Hey there!  I’m Max Rosen, and I’ve been part of the TLC Family of Camps since I was 4 years old.  I started out as a camper at North Shore Day Camp and then worked there as a counselor – in total for 15 summers! I have always loved summer camp and working with children and ultimately found my way this past summer to HCDC as a Group Leader for the 1st Grade Boys division.

My passion, for the last four years of college study, and a greater part of my adult life working during the summers for the TLC Family of Camps, has resided in working with children. This passion played a major role in my decision to come to Israel with the Yahel Social Change Program, since I would be afforded the opportunity to work in a local elementary school.  I am no stranger to working with a large group of children, but nonetheless, I know that things operate differently in different countries, and braced myself accordingly.

My experience has actually been quite unique. I work side-by-side with two different teachers, each with their own unique style. When they say, ‘kids will be kids,’ we all know that accounts for a certain amount of leeway, be it their understanding of the world, or in this case, their level of mischievousness!

I am still here in Israel with 2 more months to go before my program ends, and what I have found is this unique glimmer of hope – it shines in the people who commit themselves to making a difference in the lives of others, no matter how small it may be. Despite the vast differences in the way each of these teachers choose to educate their students, they somehow manage to harness and channel the seemingly boundless energy into something productive. Not only that, but their commitment has started a chain reaction, providing a future educator with invaluable lessons, a means to reach kids who are afforded so little and give them something they only have one opportunity to receive – an education.

When I first signed on to participate in this program, and friends asked me what I would be doing, I said ‘I am going to help the Ethiopian-Israeli community.’ But now, I realize that was a foolish statement. It is the people here who have helped me. They have given me the tools that I will likely carry with me into my career, and for the rest of my life…

Hi my name is Rebecca Rohan, better known as “one of the Irish girls” (as I was most commonly known around camp!)  I’m from Waterford, Ireland where I have lived all my life. I am currently a sophomore studying Finance at the University College Cork, so I spend most of the term time here at school!

Growing up I spent my days horse riding competitively in show jumping events around Ireland, so horse riding camps were always a major part of my summers. When I started high school, the vast majority of my friends sailed and spent their summers in sailing camp, so naturally I wanted to see what all the commotion was about. The moment I set foot in a boat I fell in love with it!

For the most part, the traditional “camp culture” does not really exist in Ireland.  Most teenagers generally attend language courses in the Gaeltacht (gaelic speaking regions of Ireland) and very specific specialized camps such as sailing and horseback riding camps.

When I applied to work at HCDC, I was really only looking for the opportunity to live abroad for a summer. On arrival, I remember meeting some of the other staff people and wondered how could they possibly be so excited for work and enthusiastic about their jobs?  That’s what I thought it was going in to it – “a job.”  Little did I know I was about to embark on not just the best summer ever, but by far the best 8 weeks of my life! (more…)

My name is Jane Bardsley. I am twenty years old and I live on the East Coast of Canada – more specifically New Brunswick. I currently go to St. Thomas University where I’m getting my Bachelor of Arts degree.  During the regular school year I am usually very busy with school work. I love to hang out with my friends and I enjoy university life. I work for the communications office at my school as I am currently completing my double major in English and Communications with a double minor in Psychology and Sociology.  I graduate next year and I’m really looking forward to seeing where I go from there!

I found out about HCDC through a friend of mine, also from Canada, and so I decided to apply!  I was thrilled when I got the job and my family and I decided to make a vacation out of it and drove all the way from New Brunswick to New York!  I came to HCDC as a first year camp counselor and I helped to take care of a group of about 20 kindergarten-aged girls. We got so close that by the end of the summer, it was really difficult to say goodbye to all them!

Everyday we would go swimming, do a ton of fun outdoor activities as well as lots of different types of arts and crafts. To be quite honest, it didn’t even feel like work because I loved being with my girls so much and enjoyed doing all their activities with them!  And I love being in the Hamptons too! It is such a beautiful, special place  - I can’t wait to go back next summer!

My experience working at HCDC was the most amazing thing. I made so many new friends, I loved all the children and I loved all the people who work so hard to make Hampton Country Day Camp as awesome as it is! The camp has such a spirit about it, everyone at work really wants to be there and all the kids become so close with their camp counselors. It was an amazing experience being a role model for young girls. My co-counselors and I got to watch our kindergarten girls have so much fun with all the activities we do at camp and it was so rewarding in return. I was sad to leave at the end of the summer but I know it is only a temporary goodbye until next June rolls around! Now I can’t ever imagine a summer without Hampton Country Day Camp! So many memories were made there and I can’t wait to make more with each summer that rolls around!

Job:
Senior Counselor – Grade 2 boys

Nickname: “Canadian Kraig”
The kids in my group actually gave me this name. It was during my first year at camp and we were playing the “name game” where you have to say a word that rhymes with your name. I couldn’t think of anything so one of my kids yelled out “Canadian Kraig” and it stuck.

Hometown:
Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada.

Years at camp:
This summer will be my 4th year at Hampton Day Country Camp.

When I’m not at HCDC, you’ll find me:
I’m in my third year at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.  My major is History with a minor in English.  My goal is to become a teacher.  I also help coach hockey and volleyball at my old High School in Sackville.

Favorite HCDC hangout:
My favorite HCDC hangout is the “Gaga Courts”.  I’m 6’3″ tall and not good at this game.  The kids are waaaaaay better than me. They get a kick at beating me though and even though I always loose, I love playing Gaga with them. (more…)

Justin Barilla, Transportation Director for HCDC, has long yearned to “step out of the box” and travel to underdeveloped regions to help others in need. And that’s exactly what he did last month! With a duffel bag of donated Hampton Country Day Camp T-shirts, and other necessities that many of us take for granted, Justin boarded a plane with others in his group, and headed to Honduras. We asked Justin to tell us all about his remarkable trip:

It had been in my heart for a long time now to travel to a country that needed more support. Be it bringing food, clothing, supplies, building something, or just bringing love & compassion, I knew I wanted to go help somewhere. It just so happened that the mother of a close friend of mine was planning a trip to go to Honduras over the February break with our local church, The Vineyard Church. She has been down there about 10 times and is connected with a church in Honduras. So I knew I couldn’t pass this up. I traveled with a team of 5 people, we spent 7 days and had a full and purposeful agenda each day. Our mission was to bring food, clothing, school supplies, toys, and most importantly LOVE these deserving children and families.
(more…)