The Hilltopper: The Official Blog of Tyler Hill Camp

Color War Came Early This Year!

2012-05-24T18:49:10Z

Last weekend, the TLC Family of Camps took part in an amazing charity event at the second annual Camp Games for a Cause! Over 30 different camps in the tri-state area participated with camp staff, camp alumni and camp friends to compete in a day full of traditional “Camp Color War” events including basketball shootouts, tug-of-war, sing-offs, wacky relays, square dancing and much more! This all day fundraising event was filled with games, food and of course, plenty of camp spirit!!!

The proceeds from Camp Games for a Cause will benefit the children of SCOPE by providing at-risk children with a positive summer camp experience.

Thank you to all our camp families, friends and staff that participated and helped support such a worthy cause – You have made a difference in a child’s life this summer!

In Memory of Karen Frank

2012-05-23T15:44:59Z

How does one describe an icon so that everyone knows what an incredible person Karen Frank was and how she meant so much to so many?

Karen came to Tyler Hill with her husband Steven (Franko) in 1974. At that time she was the group leader of the Senior girls. She was filled with spirit and enthusiasm and Tyler Hill became her home. As years went by, Franko became the Assistant Boys’ Head Counselor and Karen brought two future Tyler Hill Color War Generals, Alyssa and Corey, into the world. In 2005 she found her true love in her grandson Aidan and in 2007 he was joined by brother Cooper.

Karen was a Wayne Hall Woman for several years and then in 1991 she became the Assistant Head Counselor for Girls’ Camp. She held that position for three years. In 1995, Karen became the office manager where she worked every day to make Tyler Hill the wonderful place it is.

So what made Karen the special person that she was? Her warmth, her creativity, her love for all campers and counselors was part of who she was. She knew everybody’s name. She listened to everyone’s problems and gave wonderful advice. She shared ideas and was thrilled when there was good news to celebrate. She encouraged people to be the best they could be and always had the answers. There was nothing that Karen couldn’t do and nothing that she wasn’t good at. She was the “go to” person for all of us at THC.

As the summer of 2012 approaches and we are all getting excited to be together with our Tyler Hill family once again, we are all saddened that one of us is missing. Karen, we will miss you dearly and we know that you will be watching over us, seeing us order this years’ sweatshirts, judging sing, and laughing at all the silly things that happen at camp although it will never be the same without you.
~ We love you ~

2nd Year Campers Can’t Wait to Get to 18469!

2012-05-17T18:55:51Z

Hi, my name is Jesse (on the right.) I am 11 years old and I live in Hewlett, NY. I will be a Junior this year at Tyler Hill and I am so excited! When I am not at camp I like to play basketball, lacrosse and hang out with my friends and family. My sister’s is in the picture with me and her name is Jolie. She is 9 years old and she will be a Cadet this summer at Tyler Hill. When she’s not at camp she likes to dance, play lacrosse and hang out with her friends and our family.

1) What is the number #1 thing you love most about camp?
Jesse: I get to celebrate my birthday at camp!
Jolie: Spending the summer with my best friends and awesome counselors. I never want the summer to end!

2) What was the funniest thing that happened to you at camp?
Jesse: When my whole division sat around the campfire and told jokes, they were hysterical! It was one funny thing after another!
Jolie: Every night we would have a talent show in the bunk. Someone would start a rap and the rest of the bunk would repeat it, it was hilarious!

3) What is your favorite memory from last summer?
Jesse: Canteen and hanging out. It’s so much fun.
Jolie: When I was picked to be a Captain for Color War. It was awesome!

4) Describe camp using only 3 words:
Jesse: Best Summer Ever!
Jolie: Best Camp Ever!

5) What are you most looking forward to doing this summer?
Jesse: Seeing my friends and going to Hershey Park.
Jolie: Being with my best friends, having a blast and making new memories!

Alumni’s Love of Musical Theater Started at Camp!

2012-05-09T17:55:28Z

My name is Jo-Ann Shain (standing on the right.) I started at THC back in 1964 as a camper and spent my last summer there as a counselor in 1971. My years at Tyler Hill have had a profound impact on my life. The rhythm of bunk life and camp rituals, the people, and the physical beauty of the area have been especially memorable to me. I enjoyed sports, particularly softball and swimming, but what has stayed with me the most is my participation in the camp musicals. I was lucky enough to land the lead in a few shows during those summers, mostly because I could sing (not act!). I developed a life-long love of singing and musical theater at Tyler Hill. As a result of this experience, I recently took a cabaret performance workshop and appeared twice in a cabaret show at The Duplex in Manhattan!

