1st Enc 2009 Olympic Songs Part I: Aliens

Here are the songs for the Aliens, a team in 1st Encampment's Invasion Bowl. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!


Aliens Cheer ("Milkshake" by Kelis) - The song all about the Aliens
Aliens March ("If You Seek Amy" by Britney Spears) - The song that helps the Aliens march over other teams
Aliens Alma Mater ("I Love College'" by Asher Roth) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp
LYRICS TO ALL ALIENS SONGS

(Here is the blog entry with links to Monsters’ songs) -- COMING SOON
(Here is the blog entry with links to Zombies’ songs) -- COMING SOON
(Here is the blog entry with links to Robots’ songs) -- COMING SOON

Invasion Bowl Olympic Video

Uncle Rob, our Visual Arts wiz, created this documentary of The Invasion Bowl that was shown at the conclusion of Song & Sign Competition. All of the footage was filmed and edited during the four days of Olympics!!! Soon I'll be adding the audio podcasts of each team singing their songs on the last evening.

GSC 2009 Podcast - Episode 6: Aunt Jen & The Unoteers...plus Uncle Devan's posters

This episode is entitled Aunt Jen & The Unoteers, as we are joined in our studio by Uncle Tommy O'Neill, the Vogelson Village Leader, plus Uncles Devan Shimoyama and Alex Kronstadt, who are both general counselors. All three guests, plus Uncle Brando, are proud to call themselves Unoteers!

Listen as we:

• Learn about our three guests
• Discuss Olympics, including an in-depth interview about Signs/Posters with Uncle Devan
• Review some of the awards that recognize GSC's outstanding or exemplary campers and staff!

Uncle Devan's Poster for Team Podcast, created while on the hot seat during Episode 6!
Click here to listen to Episode 6 of the GSC Podcast (there is a silent delay after the intro music)

GSC 2009 Podcast - Episode 5: Olympic Songwriting, plus Uncles Matt Hoffman & Scott Hodson

We are joined by Uncle Matt Hoffman for episode 5 for a discussion on Gaga, and hear what our group -- which includes a retired songwriter, and veteran songwriter, and a rookie songwriter -- has to say about Olympic Songwriting. Also, we are thrilled to meet and introduce to you a new member to the GSC Family: Uncle Scott Hodson, who joined the podcast from his home in the United Kingdom!

This episode includes:

• An introduction of Uncle Matt Hoffman
• What is a JC?
• A discussion of Olympic Songwriting
• Meet Uncle Scott Hodson, the 2009 Bicycling Specialist
• Learn about Hava Nagrilla

As always, we welcome your feedback at gscprograms@gmail.com. We would love for you to be a guest host in a future episode!

Click here to listen to Episode 5 of the GSC Podcast

2009 GSC Podcast - 2nd Episode, featuring Aunt Stefy!

In this episode:

• Meet special guest host, Aunt Stefy Marshall, a Friends Village Counselor
  
• Learn about Friends Village and some of their traditions, like Friends Stomp and cheers
• Camp Traditions: Life in the Dining Hall - Cheers, Birthdays, Atmosphere, & More!
  
• Camp Traditions: What are Olympics? What is a Breakout? What happens during Olympics?
• Find about some upcoming GSC Events - Poker, Hava Nagrilla, and the 60th Anniversary

In the next episode (Episode 3), Aunt Stefy is back in the studio, and we are also joined by special guest host, Uncle Jeremy Creighton, Adventure Course Specialist. We'll be sharing some listener feedback while discussing the CIT program, High and Low Challenge, and other exciting things happening at GSC in 2009!

Click the image above to listen to Episode 2 of the Golden Slipper Camp podcast!

This weekly podcast is our way of sharing our excitement for the upcoming summer! This podcast is for anyone who loves GSC, whether this is your first summer, tenth, or you've been an alumni for 20 years.

In each episode, you will meet a member of our GSC family -- or learn a little more about them if you already know who they are; you will hear us discuss a topic relevant to the summer of 2009 and GSC; and we will explain any terminology or traditions that are important for our new GSC family members to know, and fun for our returning family members to hear.

We always welcome your ideas for topics or guest hosts, and would even love to have you as a guest host in an episode. All feedback is welcome at gscprograms@gmail.com!

--Uncle Brando & Aunt Jen Wade

2nd Enc 2008 Olympic Songs Part VIII: London

Here are the songs for 2nd Encampment's Team London. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!

