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RELEASE
Friday, September 14, 2007
43 Years of Fun, Friendship, and Armenian Culture Continue During
Summer 2007 at AGBU Camp Nubar
On August 18, 2007, AGBU Camp Nubar wrapped up its 43rd season,
providing another successful six weeks of fun, friendship,
action-packed activities and Armenian culture in the scenic Hudson
Valley. John Ohanian, the new director who was once a camper and
counselor himself, was joined by a highly qualified staff who extended
the amount of camper activities but kept many old camp traditions
alive for 2007.
Camp Nubar’s enrollment numbers soared this year with over 330 campers
from France, Armenia, Canada, and seven US states. A one-week "trial
session" was put in place to give first-year campers a small taste of
what Nubar had to offer; many of these campers ended up extending
their stay at least another week.
But camper numbers were not the only improvements in the off-season. A
plethora of new sports equipment was purchased and an updated sewage
system was rooted in place. A new, larger splinter-proof deck at the
waterfront added aesthetic appeal to the already beautiful Lake Arax
as well.
CAMPERS ARRIVE
After a week of counselor training during "pre-camp," on July 7 the
staff anxiously awaited their first-session campers. The first two
weeks of camp included a counselor "Saturday Night Live"-like skit,
Medieval and Hollywood-themed dances, a carnival event, Deal or No
Deal camp-wide competition, and a casino night.
Many campers highlighted a competition between the boys’ "hill" and
the girls’ "valley" as their favorite event of the session. The males
and females went head to head for a day in teamwork activities,
including sports, water games, arts and crafts, and eating
competitions.
Because the carnival first session was such a success, second session
kicked off with a similar event, including shaving cream games, a
pie-eating contest, the "bounce house," slip and slide, and plenty of
cotton candy, popcorn, and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.
Second-session campers also enjoyed a beach party-themed dance at the
lake where they had the chance to not only dance, but also boat and
canoe the night away. Later in the session they put on their cowboy
hats and boots for a traditional "hoe-down" dance with Western décor,
which included barrels, hay, and horse saddles.
But the activity did not stop there. Second session also included the
Open House celebration midway through the summer as present and past
campers, counselors, family and friends gathered for a day of
socializing, Armenian food, and a show put on by current
camp-goers. In addition to a show at waterfront, which showcased
swimming, diving, boating, water-skiing, and tubing skills to
visitors, the campers and counselors performed a medley of various
Broadway productions ("Chicago," "Grease" and the "Lion King") at the
Nazarian Center.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern Diocese), was in attendance for the Open House festivities
and later conducted the Badarak service overlooking the lake. His
Eminence also stayed at camp for a "Christmas in July" evening
activity that welcomed Santa Claus for a special summer gift-giving
stopover.
Second-session participants also took a trip to the Baseball Hall of
Fame in nearby Cooperstown, New York.
COLOR WAR KICKS OFF
Third session is known for "Color War," a three-day competitive
extravaganza including sports, team spirit, cheers, chariot races,
Armenian language and dance, trivia, art, and music. As soon as the
session kicked off, campers and counselors eagerly awaited the
surprise beginning of Color War-a closely guarded secret that lent to
the excitement of the activity, which split the entire camp into two
teams, blue or gold, for three days of Color War.
This year, the Blue Anubis, led by generals Sarah Badach and Clark
Sarkisian and captains Christina Lalama and Alex Distasi, beat the
Golden Gladiators, led by generals Amy Ishkanian and Peter Endrigian,
and captains Jackie Distasi and James Balakian. As soon as the
competition was over, blue and gold immediately made green peace with
a shaving cream fight and splash down by the waterfront.
Campers also eagerly collected candy wrappers to bid on their
counselors during a fun-filled "Counselor Auction." They also enjoyed
a talent show and a brand-new photography scavenger hunt during
evening activity. For example, during the hunt, campers had to pose
like a US Open star and take a picture with a digital camera; they
were later graded on creativity and their ability to find exactly what
the judges wanted.
Third-session campers also enjoyed a new "Buddy Day" where the oldest
campers paired with the youngest campers to help them clean their
cabins and organize their own belongings.
Camp traditionally ends with the banquet and candlelight
celebration. This year’s banquet theme was "Harry Potter," quite
appropriate with the new book and movie dominating the media this
summer. Candlelight is always the last Friday of the summer; campers
and counselors write wishes on paper plates with candles attached to
them and send them across the lake. It not only creates a beautiful
scene as flames reflect on the water, but also gives people the time
to reflect on yet another great summer. The rumor is that if your
plate makes it to the other side of the lake, your wish will come
true!
Each two-week period ended with a seamless changeover of new campers,
but many general activities crossed over between all three
sessions. Shish kebab, lulu kebab, and chicken kebab with pilaf and
other traditional Armenian dishes for dinner were something to look
forward to every Sunday night. In addition, there were weekly
campfires, a daily running and swimming club in the morning, a
basketball and tennis tournament, sports games with another local
camp, certified horseback riding and archery instruction, and Armenian
cooking, history and language lessons.
ANOTHER SUMMER ENDS
Novel events this summer included a professional ventriloquist during
the first and second sessions, weekly religious activities, including
communion making, with visiting clergy, the chance to make scrapbooks
in photography class, outdoor cooking, survival courses, fishing, and
shelter building.
At the end of each session, campers went home with a camp newsletter,
cabin photos, and a multi-media slideshow, but more importantly, the
memories and friends they made in such a short time will last
forever. Most have already begun counting down the days until Summer
2008 and the next time they will drive up that dirt road.
Founded in 1963, AGBU Camp Nubar is a first-rate modern facility that
has been highly ranked by the American Camp Association, American Red
Cross, and American Academy of Pediatrics. For more information about
AGBU Camp Nubar, please visit , email
campnubar@agbu.org, or call 212-319-6383.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please
visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress