The Walt Street Journal

Spring Edition 2014

Letter From The Directors ............................................................. page 2
Alumni Feature: Tara Cook Littman ............................................ page 3
Guess Whos Back!! ....................................................................page 4-5
New Siblings At Camp .................................................................pages 6
Congrats 2012 CITS! .....................................................................pages 6
CIT Feature: Grant Sirlin & Rebecca Mantel ............................... page 7
Welcome Back Steve .............................................................. back cover
INSIDE THIS ISSUE....
ushers campers into an environment free of
electronics, a multigenerational community
built upon inclusivity, a place with daily
rituals we often dont have time for the
rest of the year, a place where time simply
seems to slow down. In this environment,
our campers are transported to a simpler
lifestyle where friendships can flourish. The
camaraderie formed when everyone lets
down their guards and can just be who they
want to be is unique; it is special, and it can
never be understood by anybody who hasnt
experienced camp.
Away from parents in the woods of New
Hampshire, singing songs around a roaring
campfire or hiking to the summit of a
challenging mountain, campers experience
emotional growth and character building
opportunities unlike anything they could
have anticipated or experienced before.
These experiences, shared with close friends,
are the memories that last with children for a
lifetime.
Theres much to look forward to in the
weeks ahead. We cant wait to spend the
summer with you and experience the best
summer of our lives together.
Summertime! Its finally here! We all love
the summer as it is a season of simplicity, joy,
and friendship. Life just seems easier when
the weather is warm, the sun is shining, and
roasted marshmallows become the centerpiece
for a great Smore! We know from phone calls
and emails we have received that many of our
campers have been counting down the days
until Summer 2014 ever since the day camp
ended last summer. Our campers arent joking
about their lifestyle when they refer to their
passion and love for camp as living ten for
two. The two months that we are about to
share together will unquestionably prove to be
filled with laughter, excitement, camaraderie,
and growth.
For campers joining us for the first time this
summer, all of us look forward to welcoming
you to the Walt Whitman family. We know
from experience that for some children it will
take a few minutes, for others a few hours
or a few days, but before you know it, you
will start to experience and feel the magic of
Camp Walt Whitman. First time campers might
be skeptical, but returning campers know
what is about to unfold.the most amazing
experience that can be imagined!
Theres something about the fun that happens
at camp that is different from any other place
we know. Campers arrive at CWW removed
from the pressures and stresses that are present
throughout the rest of the year. Walt Whitman
The Dorfman Family
A LETTER FROM
THE DIRECTORS
Living Ten For Two

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What is your favorite memory as a
camper?
I was a camper at CWW from 1988-
1991. It is tough to choose one
favorite memory because of course I
have so many fond recollections. If
I had to pick one, it would probably
be on my traverse as a 1st year senior
camper when we hiked the Presidential
range and Mt. Washington twice in 5
days. Geoff Ashworth still wont let
me live it down that a couple of my
friends and I hid in a tent and picked all
the M&Ms out of the gorp. Another
moment that stands out in my mind
was how great it felt whenever you
returned to camp after a trip. It truly
felt like you were coming home.
What summers as a staff member
did you most enjoy?
I was a bunk counselor for 2
summers. First for bunk 13 and then
for bunk 17. I loved both age groups,
but enjoyed the challenges of upper
camp girls. The girls needed someone
who would really hear them and
support them as they navigated
middle school years.
Do you stay in touch with any of
the people you were on staff with?
I stay in touch with people I was a staff
member with as well as people I was
a camper with! I still enjoy nights out
with Jocelyn Bell, Eddie Brachfeld, Jed
Dorfman, Erica Huss and Adam Wolf.
When we are together its as if no time
has passed. Of course its always great
to see the old timers, Rob Sherry, Dan
and Bev Rosen, and Karye Luppen too!
In what ways do you think camp
has influenced or positively
affected your life?
I feel extremely fortunate to still
have friends from camp that I know I
can count on. Camp also helped me
develop an appreciation for nature,
which has impacted my desire to
do policy work that protects our
environment and natural resources.
Tell us about your current role and
how you got there.
I was recently elected as the
Democratic Candidate for Connecticut
State Representative to represent
Fairfield and Trumbull. I am an
attorney by training and was a
New York City Prosecutor 10 years
ago. Once my children were born, I
stopped practicing law and focused on
volunteer advocacy work. In particular,
I have been very passionate about the
food we eat and educating people
about what is in their food. I led the
effort in CT last year to pass the first in
the nation GMO Labeling law. Since
then VT and ME have both passed
similar laws. Because of my experiences
advocating in Hartford, I want to
continue trying to affect policy changes
that improve peoples lives. My passion
will always be health and environment,
but I am looking forward to working on
a variety of different issues.
