UPDATE FROM A SNOWY MEADOWBROOK

Yes, it is snowing at Camp!  This is different from our normal Blog Posts.  Before we end our day, we wanted to briefly update everyone on a few things going on at Camp as we prepare for the best Summer ever!

For our youngest Campers, we are now offering a mini-day program for entering pre-school Campers.  The day will end at 1:30 and include lunch and swimming twice each day.  Let us know if you would like more information on the program for you or a friend.

We are always focused on improving our facility, and this year we seem to have more projects than ever in progress.  We are about ½ way through our bunk renovation project.  We are also working on completely re-building our Sun Mountain building area, including going from 2 bathrooms to 6 and adding a program room for some new activities we are working on.  We are also working on building 2 new GaGa pits, a new Gymnastics area under our big-top tent, new high elements at our Challenge Course, and lots more.  We are also busy on plans for a new Field House targeted for the Summer of 2014. 

For our YA Campers, we have added a new elective-type activity called Clubs.  We are busy looking to hire outside specialists for activities like Magic and Martial Arts.  We are finishing the building of our first regulation size ping pong table.  Once we have it perfected, we will build a few more before Camp starts.  They will be located in our new After Swim area called The Ridge.

For our Travel Campers, we will be adding Co-ed Sports Leagues, a Camper favorite from their YA days.  We will also have a few days of all choice for Travel Campers spread throughout the Summer based on the trip Schedules.

All of this is in addition to the ongoing projects that our office and facility staff work on all winter, every year.  We already have our 8 Weekly Special Event Themes and are busy planning schedules, Special Events, and Bus Activities.  We have had many Staff members from last Summer come to Camp to re-interview for the Summer of 2013.  We have reviewed hundreds of surveys from last Summer and are working on the many suggestions.  And of course, we are working on finalizing the 2012 Video Yearbook that we hope to mail soon so we can relive the Summer of 2012!

We have already hired about 70% of our great Staff, but we are always looking for more great mentors and role models for our Campers.  We are especially looking for a few Adult Group Leaders, Art Specialists, and Phys Ed Teachers.  We are also looking for some Lifeguards, Ropes Staff, Whispering Woods Staff, and College Athletes.  All Staff MUST be available to work all 8-weeks, no exceptions.  Anyone interested should give us a call in the office.

Finally, make sure to stay on top of everything happening at Camp.  We post lots of information on both our facebook page and our blog.  Make sure to check them out and like/subscribe to both so you don’t miss anything.

Stay safe during the snow…and think Summer…only 143 days ‘til Camp!!

- Roz, Jed, Rich & Marty

September Update: What’s Happening at Meadowbrook?

We miss the sounds of happy children, Lunch Pavilion cheering, Lifeguard whistles, and T.I.G.E.R. spirit at Meadowbrook…but we hope everyone’s transition back to school was successful.

While we have moved from our blog to facebook status updates for much of our electronic communication, we will still update the blog with larger pieces of information, like this.

So, what’s been happening at Meadowbrook since Camp ended?

We are already very busy getting ready for the Summer of 2012! There is no off-season at Meadowbrook!!

We started by welcoming back many Campers to our Valley Brook School. One of the differences here at Meadowbrook is that we are a year-round youth-development facility for children. We have lots of blue MCDC backpacks in the halls of Valley Brook. All of the preparations that we do to change Camp back to School (waxing all of the floors, painting, landscaping) also benefits our Meadowbrook Campers. We also did a lot of wall repairs in our Pre-K changing room as we prepared for Valley Brook School.

We have chosen to do a lot of work on our pools this year, and we have started now instead of waiting until Spring. Rain aside, we emptied both the main pool and upper pool. They are being scrubbed, power washed and have fresh coats of paint and tile work. Now we wait for a solid week of dry weather for a second coat of paint and then we refill and cover for next Summer. From there, we will move to improving the deck surfaces around the pools this winter.

Our landscaping crew has also been hard at work. The very hot and dry start to the Summer took it’s toll on many of our grassy areas. We have done lots of thatching, aerating, fertilizing, seeding and haying to get everything back to beautiful for the Summer of 2012! We have also improved some of the gardens around buildings and will continue to plant throughout the fall.

Another Meadowbrook Difference is that ALL of our Staff re-interview every year. We start with our Leadership Team (editorial comment: the largest and best in the industry). Many have already been in to see us, some spending several hours reviewing programs and Staff and brainstorming ideas to make the Summer of 2012 even better!

Generally speaking, our facility has not had too many problems with all of the rain we have been getting, including the hurricane. But we have had a few issues, most notably erosion on the road between our two lakes and a little flooding in the basement and garage at the Camp house. We did lose some carnival games, special events supplies, and furniture; but we are happy to report that all of the Meadosaurus bones that everyone found during the Summer of 2010 were saved! We will be spending time during the next few weeks rebuilding both the road and basement so that they will both be ready long before the Summer of 2012!

Finally, September is a busy month for giving back. We are very focused on practicing Generosity from our T.I.G.E.R. program. Throughout the month, Roz has been attending meetings for S.C.O.P.E., where she sits on their Board of Directors. She also worked on and presented at the American Camp Association (ACA) Day Camp Conference. Our Office Manager Marty also designed and moderated a session at the Conference. Four of us attended and it was a chance to learn what is going on at other Camps as well as share our best practices with the industry in hopes of more and more children having meaningful Camp experiences for years to come. Meanwhile, Jed has also been busy as a chairperson planning the ACA Fall Management Conference and the ACA Tri-State Camp Conference. He also has been fulfilling his Board position with the NY/NJ Section of the ACA.

Looking forward, we are excited to see all of our families at Meadowfest on October 16^th at Camp. Come enjoy a great fall day at Meadowbrook with lots of fun activities. This is also a great opportunity to earn referral discounts with our SWAP program. We encourage you to bring along friends and neighbors who may be interested in sending their Children to Meadowbrook next Summer. When they enroll and list you as the referring family, you receive a $200 discount on Camp for your family!

As always, we thank you for the confidence you place in us and for allowing us to share the wonderful Meadowbrook experience with your children. As always, if you need anything from us, have any questions, or we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to give us a call in the office. We are available all throughout the year for all of our Meadowbrook families!

Meetings Meetings Meetings

Lot's of meetings this week, and it is only Wednesday. So far, we've met with Chris our painter to review what needs to be freshened up before summer. Frankie was in yesterday looking at all the property for stone, blacktop, grading, etc. We also met with our AV expert, also named Chris. Planning on a new sound system for the lunch pavilion and goat theater. He will also redo our morning assembly sound system and add to the rec barn system so rainy day karaoke will be even more fun! Finally, Char was here inspecting our ropes course and making some minor repairs. He checks everything....every rope, every buckle, every connection. Ongoing maintenance helps keep everything in tip-top shape.

Last night the full Leadership Team got together. Worked on orientation activities and training ideas. And always great food....working at Meadowbrook is never having to say you are hungry! Also met with Casey yesterday. She is one of our Special Events Directors. Time to get all of those bus events planned so we can finalize our '09 Special Events Calender. Today our 3 RN's come in to meet with Roz for their first group pre-summer meeting. And tours everyday for new families who want to join the Meadowbrook Fun.

Only 96 days 'till camp!

Welcome

Welcome to the Blog for Meadowbrook Day Camp. We will see where this goes. It gives us an opportunity to keep everyone up to date on all the exciting things at camp. As always, let me know your thoughts. Thanks. - Jed