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December 2010
Another year has passed at Camp Middlesex, and the camp and its facility are going stronger
then ever! While there were many camps in the surrounding area that were closed down due to the sour economy, we are fortunate to have a strong volunteer base and growing camper population that helps keep our program strong. With the continued efforts of board members and alumni like you, Camp Middlesex continues to offer a summer camp experience to children in Massachusetts and surrounding areas.
Registration Reminder!
Registration is now open for the summer of 2011! Sign up to ensure that you get the session(s) that you want! The cost for a week of overnight camp is $450. For day camp, the cost is $275 per week. Also, we’ve brought back breakfast and dinner for extended day, with an additional cost of $40 for extended early (7:30 AM-5:30) and extended late (8:30 AM- 6:30 PM). The additional cost is $80 for the whole extended day (7:30AM-6:30).
Woodworking Camp Added as a New Specialty Camp!
We’re adding a Woodworking Camp for the 1st week of camp (June 26 – July 1). The 
program will be open to teens aged 13-16 years old. Potential CIT’s are encouraged to sign up! The first goal of the program, led by Charlie Crook, a 5 th grade teacher and woodworking enthusiast, will be to restore the original Camp Middlesex sign in front of Willard Brook as you enter camp. There will also be a small project that campers will be able to take home as well. We are excited to add this program to our specialty week line-up!
Bridge Project
The Board of Directors are beginning to accept donations to upgrade the bridge that currently crosses over Willard brook. The proposed bridge will have a concrete deck and stronger side support. We are currently in fundraising mode for this project, and will continue until we reach our goal of $65,000.
Facility Upgrades in 2011
For the upcoming year, there are some additional improvements in the works. 
We plan to replace the roofs to the upper bathrooms and Hilltop cabin, finish replacing windows in the Alumni building, add illuminated exit signs throughout camp, stain Thursten Barn red, add a new low ropes element, and purchase a food warmer and new conveyer toaster for the kitchen. All alumni are invited to help by attending our Spring Clean-Up Day on Saturday, April 9th , from 10-5! A barbecue lunch will be provided to all volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please send me an e-mail (director@campmiddlesex.com). We hope to see you there!
70th Anniversary Reunion Weekend – September 10 & 11
We are also excited to announce that 2011 marks the 70th anniversary for Camp Middlesex! In honor of this milestone, we are currently planning an Alumni Family Weekend. The 70th Anniversary Reunion Weekend is on September 10th & 11th, 2011. There will be fun activities, games, a Decades Dance, and a campfire up at MC. We hope to see everyone at this event! Registration for the event is open to adult alumni (over 18) and their families until June 1, and then registration will be open to all current campers and their families. The cost will be $40 per person or $75 for a family of up to 4 overnight. For a registration form, e-mail Steve at director@campmiddlesex.com. The traditional Alumni Weekend for current campers will be on October 1-2.
Now Hiring!
We have a huge number of returning counselors and staff lined up for campers in 2011! At this time, we are looking for fill 5 counselor positions, 1 day camp director, and 1 nurse for 3 weeks. Counselors need to be over the age of 19, and experienced to lead any of the following programs: woodworking, nature, archery, boating, or swimming. The camp nurse needs to be a 
current Massachusetts-certified RN. The day camp director needs to be over the age of 21, and hold a bachelor’s degree (preferably in education or recreation). If you know anyone that fits any of these categories, please encourage them to apply! Applications are available at: http://campmiddlesex.com/staff/staff_app.html.
Back to Camp Dance & Alumni Weekend
We have 2 events planned for campers before and after camp this year. The Back to Camp Dance will be held on Saturday, June 4th, from 6 PM - 10 PM. Campers are encouraged to attend this event to help us kick off the new camp season! There will be a cover charge of $10, with all proceeds going to the bridge fund. Drinks and snacks will be included!! There will also be a “social hour” from 6-7, so that campers can meet up with old friends and meet new ones! To RSVP, either click “attending” on our Facebook page, or let Steve know (director@campmiddlesex.com).
After camp, we will be hosting our 3rd Annual Alumni Weekend. Last year was our biggest year with over 100 campers in attendance. You don’t want to miss out on this event, so mark your calendar now – Alumni Weekend 2011 is on October 1+2! More information about this event will follow…
In Closing...
As the 2010 year comes to a close, I wish to thank all the parents, campers, and staff at camp that have made 2010 such a great year. With all your support, we continue to build our program, meet new friends, and have a boatload of fun!!! See you all in 2011!!
Steve LaFountain
Director
Camp Middlesex Calendar 2011
Mark your calendars now! We have some exciting events planned for 2011!!
