Issuu

Summer 2018

NEWSLETTER

Bringing Back the

Woodloch’s

All Stars

Company Picnic! SUMMER RECIPES

T I P S FO R R E S E A R C H I N G YO U R FA M I LY T R E E CO N T I N U I N G

E S T. 1 9 5 8 - 2 0 1 8

WOODLOCH’S 60 TH ANNIVERSARY

Brand New for Summer THE BIG TOY BOX GAMES

2018

No two summers are exactly alike at Woodloch- something new and exciting is always on the horizon! The stars are aligning as we speak, and 2018 is sure to be one of our greatest summers ever... don’t miss out!

Woodloch might as well be a really, really BIG play room, so we’re cracking open our toy chest for our 2018 Summer Lake Games!

STORE WARS We’ve taken our battle to new extremes at the shopping mall! Creativity has no bounds as you build a display purchasing supplies with “Woodloch Dollars” at stores like Home Goods, The “Flour” Shop, Groceries-R-US and more! Earn the spoils of a gold medal!

6 all-new gigantic versions of your favorite childhood toys from the past 60 years will be all yours this summer... come out and PLAY!

JERSEY SHORE BOARDWALK NIGHT SHAMROCK N ROLL FEST Did you miss St. Paddy’s Day at Woodloch this year? Fear not! We will be celebrating the Emerald Isle all summer long! Enjoy games, snacks, petting zoo, live outdoor acoustic music and, of course, BEER Thursday nights this summer!

Remember those great days and nights of fun at the shore? We’ll be bringing them a bit inland on Monday nights, all summer long! Enjoy your favorite carnival games, delicious boardwalk treats, and even “The Boss’s” presence with the E-Street Shufﬂe cover band!

Plus!

THE DIG Adventure awaits in our newest Woodloch Escape Room! The archaeological ﬁnd of a lifetime awaits- but beware of booby traps, curses and maybe even a few... snakes. Time is deﬁnitely NOT on your side- do you have the skills, smarts and courage to make it out in time?

NEW BATTING CAGES // REBOOTED LAKEVIEW DECK // FRESH TRIVIA GAMES // SYNTHETIC ICE RINK // NEW THEME & STAFF SHOWS 60th ANNIVERSARY GAMES // ALL-NEW EVENING ACTS

Keeping in Touch with Family

across the miles

WELCOME! There is beauty in experiencing four seasons especially in our pristine area. The bounty of color in the fall, the bustle and activity of summer, the rebirth of spring is revitalizing, and of course winter can be its own unique brand of beautiful. I wanted to say that first to balance out what comes next… thanks goodness winter is over. We all felt the wrath of winter. For us at Woodloch, winter storm Riley was quite the handful, putting it mildly. With heavy snow and hurricane-force winds, the nor’easter brought down more trees in one single blow than anyone can remember; guests and staff alike were land-locked and without power for more than 36 hours. In the face of adversity the Woodloch Family came together and pulled through with that signature brand of Woodloch hospitality like no one else can. The show must go on, as they say, and it did; and our family couldn’t be more proud of our staff and thankful to our understanding guests who all found a way to have a good time. You can learn a little more about our unique experience at woodloch.com/blizzard-2018.

Schedule it. Before you even pick a medium to communicate – schedule it. Make sure it’s on your

calendars, no matter how infrequently. Set some reminders just like you would a hair appointment or a doctor’s visit.

Old school traveling journal. It’s always more meaningful to get something handwritten. Pick a small soft cover journal and mail it back and forth with letters or drawings from little ones. The oldest members of your family will appreciate this tech-free approach. Make a blog. Find the tech-savviest member of the family and employ them to set up a blog for your

family. Wordpress or Shutterﬂy offer free and private options speciﬁcally for this. All you need is a valid email address. While a Facebook group might be easier, consider that there may be, at times, a trend to get off the service whether to save time, reduce stress, or just as the latest social media platform shifts to something new, but almost everyone will always have an email address.

Football League or a few rounds of Words with Friends is a great start, don’t forget about digital versions of old favorites like Scrabble, Monopoly, or Battleship. Teens and young adults may consider challenging family to an online game using their favorite gaming system.

Put it all together. Schedule a getaway. Hype it up, create matching tees, and plan far in advance

to keep the conversation going and make sure there’s something for everyone. Pick a central location or one that’s easy to get to for the less traveled in your family. And don’t get discouraged if a few family members can’t make it this time. Just continue to follow the above tips, and remember there’s always the next family gathering.

