NATHAN BOWEN (Exec. Director)
What’s your clan?
Turkeys! Gobble Gobble 4-evah!
Do you have a particularly interesting fact about your time at camp over the years that you’ve been here?
I’ve slept in every cabin but one!
If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?
A Pheonix.
What do you miss most about this past summer?
Campers! Specifically, my LTs. They taught me a LOT, and were so much fun. But all the campers being at camp make CLC what it is, so I really miss each and every one of you!
What do you look forward to this coming summer?!
Campers!
What’s this year at camp been like so far (in a few sentences)?
Well, I’m only at camp for a week each month (since I live in Boston), and every time, it’s like coming home. I can literally feel the effect of all the love for CLC each time I get back, I relax, I feel secure and protected, and it’s just happy.
What’s one of your favorite things about Spring?
Seeing green things growing! And going on hikes around the property again.
What was your biggest project in the Fall, in the Winter, soon to be in the Spring?
Too many to count!
Why do you give to/work at camp?!
Because it’s important that I do all I possibly can to support the cause of Christian Science. There is no question that God led me to the role I’m in right now, and working to give every child, even if only just a glimmer of understanding on how Christian Science is not only useful, but fundamental to them, is what drives me each day.
What are some of your highlights from this year at camp?
Getting to travel for all the camp shows and seeing all the love and support for CLC all over the place is just amazing!
Do you have a catch phrase of encouragement for campers and staff to return and for new ones to arrive for their first summer at camp?
CLC is the place to be! That slogan was on some old CLC bumper stickers – and I really like it, in a sort of way. It speaks to me about how camp has something for everyone, and the underlying statement that working to improve yourself as a young Christian Scientist is the single most valuable thing you can do!
If you had to adapt “Symbol of Serenity” into a musical genre, which one would you choose?
Oh man! Honestly, I think the Mike Allison techno recording of it really can’t be beat!
What kind of outfit would you don for your “Symbol of Serenity” music video?!
A Techno outfit.
JENNIFER VOMVAS (Bookkeeper)
What’s your clan?
A Wolf.
Do you have a particularly interesting fact about your time at camp over the years that you’ve been here?
An interesting thing about wolves is that we always seem to have the worst cheer. Some are better than others, but the worst ever was a cheer we had when I was a camper and we had an Australian in our clan, who came up with this gem:
“Augie, Augie Augie!
Wolves, Wolves Wolves!
Augie!
Wolves!
Augie!
Wolves!
Augie, Augie, Augie, Augie Augie!
Wolves, Wolves, Wolves, Wolves Wolves!”
Of course, other than that the Wolves are the best clan, but that is only because there is no Meerkat clan.
If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?
If I were to have a strange exotic pet, it would definitely be a Meerkat. Actually, a whole family of Meerkats. Those things are adorable.
What do you miss most about this past summer?
Now you have me thinking about camp and all the things I miss about it. Right now, the main thing I miss from the summer is the heat. But I also miss looking out over a beautiful, tranquil lake in the evenings. And “egg in the hole” – I miss that too.
What do you look forward to this coming summer?! What was your biggest project in the Fall, in the Winter, soon to be in the Spring?
Since then (the summer) my work for camp has been largely centered around learning our new database system – EZCamp – and getting it up and running. It’s a big change for us in the office, but definitely a change for the better. I am really excited to see how this is going to improve the way we do things.
What’s one of your favorite things about Spring?
As Spring approaches (finally!) we are going to start gearing up for another great summer at CLC and I am looking forward to seeing who is coming back this year, what new campers we will have, and who will end up on staff. This is such a great thing about camp, reuniting with old friends, and making new ones…
Why do you give to/work at camp?!
…In fact, the main reason I love working at camp is the joy of working with so many wonderful people. Also, the chance to live, work, and share great conversations with other Christian Scientists really enriches my life.
Do you have a catch phrase of encouragement for campers and staff to return and for new ones to arrive for their first summer at camp?
So this is my catchphrase for this year: The Science of Christianity has been revealed! Live it! Love it! Share it! (… and also, possibly: Augie! Augie! Augie!)
If you had to adapt “Symbol of Serenity” into a musical genre, which one would you choose?
How about African Gospel Choir (with optional step-dancing)? Or maybe it could be made into a Bollywood musical.
What kind of outfit would you don for your “Symbol of Serenity” music video?!
