day sporting red and green, listening to Christmas music, decorating the two little pine trees in front of the Dining Hall, and eating Christmas cookies.