HELLO EVERYBODY! It’s officially time to COUNT DOWN TO CAMP!   We held our Annual Spring Open House last weekend and had a great time meeting new campers and their families, giving tours of the camp and enjoying Joe Malicky’s tasty barbeque picnic! It was the perfect spring weekend... except for a little drizzle Sunday afternoon.

In addition to meeting new campers, the open house event is also an opportunity for our staff to get together and talk about the summer, review new activities and facilities, and get psyched for camp! Well, we’re psyched and, based upon your emails and messages, YOU ARE TOO! That’s great!!! I can’t wait!

OPEN HOUSE - We had some awesome Lohikan super stars in attendance at Camp Lohikan’s 53rd Annual Spring Open House! Heather McKenzie (Gymnastics Head Instructor 2004-7) flew all the way from Canada to help us out! And that’s not all. Anna Nacler (Horseback Riding Head Instructor 2006-7) flew all the way in from Sweden! Yes, Sweden! Even the midwest was represented! Ashley Sorenson (Bungee Head Instructor and Hand Spring Clinic Director 2007-9) flew in from Wisconsin! Dr. Cary Wagner (1989-2007) and Lindsay Wagner (2006-7) took time off from their busy practice to help out. (They also promised to stop by during the summer for a visit). Other Lohikan luminaries in attendance included: Doug Jensen, Rich Malik, Mark Guffey (and family), Bryan Lipschitz, Jon Aronoff, Garrett McNeill, Michael Buynak, Robin Chamow, Suzi Evangelatos, Kim Redfield, Marcia Pollock, Guy Smith, Andrew Stern, Sam Eisner, Liz Bradley, Jen Reese, Ian Whitehead, Sandy Buynak, Mark Buynak, Keenan Jensen, Terry Beers, Joe Malicky, and two new staff members - Nick Barr (Lake Head Instructor) and Bryce Karlman (Sports Center In-Charge and Roller Hockey Head Instructor). We had a great time together (as you can tell from the photo!) and can’t wait to get the summer rolling!!! It’s count down time!

WORKING HARD! Everybody’s psyched for the summer and involved in the summer count down. Most of us are counting down the days for all of the summer fun to begin. But some are counting down the days with a deadline to meet! Pictured on the left are two of Lohikan’s finest. Camp Lohikan’s resident engineer, Cliff Olsen, and firefighter, Terry Beers, are responsible for many of the renovations and improvements you’ll see in camp this summer. This picture was taken last weekend when Cliff and Terry were making repairs to cabin 20’s porch and siding. When they finished, it looked beautiful! Thanks guys!

GOOD NEWS!  Anthony Hill’s back for summer 2009!  This will be Anthony’s 6th summer at camp and everyone loves Anthony!  But did you know... Anthony was voted counselor of the year his first summer at camp?  Anthony was also a top three finisher in his subsequent 2 years as a counselor.  Did you also know that Anthony won the Ms. Lohikan title in 2004?  And 2005!!!   Did you know that Anthony got his CDL license last year?  Did you know that the photo on the right pictures Anthony at Dorney Park with cabinmates from summer 2005?  Did you know that the photo also pictures one of Lohikan’s finest actors?  ... He’s an excellent actor (the plant in Little Shop) who will be returning this summer as a member of Lohikan’s junior staff?  Send your answer to ian@lohikan.com and win a golf cart ride with... Anthony Hill!

Hello Everybody!  Summer is just around the corner and it’s a busy time for me!  I’m in charge of processing all of the camp forms you’ll be mailing in over the next month or so.  As of April 1st all of this summer’s forms and camp information is online at www.lohikan.com.  Just scroll down to the yellow enrolled camper login box located at the bottom of the camp’s index page and enter the following: Login name – lohikan2009  Password – lohikan1957  Then click the “Camp Forms Button”.  You will be prompted to enter the login name and the password again but then you’re home free.  Please check out the following information at your earliest convenience.

2009 Parents Handbook – Parents are asked to read the Parents Handbook at their earliest convenience.  The Parents Handbook contains a clothing list guide, details the latest camp policies and provides first-time camp parents with advice and guidance in making camp preparations.

2009 Program Bulletin – Campers entering 6th grade and older participate in the elective program.  This bulletin describes how the program works and provides guidelines for preparing your camper’s Activity Selection Form.

