Letter From the President

After what felt like a never-ending winter, I am so happy that summer is finally here! Even though it has been years since I have read a syllabus or turned in a homework assignment, I still mark the passing of time relative to the summer months. It’s no wonder that summer has always been my favorite season - filled with long, warm days, the occasional trip to the shore, and of course, camp!

Whether you continue to work at camp each summer, come back to Cascade once a year for Reunion, or are reminiscing about your days on the mountain from afar, the beauty of Circle is that it allows us to have a permanent connection to the magical place we all love. Speaking of which, what better way to stay connected to camp than to volunteer your time for the annual Camp History Day – coming up on Saturday, July 30! More details on how to get involved can be found on the Circle website and within this issue of the Lighthouse.

Also, make sure your calendars are marked for the 2016 Circle Reunion – September 16-18! Registration information will be coming to your mailbox (and email inbox) soon. Now’s a great time to make sure your information is up-to-date in the Circle Database so you are always in-the-know about all things Circle-related. I am already looking forward to what the Reunion Committee has planned for us!

And, if this year’s reunion isn’t enough to look forward to, be sure to save the date for the 2017 Circle Reunion – September 15-17!

While my days are now filled with the smiles that only warm weather and opening days at camp can bring, I also can’t help but smile when I think back on all of the wonderful Circle activities that have gone on during the past few months too! We had a great turnout for our Circle Paint Day back in March, and all of us left with beautiful masterpieces reminiscent of singing and sharing s’mores in Senior Campfire.

And of course, #CircleDay16 was a huge success with so many memories shared over social media, in- person and virtual meet-ups, and beating our Donation Challenge goal! A huge thank you goes out to the Board committees who made these events happen – and to all of you for your continued support of Circle!

When I first joined the Circle Board, it was out of a desire to give back to camp for everything it has given me over the years – and the experience has been so rewarding. Nominations are now open for this year’s Circle Board elections – if you’ve ever thought about how to play a larger role in Circle, this is your chance! We are also always looking for more helping hands on our many committees – it’s never too late to get involved!

Don’t forget to keep your eye on the Circle website, Facebook page, and Facebook group (and your email) for updates and information on everything planned in the coming months. You’ll also find information on how to support Circle financially by leaving your legacy, including purchasing a leaf on the Circle Tree of Life, dedication plaque in the Dining Hall, or commemorative brick to leave a lasting impact on camp, making a donation, or purchasing mitzvah cards. If you ever have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, feel free to contact me or any Board member.

As you read through this edition of the Lighthouse, think back on all your favorite camp memories – I’m sure you’ll have a smile on your face in just no time at all!

Andie Snyder (Circle 2006)
President, Camp Louise Circle

Letter From the Director

My husband Neil is a huge fan of Life is Good clothing. When he is not wearing AiryLouise attire, you can almost always find him wearing a Life is Good t-shirt or sweatshirt. He truly believes in the mottos on their clothing and he uses them to guide his life. Neil bought a copy of Life is Good: The Book – How to Live Life With Purpose and Enjoy the Ride.

The book is written by Life is Good founders and brothers Bert and John Jacobs. In the book, they tell about how Life is Good came to be – beginning with their “scrappy upbringing outside Boston” to the incredible company that many of us know and love today. Woven into their story are ten “superpowers” that they feel are key to their success:
1. Openness
2. Fun
3. Courage
4. Compassion
5. Simplicity
6. Creativity
7. Humor
8. Authenticity
9. Gratitude
10. Love

When reading this book, so much of what they talk about reminded me about….what else? CAMP! And of course, there is no place better to learn life’s lessons then camp.

Fast forward a couple of months and I received an email about an upcoming conference we were planning to attend: American Camp Association Tri-State Camp Conference. They were announcing their opening keynote speaker - John Jacobs from Life is Good.

The keynote was inspirational and funny and genuine. So much so that Marty (Director of Airy) and I decided to focus our theme of camp around this talk about superpowers.

So think about it….what are your superpowers? What are some superpowers you could work on a little?

As we go into Summer 2016, please know that in Cascade, MD we will be working on our superpowers and of course, using them for good – the good that we learn at Camp Louise!

Here’s to a great summer for everyone!

Alicia Block Berlin (Circle 1990)
Director, Camp Louise

Second Annual Circle Day a Huge Success!

On May 25, 2016, Circle members around the world took time to honor Camp, Circle, and the gifts that both have brought to our lives.

In addition to flooding social media with photos, videos, personal stories and memories, local get-togethers were held in Washington DC, Baltimore, MD, Columbia, MD, Gaithersburg, MD, Phoenix, AZ, Atlanta, GA, Chapel Hill, NC, and more! These events brought together Circle Members of all generations.

