Spring Newsletter 2012
5/7/12,
Spring Greetings Buck’s Rockers,
There is so much to be excited about for the upcoming summer, from staff to campers, to renovations and additions, we are eager to share the details with you. Please feel free to contact us regarding questions about the program or enrollment, as we still have openings, and we look forward to sharing another great summer with all of you who are joining us at Buck’s Rock for the first time or returning!
70th Anniversary Reunion/Alumni Day: We are delighted to be celebrating Buck’s Rock’s 70th season and to honor this important milestone, we are hosting an Alumni Reunion on Saturday, July 28. The details and schedule of events are in the planning process, but we can expect many alumni visitors and their families, a pleasant picnic lunch, musical performances by some of our alumni and the opportunity for our current campers to meet and interact with campers from the past to share experiences past and present.
2012 Staff: We are thrilled to have so many returning staff this summer, and wonderful new additions to our team. Collectively, they offer impressive credentials and qualifications from outstanding schools throughout the US and abroad . If you are interested in viewing the names of returning staff, for a complete list, please go to http://www.bucksrockcamp.com/office/staff.php. We are also pleased to be almost fully staffed to date and are actively interviewing candidates to fill our few remaining positions.
The Pavilion: Situated on the main lawn, across from Girls’ House, our new 80x40 ft post and beam pavilion is in its last stage of building. It will be debuted at our upcoming May 19th Open House and then, of course, will be used on a very regular basis during the summer for many evening activity events, performances, fencing, martial arts, jazzercise, zumba, rehearsals, meetings, etc… We are very excited to have this new, covered facility that will open up the Tent for more theater rehearsal time, in addition to offering so many other great uses!
The Octagon: The Octagon, which can accommodate 12 female CITs, has been completely renovated. The shell has been preserved, but the interior has been divided in half, housing 6 to a side, with entrances/exits from both ends. There is now an abundance of storage, outlets, shelves and fantastic built-in bunk beds.
Girls’ Cabins: This area, which houses many of our 9th and 10th grade girls, has received an expanded, new bathroom which we are certain will be well appreciated by our campers living there.
Girls’ Annex Cabins: This area, where our female JCs reside, has also undergone renovations including new, built-in bunk beds, shelves, and windows.
Actors’ Studio: The Actors' Studio has been upgraded with new high-powered fans which we hope will keep the building and audience cooler during performances on hot summer nights.
LSD: Buck’s Rock’s Lighting and Sound Studio will undergo an expansion which will now enable the sound staff and lighting staff and campers to work more effectively.
Animal Farm: We are excited to have new additions to our Animal Farm, namely an assortment of 10 fancy breed Polish chickens. We are also hoping that Dark Blacky and Pebbles, who have just recently been put together, will mate and produce a nice litter of baby bunnies by the beginning of June. Mystery and Copperfield are still part of the Farm’s community. Also, two bee hives have been acquired and reside up at our Caretaker’s house. The bees are actively building their hives and hopefully, one day, we will be able to enjoy their honey in the Kitchen and Culinary Studio. Any campers interested in learning about bee keeping will have an opportunity.
Fitness at Buck’s Rock: In addition to our well-rounded sports program which includes non-competitive team sports and instruction in tennis, martial arts, archery and fencing, last summer we added Jazzercise and Boot Camp classes which were a real hit! We will continue to offer those and will be adding Zumba classes to the schedule. These great opportunities to stay fit and have fun with campers and staff alike will take place under the new pavilion.
CIT Meeting: 2012 CITs should mark your calendars as we hope that you will be able to attend the CIT meeting that will take place in New York City at 11:00AM on Saturday, May 12 at the 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue/92nd Street – 212-415-5500). Please email or call to RSVP.
Open House: Our Spring Open House will be held on Saturday, May 19 from 1pm to 4 pm (rain date is May 20). On that day, we will be offering tours of the camp and facilities and would be pleased to discuss our performing and creative arts program with any newly enrolled or prospective families. Please call us at 800-636-5218 to advise us if you plan to attend. Driving directions to camp can be obtained from our website at www.bucksrockcamp.com
Summer Visits/Tours for Prospective Families: This summer we will be hosting two informational sessions for prospective families on Saturday, July 7 and Saturday, August 11. While we hope many interested families will be able to attend on one of these two dates, certainly we can accommodate visits on other days and ask that you please call our office to schedule.
Enrollment: Enrollment for the upcoming season is strong and we have been enjoying meeting or speaking with our new campers. We currently have openings in all sessions, but a waitlist for girls in our Junior Camper Program. There is still some space for boys in that program. The CIT group is a nice sized group and they have already shown to be excellent ambassadors to our new campers.
We are very excited about our many wonderful returning and new staff and campers, the exciting enhancements to the facility and program, and now all we need is our campers!
