At Camp Harmony, we truly believe that "We're the best Camp in the land" thanks to the winning combination (in no particular order) of our programs, our facilities, our menu, our campers, the campers' parents, and of course our Staff. Throughout the year, we will be spotlighting staff members and Lifers' activities during the "off season" and show how they make positive contributions to the community and serve as inspirations to everyone.

With no further introduction, we proudly present
"How I Spent My Winter Vacation",
featuring the Staff of Camp Harmony!

Loren DUH

Four years ago, when Jerry made me DUH, he told me I had to become a certified lifeguard as well.  I happily answered yes, but began to panic.  I couldn't swim.  And by “couldn't swim”, I meant I couldn't put my face in the water.  One of my teaching colleagues happened to be the high school swim coach and she started teaching me every single day (yes, every single day!!) at the JCC pool.  Day by day I learned a little more.  Four months later, I passed the lifeguard certification.  

So a few years went by and I probably went in the water a total of 3 times (Caribbean Day, Carnival, and Coney Island Day.)  I exercised at the gym all the time and even did a 5K with our very own Michele Pool.  Then one day I ran into a friend who had just done the Danskin triathlon.  She was so excited and told me I should do it.  I laughed hysterically!  Me? Loren DUH, the most un-athletic person in the world do a triathlon?? No way!  Well, the next thing you know, I got motivated.  I signed up for the triathalon and never looked back.  I trained hard. I swam.  I biked.  I ran.  I never missed a training session.  I read every article I could find on triathlons and geared up for my first.

Finally, on September 13, it was time! The Danskin Triathalon took place in Sandy Hook, NJ, and I swam 1/2 mile (equivalent to 36 laps in the pool at Harmony), biked 11 miles, and ran a 5K (3.1 miles). My goal was to finish under 2 hours, and I am proud to say that finished in 1 hour, 45 minutes…so I met my goal! And I felt great!!!

Four years ago, I never swam.  I never biked.  I never ran.  Now, I am Loren DUH...a triathlete.  Come on Campers! Come on Harmony parents!  If I can do it, you can too!!

~ Loren DUH

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Brianne Shadyside

Last September, many of my kindergarten moms came to my door at arrival and were showing me their medals from the Danskin triathlon. After hearing about their awesome experience, I was interested in learning more.

When January rolled around and it was registration time, they all remembered my interest, and convinced me that I should do it! So I went ahead and registered...there was only one *small* problem: I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM!!

I signed up for swim lessons at the Cranford pool. I was learning to swim right next to children from my kindergarten class! I practiced swimming 4 times a week, and after awhile felt pretty good about it.

Along the way, I got an email regarding another triathlon, and thought: “Hey, I'm already training for one event...why not do another?” So I did my first triathalon, the Pantanella's Women Revolutionary Triathlon, on Sunday, Aug 16 (just the week after serving as head captain for color war!). I completed it  in 1 hour, 28 minutes. I cried after that swim because I just couldn't believe that I didn't drown! I also ran my personal best pace that day of 7:44....it was an awesome experience, to say the least....

The week before the Danskin triathlon I actually cut my heel open very badly, and couldn't compete to the best of my abilities. But nothing was keeping me away from this! Again, it was great! I took care not to injure myself more, and even walked at some points instead of running, but I put my mind to it.

Overall, I learned that you don't have to be a tremendous athlete to do a triathlon, you just have to have a lot of heart and the drive to know that you can do what you put your mind to. It is amazing to think that I only learned how to swim 9 months ago, and now I have 2 triathlons under my belt!

Remember: The only one who can tell you "you can't" is you. And you don't have to listen!

~ Brianne Shadyside

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As a camper at Camp Harmony (earning my Blueberry to Staff Degree), people came and people went, but I always had my father as a major part of my camp life.  He was the nature instructor and was known by everyone as Ranger Rick (now the earthlore cabin is named in his honor).  To this day, I still have people telling me they remembered all of the great times they had in nature.  Always willing to engage the campers, he tried to make nature entertaining, holding cookouts with hamburgers, hot dogs and marshmallows, going for nature walks, and firing rockets up into the summer sky with the older campers.

Just over eight years ago, our family was hit with the sad news that my father had pancreatic cancer.  We did everything we could to help him beat this disease but unfortunately, he lost a courageous battle in July of 2002.  Like the rest of those in my family, I was angry and confused as to why someone who had been so healthy and compassionate to others had been taken from us without any warning.

