Lanalog Winter 2017

Lanalog

WINTER 2017

A message from...

Bryan Partridge Dear Lanakilans, Do. With “Ho for the Gale” mentality as the backdrop, there is little to stand in the way of us taking on the daily challenges that we face. I like to believe that Lanakila provides each of us with the confidence to pursue new opportunities—to seek out adventure—to feel invested in getting the most out of our relationships and friendships.

Lately, I find myself constantly reminiscing about the 2017 summer and it never ceases to amaze me how each summer can somehow feel even better than the last. From birthday night to the 4th of July Bonfire to the Banquet, we sure managed to pack in a lot of fun. And with those memories fresh in our minds, it is easy to spend the bulk of the winter months counting down the days until we reunite again on opening day. However, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to both get excited for summer, but also live each day based on the values and lessons we learned during previous summer.

Say Yes. Saying yes is one of the most rewarding and satisfying things we can do. I like to think that whenever possible, Lanakilans go out of our way to say yes when we can. And in saying yes, we are able to seek out ways to help others. We pride ourselves on asking the question, “how can I help?” We understand that in helping others, we find happiness in ourselves.

I heard an incredible expression recently and the simplicity of it has stuck with me. It was, “Be. Go. Do. Say Yes.” It resonated with me because it is emblematic of the philosophies we hold dear. I think we could take each individual word here and find connections to our Lanakila thought process.

It is the lessons of Lanakila, as well as the lifelong friendships, that make it our home away from home. It is the place where we are our best selves—where we learn who we are as individuals—where we learn how to treat each other and live in a small community. Because of this, we hold it close to our hearts even in the deepest of winter months, knowing that our Lanakila spirit can always be transferred to our daily lives.

I wish you well in the New Year and look forward to seeing all your smiling faces in the very near future.

Be. At Lanakila, we are provided the opportunity to be the person we want to be. We are given endless choice of how we spend our summer. Whether trying out four different departments each day, working on higher Viking Honors, or challenging ourselves with a five-day hiking trip, we are given the room to grow, prosper, flourish, and be. In the outside world, reminding ourselves to “be” in the moment can be tricky. With the increasing pull of our devices and technology, we need to remind ourselves how taking time to breathe can provide guidance for who we are.

Skol, Ridge

Go. Lanakila serves as a launch pad for all the adventures we will take, both in our present day-to-day life, as well as in the future. Whether professionally or personally, the lessons you learn at camp provide opportunities to step outside our comfort zone to explore new places, meet new people, and never settle for “good enough.” At Lanakila, we embrace the idea that every situation offers an opportunity to find the “gift.”

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CONTENTS lanalog winter 2018 CONTENTS

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a letter from Bryan Partridge

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a letter from Jeremy Cutler

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from the desk of Milo Pilcher

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a letter from Alex Lipoff

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notes from Brookside (Ross Cannon)

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notes from Woodside (Peter Miller)

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notes from Hillside (Tommy Reynolds)

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notes from Lakeside (Jimmy Gerrity)

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notes from Bridge (Nick Wood)

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notes from 2YB (George Sheehan)

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a letter from Tommy Dickie

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a letter from Don McIntosh

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a letter from Jenn Grossman

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Behind the Scenes with Barnes Boffey

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Postcards from: Lanakila Alumni

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20 year tribute: Fraser Boyd

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30 year tribute: Doug Pilcher

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More Postcards from: Lanakila Alumni

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Keeping the Lanakila Spirit Alive

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A message from...

JEREMY CUTLER Yo, Lanakila!

If any of you are like me, one of the hardest things to do is to “explain” camp to people at home. I’m always questioned by friends and colleagues: “so why do you keep running off to that weird place in Vermont?” Or: “what the heck is Lanakila? It sounds like a weird affliction from WebMd/ flightless waterfowl/ Hawaiian dessert.”

I’ve thought a lot about it, and I think there are a few reasons why it’s so hard to really explain Lanakila to people at home.

To begin, there aren’t adjectives that fit quite properly. For example, camp is certainly “fun,” but so are lots of things at home. The word “fun” doesn’t really describe what it is like to lay siege to the Monster in the Castle, or to play American Ball for hours in the hot sun, or to sleep under the stars on a cabin overnight. Here’s another word that fails: people at Lanakila are “awesome,” but again, so are some people at home. But “awesome” doesn’t do justice to how accepting people are at Lanakila, how willing everyone is to pitch in when you need a hand, how easy it is to talk to people, and how you can have friends that are anywhere from age 8 to age 98 (I think that’s how old Don McIntosh is, but I could be off by a year or two). The words just don’t seem to paint the full picture. Lanakila is “special,” but special doesn’t capture what it is like to sit quietly at Emerson Chapel or Council Fire, listening to music and stories from other Lanakilans. Heck, I can even think of a word to describe the behavior of my closest Lanakila colleague, Bryan Partridge, in the office next door: “annoying.” Hmmm… maybe that’s the one word that DOES work. But I digress.

The second reason why it is hard to accurately describe camp is, well, we can be pretty bizarre at times. I can usually explain swimming in Lake Morey or living in a tent, but there are some things that are more difficult to portray. For example, I was showing a friend from home some pictures of camp the other day, but I didn’t know what to say when he saw a picture of David Westcott and Tom Richter as mascots at The Ameden League finals, or a picture of the entire camp dancing outside the main house in their pajamas on Birthday night. He asked about a photo of Sam Pashley and Jack Xiang being carried to the main house on an Odin backboard, and the group on Arts Day that did Jackson Pollock to, well, themselves. Finally, when I saw his eyebrow go up looking at photos of the Bonfire being lit, and of people standing on chairs in the Barn belting out Rattlin’ Bog, I just had to say: “yeah, we’re pretty weird at Lanakila.”