April 9: Clean-up day – All invited to help out! (10AM-5PM, lunch included!)
April 10: Open House (12PM-4PM)
June 3-5: CIT Weekend (CIT Applications are available here: (http://campmiddlesex.com/campers/cit_program.htm)
June 4: Back to Camp Dance (6PM-10PM – Cost $10 to benefit the bridge fund)
June 5: Open House (12PM-4PM)
June 13-24: Staff Orientation
June 26-July 1: Week 1, Specialty Week
July 3-8: Week 2, Hollywood Week
July 10-15: Week 3, Color Week
July 17-22: Week 4, Wild & Wacky Week
July 24-29: Week 5, Animal Week
July 31-Aug. 5: Week 6, International Week
Aug. 7-Aug. 12: Week 7, Spirit Week
Aug. 14-Aug. 19: Week 8, Specialty Week
Sep. 10-11: 70th Anniversary Reunion Weekend (Begins at noon on Sat.)
Oct. 1-2: 3rd Annual Alumni Weekend (For current campers – begins at noon)
Oct. 22: Camp Close-up Day
A special thanks to the following families and organization that donated to our pool and campership funds during the 2010 camping season:
Up to $25
Linda Conte
Patty Culkins
Heather Daly
Karen Dinardo
Margaret Dixon
Karen Fritzman
Lorlayn Gallant
Jennifer Jones
Charles Kennerson
Lesley Kenney
Mary Jo Hembrow
Stefanie Heiter
Heidi Hoffmann
Margaret Hogue
Allison Krystofik
Kimberly Mack
Eleanor Mannix
Annalise Nehring
Michelle Pratt
Nancy Romanowski
Malgorzata Saavedra
Sharon Waliszewski
Zoe Zupko
|
$26-$100
Mass. 4-H All Stars
Nijan Datar
Peg Flynn
Rodney Gregoire
Utahna Hallet
George Hatch
Frank Panek
Shirley Rod & Gun Club
John Terry & Lisa Cherbuliez
$100-$250
Bob & Jane Hallet
Charlene Parlee
Rotary Club of Fitchburg East
|
$250-$500
4-H Middlesex Advisory Council (MAC)
Peter Giorno
Gary Guzzi
MJS Metals
Other Donations:
Yawkee II Foundation - $5,000
Mass. 4-H Foundation - $1,000
Camp Store - $
Total Gifts - $9,259.03 |
April 18, 2010
Blackberry Cabin
Teen boys have been waitlisted for the last few summers, and we are now expading Blackberry cabin to accommodate 10 boys! This will allow many on the waitlist to be able to come to camp. This expansion now allows us to hold up to 20 teen boys per week.
Safety First Award
Camp Middlesex has won the Safety First Award for the 4th year! The Safety First Award is given to camps that show a strong committment to safety and making it a top priority!
December 15, 2009
Pool Project
The pool is complete! On June 26 th, 2009, the Board of Directors hosted a pool dedication to 
kickoff the opening of the pool. It was a grand occasion that was attended by members of the Camp Board of Directors, Woburn Kiwanis, Winning Home Foundation, 4-H Foundation, and camp counselors. The weather cooperated as a banner and plaque were presented as thanks to those that contributed to help complete the project.
Throughout the summer, Campers and counselors have enjoyed swimming in the pool. Swim lessons were taken to a new level, as we now had a “deep end” to teach campers some advanced strokes. To top it off, the most popular evening program was the night swim at the pool! Thank you to everyone that helped to make this project a reality!
Facility Updates
This year saw some upgrades to camp facility. First and foremost was the construction of the pool. This major upgrade was constructed with money gathered from various foundations and donations. Around the pool a lot of landscaping was completed thanks to Shephard’s of Townsend. Gary Shephard (owner of Shephard’s) donated a lot of time to provide the service at a low cost to the camp.
Board member George Hatch also donated some time and materials to complete upgrades to
the facility. His company did some work to the rocket room, as they tore down the dividing wall and fixed the cement floor that was starting to cave in. He also added some new windows to the front of the barn. Finally, he built a dividing wall in the pool shed to separate the lifeguard’s quarters from the pool pumps. Some other projects included the construction of a new fence over the bridge, some new windows in the kitchen, and workbenches for the woodworking room. All in all, another busy year!
Future Projects
At camp, there are currently 3 projects that we will be working on in the coming years. The first project is painting and staining the Gold Farm House and the Barn. The second project is upgrading the beams on the bridge. The final project is the lower bathrooms. We are just beginning to look at their condition and what our options are to replacing them.