Looking forward to another great summer,
Mickey & Laura
An Update From Sherry Jonas Regarding The Kate Reardon Memorial Scholarship Fund:
In the wake of the tragic death of camper Kate Reardon in September 2011, friends quickly united and created the Kate Reardon Memorial Scholarship Fund (KRMSF). The KRMSF was established to raise money and offer scholarships for kids with a love of the arts and proven leadership within their communities whose families might not otherwise be able to expose them to the wonderful world that is Buck’s Rock Camp for Performing and Creative Arts. Under the leadership of camper Halley Jonas’ mother Sherry, in just seven months, the KRMSF has raised over $75,000. Fundraising efforts have included email solicitations to Kate’s Westport, CT community and our Buck’s Rock families, the selling of memorial rubber bracelets and baked goods at Kate’s middle school theatre performances, and a special Moms’ Night Out performance on April 12 by tri-state area cabaret troupe “Mom’s the Word.”
“Mom’s the Word” entertainers Amy Mandelbaum (whose daughter Julia was a close school friend of Kate), Dana Covey, and Erika Radin generously donated their performance to the KRMSF. Fairfield Country Day School generously donated their school’s auditorium and staff. Several local Westport, CT families and businesses generously donated funds to underwrite the costs of the show. By night’s end, nearly 150 people had enjoyed the clever, original show that turns a “comic eye on the things that drive us all crazy about motherhood, like temper tantrums, over-scheduling, puberty, clueless spouses and much, much more...as well as the joy our children bring us.” Over $7,500 was earned that night in April, which came right on the heels of confirmation of the award of two scholarships for this summer’s second session.
We are grateful that non-profit group Friends of Buck’s Rock (headed by Managing Director Stephanie Segal Hartman) has partnered with the KRMSF to manage the scholarship application and awards processes as well as offer invaluable advice and support to the group. Fundraising will continue and each year the KRMSF will send worthy candidates to Buck’s Rock Camp in Kate’s honor. Kate Reardon will be missed this summer and for all the summers to come. But with the establishment of this scholarship fund, we can ensure that she will never be forgotten and her special personal qualities (joy, laughter, generosity, and friendship) will be represented by the scholarship recipients who will enjoy camp, thanks to Kate’s friends and family – and you.
If you have not yet donated to the KRMSF, or would like to donate again, please send your fully tax-deductible check made out to “KRMSF/FOBR” to 3 Bayberry Common, Westport, CT 06880. Also, Kate’s memorial rubber bracelets will be available for sale this summer at Canteen, with all funds going to her scholarship fund. Thanks for your support, and hug your children tight. Life is short.
| permalink
Winter Newsletter 2012
5/7/12,
Greetings Buck’s Rockers!
Buck’s Rock’s 70th season will certainly be exciting and we hope to see many Alumni visit during the summer to honor this momentous anniversary. With many staff already committed to returning, skilled new hires, returning and new campers, along with our fifth season of the Junior Camper Program for 9 and 10 year olds, the summer is bound to be a great success.
We wanted to contact you now as we are especially excited about certain projects that we would like to share with you. And, to stay updated on all camp happenings, be sure to Like our Facebook page!
We very much look forward to welcoming you this summer and together enjoying what we have all come to love about Buck’ Rock.
Huge Project and More Renovations/Improvements
• As we announced in our Fall Newsletter, the Pavilion project is progressing very well and will be finished for our May Open House. With stone from our local area, the Pavilion is consistent in feel to the stonework at Girls’ House, the Porch and the Bulova Memorial. We are very excited to use and fill the space with summer activity.
• The stonework at Girls’ House, Boys’ House and the Porch has also been repaired and re-pointed.
• Forrest, Rigo and Hector have been very busy this fall and winter renovating and upgrading the Girls Annex Cabins where we house our female Junior Counselors.
Buck’s Rock’s 70th Anniversary
We will be commemorating our 70th Anniversary this summer. Stay tuned for details regarding a camp Reunion and celebration.
New Addition to Our Full-time Staff
We are very pleased to welcome Marion Piper to our full-time team. Marion, who has been a staff member at Buck’s Rock in the Video Shop since 2009, has joined us to develop our marketing program and serve as a liaison to prospective and newly enrolled campers and their families. During the summer, she will complement our Office Team and continue to promote Buck’s Rock and cultivate new relationships with interested families
Bracelets for Kate
As you may know, fellow Buck’s Rocker Kate Reardon passed away on September 2, 2011. Kate was a remarkable young person with a love of life and silliness that endeared her to people of all ages. She had a capacity for friendship and caring that was immeasurable. Kate was a loyal and dedicated friend and her loss is a tragedy to her family, her friends, and our Buck’s Rock community.