Are there ways in which CWW is
weaved into your current life?
Camp is a huge part of my life because
my kids attend camp. Spencer and Ava
will be attending for 7 weeks for the
second summer and Grace is attending
Pioneer camp this year. Camp is a
frequent topic of conversation for
our family. It has been such a great
way to connect with my kids because
I understand what they are talking
about and know how it feels to be a
part of the CWW community in a very
real way. Also, Molli Rosen babysits for
my kids and is now interning for my
political campaign. I was a CIT at camp
when she was born!
What are the most significant
lessons you learned during your
time at Camp Walt Whitman?
First, CWW is a community filled with
diversity. I learned to accept and value
the differences that make us all unique.
Also, CWW gives kids and adults a
safe place to test limits and overcome
fears in a way that makes you believe
in yourself. With this developing
confidence you are willing to try new
things even when it seems scary. I
often think about hiking mountains
when I am trying to achieve something
that seems impossible at times. I can
easily remember how difficult climbing
to the top of a mountain could be, but
we never gave up and the reward of
reaching the summit was well worth
the effort. So much in life feels like
climbing a mountain.
The family on Visiting Day at CWW.
ALUMNI FEATURE:
Thinking about summer during
the cold winter months.
Making progress with GMO Free CT!
Tara Cook Littman
e recently had the opportunity to sit down with Camp Walt Whitman
Alumna and former staff member Tara Cook Littman. Tara is incredibly
busy, as she was recently elected as the Democratic Candidate for
Connecticut State Representative in the 134th District in May, and is currently the
Director of GMO free CT a grass roots organization that spearheaded the efforts
to get the first GMO labeling law passed in the United States. Outside of work,
Tara takes great pleasure in raising her three active children: Spencer (10), Ava (8)
and Grace (7) with her husband, Owen.
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difficult work of maintaining camp.
He has now laced up his hiking boots,
and is once again teaming up with Jeff
Narva, to plan the best bike trips and
day hikes New England has to offer.
Chris DeMasi and Greg Walker will
be leading the Campcraft team with
Geoff and Narva. Theyre spending
their days preparing the ropes course,
making tubs full of GORP and sitting
on the Campcraft porch with Ariana
McElrath, Carter del Rosario, Sophie
Dulberg, Elliott Floyd, and Gillian
Lamb. Danielle Mandrafina will be
moving from the accounting office to
Campcraft as the trusty quarter-mistress.
She has the demanding task of
organizing all of the logistical aspects of
our Campcraft trips. Theyve all picked
out their Saturday Night Barbeque
outfits and are ready to grill!
When the summer heat gets to be too
much, and we need to cool off after
those hikes, we saunter down the hill
to the waterfront. Steve Lamb will
be there to run our waterfront again
with a big hat and a smile to match it
as he and Niall Clarke, Ryan Smith,
Sara Andersen, Josh Justice, Rio
Gardner, Daniel Perry, and Alyssa
Young make waterfront the best place
to cool off and relax on those summer
days. They are working hard to put the
docks into the lake and pull the boats
out of storage. Theyve started making
Everyone works hard at camp, but there
are few that can match the work ethic
of our housekeeping, maintenance,
and kitchen staff. The fearless and
unfaltering Sandor Sza Sza
Szechenyi has returned for his 7th
summer as the head of housekeeping.
Along with the dedicated help of
Krisztina Horkai and Liza Timea
Fehervari, they are working day in
and day out to remove all signs of the
winter months from camp. Head chef
Tony Menard will be serving over
600 people, 3 times a day. Thanks to
Tony and his dedicated staff including
Heather Menard, Janos Szeman,
Milen Slavov, Gabriella Foldvari,
and Nadia Galindo, we will have clean
dishes to eat from, chicken nugget
night, and a warm, welcoming place
to rest and refuel our weary bodies.
Another integral person who helps
make our campers feel more at home
and safe in the dining hall, is Melissa
Walant. She will be returning to help
accommodate those with food allergies,
making delicious meals for those
campers who are unable to eat the
food prepared in our kitchen.