But I think the final reason – and probably the main reason – why it’s so hard to talk about Lanakila at home is because we all know that Lanakila is a place where we get to really grow as people, where we get to take risks, where we are accepted for who we are, and where we become better versions of ourselves through hard work and commitment to the community around us. What a mouthful! These things don’t sound as light and aren’t as easy to talk about as the first list. And they aren’t things that people ordinarily associate with summer camp. But if you are like me, you are really proud that you get to spend the summer at a place that is really more than just a camp for boys. You love that you get to be a part of a place that helps you be a better, stronger, and happier person – even if that’s harder to explain to everyone else. That’s okay – we know what Lanakila means to us, and that’s what’s important. (Plus, who doesn’t enjoy Hawaiian dessert?!)

Can’t wait to see all of you soon!

Skol, JEREMY

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From the desk of...

MILO PILCHER Hey there friends!

Hope everyone is doing well and had a good holiday season.

It’s been a pretty wild ride since we last saw each other.

After camp I celebrated two years on Earth! Turning two was something that I had never done before, so needless to say it was pretty surreal. Not long after my birthday, I started noticing something weird happening; Mummy’s belly was getting bigger. Pretty soon, I realized this was no ordinary tummy, something greater was at play… that’s when Mum and Dad laid it on me: that belly has a baby in it, and I’m going to have a little sister in March! I’m getting really excited; I snuck in to the rentals room at Hive to get my future sister some CCC and I’m considering a chevron tattoo on one arm and a bee on the other.

with me on the lawn in front of the Main House, or pull me in my wagon. I wanted my new best friends Bori and Erica-ca to take me to all the fun activities around camp.

Things have gotten so bad now that my wagon is parked in the garage for the whole Winter! Dad says we can’t take it out because it doesn’t have snow tires on it…ridiculous!

I was walking around in a state of general malaise for some time, until a funny thing happened. At Thanksgiving, the whole family was talking about the things they felt thankful or grateful for. I was mainly thinking about being thankful for cookies and my stuffed Postman Pat toy, but then Dad said he felt grateful for our family, and for Lanakila being a part of his life, and now my life. He said he could see Lanakila having a positive impact on me already.

Dad explained that before I was born, he didn’t worry too much about the things I would have in my life. He knew how lucky we were to not have to worry about where our next meal would come from, or whether or not we would be cold at night. What kept him up at night was wondering what kind of man I would turn out to be. He wondered how he would make sure I knew how to treat people. He wondered if I would be the kind of person who knew how to win and lose with honor and humility. He wondered if I would become stuck in life, believing there was only one way to be a man, or a woman. Then, Dad said, he would remember Lanakila, and the wonderful community of men, women, and boys that would be there to help guide me along the way. He would remember everyone that had laid the foundation upon which Lanakila stands. He would remember all of you, and he would sleep well.

When we drive past Lanakila these days, I always say: “Dada, I love Lanakila.” Turns out it’s my favorite place, too.

Your Pal,

So I don’t know about you, but to me last summer feels like a long time ago and like just yesterday, all at the same time.

After you guys left, I kept trying to tell Dad that I wanted to “go to tamp and see the big boys.” As you might have guessed, he kept saying that the big boys had gone home and would be back next summer. My first reaction was to assume he was joking; I mean, why would anyone ever leave Lanakila? All I wanted was my Lanakila friends to play

Milo

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A message from...

ALEX LIPOFF Dear Lanakila, Only choosing easy experiences can lock us into an uninspired, apathetic routine. One of the key differences of life outside of camp is that we probably don’t choose as many hard-but-manageable or scary experiences as we do on a regular basis at camp.

One of the reasons we feel so proud, invested, engaged, and connected to commuwnity on a daily basis at Lanakila is that taking on things that challenge us and things that scare us is just part of what we do. And just as important, supporting our fellow Lanakilans in doing challenging or scary things is just part of what we do, too.

If your year has been anything like mine, you’ve probably done a pretty good job of putting hard or scary things that you have to do on the backburner, sometimes never returning to them at all.

You see, there are really three categories of experiences we have: The first category is easy. These are code-green, gimme, got-this-in-the-bag type experiences. We’ve done easy things a million times before, and they are so simple and straightforward, that they really don’t cause us any trouble or pause.

The second category is hard-but-manageable. Hard-butmanageable experiences take work and dedication, and often require us a few tries before we get them right. Hard things feel difficult, and can make us exhausted or stressed.

Hard experiences push us, but they push us in ways that we’re confident we can handle. Things like a tough workout or studying for a test in your hardest class fall into this category.

The third and final category is scary. Scary things are also often in the hard category, but what makes these kinds of experiences different is they challenge us in ways we don’t always feel ready for. In these moments, we don’t actually know how things will turn out. Scary moments are well, scary, because nothing is assured about the outcome, and seeing them through often includes taking a big risk. Scary things can be having a difficult conversation with a friend, performing an instrument in front of a big audience, or speaking up to stop bullying at school.

So, between now and when I see you again in June, here’s some advice: if it’s hard, do it; if it scares you, do it now.

Think of these things in your own life – the hard and scary stuff – as data: fear and avoidance can be a sign that you’re doing something that’s important, indicate you’re learning something new, and can even inspire new and creative energy. If you’re like me, gravitating toward doing difficult things can help you feel most like yourself at camp.

Over the course of the year, I find myself and others gravitating toward the first category, the easy stuff, sometimes getting to the hard-but-manageable, and rarely accomplishing the scary.

Can’t wait to see you, and all of what you’ll challenge yourself to do, in 2018!

Let’s be honest, we’d most likely prefer easy experiences over the rest. I mean, who wouldn’t? We often weasel our way out of, push aside, or ignore challenging experiences when an easier route – a path of less resistance – is available. And in some cases, that’s okay. However, when things are always easy, they don’t really push us to grow.

Skol, Alex

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GREETINGS FROM BROOKSIDE A message from ross cannon Gooooooood Morning Brookside!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already mid-winter and camp is so far behind us. When I look back on this summer I think about how many firsts took place this summer. A lot of these might not jump right out at you, so stick with me as we travel back through summer 2017….