Instead of just getting upset about what happened, I decided to do something to help others avoid a similar fate and educate others about the disease.  In February of 2007 I joined the New Jersey Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network  (www.pancan.org) and have been trying to make a difference by volunteering with the group.  In my time with the organization we have raised thousands of dollars through picnics, sports events and school events and awareness about pancreatic cancer.  This past August, we joined with the Newark Bears to host a fundraising and awareness event that was a huge success!  Newark Mayor Cory Booker was in attendance and we had a chance to interact with people and pass out literature that might help others.  While there’s no cure for pancreatic cancer, we’re determined that soon there will be one for this as well as other forms of cancer.

There's a saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade", and it's important to turn an adverse situation into a positive one. I can only hope that the work I am doing will save a life of another person. Maybe that person will be another nature counselor at a camp or someone’s father or be a leader in the community.

From something as small as opening the door for someone to picking up a classmate’s pencil to donating to charity or even helping out at a senior citizen's center or hospital, we all need to make a difference and make the world a better place!  What can you do to help somebody today?

~ Todd Frontier

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If you want to see my team in action, click here!

Steve Ranger

PARADE REST!! BAND TEN HUT!! FORWARD…MARCH!! Believe it or not, these are the silly phrases that come out of my mouth all Fall! Steve Ranger here to tell all the campers at Harmony about my favorite non-camp activity…marching band! All year I work as a band director, conducting concerts, rehearsing jazz bands, and helping to direct the high school musical. The real fun happens in the Fall, though, when I get to direct the Golden Regiment Marching Band.

I work with a staff of six musicians and Drum Corps (professional marching band) alumni to help 60 high school students put an incredible musical and visual show on a football field! The band begins meeting some nights in the summer, and then we go to sleepaway band camp together where we learn where to march and what to play. Band camp begins just as my time at Camp Harmony is wrapping up for the summer (ever wonder where Steve Ranger is at the final banquet?) It gets hot at band camp, and there’s no misty fan, and there’s no bug juice, and there’s no big slide, and there’s not even a Color War at Band Camp!! But, by the time band camp is over, we have a really incredible collision of movement and music that wows football fans and judges all fall!

Once band camp is over, the band continues to rehearse several times a week, and we perform at football games and community events on Veterans’ Day. The highlight of the season for the folks in the band is the competitive shows we perform each Saturday. We hop on a few buses and meet up with other marching bands from NEW JERSEY (yayy!!) to compete for first place!

My favorite part about marching band is how every member of the band and the staff feels like a family by the time the season is over. I guess it’s a lot like Camp Harmony when you think about it like that! Musicians in my band learn that teamwork is the best way to get work done, and they learn that you only get out what you put in. It takes hard work to make something amazing happen, and the folks in marching band know that for sure! I brought along a video to show you how much can happen when you use hard work and teamwork and perseverance to get what you want! And always remember, you can only be great when you learn that good enough is never good enough!

~ Steve Ranger

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Eric Program

Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's evening walk and fundraising event. It is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds lifesaving research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and treatments for other types of cancer, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. These treatments have helped patients live better, longer lives. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.

My nephew Alex's mitzvah was to walk for his grandma and grandpa who passed away of cancer about 10 years ago. He enlisted his friends and family to walk, and we doubled his fund-raising goal! We're very proud of him.

Anyone can help raise money for a great cause!

~ Eric Program

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Jerry Director

Before I was known around Camp as "Jerry", I was known as "Sleepy". But before I was known around Camp as "Sleepy", I was known as Sleepy, the leader of the band 'Sleepy and the Invictas'! Sleepy and the Invictas was formed in 1961_ by my friends: Ronnie, Johnny, Billy, Vinny, and me. I was the organist. Although we never achieved fame like the Beatles, we were good enough to record an album on 20th Century Fox Records, and release several singles of our most popular songs.  One or our songs "Green Bow Tie", recorded on United Artists Records  hit #19 on "Billboard" Top 100. Remember, this was in the days before iTunes and even before CD's! So all of the music was released on records, and you needed a turntable to play them!

We were also very good studio musicians, and played the music for famous artists. Our most famous song was the music for the Shirelle's "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow". If you've ever heard the drums in that song...That was me! I was a drummer too.

The Invictas stayed together for 8 years, but eventually we all went our separate ways. This past January, we decided to get the band back together and have a reunion concert for our close friends and family in January! Unfortunately, not all of the band members were around to participate, but we were joined by other family members who substituted for them. Many of us had not seen each other for several years, and when we saw each other we were surprised at how much we had all "grown up". But once we started to play, the years melted away, and we were young again!

It was a very special time for me, and for all of the members of the band. Good friendships last forever, and it is never too late to reconnect. So think about all of the great friends you've made at Camp in the past, and those that you will make in the future, and remember to stay connected with them! Someday (a long time from now), you'll be glad you did!

~ Jerry Director

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