Fall 2012 - Newsletter
12/13/12,
Greetings Buck’s Rockers!
We so enjoyed seeing so many of you - campers and staff alike - at our Reunion this past December 1 in NYC. It was a great opportunity to reminisce about the summer of 2012 and look forward to the summer of 2013. With an impressive number of staff already committed to returning, new staff, returning and new campers, along with our sixth season of the Junior Camper Program for 9 and 10 year olds, the summer of 2013 will again be a summer filled with great things.
We are especially excited about a particular new addition to our program (read on) and other projects that we would like to share with you. And, to stay updated on all camp happenings, be sure to Like our Facebook page! Also, please note that our early enrollment discount is available until December 15.
We very much look forward to welcoming you this summer and together enjoying what we have all come to love about Buck’ Rock.
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season and New Year,
Mickey and Laura
*****************************************************
New Leaf on the Buck’s Rock Tree for 2013
We couldn’t be more excited to announce a new shop for the summer of 2013. Peter van Roden from Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, approached us with the idea and proposal to create a unique studio at Buck’s Rock which would combine the fabrication and video-style performance of puppets – using the inspiration of the Muppets, the ground breaking puppets of Sesame Street. Recognizing that there are few places that offer Puppetry of this style, and as a father of a long-time Buck’s Rocker, Peter felt that Buck’s Rock would be the ideal place to offer this program. Peter has offered his expertise in helping us staff and structure this new program in step with the distinctive video-style of Puppetry used in the production of Sesame Street.
The new studio will be located between Video and Leather and will have both a space for puppetry design and construction and a video-taping/production setup area with equipment of its own. We expect that campers will also access resources found among our many other studios and talented instructors to create puppets of all kinds, providing an opportunity for inter-disciplinary projects. In addition, we also imagine all our performing arts programs incorporating puppets in their performances.
We couldn’t be more honored and thrilled to embrace this wonderful opportunity for our campers to explore this renowned style of puppetry. Look out for updates and details as we put this exciting program together for the summer of 2013.
*****************************************************
More Renovations/Improvements
• The Dining Hall is currently undergoing an interior makeover and the Kitchen will enjoy a new walk-in refrigerators for the upcoming summer.
• Bookarts is currently being rebuilt and upgraded. It will feature a more open floor plan for a smoother flow of activity and easier oversight and instruction by the studio staff.
• The LSD (Lighting and Sound Design) booth was expanded and will make the summer productions run more smoothly.
• A new Bunny Barn has been built for our nine bunnies which will keep them warmer during the winter months. They will be brought out when the weather gets warmer and most certainly when all our campers are at camp to enjoy them and our many other farm animals.
• Various cabins, bunks and bathrooms throughout camp continue to benefit from renovation from Forrest and his team.
*****************************************************
New Addition to Our Full-Time Staff
We are very pleased to welcome Kasey Freer to our full-time team. Kasey, who was a staff member at Buck’s Rock for five summers, has joined us to develop our marketing program and serve as a liaison to prospective and newly enrolled campers and their families. Having been a Guidance Counselor in 2003 and 2005, and one of our CIT Counselors from 2006-2008, Kasey comes with an intimate understanding of Buck’s Rock’s Program and campers and CITs and a Masters in Education with a focus on school counseling from LIU. During the summer, Kasey will complement our Office Team, continue to promote Buck’s Rock and cultivate new relationships with prospective families and work with our CIT Program.
*****************************************************
Summer Visits/Tours for Prospective Families
Last summer we hosted two very successful informational sessions for prospective families which we will do again this upcoming summer. While our Open House offers a great opportunity to tour Buck’s Rock, for prospective families that wish to see Buck’s Rock in full swing, and at its very best, these summer tours and info sessions offer that opportunity. We hope many interested families will be able to join us for these scheduled events, and yet we can also accommodate visits on other days during the summer and ask that you please call our office to schedule.
On a Personal Note
Many of you in the Buck's Rock community already know that Laura’s father, Irwin Berger, passed away this past November. We are grateful for the many warm words of comfort and condolences that we have been receiving in the form of cards, emails, on Facebook and at Reunion.