London Cheer ("Here We Go" by N*Sync) - The song all about London
London March ("It's Tricky" by Run DMC) - The song that helps London march over other teams
London Alma Mater ("Won't Go Home Without You'" by Maroon 5) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp
LYRICS TO ALL LONDON SONGS

(Here is the blog entry with links to Rome’s songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Jerusalem’s songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Sydney’s songs)

2nd Enc 2008 Olympic Songs Part VII: Sydney

Here are the songs for 2nd Encampment's Team Sydney. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!

Sydney Cheer ("Shake It" by Metro Station) - The song all about Sydney
Sydney March ("I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry) - The song that helps Sydney march over other teams
Sydney Alma Mater ("There Is'" by Box Car Racer) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp
LYRICS TO ALL SYDNEY SONGS

(Here is the blog entry with links to Rome’s songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Jerusalem’s songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to London’s songs)

2nd Enc 2008 Olympic Songs Part VI: Rome

Here are the songs for 2nd Encampment's Team Rome. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!

Rome Cheer ("Killer Queen" by Queen) - The song all about Rome
Rome March ("Beverly Hill" by Weezer) - The song that helps Rome march over other teams
Rome Alma Mater ("Anyone Else But You'" by The Moldy Peaches) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp
LYRICS TO ALL ROME SONGS

(Here is the blog entry with links to Sydney's songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Jerusalem’s songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to London’s songs)

2nd Enc 2008 Olympic Songs Part V: Jerusalem

Here are the songs for 2nd Encampment's Team Jerusalem. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!

Jerusalem Cheer ("Help" by The Beatles) - The song all about Jerusalem
Jerusalem March ("When You Were Young" by The Killers) - The song that helps Jerusalem march over other teams
Jerusalem Alma Mater ("Leavin'" by Jesse McCartney) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp
LYRICS TO ALL JERUSALEM SONGS

(Here is the blog entry with links to Sydney's songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Rome's songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to London’s songs)

Olympic Podcast - Jerusalem Girls (Fallon, Valerie, and Ashley)

This Golden Slipper Camp podcast contains a 14 minute interview with three girls from Team Jerusalem -- Fallon Mashkovich, Valerie Ruiz, and Ashley Barlow -- during Rest Period on Day 2 of the Passport Bowl. The girls desribe the Breakout, explain Marching Banners, and share their thoughts on the Breakout and Olympics in general. The interview ended when I forgot the question I wanted to ask, and when they realized they needed to prepare for the Swim Meet!


Click the logo or here to listen to the podcast - Jerusalem Girls talk about GSC Olympics

2nd Encampment 2008 Olympics - Let the Games Begin!

That's right, the GSC Olympics have begun, coinciding with today's beginning of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. In keeping with a worldly view, our Olympic theme is the Passport Bowl. The campers and staff were dismissed from the evening activity at 9:30, only to be woken up at 10:30. They were woken up by their Village Leaders, who were frantically scrambling and shouting about "missing their taxi" and "missing their flight." Then, a taxi driven by Uncle Adam K. and Uncle Maarten pulled up to pick up the Village Leader while the rest of the camp made their way to the Pavilion, which had now been transformed into an airport (airtraffic controllers, newspaper stands, concession stands, airplanes, waiting areas). Playing throughout camp, of course, was Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight," the traditional signal that Olympics are breaking out!

Once the campers and staff arrived in the airport, they were welcomed to Slipper Airlines and introduced to eight possible destinations: Paris, France; London, England; Rome, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Jerusalem, Israel; Beijing, China; Sydney, Australia; and Tokyo, Japan. After a presentation on each city, a set of officers were announced. At the end, Aunt Steph passed the GSC Olympic Torch to Uncle Tom, and he and Uncle Tommy O'Neill lit the symbolic Olympic Fire. With that, the games began!

