Justinsantiy Blood Drive – This Thursday from 2 to 7 pm

Article By Christian Chang, Matt Cohen & Peyton Zelinsky (Liberty Lake Leaders in Training) 

Earlier this year, Justin Pritikin, son of Liberty Lake’s Owners/Directors Andy & Jill, was diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of the blood. Thankfully his illness was discovered early and he is responding positively to treatment, but Justin still has a long road of recovery ahead of him. 

Leukemia patients like Justin are in need of blood every day. In support of Justin and other leukemia patients, please take part in our American Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday July 26 from 2 pm to 7 pm. The blood drive will be hosted at the Homestead Clubhouse ~ 25 Homestead Drive, Columbus, NJ, 08022. 

To schedule an appointment, please contact Linda Basim at 609-298-4846 or sign up at redcrossblood.org, sponsor code: 0229930. If you are unable to schedule appointment, walk-ins are welcome.

Donating blood is a very important service to our community. Here are some facts about donating blood – 

• Nearly 4.5 million Americans would die every year without life saving blood transfusions 
• Every 3 seconds, someone needs blood 
• 32,000 pints of donated blood are used daily in the United States

To learn more about Justin Pritikin and his battle with leukemia, please visit justinsantiy.org 

 

  

It Ain't Easy Bein' Green!

Ever since I owned my own Camp, I wanted it to be as environmentally sensitive as possible.

 I quickly found out though, that it wasn't so easy- if I wanted to stay in business!



The cost of paper plates vs. styrofoam plates is STAGGERING.  We're talking 10:1.  So you could spend $5000 on plates, or $50,000 on plates.  Repeat: $50,000 on paper plates (the good ones that don't fall apart when they get some sauce on them). So sadly, Liberty Lake, for the first 10 years used styrofoam plates with our plastic cups- much to my dismay.


Every year I re-examined it.  Every year, the same answer.  Every year, we sighed and kept doing it- Until this winter...


This winter, we went to every paper goods supplier we could find, seeking out CLOSE-OUTS. I told them that I didn't care what was on the plates- Birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, Superheroes, etc. Turns out that you can get closeout paper products at only 2-3 times the price of styrofoam- That pill, I can swallow!


So this summer, every Monday morning, Chef John runs to open up the next big cardboard box in our shed- This week... BIRTHDAY PRINCESS plates!  So not only are we GREENER than ever before, but now the kids get a big chuckle every day at lunch, depending on what's on the plates!  I think it has been hilarious- worth the extra money just for that!


Besides the plates, we are using paper cone cups at all the water coolers, we bought a composter, we expanded our garden and bought a greenhouse- and we are using our vegetables at lunch in the salad bar and in our pasta salad!


The Green Team elective, under the supervision of Chris Van Sciver and Tara Rambo (and overseen by Brandi Carnivale) look for ways for us to recycle, and be smart about the environment- I'm so proud of them, and all the Liberty Lakers for buying into our vision of being Green at Liberty Lake- If you have any ideas, please send them our way!!!  fun@libertylakedaycamp.com 


Andy Pritikin
Liberty Lake- Owner, Director

LLDC IMPORTANT SUMMER UPDATE FOR CAMP FAMILIES!

Liberty Lake 2012!!!

Dear 2012 Liberty Lake Families-
We are 30% through our Summer Season, but have LOTS of new campers starting on Monday. Thus, I figured that it was time for an all-encompassing update to remind everyone about some important protocol that can maximize your Liberty Lake experience.

• Every Friday night, we post the estimated Bus Times for the next week
 on the Transportation page of our website- http://www.libertylakedaycamp.com/content/transportation

Just click the link at the top of the page.  The bus routes have been running very smoothly for the past two weeks, but as always, we ask for your patience on Mondays.  Also, our 5:15pm LATE BUS SOUTH has been a huge hit, with 30+ campers riding it each day. This off-season we will contemplate running one to the north.

• Also, and this is a little confusing, we post the next-next weeks electives each weekend- Let met explain. This past week (Week 2), we finalized the scheduling for next week (Week 3), and right now you can check out the Week 4 elective sheet, and then log into your CampMinder account, go to “Forms & Documents,” choose “Top 10 List” and update your selections for Week 4. The elective sheet currently taking selections is always posted on the Freedom of Choice pate of our website: http://www.libertylakedaycamp.com/content/camp-program

One of the hazards of running a 60+ activity elective program, is that sometimes some AWESOME new electives have a tough time getting rolling, as campers make choices of things they are confident with, and are averse to try new things- So parents, I implore you to encourage your children to Try New Things!  They can always change their electives on Tuesdays- Frosh, through their division leaders, Sophs+ through the change system we have set up.
Cool Electives you should sign up for:

• Fitness & Nutrition
- Pro Trainer Anna combines Cardio Kickboxing, Water Aerobics and more

• Balloon Art, Cartooning, Drawing/Painting, Multi-Medium, Sculpture-
 At LLLDC we have a great little Art Department that is generally underappreciated by the campers- Have them give it a try!

