Meet The Brass at Camp Robin Hood – Lizz Ward

With more than 150 combined summers at camp our Leadership Team, affectionately called “The Brass” by campers, staff, and alumni, understands the unique responsibility of preserving the Robin Hood experience. In this series of blogs, you’ll meet each member of The Brass as they share some of their favorite memories of summers in the Realm.

Meet Lizz Ward, whose official title is Office Manager at Camp Robin Hood but she does so much more behind the scenes to make sure our summers and reunions at always memorable.

Name: Lizz Ward
Years at Camp Robin Hood: I just completed my 9th summer at camp
Position at Robin Hood: Office Manager is my title but I handle a great deal, from overseeing the infirm to making sure the yearbook is completed. I assist in the general operations of camp, plan 4th of July and the NYC Reunion among many other things. I also assist with camper recruitment and retention.
What’s Your Favorite Camp Memory: I have several. Most revolve around hiking with campers. My favorite though would have to be hiking Mt Washington one summer with the Foresters. I held back with a camper who wasn’t used to hiking and he wanted to quit so many times as he didn’t think that he could make it all the way. We made it to the top together and he was so proud of himself and that accomplishment. It meant a great deal to me that I was able to share that moment with him. That summer he even received most improved in Hiking!
Favorite place in the Realm: The Waterfront at sunset

“The bonds that campers make here can’t be found anywhere else. I am happy that I get to share in that with my children.” – Lizz

Favorite Camp Song, Quote or Food: I have always loved the Goodnight Song. The part that always stands out for me is the line “thy sons well guarded from all sorrows held firm in bonds of bright green hue” this is also painted on the back of the Boys Camp sign and it was one of the first things I remember about Robin Hood. I never fully understood it until my sons became campers and spent their summers here with their camp brothers. Camp is a safe place to be yourself and make lifelong friends. The bonds that campers make here can’t be found anywhere else. I am happy that I get to share in that with my children.
What does magic in the trees mean to you: I love watching a shy, timid camper come out of their shell at camp. We strive to always try new things and encourage our campers to do the same. The first time they jump off the tower at the waterfront, dance on stage in front of the whole camp, pick up a bow and arrow for the first time and hit the target. The smile on their face says it all. That to me is the magic in the trees.
Advice to young campers: Be yourself! Camp is a safe place to be who you are without all the outside influences.

You can learn more about The Brass, the leadership team at Camp Robin Hood, here. If you’d like to learn more about summers in The Realm and enrolling your child contact us today!

Farewell DC – Cheers to 15 Years

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Sol, DC, and Woody at Camp Robin Hood

As a member of our extended camp family, Sol and I wanted to let you know that our dear friend and co-director David “DC” Cole is retiring from Camp Robin Hood this Fall. For the past 15 summers, DC and Woody have worked diligently to ensure that Andy Friedman, founder of Camp Robin Hood, and John Klein’s legacies and mission live on.

We are so thankful for the years DC spent with us and wish him, Jamie, and their daughters only the best. They will always have a special place at camp and will always be part of Robin Hood. Both Sol and I are eternally grateful for DC and Jamie’s service and dedication to the Realm.

I’ve worn many hats in my 45+ years connected to Camp Robin Hood: camper, staff member, visiting Green and White judge, parent of two campers, and 15 wonderful years as co-director. I am now humbled and excited for the challenge of taking over as Robin Hood’s full-time, year-round director. I’m dedicated, not only as director but as a parent myself, to ensure that each and every one of your children feels at home in the Realm.

– Richard ‘Woody’ Woodstein

Remembering John Klein – Camper, Director and Friend

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It is a sad day here in the Realm. Yesterday morning we learned of the passing of John Klein, a former camper, and director of Camp Robin Hood. Andy Friedman, the founder of CRH, began training John to take over the camp in the 1970s. John and his wife Joan lead camp through some of its most formative years. They added girls camp in 1987, expanding our Robin Hood community for decades to come. They truly brought out all the magic in the trees.

We were lucky enough to have John visit The Realm to celebrate our 90th summer in 2017. It was an honor to have the newest generation of Robin Hood campers hear him speak and meet the man who helped shape our current owners and directors.

After hearing the news of John’s passing many alumni and camp families shared messages and stories of how John impacted their lives and the lives of their children.

Robin Hood Gives Back Day 2018

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In the afternoon we took a break from all the activity to celebrate Robin Hood gives back day. Our guest speaker was Randy Pierce from 2020 vision quest. Several of the brass members had the opportunity to hear him speak this past fall at an Appalachian Mountain Club meeting that was held here at camp, and we knew that we had to bring him back to speak to our campers. Randy is a blind hiker and marathon runner. He has hiked all 48 of the 4K footers here in NH during the winter and Mt Kilimanjaro with his seeing-eye dog. He also competes in marathons all over the country and has run the Boston Marathon. Randy also plays on a blind basketball team and has organized a blind baseball game with some blind players who will compete against the NH Fisher Cats. He spoke to Jr. camp first and then to Sr. camp and after each speech, he held demonstrations on how he “sees” the goal when he plays sports. Even some of our campers were able to make baskets just by listening to where the rim was and throwing the ball in the right direction, and they were blindfolded!
I had the pleasure of showing him around camp and I must admit that I questioned how I was going to show a blind man camp but it was the best tour I have ever given. He could tell we were near the stables before I could even tell him, he heard the horses hooves and smelled the hay. It was the same as we approached the waterfront, he could hear the water lapping on the beach and the kids splashing around. When we went to archery he could hear the quiet sound of the strings on the bows being pulled back. It was amazing to witness this as a sighted person.

Be sure to ask your campers about this experience when they get home, I am sure they will have a different perspective about blind people and their abilities.

A Letter from Chuck – Robin Hood, A History Part 2

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We had a great time at our annual beach day in Ogunquit. Campers played in the surf and in the sand, ran back and forth to the boardwalk for ice cream and snacks, and just had a blast with their friends. The water temperature was 64F, the warmest water temperatures that we have enjoyed in many years. We hope that you enjoyed all the pictures as much as we enjoyed our day.

It takes a tremendous amount of organization to take the whole camp to the beach. This is nothing new to us here at Robin Hood. In 1967 we took the entire camp to Expo 67 in Montreal. It was quite an expedition and we had a great time. Half the camp went at a time with each group going for 5 days. Then in 1975, at the end of the summer, Andy announced that Robin Hood would be attending the Olympics the following summer in 1976. Andy passed away in January of 1976 and so it became his son Drew’s job to make sure that his father’s promise to his campers was brought to fruition. Drew and future camp owner, John Klein, put together the Olympic adventure. We went in two shifts along with our sister Camp Hiawatha we all spent 5 days and saw many great events including the debut of Sugar Ray Leonard in the boxing ring. It was a major undertaking but well worth it with so many memories made that alumni still talk about it to this day.

Chuck Illig – Head Counselor