Tou Nation,
We’re excited to launch this newsletter as a way to reconnect with our amazing alumni community. Whether you spent your summers at Manitou as a camper, a staff member, or both, we’re sure your camp experience, and friendships, shaped who you are today. This newsletter is designed to rekindle those connections, but with a new focus—bridging personal memories with professional opportunities. Our goal is to create a platform where camp alumni can share updates and support each other in their career journeys. Despite what one might have said when many were struggling to make a hospital corner, or find two matching socks, this is quite an impressive group!
In each edition, we’ll feature alumni success stories, camp happenings, and career resources tailored to our diverse community of professionals. From job boards to networking events, this space will share professional opportunities across the country. We encourage you to engage, share your updates, and participate in our initiatives. Whether you're looking to reconnect with old friends, explore new career paths, or offer guidance to others, this newsletter will be your gateway to the ever-expanding network of camp alumni. Let’s continue building the community spirit we started at camp—this time, on a professional level!
We’d like to thank Garrett Schwatz, Jon Wells, and Waldo for leading the charge on this and working year round to keep our alum connected to each other, and the soul of Manitou.
We’re already looking ahead to our 80th reunion in June of 2026….stay tuned for a save the date and signup.
JD & Dave |
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Tou Talks profiles a decorated alumni, highlighting their memories and accomplishments while at Manitou and reflecting on how their experience has influenced life after camp.
In the first edition, we feature Dan Wolfson, winning dean of the 2008 Nevada Wolfpack, 2009 Maroon Chief and clinical director of Experience Camps' Adults Grief Retreat Weekend. Dan recently ran the New York City Marathon in support of Experience Camps and the 20th anniversary of his mother's passing.
What did you enjoy most about working at Manitou?
The relationships. Being in the Manitou bubble with people creates a lifelong bond, and although I'm well over a decade removed from my last full summer at camp, the connections I feel to the people I shared all those summers with have stayed strong.
What is a memorable story from your time at camp?
Going from third to first on Pres Night and running into the lake with Nevada remains a top ten moment in my life. Meeting my wife at camp is pretty high on the list, too.
How has your experience at Manitou influenced your life after camp?
I love bringing people together around a shared experience. My connection to camp led me to a leadership position within Experience Camps (which started at Manitou in '09), so I still get to share stories around campfires every summer, bringing the magic of camp to grieving children.
Interested in donating to Experience Camps on behalf of Dan's marathon? Donate HERE. |
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Tou to Pro makes it easier for staff, alumni and parents to share career opportunities and job openings with the Manitou Community.
Career Opportunities Shared by Manitou Network
- Revolution, Portfolio Job Board (Link HERE). Opportunity shared by James Barlia (2005-2014).
- Experience Camps, Director of Operations (Link HERE). Opportunity shared by Ben Pickman (2008-2017)
- TikTok, Job Board (Link HERE). Opportunity shared by Josh Paretzky.
Featured Alumni in Workplace
-Ben Pickman (2008-2017), Staff Writer at the Athletic: Taking his writing chops from the Dining Hall Daily to Sports Illustrated and now The Athletic, Ben has been ahead of the curve covering women's college basketball and the WNBA well before the Caitlin Clark craze. Earlier this month, Yahoo Sports and the Athletic announced a partnership to create a new women’s sports hub with free global coverage. Ben’s podcast (“The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show”) and reporting will be featured prominently in the hub. Ben recently wrapped up his reporting of the 2024 WNBA season, which saw his hometown New York Liberty win the franchise's first-ever championship. Check out Ben's coverage of the WNBA Finals HERE.
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-Henry Katz (2010-2021), Page at NBCUniversal: Known for revolutionizing the Pres Night skit, it's no surprise that Hank now finds himself at 30 Rock, the home of Saturday Night Live and, more broadly, NBCUniversal. Leading up to this new opportunity, Hank interned at the White House, where he volunteered for President Biden and Vice President Harris' advance teams, and then continued on as a political researcher for Schoen Cooperman Research. Now, in his first page rotation at NBCUniversal, Hank is using his experience in politics to support CNBC during its coverage of the recent presidential election. The NBCUniversal page rotational and development program lets early career talent like Hank gain exposure in the media industry across NBC's properties, including SNL and the Today Show.