With the winter that didn’t want to end now behind us, we excitedly celebrated our 60th anniversary under bright sunshine and a spring breeze. The weekend was quite busy full of reminiscing and great conversations. The nightclub was packed for our celebratory champagne toast and we premiered a new video, showcasing a deeper look into what makes Woodloch tick. If you haven’t seen it, you can find it right on the homepage of Woodloch.com. Woodloch is all about family, whatever that family may consist of, and in this issue we’re bringing out a lot of helpful information on how to keep in touch, establish your family tree, and making your own family newsletter. Of course, there’s plenty of Woodloch-related tidbits, like what’s new for summer 2018, some staff all-stars, and much more! On behalf of all of us here at Woodloch, we hope you enjoy this issue and get out and enjoy this summer with those who are most important to you. God Bless,

The Woodloch Family

The Story of Woodloch CHAPTER II When our tale last ended, Harry and Mary Kiesendahl took a plunge and purchased a small boarding house just outside of Hawley, Pennsylvania... ready to take on the challenges that would certainly head their way...

For Woodloch’s first few years, Harry Kiesendahl had little to no time for rest and relaxation- he’d leave that to his resort guests. Still needing to work to support his family, he found himself commuting back and forth to his businesses on Long Island during weekdays then back to the resort on weekends with hardly enough time to catch a wink. Until Woodloch was profitable enough to keep the family afloat, such was the way of life. Mary Kiesendahl, the true “heart” of Woodloch, was always within reach of her guests. In fact, she kept her resort reservations book with her almost all the time- even on her nightstand as she slept. Between greeting, serving and cleaning, you never knew when the phone would ring with inquiring guests. She liked to be ready. She did all of this while taking care of her 3 children in the Pennsylvania wilderness while Harry was away. John, just entering his “tween” years, found the first few weeks of Woodloch challenging. Alone in the woods without his friends back home, missing his father during his midweek furloughs, endless chores and more were trying for a young man. The song changed when the first summer guests arrived, as lifelong friendships were forged on a weekly basis. It got even better for young John when he got acquainted with the young ladies at the camp next door. Life was getting better. It was a never-ending labor of love for the Kiesendahl family. Cooking a meal was followed up by also greeting diners as they arrived. A long day of yard work was capped off with a night of bartending. But it was always worth it. As guests would depart (at the same time together on Saturday mornings), hugs, handshakes and even a few tears were all part of the routine. Kids promised to write each other, and lifelong friendships were established. To this day, these children, their children and even grandchildren still call Woodloch “HOME” upon visiting. “It always felt like our guests weren’t ‘customers’, but actual company visiting us for the week in our home,” says John. “That feeling soon became our mission statement, and is still true to this day.” It became evident after a season that Harry was needed full-time at the resort. Not only was the resort picking up in bookings, but his children John, Nancy and Steven were growing up without him around much. There were lonesome times for the rest of the family in a small adjoining cabin as they eagerly awaited his return from New York life week after week. He made the difficult decision to sell his business interests in Long Island and became a full-time Pennsylvanian. While EVERYONE in the family pitched in during the early days, it didn’t take long for the Kiesendahls to realize they needed help, and not just any help. They needed support from people that cared for others the same way that Mary did. To have the success they wished for, they knew that employees had to have the same sort of empathy for others that they did. As the resort grew and grew, the Kiesendahls hired help consisting of friends, family and even former guestspeople they knew they could trust to welcome guests with warm hospitality. “Many were in school with usthey started part-time, but their responsibilities grew as our resort did,” says John.