From 1974 to 1996, Irwin was co-owner of Buck's Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp. Irwin's first summer at Buck's Rock was in 1957 when he was a counselor in Boys' House. In 1958, the year he and Roberta were married, he was CIT counselor for both girls and boys. He then took a hiatus to get his PhD, but kept in close touch with Buck's Rock and even bought a house on Candlewood Lake, twenty minutes from camp. In 1973 when Ernst was transferring ownership of the camp to Irwin and partners, Irwin was a Pub Shop counselor, working with some very talented Buck's Rock writers and graphic artists. The next year, the new partnership took over and Ernst and Ilse's Buck's Rock dream was kept alive, as it still is. Irwin was not only an educator, but also prolific as a poet, writer, artist, sculptor, photographer, collagist, and gardener.
| permalink
70th Anniversary - Alumni Day - Schedule
7/16/12,
Hey Everyone!
The 70th Anniversary/Reunion is coming quickly.
MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS - Anyone interested in perfoming should email - stephanie@friendsofbucksrock.org This way appropriate time can be allotted to all those interested. ALL ALUM need to leave the camp by 4pm. As much as we are all looking forward to this day and adding to all our wonderful memories, we need to remember that camp is in session and respect all those in attendance and his/her experience.
Schedule
11:00 am - Arrival, seeing shops in action, visiting WBBC for live
interviews/reflections (video will be there as well)
12:00 pm - Lunch
All the following will take place in the new Pavilion located on the Lawn
1:00 pm - Open Address by Mickey
1:15 pm - Improv led by Clown Shop
1:15 pm - Watermelon League Alumni Game (bring your glove)
1:45 pm - Guest Alumni performances (please contact Stephanie Segal Hartman if interested - stephanie@friendsofbucksrock.org)
3:30 pm - Guitar Snack led by Music Shed - Bring a guitar
4:00 pm Departure
| permalink
Town & Country Merit Badge
7/2/12,
Buck's Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp has been named the "BEST SUMMER CAMP FOR ARTSY TYPES" by Town & Country Magazine.
Summer Camp Revival Issue: June/July 2012
| permalink
2012 Summer Performance Schedule
7/2/12,
FIRST SESSION
Saturday, July 7th, 7:15pm and 9:00pm
Shel’s Stories
Selected short plays written by beloved children’s author Shel Silverstein. Hilarious, wacky, edgy, and all around FUN!
__________________________________________
Wednesday, July 11th, 8:30pm
Bedroom Farce
Four couples, three bedrooms, one loooooong night—More innocent that it sounds, Alan Ayckbourn’s charming comedy examines the timeless question “What makes a relationship last?”
__________________________________________
Thursday, July 12th, 7:30pm
Rock Café I
Twice a summer, camper bands have a chance to electrify their friends with real rock star performances (minus the rock star attitudes) at Rock Cafe. Punk, garage, pop, blues and metal groups are all welcome to show off their chops at this high energy concert, which proves that Buck's Rock still knows how to, well, rock!
__________________________________________
Saturday, July 14th, 7:15pm and 9:00pm
The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is William Shakespeare's classic comedy about love, marriage and the roles and expectations of men and women.
__________________________________________
Monday, July 16th, 8:30pm
Video Showcase I
Join us for a night of camper produced films screened under the stars on the lawn. Entertainment and enjoyment awaits you - we promise you'll be wowed and amazed! There will be popcorn.
__________________________________________
Tuesday, July 17th, 8:30pm
Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson
Washington DC. Tuesday. Round about 1830. The United States is a teenager shaking off wide-eyed childhood and crossing into fitful adolescence. Angsty, moody, cocky and unsure, BBAJ is the punk rock portrayal of a developing country and the president who typified Populism, power, race, money, celebrity and sex: In short, everything we have now.
__________________________________________
Wednesday, July 18th, 7:15pm and 9:00pm
Clown Show I
The Clown Show is a sketch comedy variety show, written and performed by Buck's Rock's funniest campers. Directed by a dedicated staff of clowns, campers use improvisation and other techniques to generate sketch material and then rehearse meticulously. The Clown Show is sometimes surreal, absurd, physical, and/or political, but it is always a fun time.
__________________________________________
Wednesday, July 18th, 7:30pm
Camper Recital
This evening is a chance for all our talented campers to perform music they’ve been working on with their private teachers and in small ensembles. Join us for an evening of chamber music, original compositions, solo performances, and more.
__________________________________________
Thursday, July 19th, 1:00pm
The Bacchae—Igloo Show
The Bacchae is a classic Greek play. Gods, kings, and togas. Hooray!
__________________________________________
Thursday, July 19th, 8:30pm
Music Shed Concert
In the midst of a hot, humid summer night, take comfort in the soothing sounds of the Music Shed Concert, an evening of material performed by Buck's Rock's many ensembles. See the a capella groups turn pop favorites into vocal magic, swoon over the cool players in the jazz combos, get riled up for the dynamic orchestra, and lose yourself in the chorus' massive harmonies.