As part of ongoing efforts to raise money for the Kate Reardon Memorial Scholarship Fund (which offers scholarships to underprivileged youth to attend Buck’s Rock), please consider purchasing a MEMORIAL BRACELET. The turquoise rubber bracelets read “for kate ~ never forget ~ KRMSF.” Each bracelet costs $5 and all funds go to the scholarship fund.
To order your bracelet or bracelets, please mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your check for $5 for each bracelet made out to FOBR/KRMSF. Send to:
KRMSF
c/o Sherry Jonas
3 Bayberry Common
Westport, CT 06880

Sherry will mail you back your bracelet(s) promptly.
And if you haven’t already done so, please join us in honoring Kate Reardon’s memory by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Kate Reardon Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks can be made out to “FOBR/KRMSF” and sent to the address above. Thanks so much for your support.
Any questions? Please email Sherry Jonas at sdjonas@optonline.net.
Upcoming Events and Dates to Remember:
Spring Open House
Our Spring Open House will be held on Saturday, May 19th at 1 PM to 4 PM (Rain date May 20). On that day, we will be offering tours of the camp and facilities and would be pleased to discuss our performing and creative arts program with any newly enrolled or prospective families. Please call us at 800-636-5218 to advise us if you plan to attend. Driving directions to camp can be obtained from our website: www.bucksrockcamp.com
2012 CIT Meeting
The CIT Meeting will be held in New York City on May 12th from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. We will discuss the CIT program, paying special attention to our expectations of this year’s CITs as Big Brothers and Sisters, followed by a pizza lunch. We will advise the location as we get closer to the date.
News from Buck’s Rockers
Julian Perricone was a Gold Key winner of this year's Scholastic Art & Writing Award contest for his movie camera which he created in the wood shop this past summer at Buck's Rock. Scholastic hosts an exhibition and award ceremony for all gold key winners next month -- 300 gold key winners out of 3500 submissions – and their work will go on to the national level contest. Congratulations Julian!
Jessye Kass, a camper from 2006 and Sewing CIT in 2007, and now a current junior at Brandeis University, has founded an art therapy organization in Ghana with a local artist named Serge Attukwei, where she worked for 6 months after graduating from High School. Now an officially registered program, they work with over 800 children living in poverty, victims of abuse and children with disabilities. Jessye writes: “My time at Bucks Rock helped me develop as a leader and also be creative despite not being a great painter or something specific. I have now been published on the subject of my organization, spent 3 summers there and am headed back in a few weeks.” The program accepts volunteers from around the world and continues to grow each day. Their website is www.attukweiartfoundation.org
Submissions to Time Out New York
Time Out New York Kids, the preeminent resource for tri-state families, will soon be announcing its annual Summer Camp Guide and is seeking reader submissions on their favorite summer camp experiences to be featured as Readers' Picks in the upcoming guide. If you are interested and wish to submit a Buck’s Rock experience for their Readers' Picks, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/timeoutkids?sk= ... 8839841421
College Scholarship Opportunity from the Milton Fisher Organization

The Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity, a FOUR year college scholarship offers multiple awards of up to $20,000 (up to $5000 per year for four years) for exceptionally innovative and creative high school juniors & seniors, & college freshmen 
applicants must be:
(a) a student planning to attend or attending an educational institution in Connecticut or the New York City metropolitan area or,
(b) a Connecticut or New York City metropolitan area resident planning to attend or attending an institution of higher education either anywhere in the United States
Due date, April 30, 2012
Apply for this scholarship if you are a student who has solved artistic, scientific, or technical problems in new or unusual ways, a student who has come up with a distinctive solution to problems faced by your school, community or family, a student who has created a new group, organization, or institution that serves an important need.
VISIT: www.rbffoundation.org for a description of the award, the application, and FAQ’s.
| permalink
Check us out on NBC!
8/1/11,
Here is a link to a short segment that was aired on NBC. Sorry this link is not available outside the US.
Enjoy,
Mickey and Laura
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/on-air/as ... 43448.html
| permalink
Our 69th Annual Festival Day Schedule
8/1/11,
Buck's Rock's 69th Annual Festival Day is Saturday, August 20, 2011. The schedule for the day's events are as follows:
11:00am to 5:00pm
See a diverse collection of this summer's camper art projects in the Actors' Studio and also on display at various studios. There will be glass blowing demonstrations throughout the day. An exhibit of staff artwork will be held at the Painting Studio.
11:00am to 3:00pm
Our Radio Station, WBBC 87.5 FM, will broadcast live and can be heard at the gazebo on the lawn, our new solar powered listening center. Selections will include camper recordings produced at Buck's Rock's very own digital recording studio, Studio 59.