Fred Gelderman, one of Woodloch’s longest tenured employees, followed his mother in to work one day and was recruited for yardwork at the ripe old age of 11. “At the end of the week, I was given a brown envelope with $2.50 and all the food I could eat- not a bad deal,” says Fred. While furthering his study of the hospitality industry at Cornell University, John Kiesendahl decided to bring his roommate, Randy Barnes, home with him one weekend. For Randy, it was a match made in heaven. “Every weekend of my senior year, I commuted to Woodloch,” says Randy. “I couldn’t believe that I was getting paid for having fun with people.” He knew it was a lock when he met his now-wife Elaine as she worked in the dining room. Word was getting out about this magical place so close by called “Woodloch.” Through the power of word of mouth, the 14 room property was booked to capacity, and there was clearly demand for more rooms. Expansion began in the 1960’s with the construction of new cottages, hotel buildings, lounges and game rooms. The property itself doubled in size with the acquisition of the girl’s camp (much to John’s disappointment). Anytime adjoining property went up for sale, Woodloch made every effort to acquire even more beautiful property alongside Teedyuskung. Financing all of this necessary expansion was a trying ordeal. “Banks just didn’t have the confidence in seasonal businesses. If you had a bad summer, you might fold,” said Harry Kiesendahl. Ever the innovators, Harry and Mary called upon their guests offering “vacation bonds” to help finance Woodloch’s expansion. The response was overwhelming and heartwarming. “It was one of the most gratifying things that could have happened,” said Harry. “It was then that I realized how trusting and loving our relationship with our guests had become.” Woodloch developed a reputation of being “the place” to relax and enjoy peaceful surroundings. But it also became a haven for FUN. Bingo, square dancing and even “the hokey pokey ”were soon accompanied by amenities like tennis courts, miniature golf, and bocce ball courts. Fleets of boats and snowmobiles provided smiles year round, while the activities program evolved into trivia contests and athletic events for ribbons, trophies and eventually medals. Summers were filled with cookouts and capped off with staff water ski shows every Labor Day Weekend. Of course, ownership wasn’t without trials and tribulations here and there. The 1970’s gas shortage was of no worry to resort guests when they were guaranteed a full tank of gas for the ride home. In 1972, a Thanksgiving snowstorm led to widespread power outages. With a full guest count, the traditional Thanksgiving feast had instead become a candlelight dinner of ham and bologna sandwiches. “Everybody still got into the spirit- and I think it made it easier for what we were truly grateful for- each other,” says John. By the late 1970’s, the winds of change were blowing across Lake Teedyuskung. John, after earning his degree from Cornell and serving in the US Navy, had returned home to step up in the business. He took charge of the expanding kitchen operation. The resort gained national recognition in 1978 as it was selected as one of America’s top family resorts by Better Homes and Gardens. The Kiesendahls had endured 20 years of ownership, and the second generation was waiting in the wings to proudly carry on the legacy…

Company Picnic

BRINGING BACK THE

Contributed by: Rory O’Fee

Team retreats, offsite corporate meetings, regional sales gatherings, etc… are often a great way to bring your working team together. We host a lot of diverse companies from varying industries all year long and find those teams leave feeling more connected, with problems solved, communication improved, and ultimately, closer together. Warning: shameless plug ahead - please feel free to visit WoodlochMeetings.com to learn about how great Woodloch could be for your team retreat.

The day was a blast; there was music blaring, whole families were engaged in hokie group events like potato-sack races, and egg tosses. The air was filled with the tangy aroma of charcoal and hickory accented by the searing of what had to be a million hot dogs - and everyone was there. For me, yeah, the planes were super cool, and

Remember back in the day when dad’s company would host “The Annual Company Picnic?” It was one of the best days of the year. The bosses would circle that one summer Saturday where every employee - top to bottom - would be invited to come out with their immediate family and be recognized by the company. I remember when I was a little kid when my dad worked for Gumman inspecting cockpits on F-14 Tomcats out in Calverton Long Island, company picnic day was one of my favorites. Naturally as a little boy I idolized what my dad did, he was part of the team constructing the most powerful, bad@** military machine in the skies. On this one special day I got to hang out with him and his coworkers at the plant. They would even pull some of the big planes out of the hangars and we little ones got to hop on to a few of them. The guys were excited. They’d finally unveil the enormous barbeque grills they’d spent the last month constructing out of leftover scrap metal from E-2C Hawkeyes, the dozen or so bocce and horseshoe pits they’d dredged, and the industrial storage bins filled with water balloons.

Festival of LIghts Mural

Festival of Lights murals and

walls, ball pits or themed character cutouts were painted by yours

paintings. These projects

truly. You might commonly find Mr. DiGiovanni at gym games,

are his favorite activity

trivia games, the snow tube hill, horse racing, or on stage during

at Woodloch because he

the staff show! Next time you’re at Woodloch give him a “Howdy”

considers it his down time

and a wave!

to think and express himself.

A few more fun facts about Adrian: He cross you up on the

He says he feels the pinch

basketball court anytime, anywhere. He plays both the guitar and

during the fall getting

bass guitar. The fall season or just mild weather is GRRRREAT!

everything ready for hayrides

Adrian enjoys reading history, like … really loves to read history.

and the light show. “But I

He considers himself a history nerd. Adrian also loves his dog.

wouldn’t want it any other

His favorite animal is the American Bison, he doesn’t really know

way!” You might also find

why….maybe because they just look cool!

some of his work at Lake

Closing words to live by from Adrian: “Always be nice to guests,

Games or Double Dare - those Grumman Picnic - Circa 1955

hanging around dad and his work buddies was fun, but there was something very positive behind the scenes that was taking place at every other company picnic across America.

always try to be nice to people. But that is just a good way to live!”

elaborately decorated climb

Charlie Chaplin and his pup!

So what happened? Where have the company picnics of yesteryear gone today? Unfortunately whenever there is market turbulence employee perks are sensibly the first thing to get cut. When you don’t have the excess cash to do it, you just can’t do it. With that being said, this decision really shouldn’t be made that lightly in any boardroom. Festival of LIghts Mural

Mural Painting

G E T TO K N OW A D R I A N Adrian has been working at Woodloch for 6 years. Originally from Chicago he moved to the Pocono area because of his fiancé’s brother. “I arrived in October of 2011 and I was looking, looking, looking for a job.” said the animated Adrian. “ Why don’t you work at Woodloch?” says his Fiancé’s brother. And he was like “What is that!?” It was then that he connected with Woodloch. and got the job in the social department! “Just like that!”

The good ol’ company picnic’s benefits, while intangible and without a direct ROI, can be massive and really strengthen a company. Employees felt a little bit more rewarded. The employee’s family felt included. The little ones became mini ambassadors for the cool company mom or dad worked for, people let loose a little and connected with one another, ultimately helping to foster company loyalty and a stronger team.

the importance of this and taking action.

Destination company outings involve the whole family and usually a weekend’s worth of activity and entertainment. WAC Lighting out of Port Washington, NY, took a weekend away to Woodloch Resort and rewarded their staff. This is an annual event the company enjoys and they’ve been hosting it for years. They feel the event really brings the team closer together, helps forge a deeper sense of community Sounds like a whole heck of a lot of upside, and weaves the family and work life together and it seems like the company picnic is having in harmony. a resurgence. Unfortunately, in many cases, it has been relegated to memories and pola- WAC Lighting put together a unique agenda roids. Some companies still keep the tradition with the Woodloch team that was developed alive. Even a simple outing with hamburgers to allow everyone to let loose as well as foster and corn on the cob in a park can go a long communication and friendships. The weekend way for staff morale. Other companies are tak- culminated in a full-blown block party where a ing a different approach and are successfully Woodloch guest home cul-de-sac was outfitted bringing back the company picnic in a great with a band in one garage, party games in anway. other, a grand barbeque and even a casino set

The unique thing about Adrian is that he is an artist on many different levels. And also a complete jokester! He graduated from Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. Over the years Adrian has been an actor/writer of many Mural Painting

films, TV shows, and theatre performances. Stand-up comedy is another one of Adrian’s special skills; Improv Dot Biz and Club Funny are a few extracurricular comedy groups he is a part of. He performed with his Improv team at Woodloch, in the North Lodge during summer 2017. Boy where they funny! Adrian is currently in the process of illustrating a comic book for a local writer (rough draft featured on this page). At Woodloch Adrian has been able to let his talents shine (literally)! Every blood, sweat and tear is put into the

Acting Scene

Destination company outings are growing in popularity in the business world. As company values shift toward work-life harmony, rather than a work-life balance, take it from Jeff Bezos “I think work-life harmony is a good framework. I prefer the word ‘harmony’ to the word ‘balance’ because balance tends to imply a strict tradeoff*.” People want to work, but also want to be committed and engaged with their families. Executives across industries are seeing Grumman photos courtesy of Warbird Information Exchange. *ThriveGlobal.com interview.

up in the others. Beyond the block party, the attendees were free to enjoy all that Woodloch has to offer, as a group, or on their own. Ultimately the employees felt rewarded and appreciated, not to mention they got to have a ton of fun, because that’s what it’s really all about in the end. Return to work on Monday morning brought energy, ideas, improved communication, and maybe even a deeper sense of loyalty.

WOODLOCH RESORT

]

ROOKIE YEAR: 2002 FAVORITE SPORT: Baseball HOBBIES: Snowmobiling QUOTABLE: “A gallon of milk weighs 8.5 lbs. A gallon of water weighs 8 lbs.

