Tag Archives: Alumni

Better For Having Been: Catching Up with Sari Wexler!

Once you walk through the gates of Trail’s End Camp, you become part of the TEC family.  Whether you’re getting ready for your first summer at camp or it’s been awhile since your camper days, it’s great to know you can always say “I Am Trail’s End.”

This past Saturday, Trail’s End alumni gathered in New York City for a reunion. Not only did they get a chance to reminisce about their time as campers and their favorite TEC memories, they also raised over $500 for SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education).

At the reunion we caught up with TEC alum, reunion organizer and new Varsity Head Counselor, Sari Wexler!

What do you miss most about your time as a camper?

Looking back at my time as a camper, the one thing I miss most is constantly being surrounded by some of my favorite people. Waking up at reveille together, cleaning the bunk together, activities together, free play together and so much more. Some of my favorite memories were just during the down time hanging out with my friends!

What message do you have for current campers?

My message to current campers is to live in each moment, be present and don’t be afraid to try new things! Put yourself out there in every way, to make new friends, bond with your old friends and to create new memories at the best place ever, TEC!

How has your time at TEC impacted who you are today?

Trail’s End has impacted my life in a tremendous way.  I was fortunate to return to camp as a counselor, group leader and now I will be taking on a new role as a head counselor. Each of my prior roles has shaped me into the person I am today. I learned to be more confident in myself, how to be a team player and most importantly, work to make the camper’s camp experience the best one yet.


Can’t wait to relive your summers at TEC? Be sure to join us for Alumni Day 2018, on August 4th at Trail’s End Camp!

Goldberg Stadium

Saturday was a special one for the entire Trail’s End family as we welcomed our campers for the start of our 70th season and then unveiled the new basketball stadium prior to the start of our Opening Campfire. With great pride, Marc announced to the camp that the stadium would be dedicated to Starr and Stan Goldberg.

Since the early 1960s, the names Starr and Stan Goldberg have been synonymous with Trail’s End     Camp. In 1960, Stan was hired as a counselor at TEC. Two years later Starr joined him. Little did they know, 54 summers later, they would still be here AND they never, ever could have imagined that they would be celebrating this summer as their 30th year of owning Trail’s End, with their children and grandchildren by their side.

The Goldbergs make everyone truly feel at home. Their spirit and energy is boundless which is why our secret club is blessed to have this amazing couple leading us each and every day. Our camp slogan “better for having been at Trail’s End Camp” can be best felt and seen because of them. All of us are better for having had Starr and Stan Goldberg in our lives.

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The amazing new basketball stadium, where campers will be shooting hoops and creating memories, has a press box, sound system, lights and a scoreboard. It will be an ever lasting reminder of these two amazing and loving camp icons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff Spotlight – Catching Up with Marielle

Staff - Marielle

The Trail’s End staff recruiting season is in full swing. We have spent the past few months attending domestic and international staffing fairs with one goal in mind – to find the best role models, mentors, coaches and counselors to help create the 2015 Trail’s End Experience for our campers.

Sara recently traveled to England, Scotland, Budapest, Prague and a number of US colleges. With the help of some TEC alumni and current staff members, we were able to hire many talented college students. Throughout March, April and May we will be continuing our search at universities in the US, Canada and overseas.

In order to get a sense of what the TEC Experience is all about, we caught up with current staff member, Marielle Berger. She has been a part of our community for the past 16 summers.Camp Community Service

Marielle Berger
Nickname: Mar
Favorite Sports Team: Yankees
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Movie:
 The Parent Trap
Favorite Quote: “You must always remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”–Christopher Robin from Winnie the Pooh

It is hard to believe that in 16 Saturdays I will once again be back at the most amazing place in the world.  Trail’s End Camp has been my home away from home ever since I was 9 years old.  I began this incredible experience as an Upper Buddie in 2000.  My camper years were magical and helped me grow to be the person I am today.  After 8 summers as a camper, there wasn’t even a question whether or not I would be returning to Trail’s End as a staff member.

Marielle as a CamperAs I am writing this, so many crazy camp memories are on my mind.  One of my favorites  is when we would spend Free Play practicing for the Talent Show – we would pick out matching outfits to wear and our counselors even dressed up with us.  Practicing for Sing is another one of my favorite memories, especially when I was a Trinity and we won Sing for the first time!   Square Dancing with Lou and Sue Flego has always been one of the best nights of camp – dressing up in all different costumes with my square was fun and exciting.   I remember going on my first roller coaster in Hershey Park when I was in the Middies, and hiking and going on the Delaware River when I was a Deb.
Leadership T - 2007
When I entered Varsity, camp changed for me in a way that I never would have imagined.  My connection to TEC became even greater.  Being a leader for all of camp during College Day and Olympics is something I will never forget.  I have to say that my final camper summer, my LT year, was my favorite summer of all. My friendships grew tighter as we were inseparable traveling to college campuses and to Utah.  The 10-day Western Adventure was truly an experience of a lifetime.  Living on a river with my best friends and experiencing a part of the country that none of us had ever been to, was the perfect way to end my 8 years as a camper.