Lew Chase has spent the past 9
months alongside Andy Chase, caring
for camp during the frigid winter
months. Theyve torn down and built
new cabins, plowed snow, and made
sure that camp remained in good
condition. Lew and Andy have now
been joined by Kelvin Craig, Ed
Johnson, and Bryan Frank to pick
up the pace and make final additions
and improvements. Nora Dubois
is weeding the flower beds and will
use her creativity to make camp look
stunning, but its a lot of work this time
of year, as you can imagine!
Geoff Ashworth, longtime Campcraft
Director, also spent many of the winter
months lending a hand with the
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Look Who is Returning Home for Summer 2014!
buddy tags and cant wait to see how
many campers will have blue-red tags this
summer.
Our beloved wakesports staff, led by
long time staff member Lo Holahan,
are looking forward to spending their
days on the water. This will be Los 5th
summer at camp after a few summers
away. In her previous summers, she
was a Senior Camp Counselor and CIT
Director. Also new to the wakesports
staff, Emily Webb is making the jump
from Campcraft and Matt Keeble will
round out the returners on the crew as
he moves from the sunfish sailing boats
to the slightly more powerful waterski
boats. The three of them are practicing
techniques and learning the best new
tricks to teach our campers.
Alicia Szumiesz, our all-star summer
Office Manager, has returned for her
3rd year. She will once again keep
mail routed to the right place, make
sure birthdays are celebrated on the
right day, and juggle about one million
missions, messages, and boxes of supplies.
Assisting her in this massive task is
Cassidy Spencer. The two of them plan
to once again, make the office the most
efficient and welcoming place at camp.
Moving down the hallway, Steph Romo
will be playing a role in this as well as
our Operations Manager. She will be
the lady behind the magic, the one who
completes all the tiny behind-the-scenes
tasks for each and every event that goes
on throughout the summer. Shell buy
gallons of glitter, organize laundry, and
make sure everyone gest a tasty evening
snack. Across the hall, our program
office is humming with productivity.
Our program team, including Assistant
Director Jessica DiFranco and team
member Brett Rosen, is led by Dan
Rosen, back for his 42nd summer. The
three of them have been working for
Even our leadership team can be silly!
Excited to be reunited after 10 months!
ach year we anxiously wait throughout the fall and into January to hear from
former staff members. The office is abuzz with excitement as contracts return
and our amazing staff members commit to spend another incredible summer
with our CWW family. This year we have over 100 staff members who will be
spending their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, all the way up to 42nd summer at camp! We are so
grateful to have such extraordinary staff members, and even more fortunate that
they continue to commit their summers to our campers and to making each summer
better than the last.
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months to enhance our programming
and schedule for the summer. The ideas
theyve come up with are sure to make
2014 a year to remember!
Tennis has always been one of the
favorite activities of our campers, and
were so fortunate to have Dave Porter
returning for his 19th summer as the
Director of our Tennis Program. Jacob
Carey will be returning to assist him,
alongside Vishwesh Sinha and Jacklyn
Lahari. Who is ready to beat this crew
in candy crunch this summer? Theyre
practicing on the courts right now!
Jimmy Morse and Bill Chapelle will
be keeping camp safe again this summer
during the daytime hours as our security
guards. During the evenings, Bill
Peluso will be roaming camp grounds
to maintain this same level of safety at
night.
Our Health Center is the crux of safety
and wellness at camp. Led by our head
nurse Jessica Stafos, nurses Bobbie
Johnson and Heather Whittier have
stocked the medicine cabinets and are
relaxing on the porch, anxiously awaiting
the arrival of our campers. The health
center is so quiet when there are no kids!
The grass has been mowed, but now
the Athletic staff is spending their days
making sure the fields are perfect,
the equipment is cleaned and set
out, and their lesson plans are top
notch. Longtime CWW staff member
Steve Dutelle will be returning as
our Athletic Director. He is confident
that this summer will be the best yet,
and couldnt be more excited to work
with the incredible returning athletics
staff. Sydney Morgan, assistant
athletic director, is working with each
staff member to fine tune lesson plans.
Steven Nagy is doing push-ups and
cleaning lacrosse gear while Michael
Brett is sweeping off the basketball
courts. Jerra Olson has laid out the
gymnastics mats and Sandy Rato is
already putting together the coolest
dance routines in Chick hall, preparing
for our dance inter-camps. Molli Rosen
is returning for her 4th summer as a
soccer coach, and is almost as pumped as
the soccer balls!