__________________________________________
Friday, July 20th, 8:30pm
Dance Night I
The first session Dance show deals with contrast as inspiration and motivation. Choreographic works will be performed at the Summer Theatre. Don’t miss it!
__________________________________________
Saturday, July 21st and Sunday, July 22nd
Change Over and Staffworks
All day there will be a display of staff artwork in the Actors Studio.
SECOND SESSION
Wednesday, July 25th, 7:15pm and 9:00pm
Durang/Durang
An evening of one-acts, including the marvelous Glass Menagerie parody *For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls,* Durang/Durang is a night of concentrated hilarity of the absurd and often outrageous variety.
__________________________________________
Saturday, July 28th, 8:00pm
70th Reunion and CIT Show
Escape from Happiness
Escape from Happiness is George Walker’s absurdist comedy about an insane mother and her equally insane kids.
__________________________________________
Saturday, August 4th, 8:30pm
Eurydice
Sarah Ruhl’s moving, evocative, and humorously heartbreaking take on the classic Greek myth.
__________________________________________
Tuesday August 7th, 7:30pm
Tribute Show: Seattle
The skies are blue, the hills are green, and Soundgarden is pumping. It’s time to leave your home and head to Seattle, the city that launched Jimi Hendrix, the Wilson Sisters, and Kurt Cobain. It’s the city that invented the first electric guitar, jazz, and grunge. It’s been home to stars of vaudeville and still plays host to the latest new sounds. With names like Jelly Roll Morton, the Fleetwoods, Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, and Sir-Mix-A-Lot, Buck’s Rock’s 13th Annual Tribute Show, a love letter to the music of Seattle, will be a night of music nirvana (so to speak). Head down to the Summer Theatre for a night of performances by our very own rock bands, choirs, orchestra, and jazz ensembles as we pay tribute to the eternal music of Seattle.
__________________________________________
Wednesday, August 8th, 7:15 and 9:00pm
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
adapted from the Roald Dahl short story
By Buck’s Rock’s very own Sam Kusnetz, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a heavily layered ensemble piece about a wealthy man who seeks yogic powers to enhance his fortune.
__________________________________________
Saturday, August 11th, 8:30pm
Dance Night II
The second session dance show will take its inspiration from the passage of TIME. All new choreographic works perform at the summer theatre. A must-see!
__________________________________________
Sunday, August 12th, 7:15pm and 9:00pm
Clown Show II
The Clown Show is a sketch comedy variety show, written and performed by Buck's Rock's funniest campers. Directed by a dedicated staff of clowns, campers use improvisation and other techniques to generate sketch material and then rehearse meticulously. The Clown Show is sometimes surreal, absurd, physical, and/or political, but it is always a fun time.
__________________________________________
Monday, August 13th, 8:30pm
Rock Cafe II
Camper bands have a chance to electrify their friends with real rock star performances (minus the rock star attitudes) at Rock Cafe. Punk, garage, pop, blues and metal groups are all welcome to show off their chops at this high-energy concert, which proves that Buck's Rock still knows how to, well, rock!
__________________________________________
Tuesday, August 14th, 8:30pm
Music Shed Concert
In the midst of a hot, humid summer night, take comfort in the soothing sounds of the Music Shed Concert, an evening of material performed by Buck's Rock's many ensembles. See the a capella groups turn pop favorites into vocal magic, swoon over the cool players in the jazz combos, get riled up for the dynamic orchestra, and lose yourself in the chorus' massive harmonies.
__________________________________________
Wednesday, August 15th, 8:00pm
Video Showcase II
Join us for a night of camper produced films screened under the stars on the lawn. Entertainment and enjoyment awaits you - we promise you'll be wowed and amazed! There will be popcorn.
__________________________________________
Saturday, August 18th FESTIVAL!
1:00pm: Festival Day Show – The Secret Garden
A beautiful adaptation of Frances Hudgeson Burnett’s beloved chilren’s tale of love, loss, and rebirth.
2:00pm: Festival Dance Show
3:00pm: Festival Junior Campers Show
A show conceived and performed by the Buck's Rock Junior Campers!
4:00pm: Festival Clown and Improv Show
5:00pm: Music Concert
8:30pm: Festival Musical – Spamalot
Monty Python’s Spamalot, the Festival Musical, is the story of King Arthur and the Holy Grail as you’ve never heard it told before.
| permalink
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
Next