Interested in sharing a job opportunity or highlighting what you're up to at work? Send me (Garrett Schwartz, 2005-2020) an email. Again, you can submit career opportunities at the 'Tou to Pro job board HERE. |
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‘Do’s Corner highlights iconic Manitou stories and traditions from the past and present. The views expressed in Waldo's Corner are those of Bob Waldstein and not necessarily those of this newsletter, Camp Manitou or any of its denizens.
The first “Waldo’s Corner” highlights College League (written by Bob Waldstein) and Color War (written by Jon Wells) from the 2024 summer.
College League (by Bob Waldstein)
In the third summer of the expanded six-team competition, College League once again proved to be the backbone of the 2024 summer.
All six deans - Sammy Finkelstein (Michigan Wolverines), Mason Sacher (Oregon Ducks), Teddy Cullinane (Minnesota Golden Gophers), Daniel Simes (Richmond Spiders), Nate Mayer (Brown Bears) and Jack Rose (Auburn Tigers) - grew up together at Manitou and hailed from the same CIT class. They’re all high buy-in kids who’ve aspired to be deans since their first pres night. They’ve excelled as teammates, bunkmates, counselors and friends.
The transition to a six-team College League hasn’t been easy or without detractors. The imbalanced schedule is especially challenging, and it's something we’ll figure out. But overall, if you judge College Leagues by Pres Night emotion, the expanded competition has indeed been wildly successful.
With the size of camp having grown over the years and more talented leaders vying to become deans, expanding to six teams became inevitable. A larger College League gives more ex-campers the opportunity to culminate their camp careers in a wonderfully cathartic Pres Night.
Now, under the leadership of our 21-year old Commissioner Jon Goldstein, the 2024 deans hit the recruiting trail months before anyone even arrives at camp. By April, we had over 40 staff members on teams, building excitement for College League and the upcoming summer. The impact on former camper retention and engagement has been undeniable. We’ve had a staggering 23 third-year and 12 fourth-year former campers return the last two summers, shattering all our non-Covid records.
Our former campers pretty much have two main goals as counselors. They all want to be deans and they all want to be the same kind of life shaping big brothers that they had as campers. Manitou’s ability to provide its campers with such incredible role models is truly its greatest strength. I fully support any change we can make to College League that keeps these big brothers around longer, even if meeting places aren’t quite as hype.
Ohhh, Michigan swept Pres Night to take the lake.
Color War (by Jon Wells)
The 2024 war was one for ages, as we saw the first co-generals leading both the Gray and Maroon teams. Zach Carter and Bobby Escalante led the Great Gray Team while generals AJ O’Neil and Bret Steven led the Mighty Maroon squad. Both teams fought hard throughout the war with the end-of-day score changing hands three times. On the final afternoon, Gray took an early lead in Tugs (there were 41 in total), but Maroon fought back in the heat of battle to close the gap. The war in epic fashion would be decided with the Cross Country. There were more than 17 lead changes throughout the cross country’s 24 legs, but it was Gray that carried the baton across the finish line in one of the closest wars in recent history.
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- Wear Manitou Day: Today is Wear Manitou Day! Rep your Maroon and Gray and post to social with #wearmanitou24 for a chance to win prizes.
- Camp Manitou 80th Reunion: Save the date for the Manitou 80th Reunion in June 2026!
- College Football Alumni: With the college football season is nearing an end, we celebrate Manitou alumni Luca Lombardo (Kicker at Boston College) and Nick Rubino (Quarterback at Wake Forest).
- NYC Alumni Event: This weekend (11/16 & 11/17) is the third annual NYC Manitou Alumni Event hosted by Jon Singer and Elijah Sheft. Please reach out to Singer or Elijah if interested in attending.
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