This year, we also launched the Circle Day Donation Challenge. In just one month, we exceeded our $800 goal in honor of Circle's 80th birthday by raising $905. Those funds will go a long way to supporting the mission of Circle.

Thank you to everyone who participated in #CircleDay16!

See #CircleDay16 Pictures

Thank You to Our #CircleDay16 Donors!

Camp Louise Circle is a non-profit organization and we rely on donations from our loyal members to support us in achieving our mission each year. At Circle Day this year, 62% of the donations came from a new donor! Thank you for spreading the word and giving back to Circle.

Board Nominations - Now Open!

Nominations are open until August 23 for any members who wish to run. Keep an eye out for an email in early September to vote on all nominees. Online voting will close on September 15, but a printed ballot will be available at Circle Reunion for those who are unable to vote online. Take a moment now to think about someone you’d recommend to join the board, and email your nomination to Randi Moody at randim@camplouisecircle.org. If you would like to nominate yourself, go directly to the nomination form.

Board Responsibilities

Interested in learning more about what it means to be on the board? You are committing to a 3 year term (you may be re-elected for a second term) in which you attend at least 2 of the 3 meetings per year. You will be expected to be on at least one committee and more importantly, you get to work with people who are just as passionate about Circle (and camp) as you are! If you have any questions about being on the board, contact Circle President, Andie Snyder at andies@camplouisecircle.org.

Top 5 Camp Tattoos

To some degree, camp will forever be tattooed on all of our hearts. Even those who didn't make Circle (yet) know what kind of impact Camp Louise had on their lives.

Some people show their love for camp on their skin, too. Check out our favorite Circle/Camp Louise tattoos below:

"Got it in Texas after my 5th summer. It's designed by fellow circle member Claire Dilworth. each letter is from the handwriting of a different person of importance in my life, including: one circle member, one ODL alumni and 2 leaf members." - Rhiannon Westhorp-Janz (Circle 2013)

"From you I'll never be far, I'm homegrown at heart." - SJ Frost (Circle 2009)

Dr. Steve Thompson (Circle 2015)

Missy Sachs-Kohen (Circle 1987)

Sarah "Sherms" Sherman (Circle 2009)

Committee Update: Membership

Happy 80th birthday, Circle! We may be getting older, but man, do we look great. There's been a lot of exciting events this year including Circle Day and the mid-winter get together paint day. Thank you to everyone who participated. If you ever have an idea for an event, or would like to organize one, feel free to reach out to me at irism@camplouisecircle.org.

Social/Special Events

Thank you to everyone who participated in Circle Day! For those of us who can't return to camp each summer, it was a nice reminder of the community we're a part of.

Mark your calendar for July 30th for History Day. If you're interested in sharing stories about camp, contact Erin Weinblatt at erinw@camplouisecircle.org to RSVP.

If you are pinning someone this summer, Circle Inductions are August 6th. Contact Neil Berlin at neil@airylouise.org if you have any questions about details.

Nominations

It's time to start thinking of who should be on Circle Board. If you know of someone who would be great on board, email Randi Moody at randim@camplouisecircle.org.

Here's to 80 more years, Circle!

Iris Maslow (Circle 2009)
Vice President of Membership

Committee Update: Reunion

This summer marks Circle's 80th anniversary, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than by gathering with new and old camp friends at Circle Reunion!

Mark your calendar for this year’s reunion which will be held Friday, September 16 to Sunday September 18, 2016. Registration information will be sent out by mid-July with the option to once again register online. This year's reunion theme is “Un-Birthday” and is guaranteed to be a festive weekend!

On another note, a few weeks ago, we voted on 2017 reunion dates since camp is already starting to rent out those weekends. The 2017 Circle Reunion dates are September 15-17, 2017. Now there's no excuse why you can't make it!

Alison Cederbaum Kaplan (Circle 2006)
Vice President of Circle Reunion

Circle Reunion 2016:
September 16-18, 2016
2016-09-16 18:30:00 2016-09-18 20:00:00 America/New_York Save the Date: Circle Reunion More details about registering for Circle Reunion will come out in late spring/early summer. Camp Louise, 24959 Pen Mar Rd, Cascade, MD, 21719, USA Camp Louise Circle alisonk@camplouisecircle.org

Committee Update: Fundraising

It's never too late to get started on your 2016 contributions - now is the time to make your 100% tax-deductible gift in support of Camp Louise Circle. Your gift can support the general work of Circle, Reunion Scholarships, Camperships, etc.

Make your gift.

