Sharparoon Blog

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1. Hi!!
   I was so happy to visit this website. It was great to see some familiar faces from my past… Sandy J., Angel M., and Butch B.
   The years I spent at Sharparoon as a counselor and SCD gave remained in my heart forever. The experiences serving at camp had a tremendous impact on my professional life and had an even greater significance in my spiritual life.
   Sincerely,
   Linda Falcon

   Comment by Linda Colmenares (Falcon) — February 15, 2009 #

2. Hello Everybody! I was a baby at Green Acres in the mid-50’s. My mother Cornelia was a crafts counselor. We were a camp family for many years, my sister Lotus Do eventually being an SCD. My first friend in life was Everett ‘Fred’ Jenore. We threw food at each other from our high chairs and spent many summers in Dover Plains until the early seventies as kitchen boys in GA. There are too many formative experiences to list, but chief among them are my fellowship with people of all colors, and backgrounds, and my deep love of nature. I became an artist who loves to look at the natural world and record it as best I can. You can see some paintings at the website I listed. Hi Pat and Stephanie Gittens! Best wishes to all! -Kim Do

   Comment by Kim Do — January 3, 2009 #

3. Angelo, what a pleasant surprise. I remember you very well from our days at the Broome Street Tabernacle, I remember Mr. Balzano in his uniform and your sister Gloria??, I am glad you found our website and maybe you’ll be able to join us the next time we have a get together. Write to me at vicgon61 at gmail dot com. Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

   Comment by Victpr Gonzalez — December 25, 2008 #

4. Hello, I was a camper in 61, 62, and 1963, the last of which, ‘63, I remember especially vividly because of the excitement among the counselors over plans to attend the March on Washington. After lunch every day, it seemed, there was an announcement about tickets for the bus — “see so-and-so to sign up!” This was a wonderful camp, and though I was not very religious, and still am not, I learned so much about the meaning of Christian values from the counselors I had there — Norm (who was from Iowa?) and Bob, and another, maybe Cliff? — who were gentle, decent and very seriously committed young guys who tried to teach by doing. I remember Bob’s guest sermon one Sunday at chapel, when he described one of the boys in our group (Berkshiremen) who told him that he liked the idea of being Christian but really couldn’t see himself living that life because, “Bob, it’s just too cotton-pickin’ hard to be a Christian.” These were Bob’s words, not the camper’s, who if I remember was a kid like me from the projects in New York, who would never use cotton-pickin’, but probably uttered a more juicy description of how hard it was, which Bob editted for sunday morning purposes. Bob went off from there on a great bit of preaching: about how nothing that’s worth doing is easy, and stuff i don’t remember. but what a sweet kid. Every Martin Luther King Day, when they show the footage from the great crowds in the washington mall while playing again the famous ‘Dream’ speech, I still squint, looking for my counselors. i know they were there. thanks for this website. I was great to see the pictures. Paul Vitello.

   Comment by Paul Vitello — December 23, 2008 #

5. Hello,

   Comment by Paul Vitello — December 23, 2008 #

6. HI EVERYONE,
   I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING. JUST RECENTLY, I WAS WATCHING A SHOW ON TV ABOUT THE “LITTLE ROCK NINE”. AND I REMEMBERED WORKING AT SHARPAROON WITH 2 OF THE 9 STUDENTSIN THE SUMMER OF 1957. THE YOUNG GIRLS NAME WAS ELIZABETH AND THE BOYS NAME WAS, I BELIEVE, JEFF. I DID GET PLENTY OF TIME TALKING TO BOTH. THESE ARE TIMES THAT WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY MEMORY.
   THE A FEW MOMENTS AGO, I DECIDED TO TRY PUTTING CAMP SHARPAROON IN THE SEARCH. I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED WHAT CAME UP.I ENJOYED LOOKING AT THE REUNION PICTURES AND THE STORIES OF GEORGE DRUCKER, VICTOR GONZALEZ, AND BOB AND STEVE REISS. I KNEW ALL FAIRLY WELL. IN THE SUMMER OF 1958, I MET MY WIFE MIRIAM, WHO WAS A CAMPER WHILE I WORKED ON THE KITCHEN STAFF. DATED HER ONCE THAT SUMMER IN NYC. OUR NEXT DATE WAS IN JAN. 1961. WE MARRIED IN AUGUST THAT YEAR. I AM VERY ANXIOUS TO KNOW ABOUT ANY UPCOMING MEETING AND THE NEXT REUNION. ALSO I AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE SHAPAROON SWEAT SHIRTS. I DO HOPE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE FROM CAMP SHARPAROON. THANK YOU

