Tag Archives: Events

Opening Campfire 2016!

The wait is over! Living ten months for two has finally arrived and Summer 2016 is off to an amazing start! The buses rolled through the 18405 gates straight to the cheerleading pavilion, where campers were reunited with their summer family.

Opening Campfire

Relationships rekindled as the campers sprinted to their assigned bunks where they dropped their bunk junk, to see what the next seven weeks would be all about. First year Varsity slowly walked down the hill, leaving campus behind, ready to take on a new role.

 

Steph Axelrod's Speech at TEC opening campfire 2016

The vibes were great. Everyone around was smiling, laughing, just like they had never left. Bagels and lox were soon forgotten, as our traditional pizza lunch was served to get the day going. The rest of the afternoon was followed with everyone’s favorite type of activity, ICE BREAKERS. The day flashed before our eyes and soon enough, the groups starting walking up the hill to opening campfire.Hello 2016

The Axelrod Site started as a dance party, playing all the hit summer songs that will be on repeat, ready to take on Summer 16. Together for the first time as a family, opening campfire started. After speeches from the leadership team, Steph’s booming voice was heard while he read off each group’s memories from the previous year, as well as his traditional speech, which the returners would not let him recite alone.

The Alma Mater was sung, Hello 16’ was lit, and just like that day 1 out of 51 was done. Living without Snapchat and Instagram, the campers jumped right into camp mode ready to wake up to Reveille to start day two, and an experience of lifetime.

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!

 

Spring Fling 2014

Upper BuddiesSpring is one of the most exciting times of the year for our 1st time campers. By this time, they have started to buy their camp clothes, have had playdates with potential bunkmates and have spent hours talking about the summer of 2014. We have even heard that some campers start off each day by putting another X on a countdown calendar.

Last weekend, we had 2014-05-18 12.10.17a chance to spend the day with our 1st time campers at our Annual Spring Fling. The day was perfect and helped to build the comfort and confidence needed to succeed during their first summer. While the campers were exploring Trail’s End, Marc, Stan and Ryan ran a new parent workshop that answered many of the last minute questions. We then had a Trail’s End barbeque complete with our famous TEC chocolate chip cookies.

2014-05-18 13.06.11Once we finished lunch, it was time to play camp. Campers got a glimpse as to what’s in store for them this summer as they participated in some of our favorite camp activities including flag football, gymnastics, wiffle ball, and basketball. The Gaga pits and Kan Jam courts were open for the first time and needless to say, they are going to be a HUGE hit this summer.

It was amazing to see the campers and staff’s enthusiasm this weekend. Only 36 more “Xs” on the calendar and the summer of 2014 will arrive.

Alumni Spotlight – John and Lew

Trail's End Hill

 

Alumni Spotlight – 1947 – 1957

At Trail’s End, there is an expression that while we spend only 8 short weeks together, you are never just passing through. We strongly believe that each of our alumni has left their mark on Trail’s End and we hope that the TEC Experience has helped them become the person that they are today. For the past 67 summers, the essence and spirit of TEC is exactly what it was in 1947.  We caught up with two of our alum, John Benfield and Lew Mittleman, to see what Trail’s End was like for them from 1947-1960.

Sing 1957

John R. Benfield:

John R Bendfield

Years at Trail’s End Camp: All as a staff member, 1947-1950 and again in 1961 as the camp doctor. A Honesdale surgeon invited me to join him in practice after completion of my residency and at times, in the later years, I thought I should have accepted his invitation
Life after Trail’s End: I became a retired Professor of Surgery at David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
Describe Trail’s End to us during your time here: I worked with Joe Laub at Camps Delaware and Delawaxen where he was the Head Counselor. In 1947, he asked me to come work at Trail’s End as the waterfront director. It was what you would refer to today as a “startup,” very primitive
What is your favorite Trail’s End memory? Nothing really jumps out as a favorite; I enjoyed all aspects of camp

Who do you still stay in touch with from your Trail’s End Years?
Steve Wolfe, Mike Laub and Allen LaubJoe Laub
What was the best lesson Trail’s End taught you? How to get along with people regardless of the situation
What was your favorite camp activity? Waterfront and Horseback Riding
When is the last time you visited camp? I came to visit this past summer; it was great to see camp and catch up with Starr and Stan

