January 2016In This IssueFeatured Alum ............................................................. 2Alumni Info ................................................................... 3Sarv’s Corner ................................................................ 4Camper Artwork ......................................................... 5Appel Farm For Life ................................................... 6Camp Reunions ........................................................... 7Ice Cream Parties ........................................................ 8Look Who’s Coming to Camp 2016 ....................... 9

Fun at the Funplex!We are counting the days until March 19th, when we can catch up with you at the Appel Farm Spring Reunion at the Funplex! It will be fun! It’s at the Funplex! Everyone is invited, campers, alumni, families and friends! In the meantime, Appel Farm might be visiting a town near you!

Until then, please enjoy getting to know camp alumna, and new Head of Coop, April Gompers. Read about the importance of Fireside Chats with Sarv. Check out our talented campers’ artwork, celebrate Appel Farm For Life, and see who’s eating ice cream in the cold of winter! See who’s already signed up, and continue your countdown to Camp 2016!

We would love to hear from you as well! Let us know what you’re up to! Share news about your art, upcoming shows, college, jobs, family, and life in general! Help us break through to 1,000 “likes” on Facebook at facebook.com/appelfarmcamp. Follow our new Instagram account at “AppelFarmArtsCamp”. Save the date for our Camp Reunions, and check out all the posts on our School Year Blog.

Let’s stay in touch all year, and next thing you know it’ll be time to come back to camp!

See you at the Funplex on March 19th!Photos by Bonnie Saporetti

Register for Camp 2016 before January 31st, and receive a $450 discount off your 4, 6, or 8-week tuition!

(856) 358-2472 camp@appelfarm.org www.appelfarmartscamp.org

Refer a Friend!If you know anyone who might be a great fit for the community at Appel Farm (and who would know better than you guys,) we would love to introduce ourselves!

You can refer a friend on our website, or just give us a call!

Stay in Touch! ; Read the Appel Core! ; Schedule a play-date with your camp friends!

; Read the School Year Blog!

; Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

; Come to our Camp Reunions!

FEATURED ALUM April Gompers

1. When were you at camp?

I came to Appel Farm in 2005, when I was 14. I was a camper from ’05-’08, and usually stayed both sessions. The intern program didn’t exist yet, so I waited until I was 20 to come back as a counselor in 2011, and I’ve been coming back from 2013 on. This will be my ninth summer!

2. What was your major and what were some of your minors?

I took guitar as a minor every single session (beginner guitar my first year, and by my last summer, I was playing in a rock band!). All of my other minors changed each session; I took minors in video, experimental photography, choir, rock band, and a current events oriented class called The Pangaea Project, where my counselor, Doug, would show us documentaries and news about world events and we would discuss them. When I started at Appel Farm, I had been going to theater camp for several years, so I started as a theater major. At that time, you could only choose 1 major, so it was a massively big deal (to me and my parents, mostly) when I decided halfway through my third summer to switch to rock band vocals. That decision completely changed my life!

3. What was camp like when you were a camper and what are some of your favorite memories?

Camp is, and has always

been, magic. I was in Coop my first summer, and the building was so old and gross that we actually had “Sweep The Ceiling” on our chore chart during bunk cleanup to get rid of the cobwebs. The shower used to flood the entire bathroom and it was so far back in the camp (where the outdoor classroom is now, next to the Valero room) that walking anywhere was a huge pain! I loved every bit of it! The counselors had strung up Christmas lights all across the building, and, at night, it looked enchanted. I knew the name of every single person in Coop and we were all so close. We used to sit on the picnic tables outside and look up at the stars at night, and those will always be my favorite camp memories. The moments that I hold as the most special are the times when I wasn’t really doing anything, but was happy to be with friends, talking and laughing.

4. Where are you living now, and what are you doing for work and fun?

I live in Rochester, New York, where I teach private voice, guitar, piano, and song writing lessons. My job is super fun, but when I’m not at work, I

play/practice music, read a lot, experiment with cooking, and write lots of songs! I also enjoy performing at Open Mic Nights, and I meet with a song writing group. Outside of work I spend a lot of my free time doing community outreach and volunteer work. One organization that I work with is the GH Girls’ Basketball league. I get to spend 2 days a week coaching and mentoring young girls.

5. How do you think you were influenced by your Appel Farm experience? Appel Farm has influenced my life in so many ways! When I got to camp, I was shy, nervous, and a serious misfit at school. Camp immediately made me feel welcome and appreciated. I gained so much confidence my first summer, and I swear that camp made me the person I am today. My rock vocals counselor, Jackie, is one of the main reasons I had the confidence to apply to music school, and she influenced me immensely by getting me excited about singing and teaching rock vocals. I’ve met some of my best friends in the entire world as both a camper and a

counselor at camp, and it is so special that I keep returning year after year!