Here are the four teams selected, along with their officers:

Team 1: Rome (Red)
Captains Aunt Lauren Elias & Uncle Devan Shimoyama
Lieutenants Adam O'Connor & Talia Nisenzon
Corporals Brandon Smith & Imani Herbert
Sergeants Harrison Mask & Alexandra Jmeniak

Team 2: Jerusalem (White)
Captains Aunt Elise Kravits & Uncle Jake Freedle
Lieutenants Frank Reviss & Steph Kates
Corporals William James, Jr. & Brianna Karabell
Sergeants Nadir Boone & Sylvie Cherry

Team 3: Sydney (Blue)
Captains Aunt Sami Magid & Uncle Maarten van Engelen
Lieutenants Brian Drach & Hanna Cohen
Corporals Billy Gilmore & Alex Lauria
Sergeants Deimantas Salininas & Megan Cline

Team 4: London (Black)
Captains Aunt Steph Cottman & Uncle Lee Segal
Lieutenants Casey Smith & Meghan O'Donnell
Corporals Seth Kardon & Patrice Pugh
Sergeants Voshon Mills & Lindsey Kornblau

Our current standings, after 1 day of activities are:
1st: Rome
2nd: Sydney
3rd: Jerusalem
4th London

Good luck to all four teams, and be sure to follow the fun through pictures and here on the blog!

Podcast: Reflections of the Adventure Movie Bowl's Lieutenants

Each Olympic team has two lieutenants (one male, one female). We select the lieutenants from among the oldest campers, and it is fun to watch them assume a role of leadership and role modeling. The 2008 1st Encampment Adventure Movie Bowl was fortunate enough to have had eight amazing, passionate, and proud lieutenants!

Uncle Chad and I sat down with the lieutenants a few days after Olympics ended for a two part conversation. The first part of the conversation is being used to improve future Olympics at Golden Slipper Camp. The second part of the conversation centered around the campers' experiences in their roles as lieutenants. Their reflections were recorded and are shared in this blog entry. Enjoy =)

-Uncle Brando

Click here to listen to the Podcast featuring reflections from The Adventure Movie Bowl Lieutenants.

1st Enc 2008 Olympic Songs Part IV: The Goonies

Here are the songs for 1st Encampment's The Goonies team. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!


The Goonies Cheer ("Crank Dat" by SoljaBoy) - The song all about The Goonies
The Goonies March ("Pop" by N'Sync) - The song that helps The Goonies march over other teams
The Goonies Alma Mater ("Scientist" by Coldplay) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp

(Here is the blog entry with links to Indiana Jones' songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Jurassic Park’s songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Back to the Future’s songs)

1st Enc 2008 Olympic Songs Part III: Back to the Future

Here are the songs for 1st Encampment's Back to the Future team. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!

Back to the Future Cheer ("The Right Stuff" by New Kids on the Block)- The song all about Back to the Future
Back to the Future March ("Walkaway" by Kelly Clarkson) - The song that helps Back to the Future march over other teams
Back to the Future Alma Mater ("If I Could Be Like That" by 3 Doors Down) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp

(Here is the blog entry with links to Indiana Jones' songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Jurassic Park’s songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to The Goonies' songs)

1st Enc 2008 Olympic Songs Part II: Jurassic Park

Here are the songs for 1st Encampment's Jurassic Park team. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!

Jurassic Park Cheer ("Maneater" by Nellie Furtado) - The song all about Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park March ("Accidentally in Love" by Counting Crows) - The song that helps Jurassic Park march over other teams
Jurassic Park Alma Mater ("Over My Head" by The Fray) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp

(Here is the blog entry with links to Indiana Jones' songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Back to the Future's songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to The Goonies' songs)

1st Enc 2008 Olympic Songs Part I: Indiana Jones

A full Olympic report is on the way, but for now here are the songs for Indiana Jones. The songs are the culmination of four days of hard work and learning by the campers, and the grand finale of Olympics. All songs are written and learned within four days!

Indiana Jones Cheer ("See You Again" by Miley Rae Cyrus") - The song all about Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones March ("Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones)- The song that helps Indiana Jones march over other teams
Indiana Jones Alma Mater ("Breaking Free" by High School Musical) - The song all about Golden Slipper Camp

(Here is the blog entry with links to Back to the Future's songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to Jurassic Park’s songs)
(Here is the blog entry with links to The Goonies' songs)

Check out all of the new posts and pictures

In case you didn't notice, we have added quite a few entries and pictures today. Here is your guide:

The MTV Night recap blog entry
The MTV Night photos

The Olympic Breakout entry
The Olympic Breakout photos

The Adventure Movie Bowl - Day 1 photos
The Adventure Movie Bowl - Day 2 photos

Enjoy the above links, and check back for Feather Winners and more podcasts featuring campers!

OLYMPICS ARE HERE!!!