Another vivid memory of my days at THC were the evenings outdoors. The beautiful light at the end of the day, and the stillness of dusk. This filled me with a deep sense of peace…

I grew up in New Rochelle, NY and currently live in Brooklyn. I am married to my partner of 30 years, Dr. Mary Jo Kennedy and we have a 23-year-old daughter. I have a BA degree from George Mason University, and an MPH degree from Columbia University. Since 1984, I have worked as a Medical Editor/Writer. Mary Jo and I love to travel, spend time with friends and family, and partake in all that New York City has to offer!

My advice for anyone thinking of going to Tyler Hill is to savor your time there and enjoy every minute. You will have experiences that you may never have again, and to make memories at camp that will stay with you your entire life as they did for me. Tyler Hill runs deep!

Certified PGA Golf Instructor Joins Camp Family

2012-05-02T18:25:22Z

Tyler Hill is proud to announce the addition of Peter Adams to our Tyler Hill family this summer as our new Golf Pro! Peter is a “Certified PGA Instructor,” one of only fifteen in his home state of Connecticut.

Becoming PGA Certified was no easy task however. Peter’s PGA course work began back in 2008 and was structured much like an MBA program with general business classes in accounting, communications, budgeting, marketing and other core business topics. However, as a teaching professional, his golf instruction classes included: Player Development, Teaching Tools & Technologies, Human Learning and Golf Instruction and Motivating/Feedback Principles.

Peter tells us “It was a huge time commitment to complete this program, however It has been a great privilege to be part of the PGA. I have always enjoyed working with children and teaching golf is so much more than just the semantics of a sport. Golf also teaches discipline and life skills that can carry far beyond the golf course. To be able to instill that in my students, knowing that this is something that they will carry with them forever, is quite an honor. I am really looking forward to working at Tyler Hill this summer.”

Peter believes that part of being a successful instructor is being able to embrace each student’s individual needs, whether you are a beginner and have never held a golf club before or whether you are an advanced player. Everyone is different in their own unique way. By reading a student’s body language when they hold or swing a club, or even stand in front of a tee, embracing these small yet specific nuances is what gets a student from not playing well to calling themselves a golfer.

Peter has 2 adult children and two grandchildren. When Peter is not out on the golf course, he can be found kayaking or deep sea fishing in the inter coastal waterways of Florida where he spends a good portion of the year when not in Connecticut. However this summer, Peter can be found at 1017 Cochecton Turnpike, Tyler Hill, PA 18469! Welcome to the family Peter!

Spring Reunion at Down Town Sports

2012-04-25T18:38:16Z

We had a great Spring Reunion this past weekend in Mahwah, New Jersey at Down Town Sports for our two youngest age groups of campers – our Freshmen and Cadets!

We had a spectacular turnout with a show of over 100 THCers! We had so much fun playing dodgeball, kickball and having a basketball shooting contest. Food, drinks and laughter were also a constant throughout the day.

Many of our summer staff were also on-hand at this reunion because they were just as excited to see you as you were to see us! Tammy (Freshmen Cadet Girls Division Leader), Alyssa (Freshmen Cadet Girls Division Leader), Robin (Girls’ Head Counselor), Lonnie (Girls’ Assistant Head Counselor), Meredith (New Office Staff), Michael (Assistant Director), Chris (Boys’ Head Counselor), Robin Kelstein (Friendship Coach for Freshmen Boys), Natalie Perecman (long-time camper and 2012 Junior Counselor), Bette (Girls’ Camp Director) and Joel (Head Kitchen Staff).

Talking about camp, everyone was getting all excited for this summer, and we can’t wait either! We’re counting down the days just like you. That moment when we see your smiling face, and you jump off the bus - Only 59 more days until that happens! Yay!

Emerging Professionals In Camping

2012-04-18T17:27:59Z

While we’ve been known to have some pretty great folks around here, did you know that some of our staff members are EPIC? We’ll explain – The American Camp Association has a program called EPIC (Emerging Professionals In Camping) that is designed to help young professionals in the camp industry grow into the leaders of tomorrow.

The program strives to connect emerging professionals in camping from around the country to create a network that helps educate and create opportunities for them to grow in the jobs, and also to contribute back to the larger camp community. Through out the year, there are also several community service projects (like the food drive seen in the photo above) that members can opt to participate in.