   Comment by ANGELO BALZANO — November 11, 2008 #

7. Hello All,
   It is so great to visit these memories once again. I am one of the Henry girls who attended Green Acres and Sharparoon Mid 60s to early 70s. My mother Tassie Henry served as kitchen staff in green acres for family weeks at the end of the summer and winter gathering. The Henry children were Valerie (nicknamed “Germany” there at Sharparoon) Darlene (Myself), Ellie, Lorena, and Yvette. I am presently married to another camper who became a counselor Anthony Ricco. My sisters and I sing continue to sing the songs and we all have good memories about our times in camp. What a blessing. My mom passed 2 yrs ago. She was a great advocate for her children and had a good eye for recognizing what was best for us. Thanks to her we were some of the fortunate ones to have this experience. Of course, at the time she had to make us go crying all the way. But at the end of the 2 weeks we left crying all the way home for loss of new bonds, fresh air and an all around wholesome experience. I recognize many in the pictures. Pat, Neftali, the Jenours, Essie (who was close friends with my mom) Bill and Harlod. So good to see them all. I have many times wondered what happened to the photographer pictures that were taken during this time by the camp. Does anyone know? Anthony and I will go thru our collective archives and see what we have to post.
   Thanks Again Ayanna

   Comment by Ayanna Ricco — June 4, 2008 #

8. We are getting close to the Saturday May 24 Camp reunion at Holmes, NY. Please make your checks payable to Friends of Camping Plus and mail them to Jose “Figgy” Figueroa, 377 Spruce Drive, Brick, NJ 08723. In addition to your check, please include a list containing the name(s) of the person(s) that will be attending.

   Comment by Victor Gonzalez — April 26, 2008 #

9. The comment form to blog was closed, so I am on the guess blog.I am a camp Sharproon alumni, I attended in 73,74,75,76, . None of these years seem to be mention on any of the sights.I met and know many people from these years that attended Sharproon,There are no pictures from any of these years, While I don’t have any pictures of these years myself I do have pictures of myself, from when I was younger.There is a huge gap in Sharproons history, and it should be filled, so even if you don’t have any pictures from camp please send some pictures of your self, now and then.Having gotten that off of my chest, I would like to tell the story of my time at camp Sharproon. As I said I attended Sharproon in the seventys. I was a young girl from the Bronx N.Y.It was at camp that I met and fell in love with a young man .A young man that rescued me from those that pray on the younger,weaker,and frighten.It was because of this young man that my camp experience was the best in my life.He watched over me and protected me while I was at Sharproon, and noone messed with me . I was able to enjoy the full camp experience.I learned many ,many things there swimming, hiking,boating,camping,and so much more.All the while I had my eye on that young man.He was from a big family and they were well known,at Sharproon.I would like very much to say that the feelings were mutual , they were’nt he consitered me to young . He later moved on in life, leaving me broken hearted. There is much more to this story however it won’t mean much to any one who was’nt there, so please post your pictures from the seventys and I will finish tell the story.You see my name , do you know his?

   Comment by debbie, london — March 20, 2008 #

10. GREAT NEWS —- Sharparoon Reunion - May 24, 2008

    We are in the process of finalizing the arrangements for the upcoming 2008 Annual Sharparoon Reunion scheduled during the Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at the Holmes Presbyterian Center in Holmes NY. At this point we need to furnish the people at Holmes an indication of the number of people who are planning to attend the event. Please email me your name, email address and number of people in your group who plan to attend. You should also indicate whether you will need overnight accomodations. Send your emails to:

    victorg at sharparoon dot com

    You can also post a message on the BLOG giving the necessary info. You will be contacted at a later time with details and the program for the reunion. Hope to see you all in May. Victor Gonzalez 

    Comment by Victor Gonzalez — January 18, 2008 #

11. Hello, I was a counselor in Sharparoon in 1961 and the outpost director in 1962. We had a wondefull time at Sharparoon !
    I should like to contact other Sharparoon counselors from 1961 and 1962.
    My emailaddress is: c.vlasblom@chello.nl.
    Location: Hilversum, The Netherlands.

    Comment by Carl Vlasblom — November 11, 2007 #