ROOKIE YEAR: 2016 FORMER DEPT: Dining Room FAVORITE SPORT: Halo! HOBBIES: Movies, Music, Entertainment FUN FACT: Tony played Bilbo Baggins in a musical version of “The Hobbit.”

ROOKIE YEAR: 2002 FORMER DEPT: Main Kitchen/Bakery FAVORITE SPORT: Competitive Eating HOBBIES: Traveling, camping, reading, creating yummy things QUOTABLE: “Smile for no reason, and pretty soon you’ll ﬁnd a reason.”

ROOKIE YEAR: 2010 FAVORITE SPORT: Medieval Jousting HOBBIES: Piano, forensic science, and rebelling against The Empire QUOTABLE: “There exists more plastic flamingos than real flamingos.”

ROOKIE YEAR: 2004 FAVORITE SPORT: Volleyball HOBBIES: Quilting, cooking, shopping FUN FACT: Judy is known as being Woodloch’s “baby whisperer,” bringing smiles to fussy children during meal times.

ROOKIE YEAR: 2005 FAVORITE SPORT: Football HOBBIES: Soccer, exercising, video games, long walks on the beach QUOTABLE: “‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’-Wayne Gretzky” -Michael Scott -Wes Halladay

CH RESORT’S STAFF

]

As past visitors have known (and as future guests will soon know), we have an amazing team at our resort! Their big league performances on the job every day bring a championship caliber vacation experience to all who enter our doors.Get to know some of them a little bit better here!

ROOKIE YEAR: 2010 FORMER DEPARTMENT: Front Desk FAVORITE SPORT: Football HOBBIES: Dancing, hanging with friends, a little bourbon every now and then... FUN FACT: She loves being a Mommy to her two sons, Braxton and Oakley!

ROOKIE YEAR: 2003 FAVORITE SPORT: Basketball HOBBIES: Grandchildren, Gardening, Sewing FUN FACT: “My dad always said, ‘Many hands make light work.’ That has always stuck with me!”

ROOKIE YEAR: 2004 FORMER DEPARTMENT: Kitchen FAVORITE SPORT: Snowboarding HOBBIES: Snowboarding & Dirt Biking! FUN FACT: In addition to being a great mechanic, Jeremy is also an amazing artist. He etches glass and makes projects like clocks out of old motorcycle parts!

ROOKIE YEAR: 2010 FAVORITE SPORT: Horseback riding HOBBIES: Gourmet cooking, hunting and ﬁshing, planning emergency procedures and running a small farm. QUOTABLE: “You get what you give.”

ROOKIE YEAR: 2016 FAVORITE SPORT: Football HOBBIES: Woodworking, ﬁshing, enjoying the Great Outdoors QUOTABLE: Josh is our resident nature expertcatch his guided trail walks all summer long!

ROOKIE YEAR: 1992 FAVORITE SPORT: Golf (of course!) & Chicago Bears football HOBBIES: Hunting, golf and travel QUOTABLE: “Life is short, enjoy the adventure and regret NOTHING. If you’re asking the question, you probably already know the answer!”

A Taste of Woodloch G a t h e r ‘r o u n d t h e p i c n i c t a b l e

Time flies when you’re eating good food! Nothing compares to eating with loved ones around a table or on a picnic blanket. It seems nowadays there is less time to share a meal together, but at Woodloch, that’s our specialty. We love bringing families back together and we love doing it the old fashioned American way…the family cookout! These recipes are perfect for your next outdoor gathering. Once you spread the lavender glazed chicken and coleslaw around the picnic table everyone will come running!

Apple Jicama Coleslaw INGREDIENTS: 1/2 small head green cabbage, cored and thinly sliced 1/2 jicama, matchstick-sized 1 large sweet apple, matchstick-sized 1/2 cup mayonnaise

Pesto Chicken Tortellini Soup

1/4 cup pineapple juice 1 tsp white sugar Hot sauce to taste

DIRECTIONS: 1. Place cabbage, jicama and apple in a large bowl and toss to combine 2. Whisk mayonnaise, pineapple juice, suagar, hot sauce, salt and pepper until mixture is smooth and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

2 tbsp. salted butter

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 bunch chopped fresh cilantro

1 onion, diced

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups baby spinach

8 cups low sodium chicken broth

2 cans white beans (14.5 oz)

1. Heat butter over medium/high heat in a large Dutch oven or stock pot. Add in the diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds until the garlic and onion are translucent and fragrant.

3 tbsp. pesto with basil

1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)

1 package (20 oz) cheese tortellini

Grated Parmesan for garnish

2. Add the chicken broth, pesto, and tomatoes. Stir to combine.

Roasted Lavender Honey Glazed Chicken

3. Bring soup to a boil and then reduce heat to low, stirring in tortellini. 4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 5. Set to simmer and cook for approximately 7 minutes or until the trortellini is al dente. 6. Stir in the cooked chicken, spinach and white beans. 7. Stir to combine and allow to simmer until the spinach is wilted to your liking. 8. Garnish with parmesan and serve!

Salt and pepper to taste 1/3 oz toasted corn bits, crushed

3. Mix in cilantro and toss again. Garnish with toaste corn bits. Serve immediately.

INGREDIENTS: 1 (5-6 lb) chicken, quartered Salt and fresh ground black pepper 2 tsp dried lavender 1 tbsp. dried thyme 1 tbsp. dried rosemary 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 1/2 cup pure honey 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar DIRECTIONS: 1. Position an oven rack towards the middle of the oven, then heat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Season the chicken quarters with about 1 tsp of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Place in one layer onto a rimmed baing sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. 3. Meawhile, add lavender, thyme, rosemary, red pepper flakes, honey and balsamic vinegar to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk until well blended. When warmed through, remove from the heat and set aside. 4. After 20 min of roasting, baste chicken with lavender honey glaze into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165 degrees (an additional 15 to 20 minutes). 5. Remove chicken from the oven, loosely cover with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 5 min before serving.

A Taste of Woodloch G a t h e r ‘r o u n d t h e p i c n i c t a b l e

Apple Jicama Coleslaw INGREDIENTS: 1/2 small head green cabbage, cored and thinly sliced 1/2 jicama, matchstick-sized 1 large sweet apple, matchstick-sized 1/2 cup mayonnaise

Pesto Chicken Tortellini Soup

1/4 cup pineapple juice 1 tsp white sugar Hot sauce to taste

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

2 tbsp. salted butter

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 bunch chopped fresh cilantro

1 onion, diced

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups baby spinach

8 cups low sodium chicken broth

2 cans white beans (14.5 oz)

3 tbsp. pesto with basil

1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)

1 package (20 oz) cheese tortellini

Grated Parmesan for garnish

2. Add the chicken broth, pesto, and tomatoes. Stir to combine.

Roasted Lavender Honey Glazed Chicken

Salt and pepper to taste 1/3 oz toasted corn bits, crushed

3. Mix in cilantro and toss again. Garnish with toaste corn bits. Serve immediately.

T IPS FOR R ESEA RCH ING YOUR FA M I LY T R EE Here at Woodloch, we are very fortunate to celebrate a rich 60-year family history of resort ownership and operation. We know that many of our guests are interested in our family history as well as their own, and we want to offer some tips about how to begin researching one’s ancestry!

Gather information If you’re anything like us, your attic/basement/garage/storage room is probably ﬁlled with old photos, letters, newspaper clippings, and general mementos that offer insight into your family’s past. Gather what you have, and start there.

Speak with relatives Now that you’ve compiled the resources that you’re working with, begin talking to family members. See how they can help provide more information and ﬁll in the blanks. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins -- your extended family is probably chock full of stories they would love to share; they’re just waiting for someone to ask! The best questions start with “what,” “why,” and “how.” You’ll want to dig deep to get the most out of your questions!

Write it down Make sure you get all of the above information in writing so that you don’t have to go back and try to rely on memory. A great place to start is with a quick search for “pedigree charts” on Google. Free charts abound, and this is where you can start logging all of your family history on paper.

Search the internet and explore genealogy websites This is a given. The internet is overﬂowing with information right at your ﬁngertips. It is by far the easiest way to gather information quickly. Websites such as FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com are great places to start researching family name databases and begin connecting the dots.

Organize what you have Once you’ve gathered all of your ﬁndings, enter them into the family tree programs that you’ve decided to use either online or on paper charts. Be sure to ﬁle copies/notes/photographs in an organized manner, and keep all of this information in a safe place.

Plan what’s next Once you’ve compiled and documented all of your research, you may want to visit the towns that your ancestors lived and explore sites where records are kept, such as courthouses and places of worship, to gain access to additional resources ﬁrsthand. We wish you the best in your search and happy hunting!