6. What advice or suggestions do you have for present day Appel Farm campers?

My advice is that you should branch out and do something crazy! If you see a minor that you know nothing about, but looks fun, take it! If there is someone in your bunk who seems cool, talk to them! Do something in a Friday Night Concert, ask for a solo in vocal studio, put something oddly shaped on an enlarger and see what the picture looks like. Step out of your comfort zone and don’t take anything for granted, because camp is really special. Unrelated, learn how to play Magic: The Gathering… it’s the best (I’ll teach you!).

April Gompers is the definition of #AppelFarmForLife! You’ll read all about her years as a camper and counselor below, and what’s next for April? She is joining us this summer as our new Head of Coop! We are so excited welcome April to the Leadership Team!

What excites you most about your new role as Head of Coop this summer?

As always, I am SO excited to see all of my old campers and meet all of our new campers. I can’t wait to hang out during free time and get to know everyone! Coop is going to completely rock this year!

Appel Ambassadors Share your love for Appel Farm with everyone you meet... We just can’t stop talking about Appel Farm! Somehow, every day, there is a moment in which we are reminded of the joy of a summer at camp. We are transported back to days spent with friends, laughing at camp memories, and wishing we could go back in time... We know you know the feeling!

We are asking our alumni to help us spread this love for Appel Farm to all the corners of the globe. We know that the very best way to share camp with a new camper is through the recommendation of our alumni. We are seeking alumni who have some time to share, helping us expand our reach and share the gift of Appel Farm with future campers living in your area.

How do our Appel Ambassadors support Appel Farm?

; Help distributing flyers to local studios, theaters, schools, workshops, etc.

; Hosting a “Camp Party” for families in your area who want to learn more about ; Appel Farm.

; Spreading the word through web postings and social media.

; Sharing opportunities for Appel Farm to be more involved in your community.

If you are interested in joining our Alumni Ambassador program, email Cara at ccorradetti@appelfarm.org to get started!

Join Us!an evening with

Friends of Appel FarmWe would like to invite all of our Alumni, funders, volunteers, and Board Members for An Evening with Friends of Appel Farm. We’ll be gathering for a wine and cheese social in our Theater Gallery to catch up on all of our memories of Appel Farm, and then joining the audience of the long standing tradition...our Friday Night Concert!

Friday, July 15th

Friday, August 12th

Appel Farm Social MediaKeep in touch with Appel Farm all year long! We hope you will follow us and spread the word to your camp friends. Help us connect with former campers and staff and continue to share the love that is Appel Farm.

facebook.com/AppelFarmCamp

@AppelFarmCamp

AppelFarmArtsCamp

Use #AppelFarmForLife to keep us in the loop anytime you reunite with your camp friends!

Alum Info

It’s our last evening activity. Each night, every bunk gathers together for fireside chats. Like so many new things, it took a while before I realized how important these were.

It ’s real ly quite simple. Everybody sits around in a circle and each person says what they liked about their day, what they didn’t like and what their hopes are for the next few days. The most common form is the “rose” (what I liked), “thorn” (what I didn’t) and “bud” (what I look forward to). Everybody, including the counselors, take part. Each person has the floor to themselves.

It seems simple. It is simple. And, with each passing year, I realize how important it is for everybody.

There are very few places where we are encouraged to speak our truth. How many times during the year do we sit down with our teachers or bosses and share our complaints and our congratulations? It’s simply not done. But it is done at Appel Farm. Every night. Right before bed.

There are so many things right with the fireside chats. For one thing, it provides a place for people to speak their

truth. And if art is anything it’s the bold expression of one’s truth. It provides a place for people to think clearly about their day. That’s something we don’t normally do. And, finally, the chats provide another opportunity for all of us to grow. We can listen. We can take ideas and feelings in. It’s a safe and supportive place.

This summer I would like to expand the principle of the fireside chat throughout camp. For example, in my daily meetings with my assistant director in the theater department, I would like to hear what did not work and what did. I would like to spread this throughout the staff, throughout the summer. After all, if the kids are having this treat, why not the staff?

As we learn to share our perceptions each night, so we feel safer to share our perceptions during the day. Isn’t that one of the things that Appel Farm is all about?

