Notes from the 2006 Staff

From Another Land…

 

Two years ago I was looking to do something a little different from my routine summer experience of line production in a smelly factory, paying off student debt. Considering that I had never flown, never been to a summer camp, and never (despite having family here) visited the United States; Falcon Camp offered me quite the 'different' experience I was looking for.

              When I applied to become a camp counselor, through Camp America, I didn't know that I was coming to Falcon Camp specifically. I received a letter instructing me to go to Heathrow and take flights to Pittsburgh where I would be met by somebody in a red shirt. Pat found me, with more British staff, all of us lagged from over 24 hours of travel. Then we got here.

              The next morning, although I was yet to discover the fact, I was home. It was so great that I decided to come home the next summer too. And I am home again right now, for my last day of this summer, before I return to England. My application for summer 2007 is already complete, so that I may return home then too!

              This is it.

              One of my favorite things about Falcon Camp is that we can watch the whole family growing up together, not just campers but staff too, even myself, and that's pretty cool, it's not so easy to notice it happening in other places. This year I was here for longer than my previous visits - four months, I had the time of my life! As before, I have learnt a whole lot about myself, and other people too, which I find delightfully fun.

              After camp next summer I'll be doing an internship somewhere in the USA, and following graduation I see the future ahead of me in the business world out here, so I will eventually be emigrating.

                 If it had not been for Falcon's brilliant introduction to a world literally foreign to me, I don't know if I could be making these statements so assuredly. Now I shouldn't say thanks to the

earth, trees and buildings that are explicitly Falcon Camp, they are nice, but I hope you all realize that when I say "Thank you Falcon" it is to the family, community, and life that make it truly what it is.

              To all of you I am eternally grateful.

 

---Joe Malpass

 

 SEPTEMBER NEWS

 Lauren Ross was married in September.  Her and her new husband Scott Myers went on a cruise for their honeymoon.  The wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun.  Of course Lauren’s horse, Solo, participated in the ceremony as well. It was a great chance to give our best to Lauren and Scott, and catch up with some Falcon friends.

   

 

Lauren is available to teach riding lessons in Columbus this year.  She can travel or teach at her place in Delaware.  Call 614-477-7989 for more information.

 

 

ON ANOTHER NOTE…

                 Few people actually realize what is in the unwritten print at the bottom of a Falcon contract. It reads "I the undersigned will be a role model in a child's life from now on. It is a possibility that I will be involved with my campers during, but not limited to, the summer, the school year, after a bad athletic event, during ice-cream fights, through parent issues, when they need that extra "well done", and when they have no one else to talk to.

I will make new friends and another family. These memories will stay with me for the rest of my life." And the most important part of this... most of us would still sign.

 

---Pat Dezort

 

SUMMER UPDATE

     We had a wonderful summer this year at Falcon.  Some of my favorite memories include:

-The new Unit names and shirts making Sunday campfire a very  colorful and special time.

-All the Woodslorians and the half and full day hikes.

-A very successful Falconopoly weekend event!

-Jessy Fisher going horseback riding with all of H4.

-Young Adventurers improving swimming and running Carson and Aaron ragged with all their games.

-The Cardinals’ best buddy, Paul The Cone.

-Steelers, Browns, and all our other theme days

Thanks for a great year!  I cannot wait for 2007!  --Alison Mizen

      

 

CIT Information

 

 Those of you who are eligible to apply to become counselors-in-training, (CIT’s) should have received information in the past week. The CIT program at Falcon has been outstanding over the past several summers and our acceptance decisions get increasingly difficult each year as we have more talented young people applying than we have room.