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wever, easily and frequently reunite. Ho we In an ideal world, families could each other than ever before, m fro ay aw r the far ng livi ple l phones work-centric society with peo computers, the internet, and cel e, tim e sam the At e. cas the ier than ever . . . know this isn’t always a technological standpoint, eas m fro st lea at ch, tou in g pin have made kee ns newsletter and emailing out a family reunio ng ati cre t ges sug to e her p ’re Which is why we involved or intricate. Simply kee hly hig be to e hav t sn’ doe It eresting to keep everyone up to speed! s, and create engaging and int age all for ing eth som e lud inc ce! it fun and informative, Well, you’ve come to the right pla s? tion ges sug e som for g kin content. Loo newsletter rson in charge of compiling the pe e Th r. ito Ed e th m fro ter. r Begin with a Lette s the contents of the newslet sse cu dis d an e ton the ts se that can write a brief introduction readers in more Color ful photography draws s. re tu Pic re Mo d an s, special re Pictures, Pictu to email recent photos from ers mb me ily fam k As . es ago. It is nice to than black and white text do d pictures from many years ore on e-h tim se tho for k as occasions but also and new. include a mix of old pictures ut ferent family members witho dif t ou ab ts fac ng sti ere int t answers in Games and Family Trivia. Lis ess who that person is. Post gu ers mb me ily fam er oth naming them then have the next issue. lude bir thdays, Everyone likes good news! Inc s. nt me ce un no An d an s , happy te Important Da nouncements . . . you know an th bir or ing dd we t en rec anniversaries, graduations, things to celebrate! is the perfect an in-person gathering, this ing nn pla ’re you If . tes da n so Family Reunion Up details of the planned reunio the all ow kn ers mb me ily fam o a great place way to spread the word! Let reservations, etc. This is als , nts me ge an arr l ve tra r pe that they can make pro ! to recap any recent reunions Family members r ancestry, start asking here! you in d ste ere int ’re you ily tree. If Family Tree. and fill in the gaps in that fam ve ha y the t tha on ati orm inf can provide any historical ple at profiles? Food is always a sta or d/ an s ipe rec ily fam e d families, it Fun Extras. Why not includ recipes. And in large extende te ori fav ir the are sh to e e lov reunions, and people ate a section where you featur cre so le op pe in rta ce h wit r ilia t the person, is not uncommon to be unfam d a bit of background abou an oto ph a e lud Inc . ers different family memb bbies and interests. including their occupation, ho

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on kick back, relax, and catch up Enjoy as your family members ter! greatest in your family newslet

the latest and

Mural Painting

Acting Scene

Festival of LIghts Mural

Festival of Lights murals and

walls, ball pits or themed character cutouts were painted by yours

paintings. These projects

truly. You might commonly find Mr. DiGiovanni at gym games,

are his favorite activity

trivia games, the snow tube hill, horse racing, or on stage during

at Woodloch because he

the staff show! Next time you’re at Woodloch give him a “Howdy”

considers it his down time

and a wave!

to think and express himself.

A few more fun facts about Adrian: He cross you up on the

He says he feels the pinch

basketball court anytime, anywhere. He plays both the guitar and

during the fall getting

bass guitar. The fall season or just mild weather is GRRRREAT!

everything ready for hayrides

Adrian enjoys reading history, like … really loves to read history.

and the light show. “But I

He considers himself a history nerd. Adrian also loves his dog.

wouldn’t want it any other

His favorite animal is the American Bison, he doesn’t really know

way!” You might also find

why….maybe because they just look cool!

some of his work at Lake

Closing words to live by from Adrian: “Always be nice to guests,

Games or Double Dare - those

always try to be nice to people. But that is just a good way to live!”

elaborately decorated climb

Charlie Chaplin and his pup!