We would all be wearing colorful, flowing robes, of course.
SCOTT WADE (Site Manager)
What’s your clan?
Bear Clan
Do you have a particularly interesting fact about your time at camp over the years that you’ve been here?
I completed all the archery awards when I was a camper.
If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?
A flying dragon to ride around on.
What do you miss most about this past summer?
Fishing, archery and high ropes with campers.
What do you look forward to this coming summer?!
My friends (everyone) getting here this summer.
What’s this year at camp been like so far (in a few sentences)?
This year has been, the longest coldest winter since being here and I am ready for summer to start.
What’s one of your favorite things about Spring?
Fly fishing.
What was your biggest project in the Fall, in the Winter, soon to be in the Spring?
Fall – Work Weekend. The list was very long. THANKS to everyone that helped, we got so much done for camp. Winter. The lodge laundry room and small bathroom remodel. Spring – Demo. The old trailer and building a new guest house.
Why do you give to/work at camp?!
I give so that all the campers have the same opportunity to grow mentally and spiritually, as I did when I was a camper.
What are some of your highlights from this year at camp?
Growing closer to friends and making new ones.
Do you have a catch phrase of encouragement for campers and staff to return and for new ones to arrive for their first summer at camp?
YOUUU CAN DOOO IIIT!
If you had to adapt “Symbol of Serenity” into a musical genre, which one would you choose?
Country.
What kind of outfit would you don for your “Symbol of Serenity” music video?!
A Cowboy hat and chaps. Haha, jk. I really like it the way it is with a clan or camp shirt, singing softly all together. But it could be fun to have all the cabins do different genre’s for a talent show!
RICKIE GRIFFIN (Communications Coordinator)
What’s your clan?
Mutant Ninja Turtles
Do you have a particularly interesting fact about your time at camp over the years that you’ve been here?
I don’t live there now but, I’ve stayed in the basement of Nosoni for a collective 12 months. It’s wonderfully nice and cool there in the summer!
If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?
Do shetland ponies count? I really love those little stubby legged fuzzy guys! So cute! If not, maybe a barred owl!
What do you miss most about this past summer?
Hearing all the laughter! It seriously gets quiet around here.
What do you look forward to this coming summer?!
Witnessing all the healings and growth in all the campers, staff, and myself. That’s something really exciting to see!
What’s this year at camp been like so far (in a few sentences)
Recently? COLD. Very cold. But it’s wonderful in a way because I love making fires in my wood stove. Super cozy!! It was lovely to watch the leaves change in the fall and see their reflection in the lake. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons and CLC is fortunate to have such bountiful color all around!
What’s one of your favorite things about Spring?
The sound of birds singing, new life springing up from the ground, a thawed out lake to perhaps soon jump in when it gets warmer! That wasn’t just one was it? oops!
What was your biggest project in the Fall, in the Winter, soon to be in the Spring?
Well, in the fall I was just learning the ropes of my job, but this Winter I was helping prep for Winter Camp, and start prepping for summer camp. Actually, prepping for summer is a big year round thing!
Why do you give to/work at camp?!
I love camp and it’s mission- to promote spiritual growth in campers and staff and through them bless the world. The experiences at camp are ones that many carry with them for the rest of their life. It’s neat to play a role in that by working to prep the setting and program for where those experiences will take place. I like to think of it as we’re all part of the growing process for each other, helping where support is needed and in turn being supported just as much. Many times I feel like I’m learning spiritually from the campers themselves at testimony meetings or during gratitude sessions. Its wonderful!
What are some of your highlights from this year at camp?
I definitely loved putting together a giant paintbrush for arts & crafts to paint Kona (Tim & Jasmines dog). I also really enjoyed swimming in a dress at Haystacks and in the lake. It’s definitely a marvelous and unique experience I suggest everyone try at least once!
Do you have a catch phrase of encouragement for campers and staff to return and for new ones to arrive for their first summer at camp?
Come for the summer, stay for your new camp family for life!
If you had to adapt “Symbol of Serenity” into a musical genre, which one would you choose?
I’d probably go with doing Symbol of Serenity in a Tuvan Throat Singing style.
What kind of outfit would you don for your “Symbol of Serenity” music video?!
I’m thinking wearing rejected thrift store prom dresses from the 80s. Sounds super classy and edgy wrapped into one dynamite video!
What’s your clan?
Wolves
Do you have a particularly interesting fact about your time at camp over the years that you’ve been here?