You can help us with our facility repairs by donating to our facility fund. 100% of your donation goes into the facility and helping it to develop! A checkbox for donating to the fund is located on your registration form, or you can donate online at: https://www.ultracamp.com/clientlogin.aspx?idCamp=69. We are also looking for volunteers with background in maintenance to help donate time.
Counselors Needed
If you know anyone between the ages of 18 and 25 that would make a great counselor at camp, then encourage them to apply! We get the best staff members from recommendations! Salaries range from $1,500-$2,100, depending on year in school. We are looking for counselors to
work in: low ropes, archery, fishing, woodworking, swimming, boating, barnyard, dance, outdoor living skills, and theater. An online application is available at: www.campmiddlesex.com/staff.
Registration Now Open!
Registration is now open for the 2010 camping season. We are excited to announce the addition of an 8 th week of camp, busing for day camp, and new specialty weeks! There are some exciting options for families this year! Be sure to register early for the week you want before it gets waitlisted. Pricing and information is available at: http://campmiddlesex.com/parents/dates_and_prices.html.
The early bird special this year is $30 off per week, when you register for 2 or more overnight weeks. Hurry, the special ends on January 31 st.
In closing…
As I sit and fold another round of brochures, I am reminded of this past decade and all the improvements that we all have made at camp. When you look around the facility and see the Alumni building and new swimming pool, you can’t help but see that they have been quite the accomplishments! Other “smaller” improvements were the addition of a new nature center, docks, a stage, ovens, refrigerators, stoves, a woodworking room, ping-pong tables, a low ropes course, and a tree harvest. Moving forward, I am excited about what the next decade will bring to camp and its traditions. I’m sure that it will be an exciting time to be a part of camp and its traditions.
Best wishes to the New Year!
Steve LaFountain, M.Ed.
Director
A special thanks to the following families and organization that donated to our pool and campership funds during the 2009 camping season:
Up to $25
Susan Adams
John Bilotti
Leslie Campbell
Lisa Cherbuliez
Elizabeth Correia
Heather Daly
Nijan Datar
Mary Day
Karen DiNardo
Mary Flaherty
Heather Hill
Hiedi Hoffmann
Jennifer Jones
Victor Lampron
Sonia Lipson
Kristen Lunden
Barbara Mangum
Julie Mirabito
Shari Pitkin
Malgorzata Saavedra
Lauren Schneiderman
Christina Spadafore
Diane Statkus
Carol Stokes
Victoria Taylor
Scott Urato
Jai Wolfe
|
$26-$100
Bab’s Auto Body
Nicole Bergeron
Nathaniel Brown
Robert & Irene Brown
Jaelyn Downey
David Gabree
LuAnne Hagerty
Stefanie Heiter
Lynne Hembrow
Jon Hogue
Elizabeth & Charles Kenerson
Leslie Kenney
Diane Lundin
Susan Marsten
Mary McBrady
Victoria McIsaac
Mary Ellen O’Shea
Mass 4-H All Stars
Francis Panek
Alison Reid
Carol Thomas
|
$100-$250
Gary Graves
Gary Guzzi
Steve LaFountain
Andrew Lambert
Jack Messing
Edward Shea
Other Donations:
George Hatch - $320
Middlesex County Advisory Council (MAC) - $400
Robert & Jane Hallet - $800
Yawkee II Foundation - $5,000
Mass. 4-H Foundation - $5,875
Camp Store - $1,330.79
Total Gifts - $16,338.94 |
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December 7, 2008
Registration is now open for the summer of 2009!
The camp website has been updated with the upcoming the
mes and information for the summer of 2009. The cost for overnight is $415/week and the cost of day camp is $255/week. Remember to register early to ensure that you save your spot for the week that you want (especially for Color Week)! Those that register for overnight camp before January 31, 2009, and pay in full, will receive $30 off per week!
Pool Project Update
This year, the pool project raised roughly $70,000 from donations, fundraisers, and grants. Since we surpassed our goal of $115,000, the Board of Directors voted to have the installation of the pool begin in October, and finished in the spring. Pictures of the project in action are posted in our online photo album (http://campmiddlesex.com/v-web/gallery/).
A special thanks goes to Board member Heide Messing for her continued work on this project. We also have to thank the Winning Farm Foundation for their generous donation, as well as the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation and the Sterlite Corportation for their donations. Finally, thanks goes to all those that helped donate for the pool. We wouldn’t have been able to begin the project without support from you!
If you haven’t purchased a brick or donated to the pool project, we are still continuing our fundrasing efforts throughout the winter and spring. We are hoping to have enough money to support the operating costs of the pool for the first year as well as construction overruns, so that we don’t have to put a burden on camp funds.