Festival of LIghts Mural

amandakobner

katiie.ostrom

davidpepe

erinnmarieeee

Woodlochâ€™s Best of snuggle_monster_theo

zakzavada

travelwewill

sophisticated_stiletto

ALL of these great photos were shared with us by our guests! Want to be featured in an upcoming issue? Tag your BEST photos with #WOODLOCH and you just might be featured!

rachellevylesser

piparone

nik_web

homemadedelish

ihavearedhed

jamiengrose

jessieca8

Woodloch "Storytellers" I’ve been coming up to Woodloch since 1979- I found out about it when I visited a friend’s house and played “the ring toss game” and asked him where he got the idea- he said “Woodloch.” I asked my parents to take us and we’ve been coming ever since. It was better than any other vacation I’d ever been on. One summer I decided to stay, and kept it as a summer job for 5 years. Seeing a guest happy, and hearing a guest saying “that was the BEST vacation I’ve ever had”- that, to me, meant more than anything. I was proud to be a part of the Woodloch family.

tammy_degrazia

One of my ﬁrst days of work, they made the mistake of putting me on the dock giving out paddleboats. Joey said it would be really easy- just help guests on and off the boats. The boats went out, and I thought it was really easy. Then the ﬁrst boat suddenly came back and said “hey… we’re sinking.” While I was investigating the leak, another boat and another boat came back, and I assumed it had to do something with me. I grabbed a lifeguard and he said, “did you put the plugs in?” I said, “…what plugs?” The rest of the week, those guests did not forget it. They made jokes for the rest of their stay, and it was the one and only day that I ever worked down at the boats.

kateassaraf

Coming back to Woodloch, seeing people that I’m so familiar with, that’s the magic of Woodloch. Seeing them come back from year to year, it’s like a family reunionthough they aren’t necessarily your “family”- but they are. Because at Woodloch, all the rules are different. It’s the world like you wish it was. You wish that the world was more like Woodloch. - JIM KARP, longtime guest & friend Share YOUR Woodloch story at Woodloch.com/Storytellers!

lemonsandlaughs

ldubbs113

kelmcquillan

kayycorso

kcbrita

Keeping in Touch with Family

across the miles

Schedule it. Before you even pick a medium to communicate – schedule it. Make sure it’s on your

calendars, no matter how infrequently. Set some reminders just like you would a hair appointment or a doctor’s visit.

Video messenger. When a simple phone call won’t do, let them see your face. Facebook’s Messenger, Whatsapp, or Skype are just a few options when it comes to video chat. You can even communicate with family living or traveling abroad. Get competitive. Do you miss all the family banter? Try playing games together. While a Fantasy Football League or a few rounds of Words with Friends is a great start, don’t forget about digital versions of old favorites like Scrabble, Monopoly, or Battleship. Teens and young adults may consider challenging family to an online game using their favorite gaming system. Put it all together. Schedule a getaway. Hype it up, create matching tees, and plan far in advance

conversation starters for the whole family

Go beyond the typical, “How was your day?” and spice things up with a little, “If you had every eye in the world on you for just 10 seconds, what would you say?” Maybe we’re getting too deep, but we can all agree that ‘Family Talk’ is important. We sat down with Woodloch’s own Road Trip Concierge, Brooke James, and asked her about getting a good conversation going with your family. “When our family --and I do mean the WHOLE family-- gets together we have a group ranging from infants to grandparents. We have to have conversations on everything from silly to philosophical.” And Brooke stresses that both are equally important when maximizing the few precious moments we carve out for one another in our hectic lives. “It’s good to be silly because without the silly you’ll never get comfortable enough to have the deep meaningful conversations that bring you closer.”

sillY

The

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What is the wildest thing you’ve ever eaten? Trip C o What cartoon character would you say we’re each most like? ncierge If you could pick your own name, what would it be? What would you ask the family pet if they could answer you back? Pick someone in the room whose mind you’d like to read. What TV / Movie family does ours most closely resemble? Who in our family makes you laugh the most? Make a rule, or on a larger scale, make a new law. What would it be and why? If you had to pick just one food to eat for the next month, what would it be? Absolution! What is something you got away with that you still haven’t fessed up to?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

What is one way you helped someone today? What is your favorite memory from your childhood? (So far?) Which one of our family traditions is your favorite? Can you think of anything you’ve done today that you know you could have done better? If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, who would you chose? What is the nicest thing a friend has ever done for you? If you could design your own school, what would it look like? How would it be different? What is the most important thing your parents have taught you? Pick only three words to describe the family member on your left. What do you think makes a happy family?

s u o i r se s

A story about bringing family together.

WHY HOST YOUR R E U N I O N AT W O O D LO C H ? Dedicated staf f Experienced coordinators Accommodates any size group Guest homes, hotel rooms, or suites Various dining options Daily activity schedule Builds lasting memories!

WOODLOCH.COM/REUNITE | 800.453.8263 OPTION #2