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ePinemerit Newsletter
April 2012
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From the Executive Director
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Dear Pinemere Families, This past month proved to be another exciting (and busy) month for us. I have so many things to report to you! I am thrilled to announce that certain age groups are now SOLD OUT for first session. That's right, we now have a waiting list for the first session for the following age groups: entering 3rd and 4th grade boys; entering 5th grade girls. We are noticing that other age groups are starting to fill up, so please tell your friends and family to register soon. We wouldn't want them to miss out on our amazing Pinemere experience. We still have room in our second session for all age groups.
Ezra and I recently had the pleasure of spending a weekend at camp with our CITs of 2012. Twenty out of twenty six of them were able to attend, and we had the opportunity to start some group building and leadership training. This group promises to be excellent future leaders of camp. I thank the staff members who worked with the group during the weekend: Aaron Singer, Maia Ben-Shoshan, Talia Baurer and Kaley Weinstein. They all took time out of their busy schedules in order to come to camp and work with our teens.
This Sunday, I am traveling to Israel to train our Israeli shlichim. This training seminar is one of the highlights of my year. I am fortunate to observe over 600 young Israeli adults being prepared to come to many North American Jewish camps. Their enthusiasm in wanting to impart their love and knowledge of Israel is contagious. We have a great group of talented shlichim this summer, coming from all parts of Israel. And three of our shlichim are returnees, all serving in supervisory positions this summer - Halel Moran, Aya Inbar and Ofir Chananovits. Stay tuned to the next ePinemerit to learn more about our 2012 Pinemere shlichim.
Lastly, as the Executive Director of Pinemere Camp, I am proud of our community, and am always looking for ways to make it even better. I strive to create a supportive, inclusive, and safe community where campers and staff feel comfortable with where they come from and who they are. I am personally always looking for ways to achieve our mission and to bring more intentionality to our training and practices. Two weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a conference run by Keshet - a Jewish organization which educates the community about LGBT issues, and recently I participated in the 2012 Jewish Organization Equality Index survey. This survey allowed me to examine areas where we are doing really well with inclusivity at Pinemere, and areas that need more attention. As part of my Executive Leadership Institute commitment, I (along with my staff) will be planning activities which address bullying, inclusiveness, and creating an intentional, supportive community for all. Along those lines, I urge you to see one or both of the movies which are screening in the Philadelphia area this weekend (Hineini and Bully, see below for more information).
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Camp is really just around the corner. Ezra, Ann, Keith and I look forward to greeting you very soon. And, for those who are counting down the days...... only 73 days left until camp starts!
Think Camp! Toby Ayash Executive Director |
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Organic Comes to Pinemere!
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Thanks to the kind generosity of Kim and Elliot Katz, we will be providing organic produce and milk at camp this summer! Kim and Elliot encourage others to share in contributing to this effort. If you are interested, please contact Toby for more information.
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THIS SUNDAY: Two Special Movie Showings
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We want to share with you two unique and important films that are having special showings in the Philly area this Sunday, April 15:
All Philly-area teens and interested adults are invited to join the newly-formed Philadelphia Jewish Gay-Straight Alliance from 4-6 PM in Elkins Park for a showing of "Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School." The film's star, rabbi-to-be Shulamit Izen, will attend the showing and lead a discussion with the teens.
Please click here for more information.
 BBYO has invited all Jewish middle school and high school students (including non-BBYO members), parents, and community members to a pre-release screening of "BULLY," a feature-length documentary that depicts "a year in the life" of North America's bullying crisis. The screening will take place at 3 PM at the Landmark Ritz. At the conclusion of the film, participants are invited to engage in an anti-bullying training session and unique discussion on how they can make their communities a safe place. Please click here for more information and to order tickets.
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Breast Cancer Initiative | |
This summer, Pinemere is offering a 50% tuition discount for our second session for children of parents going through treatment for breast cancer during this year.
Please feel free to pass this on or share it with any establishments or organizations who can help promote this for us. We hope to help many families through this initiative.
Please contact Toby Ayash at toby@pinemere.com with any questions or for more information. |
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Family Camp
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Save the date: Friday, August 17 - Monday, August 20
We are excited to announce the return of Family Camp this August!
 
Bring your family to Pinemere for a weekend full of fun activities for all ages!
Stay tuned for more details.
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Pinemere Day at the Phillies Fundraiser
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Join us for Pinemere Day at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, September 9th, as the Phillies take on the Rockies at 1:35 PM! Families, alumni, staff, friends, are all welcome to join us.
The cost of $40/person includes a ticket, $10 concession stand voucher, and $10 donation to Pinemere.
Tickets are limited and are first-come, first-served. Please complete this form and send to our office with payment to reserve your tickets!
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70th Anniversary Celebration
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A celebration in honor of Pinemere's 70th anniversary will be held this Fall. Please stay tuned for further information in the coming months!
Please note that the anniversary celebration will be in place of Alumni Day this summer.
