With only one week remaining until we start receiving incoming Campers for the 2017 Boys session, we are hard at work finalizing airport pickups, homestay arrangements, and training Camp staff.
Up at Camp, staff training is in full swing. Our counselors have arrived and are eagerly preparing for the first group of campers next week! In the first few days of staff training, we have been busy discussing our mission, learning about the history of CRS, reviewing health and safety protocols, and getting Camp set up for the season. In order to get ready for the campers, we have to use our teamwork time to clean the cabins, set up the Lil' Libby, sort through the pillows and mosquito nets, clear off the stages, and plan the staff welcome skit! In addition to critical topics of health and safety, we are spending time discussing theories of critical pedagogy and multiculturalism that can be implemented to best support the diverse leaders in our CRS community. Meet some of the staff in the video below.
Around the world, various Alumni Associations have had Camper Send Off gatherings, such as the Minnesota Alumni Association. Additionally, incoming 2017 Campers are also hard at work preparing for this Camp season. As posted two weeks ago, we have Campers representing 35 countries. A handful of these campers have fundraising pages, where they are raising money to cover the cost of airfare to and from New York City, to attend CRS. To support these Campers, on Facebook we are running the 2017 Incoming Camper Profile Series. To date, we have featured 7 campers, with more to come. We are proud to say that as of today, most campers have met their fundraising goal! To view their fundraising pages, or to contribute toward the cost of Camper airfare, click HERE.
This year, we have partnered with alumni to open their offices to our incoming and recent alumni to learn more about their profession. CRS alumni will give a tour of their workplace, discuss how Camp impacted them and insights into their career paths. A sample of the locations include:
Department of Transportation (DOT), led by John Mattera (CRS '94). John has worked for the City of New York for nearly 17 years and currently serves as the Manhattan Borough Planner for the Department of Transportation. Beginning with a quick visit at the Borough Headquarters on the 37th floor of 59 Maiden Lane, John will lead the group on a short tour of lower Manhattan to observe various components of urban design that he and his agency create and maintain: from traffic controls to the bike share program to public plazas. The tour will end at 55 Water Street which has a rooftop park nicknamed the "elevated acre," which offers views of lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, and New York Harbor.
Etsy, led by Marisa Hall (CRS ‘06, ’10, ’11). Marisa will give a full tour of the beautiful Etsy building, and there will be a 30 minutes Q&A style chat after. “Within our markets, millions of people around the world connect, both online and offline, to make, sell and buy unique goods. We also offer a wide range of Seller Services and tools that help creative entrepreneurs start, manage and scale their businesses. Our mission is to reimagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world, and we're committed to using the power of business to strengthen communities and empower people.”
Littlefield, led by Juki Kim (’89, ‘90). Littlefield is a performance and art space that Juki started in 2009. Juki is the co-owner of Littlefield and Parklife, the new sister bar and restaurant with outdoor space, set to open next week. She will show the campers the new spaces, meaning that the campers will be one of the first people to see it! Campers will also get a glimpse of SummerCon, as Littlefield is hosting it. SummerCon is the longest running hackers conference in America. They have several speakers over 2 days with an array of topics.
Cornell Medical Center, led by Dr. Hooman Yaghoobzadeh (‘87, ‘88). Dr. Yaghoobzadeh will show campers various exam rooms, such as the MRI room, CT Machine and much more. This is a wonderful experience for those who are interested in working in the medical field. He will also have a Q+A for campers if they have any questions.
Brennan Center for Justice, led by Larry Norden (‘87). From the Center’s website, “The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve our systems of democracy and justice. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism.”
McGuire Woods, led by Marshall Beil (‘62). McGuire Woods has more than 1,000 lawyers in 23 offices, and the lawyers speak more than 35 languages. They cross borders, practices, and industries in the U.S., UK, Belgium and around the world, collaborating with colleagues and managing resources in 128 countries. Marshall will give a tour of the NYC office and host a panel discussion with some of his colleagues, to answer questions.
If you would like to join Campers on a site visit, email Ruby Lainez at rlainez@lajf.org. We look forward to meeting the 2017 incoming campers, and to starting another successful Camp season. How How!