Complaints and Congratulations

Sarvananda Bluestone has been a college professor, published author and professional psychic. In addition he has been the Head Counselor and a Theater Director at Appel Farm for 29 summers. He originally came so that his daughter, Hira, could come as a camper. Now, her daughter, his grand daughter, Lucy, will return for her second Appel Farm summer.

From page to stage...

Camp families see their campers’ final products during Performance Week, but here’s a sneak peek at their creative process, from preparation to implementation!

Above: Raphael

Below: Taylor, Sophie, Katie, Sophie, Heidy-Ann, Maddie, Ella, Leila, and Daria

Visual Arts: Camp 2015

Kana Kishimoto Emilie Kelly Shayla George

Grace Neuger

William Satloff

Siobhan Joyce Farley

Colin Flynn

APPEL FARM FOR LIFEEveryone who has spent a summer at Appel Farm knows the magic that happens at those green picnic tables and Friday Night Concerts. Our community is what makes this farm so special every summer and we would like to celebrate that loyalty! During camp, we will recognize campers and staff who have chosen to come back year after year, keeping their Appel inside them forever! Check out how we will celebrate the many years people have dedicated their summers to Appel Farm. #AppelFarmForLife

YEARS 1 and 2: Ice Cream PartyOnce you’ve attended Appel Farm, you’ll always be a part of the Appel Farm family! We would like to welcome you into the family with one of our favorite treats, ice cream! We’ll have a grand ice cream party during your session to recognize the important choice you made to call Appel Farm your summer home.

YEAR 3: High-Five MuralMembers will leave a lasting impression on Appel Farm! They will put their handprints on our High-Five Mural, adding on year after year, high-five after high-five!

YEAR 4: Appel Farm Song LeadersMembers will teach the Appel Farm Song to the whole camp at the closing of our first Friday Night Concert each session. For the rest of the session, at the end of each Friday Night Concert, at campfires, and any time we sing our song, they will lead the camp!

YEAR 5: Golden Appels ClubMembers will join the Golden Appels Club, and each new member will be recognized on the Golden Appel Club plaque in the Dining Hall, which will grow year after year. Who will join this year? Check out the list below! We’d love to see all of your names on the plaque someday...

YEAR 6: Bunk Photo Collage Members will receive a framed collage of their past 6 years of bunk photos, signed by this summer’s bunkmates, staff and Camp Directors. One frame with 6 years of camp memories...

YEAR 7: Appel Farm Fleece PulloverMembers will receive an Appel Farm fleece pullover to wear during those chilly campfire nights, and all year long!

YEAR 8: Appel Farm Coffee MugMembers will be presented with an Appel Farm coffee mug...if you’ve been here for eight years, you can enjoy camp coffee and tea in style!

YEAR 9: Garden Stepping StoneMembers will make a personalized stepping stone for our garden, which is a wonderful place to relax and laugh with friends among the veggies and fruit trees!

YEAR 10: Dedicated Adirondack Chair or BenchMembers will have a new Adirondack chair or bench dedicated in their honor. Any place we put them will surely to turn into a new free-time hangout!

Grace Barrett, Nina Bombeke, Maura Cummins, Isabel Duncan-Huffman, Sarah Fichter, Roshaun Knott, Sofia Pollack, Everett Sanderson, and Nina Schatell, will join the Golden Appels Club this summer!

So are we! It’s been too long since we’ve seen your smiling faces! Start making plans to come to our next reunion on Saturday, March 19th at the Funplex in Mt. Laurel, NJ.

RSVP to camp@appelfarm.org and let us know that you’ll be joining the fun!

Save the date for our last reunion on Sunday, April 24th: Earth Day at Appel Farm!• Appel Farm is celebrating

Earth Day, and you are invited to introduce your friends to Appel Farm and our welcoming community of tree-hugging artists!

• If you have a friend from home who wants to learn more about Appel Farm, this is your chance to spend the day at the farm, gardening, making art, learning about our environment

• Connect with your friends from home, your camp friends, and campers who will be coming to Appel Farm for the first time this summer!

When we can’t connect in person, let’s connect online! Keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest!

http://www.appelfarmartscamp.org/camp/campers/social-media

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the Family Enrichment Network. Additional funding sources include foundation, corporation and individual contributions by friends, Trustees and alumni of Appel Farm.

Please call two weeks in advance for assistance.

Accessibility ServicesNJ Relay Service TRS (800) 852-7899

Earth Day at Appel Farm A Family Art CelebrationSunday, April 24 12 – 4 PM

FREE!STOP BY

NOON-4PM!