This is the first summer I can remember where-- and I can still hardly believe it -- Mushball did not end in a tie. The game is still currently under review by the IML (International Mushball League) and the results should be in within the next 3-6 months, so until then you can continue to scratch your head and count on your fingers and toes to try and re-count the score. You guys will be the first to know the results when we get them back from the IML! And who could forget this first: this was the first summer I ever experienced a bench-up run by Brooksiders!

Coincidently, it was also the longest call to bench up in history, lasting a grand total of seventeen minutes.

I forwarded a transcript of that event to Guinness World Records and they told me we happened to set the world record for most speechless counselors in one place ever. Ever! Way to go guys!

I can only describe this next first as a gift direct from Odin himself. Do you all remember that time the rest of camp was off campus and it left Brookside with the greatest opportunity of all time? Yeah, you know what I’m talking about: the first time the Brookside Ninja Commando Task Force successfully pranked the entire camp. With timely execution and surgical precision we were able to carry out our task in 45 minutes. Who says Brooksiders aren’t organized?!

This event led to a few other firsts for our unit. 2017 was the first time a unit ever invited us down to the main house for cookies after taps…THANKS HILLSIDE! Then the first Friendship Circle where everyone shared the same highlight from a successful mission (the people at Guinness report that evening qualifies for second place for most speechless counselors in one place ever. Ever!)

Oh, and I almost forgot -- this was the first summer that a song we would sing each day in the shower became our Banquet song. Who would have predicted that?

With all of these firsts taking place this past summer, you might think that the awesomeness of 2017 could never be matched. But that’s not the case either… because we’re Brookside! We know that fun can be had around every corner and it’s up to us to decide how we can find it. I can’t wait to see you all back on Lake Morey for many more “firsts”!

Skol,

Ross P.S. If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands…

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GREETINGS FROM WOODSIDE A message from PETER MILLER Dear Woodside, I ride the New York City subway each morning and witness the same routine: passengers rarely speak to one another, smiles seldom emerge, and earphones drown out the sounds of the rumbling subway (hopefully by playing this summer’s hit single, Mr. Woodside). The announcements by the conductors only reinforce this routine as they speak from the same script in the same tone through an antiquated amplification system. But one day this routine broke from its mold. Upon boarding the train I noticed passengers smiling, chatting, and listening! But why? Was Phil Watson running a pub quiz? Was Brendan Klotz singing Charlie on the MTA in the wrong city? Had Stasia Marnoch boarded the subway?

I soon found my answer: it was the conductor’s announcements that were stirring up this unusual cheer amongst the passengers. When stating the staple line of “stand clear of the closing doors, please,” the conductor’s loud and exuberant tone suggested a joyfulness that rivaled Keenan Downey at the end of resthour and a patience that matched Calum Stewart after Birthday Night. Continuing with this delightful tone, the conductor diverged from the routine silence between stations by commenting on the cold temperatures outside and the nicety of being below ground in a warm subway car. As the conductor made these unnecessary but intriguing announcements, smiles spread from one passenger to the next. For the first time in my life I thought about riding the subway past my intended stop due to this intentional pride behind the conductor’s announcements.

This pride exhibited by the conductor also existed in Woodside last summer. We each took pride in what we did each day. Sam Calderwood proudly pursued his Tyr, Teddy Tremblay proudly created masterpieces out of yarn, and all of you at some point proudly saved the Woodside Ball from rolling down the hill. Rest assured, Tori Sumner and Magda Karpiuk proudly stored the ball for the winter, so not even a Brooksider could find it.

Beyond what we did each day, Woodside also took pride in our relationships with each other. Josh Doule and Jonah Reibel proudly taught Nico Chasin about camp in the second half of the summer, Henry Dohrenwend and Huck Riley proudly supported their cabin mates in preparation for Sam Danford’s rigorous inspection, and the tents and cabins proudly competed against each other during many games of Woodside Ball. The cabins won, right?

I hope these few examples trigger your memory of the many moments of pride in Woodside last summer. Each one of you exhibited pride in your own way, but, like the subway conductor, your pride was rooted in a sense of care and joy for your surroundings. As we head into 2018, remember to carry your Woodside pride with you; the passengers on your train will appreciate it. Best wishes for a warm and safe New Year!

Skol, Peter

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GREETINGS FROM HILLSIDE A message from tommy reynolds Hey Hillside!

I think I’ve discovered an unintentional tradition. Each November I receive an email from Ridge or Cuts asking for my Lanalog letter. I receive this email around the beginning of the month, and then it no doubt lives in my inbox, unread, until around Thanksgiving vacation. I work at a school in Maine, but my family still lives in Cleveland. I am always flying back to spend the holidays with them. I think this is the fourth consecutive year I have worked on this letter while sitting at an airport, surrounded by the bustling crowds just desperately trying to get home for the holidays.

I bet you’re thinking this letter is going to be about giving thanks, or family, or holiday spirit? Nah. I’m going to let my mind wander off, thinking about how some of you would fit into the roles of airport employees. The TSA security squad would be made up of Matt Riley, Jonah Lentz, Jordan Windborne, Gavin Feller, and all of the guys who made up that overnight spot crew. You guys had that thing on LOCK. A well-oiled machine of an operation! Can’t you just see Matt walking around camp with a k-9 unit making sure everything is safe and respectful??

Running late like Phillip Bolen to line up, we would naturally have to sprint our way to the gate. We’d be stopped in the concourse by Johnston Littlefield offering 50,000 J-Dog points if we sign up for his credit card.

Naturally, we take a quick second to enroll. Can’t pass up on free J-Dog points right!?

As we hand our tickets to Gate Agent O’Brien, we meet the flight crew, led by flight attendant Baynes. As for the pilots? We would rely heavily on the dynamic flow of Luke Desmaison and Seabass Cole. With hair like that at the helm, we’ll have no trouble catching favorable winds. Julian Harcourt and Charles Herrick will provide our in-flight entertainment. I hear they’ll be performing an interpretive dance symbolizing our birthday night prank on Brookside. Snacks to be provided by Oscar de Haut de Sigy; S’mores and extra marshmallows for everyone!!

Ground control is a massive production requiring perfectly timed execution and a loud voice; I think this year’s show demonstrated that Tobi Wolf and Alex Ecker are just the kids for the job. I can see them chucking my bags onto the conveyor belt like a craft period of aeronautical engineering. Finally, we have the passengers: the rest of us that made up that crazy journey that was Hillside 2017. It was a truly amazing summer and I miss you all tremendously. I’ll be lighting my Final Council Fire candle in Fairlee this New Years. I will definitely take some time to walk up the road and enjoy our unit in the silent white of winter. It’s so quiet up there this time of year, but I know it won’t be long till it’s time for Summer 2018 to take off !

Skol,

Tommy

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GREETINGS AFROM LAKESIDE message from Jimmy GERRITY Allora Lakeside! Lineup is in 25 minutes!!

How many times did you hear that this summer? For many of you, that would be 49 times minus the several days that Alex Sadie would more peacefully wake the unit, in which case you may not have heard anything at all.

After this past summer, I’ve been reflecting on the many things at camp that have happened for years, decades, or generations. Along with the morning greeting Lakesiders have always woken up to, there are Brookside buddies, long trips, the Morey Marathon, dances, unit evenings, and long distance swim announcements with Donny Mac. These countless traditions around Lakeside (and camp as a whole) are what makes Lanakila a place where campers and counselors know they can return and remember the space as it was when they were there. But there’s so much more isn’t there? Even with all of these repeating traditions and occurrences, every summer and every Lakeside unit experience is always unique and memorable. So what made Lakeside 2017 different?

For one, this was the first summer that a “Memorial Bathhouse” – inspired by Jordan Hendrickson’s story character, Djudjuwale – opened up in the brook behind our Washhouse (as you read this, imagine the chants ringing out across the country right now). This summer was more difficult than others to sweep our personal areas after LC1 monopolized the broom business, led by Jacob Tremblay, Calvin Fontaine, and Ian Mackey.

Though we do appreciate the fair deals they offered for a broom: 23 seconds on juice seemed reasonable at the time.

While Tommy Dickie leading campers in a dance is likely a tradition for many at this point, the instructional “tick check” dance of 2017 was certainly a standout. And from LT3’s artificial garden, to a laundry service that returned all of your clothes to Hal Juster’s Harry Potter trivia, there were countless things about Lakeside 2017 that were totally unique. Lanakila has provided all of us with the incredible opportunity to return to a place where we expect things to be the same but also be different. That feeling is what makes Lakeside so special: each summer provides both unique highlights along with longstanding common traditions. I certainly appreciate what made Lakeside 2017 so special.

Wishing you all an amazing holiday season and see you in 2018!

Skol, Jimmy

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GREETINGS FROM BRIDGE A message from NICK WOOD Oh hey B’17, It wasn’t that long ago I was writing to you about counting down the days to Summer 2017 and the qualities you wanted to bring to the summer. When I wrote that, I couldn’t help but hope for certain qualities from Bridge 2017. Things like hard-work for the Bonfire and the kitchen (I think the floor needs another mop), patience with learning to work with campers as a counselor, attention to detail (Stu and Norman also think the kitchen could use one more mop), finding a way to say “yes” (Will and James agree: one more final mop), and a never-ending well of energy for 8 weeks. We relied on those aspects daily as hours in the kitchen, hot days down by the bonfire, and craft-periods in our departments mounted.

There were a few qualities I didn’t anticipate witnessing this summer but we tested them anyway. These include Henry Anrig, Will Hutensky, and Spencer McLane improving their aim and hiding skills while having an all-out Nerf War around the unit, as well as Tae-Tae Edmonds’ trip preparation knowledge as he attached the seltzers to his tube on the day-off – I think a few are still floating down the Tweed’s River somewhere. Or how about testing James White’s fire safety skills? Or attempting in vain to understand why Tuck Jeveli would be sitting in an inflatable pool during his free time when Lake Morey is right there!?

While those memories have me shaking my head with a smile on my face, I’ll carry others for much longer.

Having a unit cookout in the pouring rain with everyone in the clubhouse, which shows how much fun we can have even in nasty weather. Watching you all unwind on your hard-earned day-off and laugh together. And who could forget the instant classic bonfire entrance, the Great Head-fake of 2017!?! Finally, 14 as 1. That’s all I have to say about that.

Much Love and Skol, Nick

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GREETINGS FROM 2YB A message from GEORGE Sheehan Dear Members of B’16, It was a humid, overcast Friday afternoon when the bugle sounded and the entire camp descended onto the Athletics field. The game began smoothly as the Rebel Alliance fled to the safety of camp’s boundaries with fiery-eyed Imperial officers hot on their tails. The weeks of brainstorming, compromising, and organizing had come to an end. It was the 2YB game.

Stage One, the “Infection” mode, was in play. After 20 minutes, the bugle sounded again to signal the start of Stage 2 and the battle for the power generators. Campers and counselors swarmed to the canoes laden with water balloons and began the dogfight. The Rebels took down power generators quickly – in fact, too quickly.

The game would be over in 10 minutes at this rate.

The moment had arrived, the moment anyone planning a camp-wide event learns to dread: when a plan on paper doesn’t translate to reality. All the signs were there: the looks of doubt creeping into other counselors’ eyes, the frantic checks of watches as the situation became clear. We need more time. Our plan won’t work as written.

I don’t mention this moment to highlight a flaw in event planning. Hiccups are inevitable when we stray from the familiar as you did in creating the new and dynamic 2YB game structure. No, I remember this moment because your actions at that point of uncertainty lived up to every expectation we place on Lanakila men.