Judy Kapner and Kirsten Cymes will
team up again as our ceramics studio
dynamic-duo. The kilns are fired up
and so are they! After 2 years away,
Poppa Joe Merlino will make his
return to the woodshop. Alongside
Tyler OBrien, theyre warming up the
machines and stockpiling wood for the
summer. Our arts staff is rounded out
by Kaitlyn Dougherty, who was a
cabin counselor in 2012. Kaitlyn will be
spending her days this summer capturing
the little victories, big celebrations, and
unique moments as our photographer.
Heading up kiddie-camp, Beatrice
Phillips, will help train and lead the
other nannies as they keep Walker, Cole,
and Addison Dorfman from creating too
much mischief this summer.
Our residential side of camp is stronger
than ever, with heaps of experience
to help lead our new counselors. Rob
Sherry will once again be the Head of
Residence Life, as he oversees bunk life.
Karye Luppen and Chad Forslin are
wrapping up the school year and packing
their classrooms to head to camp.
Neither of them can stop smiling at the
thought of getting to know this group
of Junior campers! Jake Javitch is
making the move back to the residential
side of camp to lead Middle Camp as
the Area Director. Ty Marion cant sit
still because he is so excited, and Adina
Goodman has Maple in tow. Theyre
excited to team up again in Middle
Camp and welcome Allie Goodman and
David Weinman to the leadership staff.
Returning to lead our 12 and 13 year
olds, Michelle Lamb will be the Upper
Camp Area Director, with Hardy Harrell
and Nick Hercules creating quite the
dynamic duo on boys side. On girls side,
Lucy Goldberg and Karen Joseloff will
bring the thunder, and were certain,
lots of laughs. Senior Camp will once
again be unstoppable, led by Sara
Veltri, Griffin Weiss, and Ashleigh
Streng. Veltch is bringing the hair
berets & backpacks, Griff is bringing the
swag, and Shleigh will bring the dance
moves. Making the move from Upper
Camp to CIT Director, Hannah Garland
is planning the Habitat trip and CIT days
off. Ben Ralen will be returning to
assist Hannah in helping mold this group
of CITs into incredible leaders.
Our returning cabin counselors are
unpacking their tie-dye shirts and
lining up their shoes on the racks in
anticipation of this summer. Giorgi
Mombach, Zara Goldberg, Sammy
Stavis and Dan Golden will add
another year to their collection as return
counselors who were also campers.
Making the jump from athletics to
the residential side of camp, Colleen
Dougherty cant wait to experience
the day-to-day life of being a counselor.
Stevie Owen is joining Colleen in
this endeavor, as she transitions from
Waterfront specialist to counselor.
Lacey Whidden and Mary Mitchell
join this list of staff members moving
to counselor positions form other areas
of camp, as Lacey was an integral office
team member and Mary was a nanny.
Our other female returning counselors
include Blanca Valenzuela, Lindsey
Pockl, Melanie Gauci, Rebecca
Hammar, Tatiana Landrum, Leah
Cramer Gibbs, Lucy Weathers,
Carrisa Carrier, Chelsea Lundquist,
Maggie Dally and Maeve OBrien.
On boys side, AJ Rice, Ben Hodgkiss,
Bryce Simonds, Dylan Waickman,
Eugene Clark, Daniel Lund, Matt
Coats, Matt Karner, Cory Witek and
Ryan Koebbe are returning to Cape
Moonshine Road.
All-in-all, an amazing crop of returning staff that is missing
only one thing to make their summer complete: a camp full of campers!
Pumped to be in Middle Camp!
Cant wait to get to camp and be silly!
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Jacob Avram, Brother of Robert
Kate Beckler, Sister of Abby
Phoebe Brown, Sister of Dani
Cooper Davis, Brother of Jordan and Jillian
Aidan Eisen, Brother of Jack
Robert Fogel, Brother of Alexandra
Ariella Frommer, Sister of Evan and Adam
Adam Gelb, Brother of Mia
Jesse Goldfarb, Brother of Remi
Cole Hanan, Brother of Aubrey
Ethan Holmes, Brother of Leah
Ella Leferman, Sister of Drew
Andrew Lichtblau, Step-Brother of
Harold Oppenheim
Chloe Litt, Sister of Dylan
Tiffany Menard, Sister of Billy
Skylar Newman, Sister of Sydney
Jacob Reiser, Brother of Gabrielle
Jack Rosenthal, Brother of Ryan
Justin Saphier, Brother of Hayden
Chloe Schlessinger, Sister of Nicole
Alex Schwartz, Brother of Lauren
Lucy Smoltz, Sister of Jane and Sam
Ruby Steingart, Sister of Leo
Holden Vogel, Brother of Harrison
We are so Excited to Welcome these New Siblings
of Returning Campers to our Camp Family!