Bricks and donations can be completed online 
(https://www.ultracamp.com/clientlogin.aspx?idCamp=69) or by downloading a brick form (http://www.campmiddlesex.com/forms/).
Weekend Changes & Trips
Due to the 4 th of July falling on a Saturday, the camp has decided to change the traditional weekend stayovers. Now campers will be
staying over between weeks 2&3, 4&5, and 6&7. We hope that with this change, more campers will be able to stay!
Since last year’s trip to Water Country was so successful, we’ve decided to add trips to camp offerings every weekend stayover this summer! The trips that are planned are: Water Country (weeks 2&3), George’s Island (weeks4&5), and Canobie Lake Park (weeks 6&7).
Nurse & Program Director Needed
Kathy, one of our camp nurses, has decided to "retire" from Camp Middlesex this past winter. Kathy
certainly
has become an
instution
at camp and we certainly wish her luck with her family!
Since Kathy left, we are looking for a licensed RN to take on her responsibilities for 3-4 weeks of camp. Prospective candidates need to have a current RN license, be able to stay on camp from 
Sunday night through Friday afternoon, and work well with children and staff (school nurses preferred). If you are interested, contact Steve LaFountain at: director@campmiddlesex.com. You can also fill out on online application at: www.campmiddlesex.com/staff. Our current nurse pay rate is $850/week, but there are also opportunities for reduced camper tuition rates as well.
We are also looking for a college grad to take on the responsibilities as our Program Director. Anyone with a background in education is preferred. The applicant must be well-organized, and willing to be a part of the overnight experience for a total of 9 weeks of camp. If you know someone that fits this description, then encourage them to apply at www.campmiddlesex.com/staff.
In Closing...
Another camping season comes to a close, and another one is on the horizon to begin. I hope that in these hard economic times, many families will remember the benefit that even a week of camp has on the growth and development of their children.
Each year I am amazed at the hard work that the staff, Board Members, and volunteers at Camp Middlesex put into the program to see that it is truly a unique experience for the campers that attend. Even though a majority of our campers may come to camp for a week, they still continue to develop not only in camping skills, but more importantly, in the life skills such as teamwork, responsibility, and leadership. When the summer ends, many parents remark how much their son or daughter grew during their week at camp. And in that, we continue to believe that camp is truly a safe, special place for those of us that are lucky to experience it each summer.
Best wishes this holiday season,
Steve LaFountain
Director
A special thanks to the following families and organization that donated to our pool and campership funds during the 2008 camping season:
Up to $25
Douglas Brown
Kathleen Connors
Helen Connors
Linda Conte
Cynthia Corwin
Lynne Doherty
Mary Flaherty
Pam Fleury
P. Flynn
Dennis Gauvin
Melissa Graham
Mary Gregoire
George Hatch
Kelly Hembrow
Lynne Hembrow
Margaret Hogue
Jennifer Jones
Barbara Mangum
Janine McBride
Tim McCabe
Katherine Miller
Martha Morgan
Sandra Olansky
Julie Pepper
Anna Phillips
Gretchen Pinkava
Shari Pitkin
Catherine Rouleau
Victoria Taylor
Elizabeth Toth
Susan Zujewski |
$26-$100
2008 LT’s
Deborah Chouinard
Katie Cullen
Gary Demmons
Rhonda Gilbert
Johanna Hogan
Michael Jacques
Amity Kelley
Pam Kelsea
Steve LaFountain
Libby Lehman
Shirley MacDougall
Lisa Marlin-Winter
Susan Marston
Massachusetts 4-H All Stars
Catharine Noeth
Renee Oesterlin
Carole Stokes
Cleta Walsh
Thomas Warger
Maria Yakmchuk
|
$100-$250
American Legion Post 101, Woburn
Lisa Cherbuliez
Gary Guzzi
Jon Hogue
Kiwanis Club of Woburn
Rotary Club of Fitchburg East
$250-$500
Middlesex County 4-H Advisory Council (MAC)
Miriam Schwartz
Other Donations:
Louise Donahue - $505
Camp Store - $2,148
Massachusetts 4-H Foundation - $6,805
Sterlite Corporation - $10,000
Winning Home - $50,000
Total Gifts - $73,907 |
March 10, 2008
4-H Camp Middlesex Quoted in Bay State Parent Magazine
I (Director Steve LaFountain) was recently quoted in a couple of articles by Bay State Parent Magazine. The articles were written by reporter Margueritte Paolino, and outlined what parents should consider before choosing a summer camp for their children. Complete text of the articles are available at the links below.