Instead of despairing over the deviation from the plan, you reacted. You communicated with each other, altered the plan to fit the situation on the ground, and managed to corral the game into the gloriously chaotic ending we had hoped for, all while maintaining a calm exterior. I doubt anyone noticed the audible until I wrote about it in a camp newsletter.

I had the rare opportunity to work with you guys throughout the entirety of your Bridge program experience.

From your first day of pre-camp in June 2016, it was clear that you were a special group. In two summers since, your actions have only solidified and expanded upon this belief. In the summer of 2017 you took on more complex challenges and responsibilities. You expanded your roles and skills, and by the end of the summer, I saw 10 guys who could take on any job with a smile and an (appropriate) joke while creating quality.

You are a group of men with moral depth, capable of loud and excited enthusiasm as well as empathy and care. Time and time again you have demonstrated the passion and love that fuels Lanakila. Regardless of your destination next summer, I know that the Doggos of 2016 will make those around them happier, kinder, and better. Working for you is one of my finest memories of my camp career.

Skol, George

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A Message From TOMMy DICKIE My Dear Ensemble, Have a seat on the front of your metaphorical stage & listen up!

I’ve been thinking. Put Me In, Coach! was such a hit…why don’t we do a spinoff in 2018?! Like how when the show Cheers ended, we followed supporting character Frasier Crane to his new sitcom Frasier! (Wait, is that early-90’s reference lost on you all? Oops.)

We had so many wonderful characters (shaped & colored by such delightful performances), that why don’t we pick one (or two or three) to follow into a new story?!

Like…here are some ideas: 1) Old Man Gutterman: The Musical! I can picture it now: Emile Seidman spends the whole show scream-singing about how rotten the world is, with his pals Hank (Liam White) & Bill (Jack Weber) popping their heads out from the wings to echo every like eighth word.

2) Ooh, how ‘bout we follow Coach (Quinn Hampson) & Grace (Henry Mali) as they take Darryl (Alex Ecker) on a world tour, teaching him how to handle a wide variety of scenarios with grace, like running for congress or judging Dancing with the Stars.

3) Or we follow Sandy (Louis Barton-Biegelsen) around the world, as she fixes problems one speaker-phone-call at a time. We could call it #PhoneDrop! (Actually, that would make for a great TV series!)

4) We could turn the show into more of a dating advice piece, with little vignettes of Cuz (Tobi Wolf) and Vicky (Pierce Clark) navigating the nutty world of college-age romance. (Hmm, maybe they’re not the best role-models.)

5) Jeremy (Shea McCaffrey) refuses to remove his unitard and competes for the Olympic gold in gymnastics – with Stanley (Harrison Baer) as his devout coach and Amos (Trevor Gold) as his no-nonsense manager, of course – narrowly besting reigning champion Chris Nevins!

6) We follow Officer Gow as he gets credit for solving case after case just through dumb luck of being in the right place at the right time. We could call it Chronicles of a Mustachioed Cop. 7) Maybe we pretend we’re doing infamous musical Cats, but Nate Gold interrupts my opening monologue and does stand-up comedy for an hour.

I fell in LOVE with these ideas!!!

But then I realized: what we did was so special, so perfectly suited for Lanakila 2017, such a gift… I feel like trying to squeeze more juice out of that tasty orange might just taint what we did. Let’s let that be our special little set of characters, our perfectly complete story that will live forever as our shared memory of 2017.

Also: aren’t sequels & spinoffs usually just garbage? Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Wonder Woman are the exceptions that prove the rule. (Advice: avoid Dumb & Dumber To!) So, something different for 2018 it is!

WAIT. Toy Story 2 & 3 are also excellent! And Star Wars: The Force Awakens! Ok, maybe I should consider one of these plots…

Barnes, get your pen ready!

Skol,

Tommy 20

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A Message From...

Donnie mac Happy New Year!

It’s -10 degrees in Middlebury today and I’m thinking about summer. Here are my Lanakila thoughts before Carol and I go on our New Year’s Day hike. Brrrrr!!

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Stay in the “YES Zone.” Help me figure out a way that we both can say “yes” to your request.

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Always leave a hiking trail or nature site cleaner than before. (The beautiful snow cover also helps.)

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Boredom is a lack of curiosity. When we complain that something is boring, we are saying more about ourselves than the thing.

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Today is a new day! If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, you can make a new start whenever you choose. The thing we call FAILURE is not the falling down but is the staying down!

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Rule #6

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There are many ways to be a man.

Adaptation of Robert Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay” Lanakila’s first green is gold, The hardest hue to hold.

It’s early leaf’s a flower, But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf, So summer sinks to grief.

I disagree today, That nothing gold can stay.

“Stay gold,” Lanakila. See you this summer.

Skol, Donnie Mac

A message from...

Jenn grossman

Tommy Dickie, Barnes Boffey, Ted Latham, and Fraser Boyd pushed the incredible cast of “Put Me In Coach” to create and commit to characters that had never been seen or heard before. Talk about magic, they literally brought life to a dream that was in Barnes Boffey’s head for tens (hundreds?) of years!

It’s a magical time of year, or that’s what everyone says anyway. I do see some magic here and there, but I certainly think that this is a much less magical time than when we are all together at camp.

The twinkly lights up and down my street feel a little magical. Talking to my nephew about Santa Claus definitely feels magical too. He is four and knows that he is Jewish, but the kid believes so deeply in the magic of Christmas anyway, it’s inspiring.

A flood ripped through our campus and we were staring straight at a wall of water, but David Westcott led us as we parted the seas by pulling out the roots in the stream by archery and redirecting the flow of water back towards the lake. I have never seen so much mud and muscle at work in the name of drainage. It was magic.