• Rock Out-
 The Renaissance Man himself, John Williams runs an elective in which kids throw rocks at a target range, skip rocks, paint rocks etc. Now available for Freshmen

• Videography
- We are lucky to have a professional filmmaker on staff, with a great new indoor facility.

• Liberty Spa is alternating weeks with Face Painting

• Twilight/Hunger Games is alternating weeks with Movie Magic (stage make-up)

• Green Team
- We have a world-class garden and greenhouse, a composter, and a crack staff dedicated to the environment- Kids get their hands dirty, and love it.

• Liberty News
- The 1st edition of the Newsletter came out on Friday (will be posted shortly), and it was amazing. The talented Jarrett  and campers will be creating a “Rolling Stone” magazine for distribution week 4.

• Drums, Guitar, Jam Session, Ra
p- The Liberty Lake Music Department is simply amazing. Ray, Big Chris, and Mike & Mike from the School of Rock have kids drumming, strumming, rapping and performing like you wouldn’t believe- Try new things!

• Into the Woods
- Next week is the last chance to be a part of the big musical production this summer. April has a great team, including Tara-Anne, a professional talent agent!

CampMinder online Photo Album- Besides logging in to change your electives, we encourage you to log in to view the many, many pictures we are taking each day of your beautiful children- compiled in our online, password protected photo album.

TEXTCASTER: Two weeks ago, our afternoon Homecoming Parade and Friday Assembly ran about 20 minutes late, making all of our buses 20-30 minutes late. Those parents who had signed their cell phones up through our “TextCaster”  emergency notification system were extremely grateful- Thus I encourage you all to take ONE MINUTE and sign up your cell phone for it. ***IMPORTANT*** It turns out that you have to do this EVERY SUMMER- So even if you did it in prior seasons, please do it again- We will NOT use this service for anything besides an important notification that has to do with your kids:  http://my.textcaster.com/asa/Default.aspx?ID=55c11cbb-e166-4c6b-a18e-511a528d4d7e

The above link, and many others are located in the “Parent Portal” in the SummerZone section of our website.  Also there are the links for the WebCam- Just choose “single” after clicking the link.- plus the INTERACTIVE SPIRIT CALENDAR (tells you what the special events actually are, and how to prepare) and INTERACTIVE MENU (including carb counts and ingredients).

While we have had a few campers end their summer season with us already, hundreds of campers have already extended their stays with us. Couple that with the biggest/latest registration in the history of Liberty Lake (over 100 campers in June), and a majority of our groups are now filled up for many of the remaining weeks. So, IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING EXTENDING YOUR STAY, CALL THE LLDC OFFICE, OR EMAIL US ASAP- AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE!

Due to our attention being focused on the late registrations, we had to cancel our “Sunday Camp” idea for this Summer- We will do it in 2013. 

Save the Date for Family Night- Thursday, August 2, 5:30pm – “Into the Woods (5pm),” 5-Year Jackets, 10-Year Plaques, Zip Line for Parents, Boating, Fishing, Mini-Golf, Ga-Ga, Hulla and the big Barbecue spread.

Communication Contacts: Our main catch-all is fun@libertylakedaycamp.com, but we also have bus@, nurse@, swim@, and every director and division leader’s first name@. BUT- For things like early pick-ups from Camp, cancellations, etc- PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE, as Emails are great, but not perfect.

Lastly, below are the addresses in which parents/campers can can write letters if you wish to join our fight to get the DEP and local township to address our stormwater issues related to the proposed warehouse project.  We have a few days (July 11) to submit comments related to the 6/26 hearing.

Comments should be submitted to:
WQM Program Docket
Watershed Management Program
Division of Coastal and Land Use Planning   Mail Code 401-07C
P O Box 420
Trenton, NJ  08625-0420


A copy of the comments should be sent to:
Mr. Timothy Staszewski
Project Manager
Remington and Vernick Engineers
232 Kings Highway East
Haddonfield, NJ  08033-3899


A quick not on my Justin’s progress in his fight against leukemia- His chemo treatments have intensified, and the next 8 week will continue with a week in the hospital, and a week recovering at home. While he’s hoping to make it to camp for a limited time, we have to proceed with caution, as his immune system is pretty weak. Updates at www.justinsanity.org
As always, if you have any 
questions, please either reply to this Email, or give us a call.