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CIT Leadership Weekend
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On March 23-25, 20 of the 26 CITs of 2012 came up to Pinemere for a weekend of leadership training, group bonding, and preparation for their CIT summer. We are thrilled that so many were able to attend, and the time spent together at camp was a great kickoff to what is sure to be a meaningful and memorable summer! We can't wait to see all our CITs again when they arrive at camp on June 20th!  |
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Pinemere CITs to Participate in Teen Philanthropy Program
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Pinemere has been awarded a grant from The Jewish Teen Funders Network, a youth philanthropy project of the Jewish Funders Network, to develop a high-quality teen philanthropy program. Through this program, Pinemere, along with the 19 other participating camps, will create a Jewish teen foundation, in which our CITs will work together as a "foundation board," giving away real money to non-profit organizations of their choosing. Throughout the grantmaking process, in which the participants will review grant proposals from non-profit organizations, make site visits to potential grantees, and determine which organizations to support, the philanthropists-in-training will examine Jewish texts, traditions, and values related to giving. The pilot program encourages campers to "learn by giving" and will generate at least $20,000 in grants, with each teen foundation awarding a minimum of $1,000 in grants. |
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Clinics!
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We are excited to again offer specialized clinics this summer during both sessions. Clinics provide campers with a unique opportunity to focus exclusively on a single activity for 3 consecutive days, and improve their skills by learning from experts in our "Coaches-in-Residence" program.  This summer we will be bringing back our most popular clinics and clinic instructors from last summer! You can now sign up for clinics in:
Horseback Riding
Golf
Baseball (utilizing our new batting cage)
Basketball
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
and of course, Woodworking
Some of the clinics will fill up, so please send in your forms now!
CLICK HERE to log in to your account. |
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2012 Camper Registration
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CLICK HERE for our quick and easy online registration!
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| SPARK/Pioneers Short-Term Programs | |
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Keith's Korner
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It's very hard to believe that it is already April! Very soon all our campers will be arriving at Pinemere. I have to say, you are all going to be in for a big surprise! The changes and upgrades are everywhere! We have been busy doing a lot of things that will be very noticeable. I am going to keep it all a secret until you get here. So you will all just have to wait. Ha Ha! It just wouldn't be any fun if you all knew! See you all in a few months!!
Keith Raymond, Facilities Supervisor
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Welcome to our New Caretakers
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We are thrilled to welcome our new caretakers, Ray and Rachel Ackerman! Ray works as a correctional officer, with prior experience in construction, and Rachel works for a pharmaceutical company. Ray and Rachel will be living year-round at camp, and assisting Keith part-time with facility upgrades and maintenance. Please introduce yourselves to them this summer!
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Campers in the News
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Rachel Bloom, CIT of 2010 and a JC this coming summer, was featured in the Delaware NewsJournal for her participation in the Jewish Learning Institute's "Secrets from Sinai" class. Click here for the article. Way to go, Rachel! Or Ayash, CIT of 2012, recently placed 2nd in the 14-and-under age group and 54th overall out of almost 5000 runners in the Phillies Charities 5K run. Mazel Tov, Or!
Finally, this photo wasn't exactly in the news, but we want to share it with you anyway - the extended Ufberg family was recently in the area and arranged to stop by camp and take a photo on the "Ufberg Bridge." We are beyond thrilled that EIGHT Ufberg cousins will be at Pinemere this summer!
If your child is in the news, please let us know at ezra@pinemere.com so we can include it in an upcoming e-Pinemerit!
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April 22 is J-Serve: Day of Jewish Youth Service
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We are proud to partner with BBYO to promote J-Serve on Sunday, April 22. All parents and youth are invited to participate, and there are no costs to the projects. Please visit www.jserve.org for more information, or see the attached flyer for information on J-Serve projects in the Philly area.
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Host Israeli Shlichim This Summer
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The Kaiserman JCC is looking for host families in the Western suburbs of Philadelphia for their Israeli shlichim, from June 14 - August 17 (you can do partial dates). If you are interested, please contact Jennie Katz at jkatz@phillyjcc.com.
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Welcome to the Pinemere Family!
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The following NEW campers recently registered for the Summer of 2012!
Ari Abramovitz
Justin Barrer
Shoham Ben Yehuda
Aria Bitan
Amy Boguslavsky
Mikayla Braver
Brett Broudy
Sophie Citron
Roy Einhorn
Tia Einhorn
Danielle Goldman
Evan Goldstein
Zach Hymowitz
Noah Lipsitz
Michael Martin
Juniper Moscow
Audrey Peck
Kira Quitel
Emma Sandberg
Hannah Schindler
Danielle Schmoyer
Jessie Schneider
Rebecca Shaid
William Stewart
Jordie Ufberg
Kyhl Weber
Marli Weisman
Amalya Weiss
We are so excited to welcome them to the Pinemere Family, and are looking forward to the enthusiasm all our new campers will bring to Pinemere this summer!
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One Happy Camper Incentive Grants | |
Through the generosity of the Foundation for Jewish Camp and local communities, we are proud to be a partner of the One Happy Camper incentive grant, which provides $1000 for first-time overnight Jewish campers.