I see magic in the greater presence of charitable giving during this season and I see a little bit of magic at work in the New Yorkers who are more willing to smile at each other when walking down the streets this time of year.

Peter Miller said: “please let there be stairs that boys can safely run up and down on the side of Woodside!” So boys chopped and dug and hammered until it was so. Pure magic.

Our DTLs led us over mountains and through rolling rivers. Magic. Justin Cottrill in the shop had us creating beautiful and functional pieces of art out of leftover scraps of wood. Magic. We rolled kayaks and jumped toward the trapeze on the high ropes. Magic.

Perhaps it’s a different type of magic at work during the Lanakila summer. When we all arrive to the shores of Lake Morey in June, we’ve made a silent pact with one another to create the most special two months that we can conjure up. With all of our powers combined, the strongest of magical intentions and all of the hard work we are capable of, it becomes just that.

I certainly hope that you give into the magic of the season and that you enjoy all of the sweets and gifts that are part of it. But also, I hope that you take a moment and think about all of the magic that you work so hard for, believe so deeply in, and are a huge part of cultivating with all of your friends at Lanakila.

We worked day in and day out to bring magic to life all summer long. Nick Wood had the bridgers knee deep in mud, digging holes and lifting poles that can only be lifted if 13 men all work together, so that we had a bonfire, bigger and brighter and more filled with love and magic than we knew was possible.

SKOXOXOXOL, Jenn 23

Behind the Scenes: A Short History of Lanakila Musicals Lanakila shows have delighted campers and parents for years. “Put Me In Coach!” was not the first “semi-original” musical we have done; in fact we have had many “special” shows over the years as well as a consistent string of ones we repeat every 8-10 years.

In the 50’s, the general rule for both Lanakila and Aloha was to do a Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta. Some you may have heard of are Pirates of Penzance (1952, 1955, 1961), HMS Pinafore (1952, 1959) and the Mikado (1954, 1960). Operettas were the transition between traditional opera and what we now call musicals, and they were “clever” shows with lots of “clever” songs. The “Duke of Plaza Toro” is a good example of a clever song from the operetta years.

In the 60’s we began to break out in lots of ways, and we started doing Broadway musicals. “Brigadoon” was one of the first, but we also did “L’il Abner,” “Oklahoma,” “Destry Rides Again,” and “The Music Man.” These were more current shows and had themes that fit boys well. We have always had boys playing girls’ parts, and that has been a fun part of the process.

In 1968, Lanakila, Aloha, and Hive became part of the newly formed Aloha Foundation. To commemorate that at Lanakila, Paul Pilcher and I wrote a show called “A Near Myth,” a pretty schmaltzy show about a Princess who saved her people from an evil queen. Mrs. Carol was our allegorical Princess; the evil queen was never identified. The song we still sing from that show is “Bum Diddley Oh Hey Hi Oh Hey Hi Oh Hey.” Thankfully the other songs have become part of ancient history.

1971 brought with it a production of “Camelot,” with the special feature being that we performed it at the Castle. Luckily the weather held for both nights. Merlin must have been on our side.

In 1972, Paul and I again wrote a musical based on the book, The Velveteen Rabbit. It was a hit, and went on from our first performance to be published by the Dramatic Publishing Company; we brought it to life at camp 4 more times and it is still performed in theaters around the United States.

Another milestone happened in 1973, when someone had the dubious idea that we should do a joint Lanakila/Aloha production of “The King and I.” The show eventually happened, but not without lots of inter-camp struggle, bruised egos, conflict resolution, and the presence of United Nations Peace Keeping Forces (not quite, but close). Thankfully, no one has suggested the idea since then.

Over the years “Oliver,” “Pajama Game,” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” were added, and in 1991, Andy Watson (current trustee) upped the ante by doing shows that were mixtures of other shows. His most famous was “L’il Wizard of Guys, and Annie Get Your Velveteen Pajamas.” There were 6 different shows represented. Can you get them all? Andrew also did “Oliver with a Twist” and “Hotel Forum,” a fast-paced review based loosely on “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”

Since then, other directors like Rick Frey, Kim Overtree, Jenn Grossman, and Tommy Dickie have put great energy into doing high quality versions of old favorites, as well as adding “Peter Pan,” “Damn Yankees,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Danny” to the roster. Our camp musicals play a wonderful part of each summer, and I’m sure we will see more tradition and innovation in the years ahead.

Skol,

Barnes

In the pictures, can you spot: Robert Hoyt and Taylor Bucklin (Velveteen Rabbit); Adam Boffey and Matt Christie (Li’l Abner); Hank Tittmann and Tucker Van Leuwen-Hall (Li’l Abner); Robbie Pennoyer (Velveteen Rabbit); Alex Sadie and Aaron Finder (Oklahoma); Nick Wood and Mustapha Kay (L’il Abner); Ethan Langsdorf-Willoughby (ELW), Timon Watkins, and Dan Alderson-Smith (You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown); Hal Juster, Matt Peterson and Jacob Sanditen (Damn Yankees); Oliver Paul and Alex Knowles (Velveteen Rabbit); Nigel Baynes, Michael Kerr, ELW and TVLH (Oliver!), Matt Peterson and Jack Hutensky (Annie Get Your Gun); and a Mystery Guest (Velveteen Rabbit)?

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Notes & News from ...

LANAKILA ALUMNI

rk City!