Sincerely,
Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director
Liberty Lake Day Camp
609.499.7820
andy@libertylakedaycamp.com
www.LibertyLakedaycamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/LLDCFANPAGE
www.WeLoveLibertyLake.com
http://libertylakedaycamp.blogspot.com/

ZOOM FLUME!!!

New for 2012!

Check out our amazing list of new things for the 2012 Camp Season!

 

New Electives!

Water Aerobics, Paintball for Seniors (two weeks), Balloon Art, Face Painting, Rock Out (literally a ROCK elective - throwing, skipping, painting, etc.), Golf with professionals from the Old York Country Club , Game Club, Movie Magic (make up), Twilight & Hunger Games, Jam Session 

Facility Improvements! 

Green House, New High Ropes Elements, Playgrounds, Twin Cedars Revamp, Tipis, Zoom Flume, Octagon Gaga Pit, Tee-Pee, Turtle Town, Floating Bridge
 

New Spirit Events! 

Walk Like an Egyptian, Holiday Hodge Podge & Fear Factor

New Lunch Menu Items! 

Chicken Fajitas, Raviolis + Pork Roll & Cheese 

Lunchtime Initiative! 

Following our 5-Points of Youth Development, we are creating a new DIY Camper-Clean-up initiative, with the incentive being that groups will be allowed to eat outside the tent, in new picnic areas! 

Website Enhancements! 

Interactive Spirit Calendar - you can now click on any of the 49 days in the Spirit Calendar, and a pop up will appear with all of the important details & information for the event!  

Interactive Lunch Menu - Featuring calorie & carb counts, ingredients + more 

More New & Nifty Initiatives!

Three Color War Teams: Red, White & Blue! 

Teen Leadership Program Name Change: Entering 9th graders are now CITs – Campers in Transition & entering 10th graders are now LITs – Leaders in Training.

Late-Bus: leaving from Camp at 5:15 & going south on 295 -

■ Martin's (Rt. 38 and Marter Ave) - 5:30pm
■ Woodcrest Shopping Cntr (Berlin Road) - 5:50pm
■ FunPlex (Rt. 38) - 6:10pm 

Decision 2012 (Week 6):  YOU are part of the process. We’re picking a BRAND NEW LLDC ELECTIVE- And YOUR vote counts! 

Sunday Camp:  July 15th! A day of camp for current campers and their friends - on a Sunday! More details coming soon! 

Tag Your Towel:  We will photograph our Lost & Found every Friday and post them on to Facebook!

TOP 5 CAMP ACTIVITIES AT LIBERTY LAKE DAY CAMP

Here is a list of the most popular activities at Liberty Lake Day Camp based on how quickly the electives are filled... 

5 . Lanyard – This Camp favorite has been a staple in all Camps for years.  But did you know that lanyard dates all the way back to the 15^th century?  It is true! However the lanyard we do today at Camp is for pleasure and not always for its main purpose from the 15^th century, to carry objects.

4.  Swimming – Whether it be the water tramp, swim team, water aerobics, swim lessons or just free swim with your group, being in the 

water is the highlight of any campers day and a great way to cool off!

3.  High Rope Adventure – This is a true test of courage! Many campers have tried and few succeed in mastering their nerves while climbing the Vertical Playground and walking across the cat walk to go down the zip line that stretches across the lake.  Do you have what it takes?

2.  Hulla-Ball – Is a game made up by Hullabaloo and is a Liberty Lake original version of Four-Square. Fun Fact: Four Square dates back to 1964 but has evolved through the years into many different varieties.  Hulla-Ball is played on a flat surface with a court divided into four squares and each square is given a ranking (Ace, King, Queen, Jack). The object of the game is to become the Ace so you can control the rules of the game.  For more info on Hulla-Ball see theHulla-Ball Rule Book.

1.  Ga-Ga – The number one sport at Liberty Lake actually started out in Israel as a form of dodge ball.  Ga-ga is played in a large octagon or hexagon called the Ga-Ga pit.  Ga-Ga begins with someone throwing the gaga ball up into the air.  When it bounces the players say "Ga" each bounce for the first three bounces. Players are out if they double touch, hit the ball out of the octagon or if they get hit below the waist.

What is most fascinating about this list is that Liberty Lake offers countless electives, from climbing a rock wall, to laser tag, and digital photo but the top 5 things on the list are games that have been played for hundreds of years.  Playing and being at camp is like taking a step back in time because these top 5 activities are the same games played before the Internet, or texting, or even TV.  I guess some things are just in our DNA and that’s why we all love camp so much!! 

Can't wait to see everyone at camp!!!!! ONLY 26 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!