Check out the video for the 2009 Camp Monserrate season...it was a great 5 weeks!
Go to the the 2009 Camp Photos link on the right.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Last Days of Camp
Hello from the Adirondacks! We have been very busy this week with the challenge hike up Mount Marcy, Camper's Day, where the boys run camp as counselors, teachers, and directors, and preparing for our departure on Saturday morning.
Today at Camp, we will welcome back Fr. Jack and Mr. Lovallo. They will be here to joing in our celebration of St. Ignatius day, tomorrow.
Our departure from Camp will be on Saturday morning around 9 a.m. The boys should arrive at Nativity on Saturday afternoon around 3 p.m., depending on traffic conditions.
While we are all looking forward to seeing you, our families, again, we will be enjoying our last few days at camp!
See you all soon!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Saludos de Ms. Laguarda
Hola!
Esta semana pude pasar más tiempo con los estudiantes de Nativity acá en el Camp Monserrate. De nuevo, estoy impresionada con que bien que esta todo acá en el campamento. Los estudiantes, están acostumbrados a la rutina, y ahora unas cosas divertidas vienen para darles un premio por sus trabajos todas estas semanas. Este fin de semana, vienen varios alumnos de la escuela de Nativity, incluyendo muchos quien trabajaron en el campamento en anos pasados. También viene Father Jack de nuevo. Es la competición del “Iron Man” y algunos de los estudiantes van a ir a mirar la carrera con los alumnos. También vamos a tener un fogón con los estudiantes de Saint Ignatius (otra escuela de Nativity en el Bronx, donde yo trabajo también) el sábado de noche. En la semana que viene, algunos de los estudiantes van a subir una montana que se llama “Marcy,” y es la montana más grande en todo el estado de New York. Y, si siguen bien las cosas, los estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de estar en cargo del campamento un día, en una tradición que se llama “Campers’ Day.” Con todas estas actividades, es fácil estar entusiasmado, aun que son cuatro semanas sin sus familias, Playstations, camas, y la comidas conocidas.
Esta semana, pude hablar con algunos estudiantes, y por lo general, veo que todos quieren mejorar su comportamiento y se sienten cómodos con los demás y los counselors de Camp Monserrate. Mr. Staysniak, Mr. Arte, y C.J. están siempre pendientes de los estudiantes y se pasan hablando con ellos durante el día para ver si hay problema o queja.
Los estudiantes en todos los grupos fueron a un lago donde pudieron nadar y saltar de una roca. Ayer fui con Cabin 4 y fue muy divertido, varios saltaron de la roca, nadamos, almorzamos juntos y algunos participaron en una clase de yoga que di en el bosque, mirando al lago.
Mañana, me voy de nuevo para estar con mis hermanos y sobrinos. Como siempre, cualquier cosa, me pueden mandar un mail a laguarda@nativitymission.org.
Ana Laguarda
Esta semana pude pasar más tiempo con los estudiantes de Nativity acá en el Camp Monserrate. De nuevo, estoy impresionada con que bien que esta todo acá en el campamento. Los estudiantes, están acostumbrados a la rutina, y ahora unas cosas divertidas vienen para darles un premio por sus trabajos todas estas semanas. Este fin de semana, vienen varios alumnos de la escuela de Nativity, incluyendo muchos quien trabajaron en el campamento en anos pasados. También viene Father Jack de nuevo. Es la competición del “Iron Man” y algunos de los estudiantes van a ir a mirar la carrera con los alumnos. También vamos a tener un fogón con los estudiantes de Saint Ignatius (otra escuela de Nativity en el Bronx, donde yo trabajo también) el sábado de noche. En la semana que viene, algunos de los estudiantes van a subir una montana que se llama “Marcy,” y es la montana más grande en todo el estado de New York. Y, si siguen bien las cosas, los estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de estar en cargo del campamento un día, en una tradición que se llama “Campers’ Day.” Con todas estas actividades, es fácil estar entusiasmado, aun que son cuatro semanas sin sus familias, Playstations, camas, y la comidas conocidas.
Esta semana, pude hablar con algunos estudiantes, y por lo general, veo que todos quieren mejorar su comportamiento y se sienten cómodos con los demás y los counselors de Camp Monserrate. Mr. Staysniak, Mr. Arte, y C.J. están siempre pendientes de los estudiantes y se pasan hablando con ellos durante el día para ver si hay problema o queja.
Los estudiantes en todos los grupos fueron a un lago donde pudieron nadar y saltar de una roca. Ayer fui con Cabin 4 y fue muy divertido, varios saltaron de la roca, nadamos, almorzamos juntos y algunos participaron en una clase de yoga que di en el bosque, mirando al lago.
Mañana, me voy de nuevo para estar con mis hermanos y sobrinos. Como siempre, cualquier cosa, me pueden mandar un mail a laguarda@nativitymission.org.
Ana Laguarda
Friday, July 17, 2009
Highlights of Week 3
The days are moving along quickly, and we have almost come to the end of Week 3. Here are some updates on what has been happening at camp.
On Monday, the Pride, from Cabin 1, took on Cascade Mountain. They had great weather and made good time going up and down the mountain. Here is a picture of the group after they finished their hike and had returned to the bottom. Look at those happy hikers!
Monday also brought a visit from our school principal, Mr. Lovallo. While he was here to check up on how the camp is running, he brought an awesome surprise of baseballs and bats. Thanks Mr. Lovallo!
On Tuesday, Cabin 2, the Spark, hiked Cascade again. While they did not bring the camera along, their reports from the mountain were great. We can only imagine what views they had from the top!