 

Lew Mittleman:

Years at Trail’s End CaUnknownmp: 1954-1957 as a camper with my brother

Life after Trail’s End: I am currently doing Internet sales and leasing for Arnold Chevy Buick in West Babylon, New York and living in Wantagh, New York

Describe Trail’s End to us during your time here: I spent four summers at Trail’s End, living in bunks 5, 6, 8 and 12. I have very fond memories from that time. I remember camp being very regimented. We had a strict schedule that we followed. The bunks had Army blankets and cots for beds. Leon, who was the Boys Head Counselor at the time, would always come on the loud speaker and call next period, making sure we were sticking to the program. Every afternoon the entire camp would do a general swim down at the lake (there was no pool then). A majority of the campers in my group and in camp were from Brooklyn and Bronx, very few were from Long Island

What was your favorite activity? All of them were good, nice and enjoyable but I loved going horseback riding. I remember Buzz from Staten Island used to run the program. There was this one arrogant pony. If you were giving Buzz or one the counselors a hard time, then you were bound to get that pony, which would cause for a difficult period

If you could do anything different what would it be? I would try and be a bit more outward. I was ridiculously shy during my time at Trail’s End. I would have pushed myself a bit moreHorse Drawn Carriage

Tell me about the food at TEC: The food was GREAT! Every Sunday morning we would have bagels and lox – that was everyone’s favorite meal. There was a baker named Sal that was from a bakery in Queens and had a place near camp. He would come to camp and make the best desserts. Every Sunday he would make chocolate danishes and chocolate rolls. We always had desserts after every meal, danishes after breakfast, cake after lunch and dinner and then extra nourishment in the afternoons (today it’s called Moo Call), where we would have milk and cookies everyday

Tell me about traditions you did every year while at TEC: We would go on trips out of camp to the local roller rink and to Frisbees (the local ice cream shop) on a hayride. The shows down on the stage by the lake were something I always enjoyed watching as well

Explain Trail’s End in five words: Safe, Ran Methodically, Great Experience

Fill in the Blanks: I think of Trail’s End Camp when I think of summer, see horseback riding, watch, camp movies, hear Reveille/Taps/Neil Sedaka, or eat, lox with boiled eggs

Remember to Save the Date for our 2nd Annual Alumni Day on August 9th. Hope to see you all there!

Trail’s End Camp – What’s Coming Up and New….

Trail's End Camp - What's Coming UpAs Opening Campfire 2014 continues to get closer every day, we wanted to get everyone in the TEC spirit with 2 great events and tell you all about the new things coming your way.

100 DAYS UNTIL CAMP  – THURSDAY!

Let’s celebrate 100 days by wearing our favorite camp clothes to school or work this Thursday, March 20th. Campers, staff, parents and alumni – show the world you love Trail’s End and how you cannot wait to be at your summer home in Beach Lake, PA.

Make sure to email Sara photos of you and your camp friends showing off your TEC spirit! All photos will be posted on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

 

TEC2013_Wk4_007

New What's Coming Up Trail's End Camp Summer Camp New York City Primer Camp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd ANNUAL TRAIL’S END MARCH MADNESS CONTEST

Trail's End Camp March MadnessWe are excited to announce the 2nd Annual Trail’s End Men’s College Basketball March Madness contest.

Last year’s champions, Jonah Kaufman (Kadets), Noah Mittman (Staff), and Lauren Fleischer (TEC Alum) will be looking to defend their titles when the tournament begins on Thursday March 20th.

Please click the links below to join your TEC March Madness Tournament. The winning camper will receive a TEC duffel bag filled with camp gear and the camper’s GROUP will have a Two Guys Pizza Party on the second day of camp to celebrate their big win. The winning TEC Alum and Staff member will receive a duffel bag filled with camp gear and a $50 iTunes gift card.

Camper March Madness Contest
Current Staff March Madness Contest
Alumni March Madness Contest

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. We will update the standings after each day of the tournament.