Many communities also provide a $750 grant for the second summer. If you are eligible, you must apply (for the second year as well!) directly at www.onehappycamper.org. Please contact us with any questions. |
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PJ Goes to Camp Incentive Grants | |
PJ Goes to Camp offers incentive grants up to $1,000 to PJ Library families who wish to enroll their children in a nonprofit Jewish overnight camp for the first time.
Made possible by the Foundation for Jewish Camp's One Happy Camper program and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, this offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis to PJ Library families who might not otherwise be eligible for their community's One Happy Camper program..
Eligible First-Time Campers Include:
- Current PJ Library subscribers who enrolled in the program on or before Sept. 1, 2011.
- Siblings of current PJ Library subscribers who enrolled in the program on or before Sept. 1, 2011.
- All PJ Library alumni
For further eligibility requirements please visit the PJ Goes to Camp website (www.pjlibrary.org/pjgtc).
Register for a PJ Goes to Camp/One Happy Camper incentive grant at www.onehappycamper.org and enter the PJ Library referral code PJGTC20121A at the beginning of your online application.
(PJ Library children fortunate enough to live in communities whose Federations sponsor a One Happy Camper program will receive a grant from their community sponsor rather than a PJ Goes to Camp grant.)
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are only 100 grants for campers who currently attend Jewish Day schools.
To learn more, please contact Kirstin at Kirstin@hgf.org or your local PJ Library Program Professional. |
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March/April/May Birthdays
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
March:
3 - Leah Harris, Alex Irizarry, Rian Stewart, Jared Widman
4 - Michael Martin, Josh Weinberg
6 - Joanna Gerber
7 - Jared Wilen
8 - Anna Lewis, Andy Ringold
9 - Hope Brandeis, Rachel Nahamo
10 - Brett Broudy
11 - Jacob Greene
12 - Gabe Tamarkin
13 - Susannah Berlowe-Binder
15 - Danny Ermann, Rachel Kramer
16 - Zach Ufberg
17 - Michael Chinn
18 - Amalya Weiss
19 - Halel Moran
20 - Nathan Gelb-Dyller, Zoey Greenberg, Aya Inbar
21 - Jason Forman, Emma Lewis, Rebecca Wilen
22 - Sam Fuhrman
23 - Leia Cohen, Sophia Fuhrman, Sydney Harris, Miranda Rosen
24 - Hilary Cutler, Lilah Epstein, Kaley Weinstein
25 - Justin Barrer, Zach Granoff, Meredith Harris, Rachel Singer
26 - Zach Schreiber
27 - Kate Jeffrey
28 - Rachel Smertz
29 - Sophie Fiks
30 - Molly Mintz
April:
2 - Alexa Gartenberg, Stacey Grossfeld, Noah Solomon
3 - Jaclyn Barzev, Asher Dayanim
4 - Emma Katz, Anna Schlesinger
5 - April Efron, Leah Schaller
6 - Lucie Firkova, Julie Solomon
7 - Henry Miller
8 - Alina Wolfenson
9 - Omri Amidi, Danielle Goldman, Avital Schweitzer, David Sher, Sarah Sher, Rachael Smith
11 - Brenna Cooper
12 - Amy Boguslavsky
13 - Danielle Cohen, Erica Helias, Esther Miller, Jessica Neilson, Mahri Stewart
14 - Moriah Gaynor
15 - Jake Randazzo
15 - Rachel Miller, Sophie Ostrich, Jesse Solomon
16 - Sam Webber
17 - Jacob Wasserman, Marli Weisman
20 - Evan Lewis
22 - David Feinberg
23 - Hunter Segal
24 - Tess Gaynor
25 - Danielle Alexander, Scott Cohen, Ben Hanzel, Zach Hyams
26 - Alyson Bell
27 - Shawn Beliveau
28 - Lori Mintzer
29 - Elana Friedman, Belle Roman
30 - Kailee Abeshaus
May:
1 - Zach Hymowitz, David Levy
3 - Jen Ruckenstein
4 - Aaron Goldstein, Sam Kliment, Will Kliment, William Stewart
5 - Julia Lee
7 - Talia Baurer
8 - Sarah Cohen, Grant Kaufman
10 - Caleb Epstein, Jared Horwitz
12 - Skylar Carroll, Ran Cohen, Lyle Selsky
13 - Eric Shear
15 - Ethan Rosenfeld
16 - Robbie Kornblatt
17 - Danielle Schweitzer, Ben Zager
18 - Izzy Randazzo
20 - Sloane Guber
21 - Alex Plastrik
23 - Alyssa Valladares
24 - Nadia Gartman
25 - Noah Lipsitz
26 - Filip Atanasov
27 - Elias Goodwin
28 - Ben Wax
29 - Adam Black, Rachel Bloom
30 - Rebecca Rome
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Stay Connected with Pinemere on Facebook
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Important 2012 Dates
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Full Season: June 24 - August 12
1st Session: June 24 - July 22
2nd Session: July 23 - August 12
SPARK (grades 1-4): July 13 - July 15
PIONEERS (grades 2-6): July 23 - July 29
Visiting Day: July 22
Family Camp: August 17-20
70th Anniversary Celebration: Fall 2012
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Pinemere Camp
Visit us on the web at www.pinemere.com
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