Greetings from New Yo

here w York City. And yet, the idea of living in Ne at d lke atest ba gre en my oft I is la la, t at Lanaki same - Lanaki During my 15-year stin ge, but one remains the an ch s ng thi me So . oklyn I sit in the heart of Bro e. nc influe ack and formalized feedb gram at my company pro p shi in ern cab int d an an t d ten nges in how I starte or how the daily challe I could tell you about programs at Lanakila; ilar Skol around the world sim g er sin aft I’ll led ar de ye s mo loops all t other; or how thi can nifi sig a th u about the subway. wi ate tel s, but I’d rather l yo ng thi prepared me to cohabit se tho t ou different ab u yo fashion, we can tell a ica. I could tell from Tasmania to Afr rk, but in true Lanakila Yo w and Ne er in eth y tog ivit act ed camp-like ably squish It’s probably the least ole unit gets uncomfort wh awes the nd ere sou wh AT y TH wa w la sub along the way... no ts en rtm story. Imagine a Lanaki pa de at ps camp and makes sto then shuffles around Peace, love and skol! ry! he Arc some! Next stop, Dewey Schunk L’99-04*06-14

Dear Lanakilans, Is there anything better than hav ing the sun shine across your face while sailing on Lake Morey? Or the towering heat of the bonfire feeling on July 4th? It’s easy to miss thos e moments, especially in January the thermometer plunges below when freezing.

It’s also easy to reminisce when you’ve been away from camp for nearly eight years. Since the sum 2010, I got married and now hav mer of e a one-year-old son named Hen ry!

He may not realize it yet, but I kno he’s already looking forward to hea w ring stories at Council Fire and sing ing about A Capital Ship in the barn More importantly, I’m looking forw . ard to an excuse to visit!

Until then, I’m excited to teach him so much of what I learned as a camper and counselor: be the pers you want to be, don’t take yourself on too seriously, failure is a prerequ isite to success.

Fortunately, it seems that no mat ter how long you’ve been away, Lanakila is always right there whe want it to be. n you Peace and SKOL, Billy Miller L’00-02*04-06*08-10

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A 20 Year Tribute to...

FRASER BOYD

Fraser Boyd—our resident Scotsman. What a pleasure to have you on this stage tonight. You have accomplished what no other international counselor has even come close to before – 20 years at camp. It’s hard to imagine that in 1998, you came across the Atlantic Ocean for a new adventure as a camp counselor, beginning your career in the campcraft department and gradually evolving into the mainstay of the music program. You have worked as colleagues with Bob Love, Robbie Pennoyer and Angus Davidson, growing into the title of Head of Music and providing our camp with a framework and foundation to embrace music as an essential part of our lives.

You are our musical maestro—you are the accompanist for the musical each year, you direct the choir, and you have created the Lanakila camper band into what it is today. You are the go-to guy for musical backup on all sorts of skits, acts at talent night, and whatever else anyone needs. And of course, you are our Dining Room musician for graces and the accompanist for most every “Happy Birthday” in the last 10 years. You seek out opportunities to innovate the Lanakila music program, even researching every camper who may have a musical talent that could be developed further during their time at camp. You now define the “Good Night Medley” for pre-camp and Carol’s Concert, transending us and filling our hearts with the echoes of Lanakila history. Most importantly, you are a patient, kind-hearted and skilled teacher. A generation of campers have looked to you for guidance in their pursuit of becoming better musicians. For all of this, we are eternally grateful.

Most importantly, you are a patient, kind-hearted and skilled teacher

Your music is what defines you publicly, but those of us who know you are equally impressed with your deep generosity of time and effort in the areas of camp that bring few accolades and very little spotlight. You make table setting efficient and enjoyable; you organize Grinder Suppers so they run smoothly; you collect and organize all the camper e-mails at the end of each summer, a job which might go undone without you. Finally, you have been a well-respected trip leader for many summers, and all reports from hiking trips you have led are filled with high praise.

To be at Lanakila for 20 years cannot help but mean that you have changed this place and that this place has changed you. When you started as a 19 year old, I am sure you had no idea that you would gain the knowledge, wisdom, and skill that you have received from camp, and certainly the pieces you have added to Lanakila have been a blessing in so many ways. “Ask Fraser, he can probably help you with that,” is a phrase that is used many, many times each summer. You are someone who can be counted on to do almost any job and to do it with an eye for detail. You are someone who takes on a myriad of tasks that might otherwise fall through the cracks. Your focus on the details help us live up to the values and mission of Lanakila. You are an incredible man, Fraser Boyd, and you deserve the praise and recognition that comes with 20 Lanakila summers. We hope that other international counselors might follow your lead, but the realities of life make it unlikely that few will ever pass the 20 year milestone. For you, these 20 years have been a process of loyalty, love, generosity, and sacrifice. Congratulations, Fraser, on 20 years at camp. As Lanakilans, we owe you our sincere gratitude.

A 30 Year Tribute to...

DOUG PILCHER Thirty years working at one place is often unheard of. In many jobs, it signifies the point where you can retire with full benefits, a pension, and a move to Florida during the winter months. For Doug Pilcher, thirty years represents a lifetime of living the ideals, traditions, and values that embody a Lanakila experience.

Having been born at Lanakila, Doug’s life is intertwined in the history of this camp. As a baby, Doug took the role that Milo now enjoys, running around camp, feeling the love and support of 270 people. As a child, Doug cherished his role as camp Menehune, playing in the brook and wanting to keep up with the “big boys.” As a camper, Doug saw Lanakila through a set of eyes different than most, already having lived the ideals that most are introduced to in their first summer. As a Bridger and young counselor, Doug took on his responsibilities and freedoms with a gusto that most couldn’t keep up with.

For thirty years, Doug has taken on a multitude of roles, always with a level of dignity and energy that people aspire to mimic. From heading up Lakeside to his leadership running the Bridge for many years, Doug has been known for his ability to turn any activity into an opportunity for fun and learning.

During Doug’s twenty year tribute, we talked about his many talents. We mentioned his boyish energy, his love for and loyalty towards camp, his teaching in Sailing or Athletics, and his articulation of how much he adores being a part of the Lanakila family.

We applaud you Doug. You epitomize Lanakila and the values we hold dear. You exemplify what it means to be a fine person. You represent what it means to be a role model, a friend, a confidant, a colleague, and a father.