11:00am
Pub Shop campers will read highlights of this summer's writings on the Sewing Shop porch.
11:30am
Also on the Sewing Shop porch, there will be a camper fashion show, highlighting projects designed and sewn in our Sewing Shop.
Noon until 1:00pm
A picnic lunch will be served to all our guests.
12:30pm
Campers and counselors who have taken part in the daily Guitar Snack will jam one more time at the Bulova Memorial.
1:00pm
The Festival Day Show will be performed in the Summer Theatre: "Charlotte’s Web," directed by Marla Truini. Perfect for younger visitors. All are welcome!
2:00pm
At the Dance Studio, Buck's Rock dancers will perform highlights from this summer's earlier recitals, and an all-new Junior Camper piece will be performed.
3:00pm
The Junior Camper Play is a fun-filled celebration performance by our youngest campers. The Junior Campers crafted and developed an entire theatrical script under the supervision of directors Izzy Atkinson and Charles Cohen. Enjoy!
4:00pm
The Clown/Improv Shop will perform improv and sketch comedy highlights from our 2011 season in the Dance Studio.
5:00pm to 6:30pm
Hear selections from some of the summer’s biggest performances, including Rock Cafe, Woodstock Tribute Show and the Mushed concert at this music extravaganza in front of Boys' House.
6:00pm until 7:00pm
A picnic dinner will be served to all our guests.
8:15pm
At the Summer Theatre, Buck's Rock presents the 2011 Festival Musical Production of Gypsy, directed by Ernie Johns.
All 1st and 6 week Session campers are invited to return to camp that day to enjoy the festivities.
Hope to see you there,
Mickey and Laura
| permalink
Spring Newsletter 2011
5/6/11,
Spring 2011
There is so much to be excited about for the upcoming summer, from staff to campers, to renovations and additions, we are eager to share the details with you. Please feel free to contact us regarding questions about the program or enrollment, as we still have openings, and we look forward to sharing another great summer with all of you who are returning for the summer of 2011!
2011 Staff: We are thrilled that we have many returning staff this summer, and wonderful new additions to our team. If you are interested in viewing the names of returning staff, please go to http://www.bucksrockcamp.com/office/staff.php for a complete list. We are also very pleased that we are approximately 95% staffed to date and are actively interviewing candidates to fill our few remaining positions.
Girls House: GH, which houses our youngest, female campers, is undergoing a complete renovation for the summer of 2011. The new camper rooms will house four campers each and will feature newly designed built-in bunk beds, each equipped with their own electrical outlets, and spacious cubbies for clothing and personal items. There are also new windows, doors and ventilation with improved airflow. A new Guidance Counselor room will also be built, as well as a new outdoor deck.
Our Summer Theater: Due to the unprecedented amount of snow this past winter, our cover at the Summer Theater unfortunately collapsed and looked more like a half-pipe than a tent. It will be replaced this spring with more pitch and stronger inner structure to endure heavier snow loads. Also, just in time for summer, the Summer Theater will feature new benches with BACKS for greater comfort as we enjoy our many wonderful performances.
Animal Farm: We are very pleased to have some new additions to our animal farm, namely a mother dwarf goat and her baby. Pictures are on our Facebook page and we are taking name suggestions there, too, so please join and share your ideas. Their names will be selected at camp. We also have adopted a female dwarf rabbit that we have mated with one of our lionhead bunnies from last summer. We are hopeful to have baby rabbits by summer.
CIT Meeting: 2011 CITs should mark your calendars as we hope that you will be able to attend the CIT meeting that will take place in New York City at 11:00AM on Saturday, May 14 at the 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue/92nd Street 212-415-5500).
Open House: Our Spring Open House will be held on Saturday, May 21 from 1pm to 4 pm (rain date is May 22). On that day, we will be offering tours of the camp and facilities and would be pleased to discuss our performing and creative arts program with any newly enrolled or prospective families. Please call us at 800-636-5218 to advise us if you plan to attend. Driving directions to camp can be obtained from our website at www.bucksrockcamp.com
Enrollment: Enrollment for the upcoming season is strong and we have been enjoying meeting or speaking with our new campers. We currently have openings in all sessions, but a waitlist for girls in our Junior Camper Program. There is still plenty of room for boys in that program. The CIT group is a nice sized group and they have already shown to be excellent ambassadors to our new campers.
Buck's Rock News: Congratulations to Anjali Raghunathan for winning the Scholastic Arts Award for a painting she made at Buck's Rock. Maxine Padayachee from South Africa delivered her baby boy, Erik Mandrup Christensen, on April 9th.
With so many wonderful returning and new staff and campers, exciting enhancements to the facility and program, the summer of 2011 is one not to be missed!
Looking forward to a great summer,
Mickey and Laura
| permalink
Next