Our routine at Golden Slipper Camp is pretty consistent throughout the entire encampment: we wake up, have electives and bunk activities, eat with our bunks, and enjoy an evening program with the rest of camp. Whether it is Monday, Wednesday, or Sunday, you can expect us to follow that routine.

There is one notable exception: Olympics.

For four days and four nights, the camp is divided into four teams that compete in a variety of events that show off the skills we teach at GSC. Some of the competitions are athletic, like basketball, gaga, swim meet, and tug of war, but we also have plenty of non-athletic competitions. The non-athletic competitions include a song contest, sign contest, speeches, and, most importantly, the two characteristics we value most at Golden Slipper Camp: Spirit and Sportsmanship.

Each encampment's Olympics have a bowl title, which is the theme of the Olympics. The timing and bowl of each Olympics are always a surprise to campers and counselors. They find out these elements after an evening activity or during some other time that we are gathered as a camp, when the 'Breakout' happens. The Breakout is an elaborate skit prepared through a lot of hard work from our administrators.

This year, the Breakout happened after MTV Night on Sunday. We began dismissing bunks from the Pavilion when I, Uncle Brando, shut off the lights and played "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins -- the traditional signal that something special is happening! When the lights cleared, the Breakout began with Uncle Chad and Aunt Irina hosting the 2008 Academy Awards. The 2008 1st Encampment Olympic Bowl is the Adventure Movie Bowl (thanks to alumni Steph Smoluk for the idea!), and the rest of the skit introduced our four teams -- all of whom are competing for Golden Slipper Camp. The teams are Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, and The Goonies. (Click here for pictures of the Adventure Movie Bowl Breakout)

The last surprise surrounding Olympics is who has been selected as a team officer. This is one of the highest honors we can give to counselors and campers during the summer, and they do not take it lightly. For some, like the Captains (staff) or Lieutenants (Council Boys and Girls campers), they only receive this opportunity once in a Slipper lifetime. Here are the team names, colors, and officers for each team:

Team 1: The Goonies (White)
Captains (staff): Aunt Monica Moretsky & Uncle Alex Kronstadt
Lieutenants (Council Girls & Boys campers): Julia Warshafsky & Andrew Hyman
Corporals (Friends & Kadden campers): Cheyenne McCollough & Alex Pak
Sergeants (Strauss & Vogelson campers): Alexis Frey & Chris Neri

Team 2: Jurassic Park (Red)
Captains: Aunt Alexis Yett & Uncle Bill Green
Lieutenants: Erica Eckel & Mike Regan
Corporals: Meryl Warshafsky & James McNally
Sergeants: Tamara Psmenitsyna & Jared Roman

Team 3: Back to the Future (Blue)
Captains: Aunt Abby Heller & Uncle Michael Reeve
Lieutenants: Caitlin Rose & Danylo Zatserkovnyy
Corporals: Gabriel Fernandes & JaNaye Jones
Sergeants: Veronica Dilorio Marsden & Daniel O'Connor

Team 4: Indiana Jones (Yellow)
Captains: Aunt Whitney Ford & Uncle Isaiah Richardson
Lieutenants: Alison Ormont & Ilya Gourin
Corporals: Alyssa Loera & Eric Groysman
Sergeants: Viktoriya Manasyan & Patrick Gibson

Congratulations to all four sets of officers, and good luck over the next four days!!!

Podcast 05 - The Waitresses at Arts & Crafts

I decided to visit Arts & Crafts today and had the opportunity to talk with some of our waitresses as they worked on their projects. We discussed being a waitress, last night’s evening activity, and Olympics, which you can hear in our GSC Podcast 05: Waitresses at Arts & Crafts.


Click here to listen to GSC Podcast 05

I hope you enjoyed listening to Ariella, Jackie, Kristen, Fallon, and Julia. I have a few other pieces of camp sounds that will be in a future edit, and Aunt Jen is working hard on editing the week 1 morning electives podcast, created by campers!

In the meantime, check out the Golden Slipper Camp blog and the pictures on Flickr, which you can access through the blog!

Chew's Clues

Uncle Jeremy Creighton has uploaded his 1st place winning video for Team Chewbacca, from the 2005 1st Encampment Star Wars Bowl. The theme of the video was "A Children's TV Show," so Uncle Jeremy and Chewbacca decided to parody Blue's Clues. Click below to watch Chew's Clues, which was made in less than 3 days, and be sure to let us know if you find or add any videos that would be of interest to the GSC community!


Find more videos like this on Golden Slipper Alumni