Other ways to support Camp Louise Circle:

• Leave your legacy with a Circle Sisterhood Tree of Life leaf, a dedication plaque, or a brick.
• Mitzvah Cards
• AmazonSmile - With every purchase, Amazon will donate .5% back to Camp Louise Circle Fund, Inc. if you designate it.

If you have any questions about your donation or would like to donate an amount other than specified above, please contact the Circle Treasurer, Dani Hercenberg.

Paula Bragg (Circle 1997)
Vice President of Fundraising

Recipe: The Perfect Brownie

By: Rachel Gutin Medvin (Circle 2005)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup boiling water (measure accurately)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

To make:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Stir cocoa and baking soda in a medium bowl.
3. Blend in 1/3 cup vegetable oil.
4. Add flour, vanilla and salt; blend completely.
5. Pour into lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2" pan or two 8" square pans.
6. Bake at 350 degrees fahrenheit for 35 to 40 minutes for 13 x 9 x 2", 30 to 32 minutes for 8" square pans.
7. Cool; frost, if desired.

Yields about 3 dozen brownies.

Tip: I highly recommend under-baking a few minutes in order to keep the soft, fudge-like texture of the brownies.

New Circle Spotlight: Katie Friedman

The New Circle Spotlight features someone who joined Circle in the most recent induction class.

Location: Silver Spring, MD
Age: 21
Year you made Circle: 2015
Years on staff: 4, including 2016
Job in the real world: I'm a rising senior at the University of Maryland and I'm studying Elementary Education
What brought you to camp? My best friend was coming to camp in 2005 and I was luckily able to convince my mom to let me go with her.
Favorite camp memory: One of my favorite camp memories is from my CA summer in 2011; there were 52 of us so for one of the dances, we each went as a different card. Later that summer, our counselors split us into teams and we played human War and human Go Fish.
Hobbies: Israeli Dancing, Reading, Baking.
What are you looking forward to in the second half of 2016? Starting the final year of student teaching and being in the same classroom all year! I can't wait to be there on the first day and see all that my new class has to teach me!

Crossover Circle Spotlight: Neil Berlin

The Crossover Spotlight features someone who is a member of both Camp Airy's Order of the Leaf and Camp Louise's Circle.

Where do you live? During the off-season, we live in Owings Mills. From June through August, we live at Camp Louise.
Age: 38
Circle Induction Year: 2006
Leaf Induction Year: 1980
Job in the Real World: Camp is my real world! I am the Director of Operations for Camps Airy and Louise.
What Brought You to Camp? My first summer at camp was actually spent at Louise. My dad was asked by Sid Chernak, Executive Director at the time, to be a physician at Louise for a week in 1982. That summer my 1 year old sister Beth had her first summer at Louise too - and was kicked out for talking too much at night - keeping everyone awake! My first year as a camper was 1988 at Airy. My first full summer at Louise was in 2006 when Alicia was the Assistant Director.
Number of years worked at camp/department: I have worked in some capacity at camp since 1996. I was a counselor, unit leader, and volunteer. In 2006 I started at Louise as a volunteer and then became the IT/Scheduling Coordinator at Louise. Last summer was my first summer in my full-time role as Director of Operations for both camps.
Do you still work at camp: Yes!
Favorite camp memory: At Camp Louise, our twins' first birthday was pretty memorable. Who else has 600 people singing Happy Birthday on your first birthday?! One more great memory - last year, Alicia and I went on the Adventure Park. If the Outdoors staff is half as supportive as they were with me teetering up on the third level, our campers are in great hands! What an amazing experience and one I'm so happy that our campers get to experience!
What are you looking forward to in 2016? I'm looking forward to another great summer at Camps Airy and Louise! I love Opening Days - seeing my camp friends bring their kids to camp is always great! And then even better is when I spot the kids of friends having a great time - just like when their parents and I were at camp.

Transplant Circle Spotlight: Jane Sacks

The Transplant Spotlight features someone who is not Homegrown or didn't attend camp as a camper. Instead, this person came to love camp later in life.

Location: Baltimore, MD
Age: Old enough to be an AARP member! :-)
Year you made circle: 2005
Job in real world: Special Educator for Baltimore County Public Schools (Woodholme Elementary Schoool)
What brought you to camp? One year when my sons were younger I procrastinated and Airy had filled before I signed them up! Of course, they went ballistic on me so I called Mike Schneider and asked if there was anything that I could do! He said that they saved spots for people who worked there so I said “So can I work there?!?!!?” At that time, Airy didn’t need any more office staff so I ended up working at Louise! I loved my 4 weeks there so much that I never procrastinated again but I haven’t missed a summer at camp since!!!!!
Job at Camp: This will be my 16th summer at the camp office!
Hobbies: Shopping, spending time at the pool and beach, travel, walking.
Something that I’m looking forward to in 2016: I look forward to being able to spend more time than ever at camp this summer!