Not sure I’ve been on almost every single trail, I’ve been in almost every part of every building including crawl spaces.
If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?
Wolf pack , or tiger, maybe a falcon.
What do you miss most about this past summer?
Crawling through mud with my awesome Trailblazers, along with night ropes course and canoeing.
What do you look forward to this coming summer?!
New spiritual growth and seeing everyone again.
What’s this year at camp been like so far (in a few sentences)?
Busy but also peaceful and punctuated by really serene moments.
What’s one of your favorite things about Spring?
One favorite thing is hard. The life, the green freshness, the feel of warm sunlight on my face.
What was your biggest project in the Fall, in the Winter, soon to be in the Spring?
Camp projects included, at least, in the fall completely cleaning and organizing the storage/costume room of the wigwam, and in the winter renovating the lodge bathroom and laundry room.
Why do you give to/work at camp?!
Because camp has given me so much love over the years I want to contribute what I can in return.
What are some of your highlights from this year at camp?
Snowshoeing and skiing, jumping into a whole in the ice, building but not yet having the chance to use my own personal ice parkour park.
Do you have a catch phrase of encouragement for campers and staff to return and for new ones to arrive for their first summer at camp?
Climb the heights of Mind, and a few trees too!
If you had to adapt “Symbol of Serenity” into a musical genre, which one would you choose?
Epic adventure soundtrack (lord of the rings style).
What kind of outfit would you don for your “Symbol of Serenity” music video?!
Ranger outfit.
RYAN CHARLSTON (Social Media Coordinator – Blog/Maintenance)
What’s your clan?
Turtles!
Do you have a particularly interesting fact about your time at camp over the years that you’ve been here?
I’ve been given the name Aquabeard here at camp. It was given to me during my first staff overnight, during staff week, before camps starts. It stuck as my name, and for every summer I’ve returned. For quite a while, most people didn’t know my real first name, Ryan. The word ‘aqua’ is on many things related to water. Beard, well, I had a rather large beard my first summer, six summers ago. I took a drink from a Nalgene, and when a staff member saw water staying in my beard, he said I would be “Aquabeard” if I were a superhero.
If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?
A Polar Bear!
What do you miss most about this past summer?
Visiting the Amish with my group of CITs.
What do you look forward to this coming summer?!
Seeing everybody again, all summer long. Hiking trips, mountain streams, having the Amish visit camp, and so much more.
What’s this year at camp been like so far (in a few sentences)?
I’ve loved it! It’s been incredibly beautiful. We’ve had good work going on around camp. Lots of organizing, lots of cleaning, lots of fixing.
What’s one of your favorite things about Spring?
Spring Peepers! They’re a tiny little frog that only comes out during the Spring and to me that’s one of the magical signs that it’s that season.
What was your biggest project in the Fall, in the Winter, soon to be in the Spring?
Well, there were tons of small projects to get done. But, one collectively big project was fixing, re-routing, and soldering water pipes underneath cabins.
Why do you give to/work at camp?!
When I came to Crystal Lake Camps, it was my second option for the summer. I ended up coming here after another internship opportunity didn’t work out. But! I couldn’t be more grateful. At that time of my Life, and during the summers I’ve been here, Crystal Lake Camps has given me more than I could have ever expected for my Life at that point of arrival and each summer.
From that summer on, I was able to find out who I really am so much more. I feel very confident with Christian Science now and am feeling like I do have a group of friends, from the young age of the spectrum, to my peers, and those older than me. I have been offered opportunities here at camp that I never would have known I could do, nor have asked to do, almost every summer.
I have found my place here at camp. Now, I want to give everyone else an opportunity to feel that same profound feeling of being at home at camp, and finding that feeling anywhere they go.
What are some of your highlights from this year at camp?
They’re having been so many special moments this year. We had some fun groups at camp this Fall. I’d say though overall, so far the Ski Center that runs on CLC’s property has been a very nice highlight during the Winter.
Do you have a catch phrase of encouragement for campers and returning staff and for new ones to arrive for their first summer at camp?
BOOM BAM BABY! 😉 (in reference to “The Emperor’s New Groove”)
If you had to adapt “Symbol of Serenity” into a musical genre, which one would you choose?
Alternative hip-hop (like K’naan).
What kind of outfit would you don for your “Symbol of Serenity” music video?!
My 80’s track suit, duh!
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