Live musicFamily Line DancingPainting Flower PotsGardening

and more fun activities!

457 Shirley Road, Elmer, NJ 08318Easy access to Routes 77, 40, and 55 www.AppelFarm.org

Family Fun

Outdoors

Camp Tour

Art Show

Snacks Available

Rain or Shine Event

Campsick?

It was so much fun to see so many campers, new and old, at our Philly parties! We can’t wait to see more of you on President’s Day! Families are invited to join us for a free ice cream, to reunite with friends or to learn more about Appel Farm. Spread the word to your friends who might be interested in camp.

Monday, February 15th - President’s Day11:00am - 12:30pm @ Sugar and Plumm377 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10024

2:30pm - 4:00pm @ McCool’s Ice Cream26 Main St., Madison, NJ 07940

6:00pm - 7:30pm @ Halo Pub Ice Cream 9 Hulfish St., Princeton, NJ 08542

Want to join us for Ice Cream? Let us know by sending your RSVP to camp@appelfarm.org!

Benjamin Ainslie, Isaac Ainslie, Magali Alvarez Di Desidero, Kennedy Anderson, Kate Apostolacus, Grace Barrett, Jordan Barron, Zoe Benson, Cooper Bingham, Nina Bombeke, Rex Borgenicht, Sydney Borislow, Payton Buchner, Sofia Carusone, Aaron Chan, Hiba Chaudry, Max Cohen, Maura Cummins, Ariel Daniels, Rebecca Daniels, Dionna Dash, Molly Dente, Michael Dominguez, Isabel Duncan-Huffman, Kaitlin Dunsmuir, Talia Feshbach, Sarah Fichter, Rowen Fisher, Zamira Frost, Arthur Furniss, Virginia Glynn, Julia Goldstein, Carl Gombert, Julia Green, Eva Greenberg, Phoebe Grupper, Julia Hall, Olivia Haney, Marysol Harter, Emma Hawkins, Bryn Healy, Casey Hein, Anna Higer-Paris, Leila Israel, Livia Janjigian, Sage Janjigian, Jacqui Jordan, Ben Kalb, Elena Kaplan, Hugh Keenan, Lydia Keenan, Julia Keller, Dylan Kelly, Isadora Kianovsky, Nate Kianovsky, Mila Kisch, Roshaun Knott, Isabella Lancenese, Miri Leaderman-Bray, Ahron Lewis, Francesca Lockenour, Raphael Lockenour, Zev Marinoff, Mona Marshall, Willa Marshall, Eric Ross McLaren, Sofie Melledy, Jennifer Milgram, Georgia Morris, Calvin Mustokoff, Amalia Nachman, Emily Orlich, Sara Pekar, Gilad Perlman-Greenberg, Fiona Pollack, Gabriella Pollack, Sofia Pollack, Jillian Roche, Ellie Rojer, Havi Rojer, Sasha Rojer, Juliana Rolo, Amelia Sammons, Everett Sanderson, Nina Schatell, Aviva Schuh, Zachary Schuh, Dara Schwartz, Olivia Siegel, Zachary Solano, Noa Spanier, Benjamin Steinwurtzel, Anna Stribrny, Virginia Tamburello, Mason Tepper, Eli Troll, Isabella Ulfelder, Clare Uppenbrink, Luke Uppenbrink, Benjamin White, Ariana Gwen Wilson, William Zelevansky, Charlotte Ziccardi.

Look Who’s Coming to Camp!

Kennedy, Isabel, Kate, Molly, and Virgina from Bunk 18 are coming to camp, are you? Register today!

Second Session Bunk 18

Countdown to Camp;;:;;:;;

156 days until First Session!2-week Session: June 26 - July 104-week Session: June 26 - July 226-Week Session: June 26 - August 78-Week Session: June 26 - August 19

184 days until Second Session!2-week Session: July 24 - August 74-week Session: July 24 - August 19

170 days until our First 1-Week Session!1-Week Session: July 10 - July 17

198 days until our Second 1-Week Session!1-Week Session: August 7 - August 14

School Year BlogAre your reading our School Year Blog? If you are, you’ve brushed up on Appel Farm traditions, caught up on the latest STEAM initiatives, and enjoyed some wonderful “throwback” albums! You also know all the ins and outs about Appel Farm, and how we take care of all of our campers. It’s all really great information to have!

If you’re not already reading the blog, check it out asap! From Motivation Monday through Fun Friday, each blog highlights a different theme and core value. We welcome guest bloggers from any member of our camp community, even parents, so get in touch if you have an idea!

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