Visiting_day_09_(4) While many of my friends ended their TEC days after our LT summer, I never wanted to leave Beach Lake and was determined to give back to future campers all those great things that Trail’s End had taught me.  In 2009, I was hired as a counselor for the Upper Buddies.  It is hard to believe that the campers from my very first summer will now be Second Years in Varsity!  After 3 summers working with the Upper and Lower Buddies, I took on the role of Tour Director.  Showing people from the outside world the amazing place that so many of us call home for two months of the year is something that I take great pride in and I love to do.  After a summer as Tour Director, I was offered the opportunity to be a Group Leader for the Upper Buddies.  As an young educator, I have learned so much from this position and I absolutely love being the person that helps get our new campers started on their TEC journey.  It is so gratifying supporting them as they become part of our camp family.  I will forever remember the feeling I had when Marc awarded me a Community Service Award during Friday night services. As I received the award and then looked up, all of my campers from the past couple of summers came running down the hill to congratulate me.  Everyone at Trail’s End is truly my family.

Steph and MarielleAs I enter my 8th summer as a staff member, this summer  once again brings about a new and exciting change for me as I will be Assistant Girls’ Head Counselor as well as Group Leader for the Buddies.  I am overly excited to be working even more closely with Steph Fineman, the Girls’ Head Counselor, and Lindsay Bernstein, as my assistant Group Leader.  I can’t wait to be in this new role, and to continue working with the campers on girls’ campus.  My love for TEC grows each year, and I look forward to spending the summer of 2015 with all of you!

Looking Ahead….

Sara's Photo

As the leaves start to turn and the cold weather is right around the corner, we have set our sights towards summer 2015. Here are some exciting camp events and changes we have planned for the upcoming year:

HALLOWEEN CONTEST – We are excited to announce our 2nd Annual Halloween Costume contest for campers and staff alike! Email Sara a photo of you in your costume by November 3rd to be entered in a raffle to win a Trail’s End prize pack! The lucky staff member and lucky camper will be announced via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter early November. Looking forward to seeing everyone all dressed up!

WINTER REUNION – We can’t wait to see our camp families at the Winter Reunions December 6th and 7th, It is always great hanging out and reuniting with old camp friends while getting to know our new incoming campers even better. Remember to RSVP by logging into your My TEC Account at trailsendcamp.com.

TennisTENNIS COURT RENOVATIONS – Our tennis court facility will be getting a full facelift. We will have 7 brand new tennis courts and 3 Quickstart training courts for our youngest campers. We are excited to see the courts in action come June!

BRAND NEW CRAFTS & TECHNOLOGY CENTER –  The biggest change to the 2015 program will be the expansion of Crafts & Technology.  The new center will include woodworking, ceramics, fine arts, jewelry making, textiles, cooking, video production, digital media and rock band. Keep your eyes peeled for photos throughout the winter.  We will post them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

TOWEL SERVICE – Beginning in 2015, we will be providing towel service for our campers and staff.  Towels will be delivered daily to every camper and staff for showers.  Additionally, there will be towels at the lake or pool for their use when swimming and boating.  Our towel service will result in our Lake Photocampers bringing less “stuff” to camp and will create more room in the bunks!

We are very excited for the 2015 additions and cannot wait to be back at TEC. See you all soon!

Only 35 Saturdays till opening campfire!

 

– Missing 18405 –

MISSING 18405It seems hard to believe that camp ended a month ago. Unfortunately, early morningUNIQUE LOGAN AND HILARY school buses have replaced reveille and line up. What we would do for a day at 18405 right now! Instead we spend our time remembering the sounds of boys’ & girls’ campus, the smell of camp cookies coming from the kitchen and the feelings of excitement that we experienced during our 51 days together. As we sit and reflect on the past summer, we can’t help but smile at all the great times we had as a camp family.

We are sure you have spent the last 30 days telling everyone about the crazy moments with your friends, the special events, the trips, the championship sports teams, the incredible drama producNANCT TUCKERtions. How ridiculous was it when your counselors got hypnotized or how gross (and funny at the same time) it was to be covered in chocolate syrup with whipped cream on your head for an entire afternoon of Messy Tuesday. Have you taught your younger sibling and parents some Nancy Tucker songs like the one about One Meatball and No Spaghetti, Jellyfish or the hysterical Shower Cap Song?

The best memories at camp were often the moments you had during rest hour, free play and late nights with your friends. Those personal memories are something we all cherish all winter long.Olympics

So as we look back to what was another great summer, we are happy to share with you the highlights of Olympics. Those five days of non-stop fun, competition and cheer sessions culminated with what was one of the best Olympic Sing nights ever.  It was there that the white team of Slovakia was named the ultimate victor.

As you start to get into the swing of the academic year, we hope that you, like us, are able to reflect upon what an incredible summer it was and eagerly look forward to 2015. Before we know it we will have our December events. Please stay in touch and send us reunion photos and TEC sightings that you may have.

Only 44 more Fridays to go…..

2014 Olympics from Trail’s End Camp on Vimeo.