Activity Selection Forms – The Activity Selection Form is the form used to schedule activities in the elective program.  The Activity Selection Form is an age and gender specific form.  There are separate forms for super juniors (5th graders who opt into the elective program), intermediates (girls and boys entering 6th and 7th grade), and seniors (girls and boys entering 8th grade and older).   The forms should be completed and returned to the camp by June 10th.

Extra Program Activity Forms – These are the forms used to schedule: (a) extra horseback riding (horseback riding in excess of the 1 period of horseback riding which is included in the tuition), (b) jet skiing, (c) paintball, (d) quad riding, (e) email, and (f) academic tutoring.

Trip Forms – This section contains the forms used to register for optional trips: (a) Local golf course trips, (b) Rafting trips on the Delaware River (Note: Canoe trips are part of the camp program and are provided at no charge.), and (c) Scranton Yankee AAA Baseball Games. 

Other Forms – This section contains miscellaneous forms like the Bunk Request Form, Pen Pal Form, etc.

Camper Profile Form – This form is used to identify summer goals and parental concerns or advice for working with your camper.

Senior Camper Agreement – All senior campers (campers entering 8th grade and older) are required to review this agreement with their parents, sign it and return it to our office before camp begins.

Big Brother/Big Sister – Senior campers who will be entering their junior year in high school in September can apply for a position as a junior staff member for the summer of 2010.  Individuals interested in applying for a junior staff position should participate in the Big Brother/Big Sister Program this summer.  The program description and permission for participation are described in this section.

Summer Clinic Sign-Up Form – Campers can use this form to sign up for the clinics of their choice.

TIME TO SAVE PROGRAM – A number of returning campers have taken advantage of the Time to Save Program and we love it!  Click here for details.

BUNK REQUEST FORMS

Bunk Request Forms are available online by going through the Enrolled Camper Login Box.  Bunk requests should be mailed before the end of May.

PEN PALS WANTED!

We have quite a few new campers requesting pen pals before the summer.  Want some mail?  Call me – Ian.

KRAZY KATZ!  Those krazy katz, Jonathan (meatloaf) and Mitchell, never stop thinking about how to make this summer’s evening program, special events and rainy day (rain at Lohikan?) programs awesome!  Apparently, neither do you!  Meatloaf said that he’s received a lot of program suggestions from you (the campers) and thought that we should open it up and hear from everyone.  So here it is.  Email your crazy ideas for rainy day programs, evening activities and special events to krazykatz@lohikan.com.  Don’t be shy... your idea may sound crazy to you but it probably will make a lot of sense to those KRAZY KATZ!

WHAT’S MISSING?  Long time Lohikanites have gotten accustomed to seeing the beautiful view of Lohikan’s lake and the south mountain with a huge landmark that’s been around since the 1960’s.  It’s missing from the photo on the left because... it’s gone!  What’s gone?  That’s the question... and the contest for this newsletter!  The first 5 campers who can identify what’s missing from camp (and the photo on the left) will win an official 2009 Camp Lohikan t-shirt.  Hint: It was blue in color and fun to ride, but we never rode it in the summer!  Email your answers to ian@lohikan.com.  Good luck!

AWESOME CLINICS!  The Summer Clinic Sign-Up Form is posted online.  Now’s your chance to sign up for the rest of your clinic choices.  To get to the clinic sign-up form go to www.lohikan.com and scroll down to the bottom of the index page to the yellow Enrolled Camper Login Box. The login name is lohikan2009.  The password is lohikan1957.

ONLINE PROGRAM FORMS - All Program Forms are available online at the location described above.  Campers participating in the elective program should send their ASF Form mailed to our Gladstone Office by June10th.

WE’RE GETTING GREENER! Instead of mailing this month’s newsletter we’re only publishing it online. This green approach not only saves us postage and printing costs, it’s faster! Because it’s much easier to produce and publish, we’re planning on emailing you two more newsletters before camp to keep you posted on the latest happenings! Yeah!!!

If you’re not receiving emails from camp, check the "Camp Communications" section available through the Enrolled Camper Login Box.

We’ll be in touch next week! Luv ya! MB, SB, JC, IW, JR, KR