Here at the TLC Family of Camps, we’re always looking for ways to help our staff grow and learn to better meet the needs of our camp families. So, last month, several members of our staff had the opportunity to take part in the EPIC Workshop that was held on the Tuesday before the Tri-State Camp Conference in Atlantic City. This year, guest speaker Steve Maguire focused on the topics of Team Building and Leadership. Being a professional speaker and having had lots of experience with different groups of people (teachers, students, campers and athletes!), he shared stories of how he has learned to successfully create a team atmosphere while also being an effective leader and role model. Steve was a very enthusiastic & inspiring speaker, and left the group energized.

From the first icebreakers of the day, each of the EPIC participants got to become part of a larger “team” while also learning effective ways to implement what they learned back in to their own camps back at home.

We’re excited to see how our EPICs utilize & incorporate what they learned in to the Summer of 2012!

Two Theatrical Campers Hit the Stage!

2012-04-11T17:24:05Z

Emma (left) and Alexa (right), both of whom will be Juniors this coming summer, will be performing next month in an all-time classic musical production of Annie at the Herricks Community Playhouse and we are so excited for them!

Both Emma and Alexa have demonstrated their flare for the theater in many of THC’s shows. During the summer of 2010 Emma was cast as Andy in THC’s production of TOY STORY and as a munchkin in THC’s production of The Wizard of Oz. Alexa was in both the Cadet and Sophomore Talent Shows and won Sophomore year! Both girls were also featured in THC’s Glee Showcase last summer and were in multiple numbers including “Poker Face”, “Rolling in the Deep”, “Time Warp,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’’”.

We asked Emma and Alexa what their favorite part of performing was and they said:
Alexa: “Getting to sing and act and to show everyone what I can do. It’s so much fun!”
Emma: “I love the lights shining on my face and being center stage… Although I’m rarely nervous, I am always excited! I love making other people smile!”

Both of them said that they are thrilled to be sharing this experience with their best friend – each other!

Although Emma has been involved in acting on and off since 1st grade, Emma said she really learned how much fun it is to perform with friends when she first began participating in camp performances. Alexa says she’s been writing songs and skits as far back as she can remember and loves to be in camps shows.

Both girls went to the Annie audition together with the hopes of being called back for another audition. Not only were they called-back, but they both made the final cuts and are set to perform in just a few short weeks! Alexa and Emma not only share a love of friendship for each other, but for the theater too, and are able to put the two together summer after summer at Tyler Hill. BREAK A LEG, Alexa & Emma!

Tri-State Camp Conference 2012

2012-04-04T18:58:04Z

A few short weeks ago, the TLC Family of Camps traveled down to Atlantic City for the American Camp Association’s annual Tri-State Camp Conference. Camp professionals from all over the country gathered from Wednesday to Friday at the largest conference of its kind to share information with some of the greatest minds in the camping industry.

One might ask; what actually goes on at the Tri-State Camp Convention? Well, let us explain! There are dozens of different seminars happening simultaneously during any given moment on any given day. Anything ranging from new programmatic ideas to capital projects to customer service, the seminars’ purpose is to give Camp Directors and their leadership teams new perspectives and ideas for the upcoming summer. We also enjoy walking through the exhibit hall and getting an opportunity to chat with vendors about different products and services that can help make each summer better for our families – we’re always keeping our eyes open for the next big thing!

We like to say that if we can walk away from the conference with a few things that we learned to improve the upcoming summer, then it was most definitely a success!

The Camp Conference also means one thing: CAMP IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! With only 80 days left until the summer of 2012, we can’t wait to take what we learned at the conference and make the summer of 2012 the best one yet!

Art From the Heart

2012-03-29T18:43:16Z

Hi! My name is Hannah and I am going to be a Junior this year at THC. It’s going to be my third year at camp. I’ve had the most amazing summers at Tyler Hill, so when I met someone who worked at Sunrise Day Camp, a day camp for children who have cancer, I knew I needed to do something to help those kids experience the type of awesome summers that I’ve been having year after year at Tyler Hill.

I decided to raise money for this specialty camp by selling artwork that I made. Unfortunately, I only had a few paintings to sell. So I started something called “Art From The Heart” where I collect artwork from anyone who’s willing to donate, whether it’s a “Picasso” or a little kid’s finger painting. We then sell the paintings at an art show (This year’s art show will be on May 6, 2012 at Pulitzer and Panetta Creative Studio, 51 Gibson Avenue, in Huntington, NY), and all the proceeds go straight to this camp.

At Tyler Hill, we’re taught about the STARFISH values program. This is something that I’ve taken seriously. I really love camp soooooo much, and believe that every kid deserves the “campy” experience, even kids less fortunate than us. Think about donating or buying a painting. By doing so, you are helping children with cancer experience a great summer like the ones I have at Tyler Hill, which they otherwise may not have been able to afford.