Golden Circle Spotlight: Henri Goettel

The Golden Circle Spotlight features someone who is 50 years old or older and still passionate about Camp Louise.

Location: Independence, Missouri (Harry Truman's hometown)
Age: 70 this September!
Circle Year: 1967
What brought you to camp? Have no clue! Began coming up the mountain at the age of 7.
Favorite Camp Memory: Sunrise hikes, Friday night folk dance, living Broadway in Solarium, campfire sing-alongs
Job in the Real World: Jewish educator
Hobbies: Teaching philanthropy to teens, pleasing the cat, gardening, Hebrew learning
Do you still work at camp? Only in my memories!
What are you looking forward to in 2016? Peace in our world

Points on the Circle

Babies

> Ellen Mae Perlstein Kaye (Circle 1949) became a Great Grandmother on March 19th! Mazel tov to her!

> Serene Israel (Circle 1994) also became a Great Grandmother this spring!

> Melissa (Mirkin) Barr (Circle 2003) and her husband Matt Barr (Leaf 2003) welcomed their son, Seth Mason Barr on March 30th. Seth is their second child, his older sister Jilly is loving her new little brother.

> Mary Maslow (Circle 1998) has a lot to celebrate- her son, Jed, got engaged to his Fiancé, Aria Webber! They are to be married this October! And, her daughter, Crystal, gave birth to Olivia Francesca Barba on January 31, 2016, making Mary a new grandmother and Iris Maslow (Circle 2009) an aunt!

> Beth (Berlin) Cohen (Circle 2000) and her husband, Matt Cohen, welcomed future Louise camper, Harper Dillon Cohen, on May 10th.

> Rachel (Scher) McLean (Circle 2001) and her husband Jordan welcomed Austin Samuel McLean on March 28th. He was 7lbs 12oz and 19.5 inches long, and 2-year old big sis Sierra loves him!

> Jodi Eisenberg (Circle 2004) and Jennifer Eisenberg Mulhall welcomed twins Naomi Rosalie and Leah Simone Eisenberg Mulhall on March 9th, 2016. Both babies were born healthy, at 6 pounds 15 ounces and 6 pounds 6 ounces, respectively. The girls are starting to laugh and roll over, and both moms are over the moon! Jodi has had quite the busy 2016 -- in addition to the new babies, she has moved and started a new job.

> Laurie (Rauseo) Okin (Circle 2002) and her husband Seth welcomed future Louise camper Charlie on June 6th. She was 7lbs 1.8oz and 19 inches long!

> Sandy (Bresnick) Saval (Circle 1997) and her husband welcomed Logan Nathaniel Saval on June 25th. He was 7lbs 7oz and 21 inches long.

> Know someone expecting? Surprise them with a camp shirt for their baby! Camps Airy & Louise offer free 12 month, 2T, or 4T shirts to any alumni. Contact airlou@airylouise.org with a shipping address and size.

Career/Graduation Achievements

> Mazel tov to Anna Koozmin (Circle 2014) who graduated from UMD with her Bachelors in Public Health and will be working at the George Washington University Biostatistics Center.

> Irina Lessne (Circle 2014) graduated with her BA in English from Ursinus College.

> Sarah Bernstein (Circle 2014) graduated from UMD and will be starting at George Washington University Medical School in the fall.

> Emily Egert (Circle 2014) graduated from Towson University with a degree in Educations and will be teaching at Dogwood Elementary School in the fall

> Hannah Hamer (Circle 2012) will be graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a Bsc in Radiotherapy and Oncology and will be starting a job in September.

> Rhiannon Westhrop-Janz (Circle 2013) graduated from the University of South Australia earlier this year.

> Kat Selalmas (Circle 2014) is starting a new job with Sky.

Engagements & Weddings

> Carrie Brown (Circle 2012) married Michael Casello on 5/29/2016 in North Carolina. Seven of her CIT sisters were in attendance, including six Circle members!

> Nicole Babus (Circle 2009) married Eric Rosenthal on 5/29/2016 in Baltimore, MD. There were many camp and circle friends in attendance from Airy and Louise!

Join the Database

Just a reminder to all Circle members and Louise alumni: The Circle maintains a database that contains your contact information (address, phone and email) as well as your camp history. If you've moved or changed your name or address since your record was created...if you're not sure you even have a record, please contact Henri Goettel at hgoettel@publicnetworking.org to check and update your record.