The excitement of friends who live across the country (and the world) coming together. Hugs and smiles. Sharing memories. Rekindling the joy of summer friendship. How wonderful to see so many of our campers and staff together.
In this first camp reunion since 2019, we not only shared a memorable summer video and our captivating yearbook, we also shared a preview of new camp trips for every age group in camp next summer. Parents, be sure to ask your campers about these new adventures. We will share more details as camp approaches.
We had another opportunity to thank our historic Peak of 2022 for their guidance and nurturing of the whole of camp this summer. As we approach Thanksgiving we know even more than ever how very much we have to be thankful for. Point O’Pines Camp is a treasured community, and that magic is created each summer by our campers, dedicated staff, and parents and family who generously give the gift of camp to their daughters. That magic is treasured for a lifetime. Thank you all!
Please enjoy the reunion photos posted in the photo albums when you log in.
The best part of our camp experience is our Point O’Pines Community, and as we create wonderful experiences for your daughters we depend on the experience and energy of our leadership team. We’re excited to share some great news with you. We have been able to broaden this team with the addition of Nikki Zenkel and Max Grossman as Assistant Directors. We are so excited to introduce them to you, and you will quickly see why we are so happy that they are joining the Himoff family, Max Claman, Kelly, Annie and the rest of our team as we prepare for 2023.
Nikki has always had summer camp in her blood! When she was four years old, her father founded and subsequently ran CampGroup, a company that owns and operates summer camps in the Northeast. Nikki spent seven summers as a camper at a traditional girls sleep-away camp in Massachusetts. She also worked as a day camp and overnight camp counselor. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Nikki enjoyed a successful, five year stint at media-ratings company, Nielsen. While at Nielsen, Nikki volunteered at Experience Camps, which serves children dealing with the loss of a loved one. Her time there was fulfilling and rekindled her love for summer camp, and she left Nielsen in May 2021 to pursue her dream of directing a camp. Since then, she has spent two summers as a Head Counselor at Camp Weequahic, a co-ed Pennsylvania overnight camp and also supported her father in operating his camp businesses.
Max has lived and breathed camp since the age of seven, when he first attended day camp in New Jersey. Since then, he has spent every summer at camp, intent on one day being a camp director. After spending 15 summers as a camper and counselor, Max worked at an all girls sleep-away camp in Pennsylvania learning more about the “behind-the-scenes” of summer camping. After graduating from Towson University with a degree in Psychology with a focus in Child Development, he joined the full-time team at a day camp on Long Island as the Operations & Special Events Director. Most recently, Max spent the last five years at Camp Watitoh, a co-ed sleepaway camp in the Berkshires, where he was the Assistant Director. In addition to serving as the Boys Head Counselor during the summer, Max oversaw staffing, social media and was involved in every aspect of running camp. Max is an active member of the American Camp Association, serving on the Tri-State Camp Conference committee, is an ACA Standards Visitor, and is a past member of the Emerging Professionals in Camping (EPIC) Committee. Both Nikki and Max are active members of SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education), which raises funds to send deserving children to camp.
Nikki met Max…you guessed it…through camp! The two were introduced at the American Camp Association’s annual Tri-State Camp Conference in March 2020. They are now engaged to be married in the Fall of 2023 and are so excited for this next chapter together at Point O’Pines.
Nikki’s mom, Michele, was a Peaker in ‘74 along with her two aunts, Leslie and Stefanie. When they’re not at camp you can find Nikki and Max at concerts, traveling to National Parks, cooking at home or cheering on their favorite New York sports teams.
The Himoff family, as the stewards and owners of Point O’Pines Camp, has been building our vision for the “dream team” to support us for a bright future in the years and decades ahead. We will be excited to tell you more as we prepare for the great summer of 2023!
Wishing you all the best,
Brandon, Caressa, Jim, Sue, Kelly, Annie, Max, Max, and Nikki
We miss our campers and staff already. We all really had the best time together this summer! We came together, created and experience the magic of the Point. You accomplished so much, and parting is so very hard. We hope that you have had time to reflect on the most treasured of your summer memories
One of the most difficult parts is seeing the great Peak of 2022 going off to open a new chapter of life. You Peakers made the summer spectacular. We are so excited to see how you continue to grow, and the amazing things you will accomplish. The Point will always be here for you.
Some of the best times are when you take “A Trip Down Memory Lane.” Tonight was one of those times. It was a great banquet theme for this summer planned by our Peakers.
What a great summer it has been! We are so fortunate to have such caring staff, campers and our Peakers have been wonderful. We have made so many memories from the first step off the bus to tonight’s banquet. It was a great night to celebrate.
Tonight we also recognized some of the individual campers who’s contribution to camp was particularly outstanding. We have some spectacular young women at Point O’Pines!
Best All-Around Equestrian
Senior Callie
Swimming Hall of Fame
Peaker Natalie
Tennis All-Time Great
Peaker Avery
Distinguished Thespian
Peaker Paulina
Outstanding Athlete
Peaker Madison
Sportsmanship Award
Peaker Brooke
Camper of the Year
Peaker Berta
Congratulations and thank you to all these girls!
We also took this opportunity to recognize outstanding staff, including two recipients of the new Sherie Alden and Erin Shoulberg Award for Outstanding Leadership. This award will be accompanied by a scholarship grant from the Himoff Family and was created to celebrate staff members who exemplify caring, fun, organizational skill, and leadership. Honoring those staff members who have demonstrated these extraordinary qualities celebrates and honors what Erin and Sherie brought to their life at Point O’Pines Camp.
Sherie Alden and Erin Shoulberg Award for Outstanding Leadership
We write into the history books a terrific year of Team Competition from the Breakout of the Lab to the night of beautiful songs we experienced last night at Team Sing back in the Boat House. The Team Leaders and other Peakers inspired the camp with their leadership. Thank you and your teams for creating a great experience this summer. This summer the winner in Team Competition is…White!