And now, after Doug’s first thirty years, we get to witness a new side: his role as a father. Doug perfectly blends his role of program director at camp with his prized role of guiding and teaching Milo. Being a parent is an inexplicable joy that carries with it great responsibility. Watching Doug pull Milo in his cart or seeing him sitting next to the “Big Boys” at the meal, or watching Milo dance every time he hears the bugle, is a beautiful glimpse into what it must have been like to know Doug at an early age. From Doug’s role as a dad, we are able to watch and learn what it means to mentor, teach, support, and love the next generation of fine young men – something that has always been a huge passion of Doug’s. And for that, we are eternally grateful.

We applaud you Doug. You epitomize Lanakila and the values we hold dear. You exemplify what it means to be a fine person. You represent what it means to be a role model, a friend, a confidant, a colleague, and a father. You have selflessly contributed more than three decades of your time to help create a community that we can all call home forever.

Here’s to thirty more years, my friend!

Notes & News from ...

LANAKILA ALUMNI

Dear Lanakila,

rning in my car. On early mo d above the sun visor she sta t son ten e sea t sid firs ok ll be my 2011 Bro akila floods in. 2018 wi There’s a photo of my or down, and then Lan vis kson Generals. I never the ll Jac pu the en m, oft I tea t, all drives eas nor league baseb mi a for cer un perching atop two no t an my role models jus by as a solo play-by-play me co be uld wo F OF and ALEX LIP ir microphones about and laughing into the figured DOUG PILCHER als Fin ue ag Le to bring the en ed g the Am ng I want more than ping-pong tables durin I’m here, there’s nothi t tha w p finds No cam n. , tio ain mo ag ching s. Again and JEREMY CUTLER’s pit run calls and interview me ho my o int ld Fie joy of Dave Buchanan seen. It’s phenomenal. lf with arms I’ve never ways to hug me to itse r camper), my brother my dad Lanny (a forme to ls cal e on ph They listen, and me co be untless other Vikings. co d an My Sunday letters have , S ON KIS DIC E that part of leaving a , PETER MILLER, TH of myself. I am realizing e ANDREW, NICK WOOD sur un d I’m ere wh m people you trust, an in moments also about learning fro they give me feedback It’s . cal me ysi th ph t wi la no is aki it Lan feel you found time that happens, I can campsite better than o will follow you. Every wh le op pe the ing ch then tea SKOL, in Tennessee.

Ty Springs L99-04, L*06-11

Lanakilans! G’day from Australia!

You might know this about me but I don’t have any brothers, so whe n I got the word from Barnes that getting a job at an all-boys camp, I was I was more than a bit nervous! An all-boys camp??? Could I really do Flash forward four summers and that? turns out… I could! Little did I kno w it was going to be something change my life forever. I had my that would first summer away from camp last year and it was hard. However, I how much I carry camp with me realized wherever I go!

What’s going on with me? Well, it’s currently 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit!), I’m living by the swimming regularly, trying to not beach, think about sharks, working lots , and attempting to figure out if way I can return to my second hom there is a e and get my name on that 5-ye ar board! But if not, I know that cam always be with me wherever I go. p will Skol, Kaelia Cockington L*13-16 HOC*15-17

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Carrying the camp spirit throughout the year...

Keeping Lanakila alive In the middle of the winter, Lanakila can often feel very far away. Not only do we find ourselves spread across the globe, far from Fairlee friends, but for many of us the days have turned cold and snowy, and memories of the green grass, refreshing lake, and warm summer nights begin to fade. One thing that doesn’t have to fade, however, is how Lanakila lives on in our hearts and minds. That is a gift that – with a little ingenuity – we can carry with us throughout the long winter until we make our ways back to Lanakila at last.

For inspiration, the Lanalog talked to a few savvy counselors to hear about how they have been able to “keep Lanakila alive” throughout the long off-season:

Hal Juster “This past week I started a semester abroad in England and, to be honest, there are times when the new environment can be really intimidating. But in those moments I often find myself thinking back to the previous summer at Lanakila. So much of what camp means to me is having courage. Whether that be watching a Brooksider go off the high dive, a camper act in his first musical, or the countless moments of courage throughout the summer when each of us tries something new, unsure of how it will turn out. When I think about times like these, I can feel the courage of the Lanakila community like a PFD during Bailer Wars, keeping me afloat during the turbulent, exciting moments of my adventure.”

David Westcott “Honestly it’s hard to find a time when I’m not thinking about camp, but one good example is when Alex Sadie and I FaceTime every once in awhile. It’s normally just supposed to be a short little chat, and then I’ll look and we’ll have been on the phone for 2 hours. And we are talking about everything from last summer – council fire stories, chapels, the 2-on-2 tournament – but we also talk about next summer and all the new camp moments that we can’t wait to

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Tom Richter Camp accompanies me on a daily basis. One example of this occurs when I am coaching my swim team in Germany. During these practices, my swimmers often get upset when they encounter difficult situations – a drill that is exhausting, or a stroke that they can’t get right, or a disappointing performance at a swim meet. At these moments, I try to teach them the Lanakila approach: realizing that failure is a learning experience, and that how you handle yourself in these tough times says everything about who you are as a person, and what your future success will look like. I also put a lot of effort into helping the team develop what I call the Lanakila spirit: a level of closeness and trust and fun between everyone that often becomes more important than the activity itself. Our team probably hasn’t matched the indescribable magic of Lanakila yet, but these moments have helped me to reflect upon and appreciate camp for the gift that it is.”

Laura ClarK I love to channel camp by turning off all screens and sitting down for dinner with my roommates. We’re all so different and this leads to a wide variety of conversation and discovery! It reminds me of all the wonderful meals I’ve shared with new friends at camp. And it’s an added bonus when my roommate and fellow counselor, Angus Davidson, starts playing a camp tune on his piano!

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Camp Lanakila 2968 Lake Morey Road Fairlee, Vermont 05045 THE ALOHA FOUNDATION, INC. www.alohafoundation.org 802‑333‑3400

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