Wednesday was a special day at camp. Steven Collado, a seventh grader in Cabin 2, celebrated his birthday for the second time at camp. As is the tradition, he got a delicious cake from Val, a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday from the entire camp, and even offered a "happy birthday dance" to everyone as a thank you. Happy 12th Birthday Steven!
While Steven was dancing his birthday away at camp, Cabin 3, the Odyssey, was hard at work on Mount St. Regis. They got an almost perfect day for their hike and they reported that the mountain had terrific views on all sides.
Cabin 4, the Hustle, went for their hike on Thursday. They must have been persuaded by all the positive feedback they heard from Cabin 3 about Mt. St. Regis, because they chose to hike St. Regis too! Even though there was a rainy start to the day, the cabin pushed forward with the hike and was rewarded with a hazy but sunny day.
More updates this weekend as we welcome back Fr. Jack and former director, Mr. Salvatierra and his wife Mrs. Salvatierra!
On Monday, the Pride, from Cabin 1, took on Cascade Mountain. They had great weather and made good time going up and down the mountain. Here is a picture of the group after they finished their hike and had returned to the bottom. Look at those happy hikers!
Monday also brought a visit from our school principal, Mr. Lovallo. While he was here to check up on how the camp is running, he brought an awesome surprise of baseballs and bats. Thanks Mr. Lovallo!
On Tuesday, Cabin 2, the Spark, hiked Cascade again. While they did not bring the camera along, their reports from the mountain were great. We can only imagine what views they had from the top!
Wednesday was a special day at camp. Steven Collado, a seventh grader in Cabin 2, celebrated his birthday for the second time at camp. As is the tradition, he got a delicious cake from Val, a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday from the entire camp, and even offered a "happy birthday dance" to everyone as a thank you. Happy 12th Birthday Steven!
While Steven was dancing his birthday away at camp, Cabin 3, the Odyssey, was hard at work on Mount St. Regis. They got an almost perfect day for their hike and they reported that the mountain had terrific views on all sides.
Cabin 4, the Hustle, went for their hike on Thursday. They must have been persuaded by all the positive feedback they heard from Cabin 3 about Mt. St. Regis, because they chose to hike St. Regis too! Even though there was a rainy start to the day, the cabin pushed forward with the hike and was rewarded with a hazy but sunny day.
More updates this weekend as we welcome back Fr. Jack and former director, Mr. Salvatierra and his wife Mrs. Salvatierra!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Campers of the Week, Jobs, Forts, and Field Day!!!
Campers of the Week 
As the week of being Intellectually Distinguished comes to a close we honor those campers that have lived up to this ideal: making the right choices because you know how to and standing out for doing so. The honorable mentions are Matthew Garcia, Lemuel Bourne, Sergio Velazquez, and David Bernard. These three campers have had a terrific second week and are on their way to having an even better third week. The camper of the week was awarded to Malik Forrest
and Adrian Suriel. Their ability to be intellectually distinguished really showed through this week. Great job!
and Adrian Suriel. Their ability to be intellectually distinguished really showed through this week. Great job!Jobs
Speaking of great jobs, even though we have been here for two weeks now the place is looking just as good as when the campers first arrived. Each camper has certain jobs that they were hired for the entire summer as well as additional jobs that they could volunteer to do. The sixth graders are sweepers of the Main Hall (supervised by a seventh grader) and the seventh and eighth graders are sanitation workers (with an eighth grade supervisor). Also, campers could volunteer to get hired for hospitality (getting rooms ready for guests and showing them around) or sacristan (cleaning the chapel). If the campers show up to these jobs on time and do them well they are rewarded just like in real life with a paycheck later in the school year.
Campers complete even more jobs throughout the camp to ensure that everything runs smoothly. In the kitchen, Val and Roseanne get help with every meal from three Kitchen Patrol and one Kitchen Assistant staff. Each cabin has a waiter for the day responsible for getting more food from the KP staff and cleaning and sweeping after the meal. Campers clean their cabins every day (sweep, fold their clothes, and make their beds). After hikes, campers do their own laundry.
All-in-all, they do a great job cleaning!
Fort Building Competition
After two amazing weather days we are now back to the unpredictability of the mountain storms. Saturday's weather was like most up here: clear in the morning with rain storms in the afternoon only to clear up right at dinner time. But the fun and team work never stops. With the recycling truck not coming to take our cardboard away for two straight weeks we decided that it 
should be put to use. Each cabin had two teams that were given the task of constructing a fort from seven pieces of cardboard and one roll of duct tape. The fort was judged on looks, stability, and if it could fit one Mr. Arte comfortably inside. Many forts had additional accessories that made Mr. Arte feel at home, such as a TV set to college basketball. One had a toilet and another even had a missile launcher (but no missiles). The two forts from cabin one, The Pride, tied for first place. Who knows, maybe Mr. Arte will sleep in one some night if the rain lets up.
should be put to use. Each cabin had two teams that were given the task of constructing a fort from seven pieces of cardboard and one roll of duct tape. The fort was judged on looks, stability, and if it could fit one Mr. Arte comfortably inside. Many forts had additional accessories that made Mr. Arte feel at home, such as a TV set to college basketball. One had a toilet and another even had a missile launcher (but no missiles). The two forts from cabin one, The Pride, tied for first place. Who knows, maybe Mr. Arte will sleep in one some night if the rain lets up.Field Day
The weather cleared just enough for the boys to participate in the 2009 Camp Monserrate Field Day. This camp wide activity offers the campers a chance to show off their many track and field, basketball, and throwing skills. Everyone had a blast and participated no matter their level of skill. As this blog is being posted they are at the pool getting a much deserved and refreshing swim in before dinner and Sunday camp fire!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