NEW SIBLINGS AT CAMP
Its All in the Family!
CWWs 2012 CITS are Headed to College!
Emily Corbin, Jesse Musich
& Izzy Hattem
Syracuse University
Alex Moreno
Bowdoin College
Caroline Rodgers
Texas A&M
Marshall Widom
Colgate
Clara Lvoff
NYU
Hannah Orans & Izzie Alley
Skidmore College
Steph Spiegel
Tulane
Jamie Schwartz
Colby College
Benny Morris
University of Texas Austin
Sophie Dizengoff
Hamilton College
Grant Sirlin and Rebecca Mantel
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CIT FEATURE
rant has been at
camp since 2008,
when he joined
bunk 03 and made friends
with boys who he would
now call some of his
best friends. He lives in
Westport, CT and attends
Staples High School. Grant
rarely takes a moment
to slow down, as he plays baseball, soccer,
and is a part of the ski club at school. When
he is not playing sports, Grant commits
times to SLOBS (Service League of Boys) and
Saferides; both admirable community service
organizations. One of his favorite camp
memories was a traverse across Franconia
Ridge in Lower Upper camp. The weather
was less than ideal, and they struggled
through the journey. However, Grant reflects
on that journey now and says that one
traverse brought my bunk closer than ever,
and demonstrated to me that in times of
trouble, cohesiveness can take you through
anything. Grant is most looking forward
to experiencing both sides of camp, being
a staff member and a camper. The CIT
program seems like a great middle ground
between campers and staff where you get
to experience an entirely new dimension
of camp. He is confident that the
combination of this, along with my favorite,
tightly knit group of people in the world, will
equate to the most incredible summer ever.
t 9 years old,
Rebecca camp to
Camp Walt Whitman
not knowing what to
expect. That 2007 summer
would set the stage for
every summer thereafter.
Rebecca remembers sitting
on the front lawn each
year and watching with
awe at the last event of
the annual CWW Olympics; the rope burn. This
culminating event requires campers from each
team to collect wood throughout the day.
At the time of the event, the campers carry
the wood to the drop location and the staff
captains proceed to build a fire from scratch in
order to burn through a 6 thick piece of rope
that has been soaking in the lake all day. This is
a capstone experience for our oldest campers.
My favorite memory of camp is being on the
fire crew and winning the rope burn. From the
construction of the fire to the moments after
it broke, I had this feeling that I had never
experienced before. For 6 years I had sat where
all the campers and counselors were sitting, and
it was crazy to think that one of the things I had
looked forward to since junior camp had just
happened. Rebecca lives in New York City and
attends Columbia Grammar and Preparatory
School. She plays on the varsity basketball and
soccer teams and when she is not ferociously
competing she enjoys learning Chinese and
hopes to visit China next spring break. This
summer, Rebecca is most looking forward to
giving back to the CWW community. For the
past two years I have been in the senior camp
bubble and although those were amazing
summers, Im excited to serve a different
purpose in the camp community.
G A
The CIT program seems like a great
middle ground between campers and
staff where you get to experience
an entirely new dimension of camp.
4 New King Street
White Plains, NY 10604
p: (914) 948-9151
f: (914) 652-2433
www.campwalt.com
After a 1-year hiatus Steve Dutelle is returning for
his 11th summer at CWW. Steve has spent his previous
10 years on the residential side of camp as a counselor
in every area of camp, a Unit Leader, CIT Director, and Area
Director of both Upper and Senior Camp. He also worked
in the year round office for 4 years. Steve left CWW after
2012 to pursue a career in education. He recently moved
to Portland, Oregon, and is loving the laid-back outdoorsy
Northwest lifestyle. With his summers now free, he couldnt
resist the urge to return to Cape Moonshine Road. Camp
Walt Whitman will always hold a very special place in my
heart, and Im so grateful to be able to return this summer.
Steve will be returning as the Athletic Director, and we
couldnt be happier to have him back on the team!
A
Steve and his Mom:
Summer 2012
Steve Dutelle!
WELCOME BACK TO CWW....