2000 Avodeon

Bonus Coverage from Winter 2001 Avoda Alumnus

by Ken Shifman

I somehow wound up getting my hands on an Avodian from this past summer.

That's right, the color cover says right on it, "August 2000- The Avodian- Banquet Edition." I was all set to sit down and write an article on how this is the new millennium and how camp is so high tech. I was going to tell you that the 2000 Avodian is space age. After all, there is a URL or web address for the camp right on page 3. I was all set to go nuts, "You wouldn't believe what this one has. There are individual statistics of every camper's at-bat during league. There are three dimensional pictures of the flag rush." But you know what? Even though there were some differences, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Or at least that's what I think and that's what it says right in the Avodian - or tries to say. They actually write, "Some things change, some things stay the same." I'll give them credit for trying.

For starters, the dedication was to the great Stan Miller who unfortunately passed away last year. When I was a counselor in 1989, he also got the distinction; both times they used the same picture. I'm still trying to get Bunk 1 alumni once.

The trophy section looked a lot like it used to. The awards (and names) could have been right out of the 1975, 1985, or 1995 Avodian. The only new notables were the Sprit Award and the Sportsmanship Award.

In some respects the new modern layout and paper stock make the publication look more like a high school yearbook than the camp yearbook that you and I are used to. At least the name is still comprehensible. In Newton the yearbook was Regulus and the paper was Denebola. I'm still trying to find those constellations. Or were they animal species?

The yearbook featured all the pictures that we're used to seeing. There was the Bunk 1 alumni picture, with all the kids holding up their pinkies for "hook 'em horns." In contrast, the Bunk 14 alumni picture was tamer than I remember. No one was on the roof. No one had any appliance plugged into any bodily openings. No moons. Hmmm? There were all the team pictures and bunk pictures. Each bunk apparently got to take two pictures, one serious and proper and one of their choice. There were several "making muscles" pictures (not really flexing as they were a little on the skinny side for the most part). There were some with the kids dressed funny some with kids jokingly choking each other. Mom and Dad must have laughed out loud. And someone dropped the ball somewhere down the line as the kitchen staff, however good looking, failed to display the Sysco foil! I'd be surprised if Sysco isn't still a proud supplier to Avoda of everything from canned vegetables to bug spray.

There were the usual articles and items: Opening Day Flagrush, Zooball evening activity, Mr. Avoda, Counselor Hunt, Avoda Poll, and Where Will Bunk 14 Be in 15 Years? The fact that all these events still occur and seem to entertain is worth the price of admission in my book.

The big two (no, not Paul Pierce and 'Twan; not Shaq and Kobe; not even Rosh and Yom), Desert War and Color War, were, of course, featured to a degree. But what I'm about to disclose will certainly make some of you wonder if the names and song selections are chosen from a finite pool (or maybe from the lockers). Desert War presented the Blue Diesel vs. the White Fury. Color War showcased the Blue Dynasty vs. the White Warriors. Song tunes included America the Beautiful, Dayeinu, Candle in the Wind, and You Shook Me All Night Long. I know there's a statute of limitations on the names and when they can be recycled, but maybe the 10 or 15 years is too short. How about 40-50?

There was a color picture section, which was nice. And each counselor got their usual page of feel-good prose and "dot-dots." Nowadays, each counselor also gets an individual picture. I noticed the Athletic Staff guys were posing for the Topps series and the Waterfront guys were ready for Baywatch: Tispaquin.

What the counselors write, though, makes it all worth it. They sound like they could be from any of the last eight decades, sharing why this time-tested, simple system works and keeps on working despite technology, market, and real world changes and growing pools of summer opportunities: "being able to bond with the youngest campers as well as the oldest staff members. This is why Camp Avoda is the greatest place in the world." "I am privileged. To be a role model/counselor/leader/coach at a place I love is the best job imaginable." "These friendships made at camp last a lifetime and are similar to a relationship between brothers." "For almost half my life I have come to Camp Avoda every summer. To me this is the most amazing place in the world. Camp Avoda has made me the person I am today." And how about this one, "Since the moment I arrived at camp I knew I would never want to leave, and after my 16th summer I still feel the same way." Talk about precocious. Some of these guys are 16 and 17! But it warms the heart to see the Tradition continue.

Flipping through old Avodians always makes me smile. Looks like I've found a new hobby.