Philadelphia!!

South Street's House of Recycling

After spending several months in Pennsylvania I felt somewhat guilty that all I’d really seen were the vance expanses of green that stretched across glittering lakes and woodland forests. I needed to see more of the state and Philadelphia seemed like the perfect place to go.

It is the second largest city on America’s east coast and is one of the state’s most visited locations. This could be because there’s something for the history buff, the ultimate movie fan, the food critic and the more bohemian type among us. 

To reach Philadelphia we took the two hour Megabus ride from New York which cost a mere $10-bargain! Bus travel across America is the cheapest way to get around and companies like Megabus and Greyhound are extremely reliable and offer regular services cross-country.

Whilst getting there was cheap enough, finding affordable accommodation was slightly harder. Philadelphia has plenty of hotels but only a handful of hostels that can be expensive.

We opted for the cheapest hostel we could find, and although it was located in the stunning Fairmont Park, it was a good while away from the city centre.  Chamounix Hostel is a beautiful, white building that depicts a classic, american suburbian home. The green bench hangs from the porch and a picket fence nests neatly around the garden. Set amidst the lush green park, woodland creatures surrounded the property and the only sounds that can be heard are that of the gospel choir practicing each morning. Paradise.

It was a great place to stay, but taking taxis in and out of the city bumped up our expenses. We should have weighed up the price of a hotel against the taxis we’d be paying for. BEX FYI: Do your calculations.

Nevertheless, we packed our days full of culture and all things Philly. That includes the renowned Philly steak sandwiches and the super soft pretzels; it was mandatory to get munching. 

The top attraction on our list, like most who visit the city, was the Liberty Bell. This is an iconic monument steep in american history symbolizing the US’s independence. Myths and legends surround the bell which is what draws thousands of tourists to the site each year. 

Extremely uncultured as I was, I wasn’t quite sure how excited I could get over a bell, but as I walked around I was fascinated by the history behind it. Visiting the bell and the centre is free and so definitely worth going, especially as the location offers great views of the nearby Independence Hall. 

Moving onto something for the boys...If you’ve seen the Rocky films, which I had not, you will know that Philadelphia is the home to the famous Rocky steps. Parts of the three Rocky movies were filmed here and it’s one famous scene in the movie that brings fans to this spot. It’s the moment Rocky races up the steps to prove some manly “I’m no underdog” thing.  

Traveling with a group of boys meant it was a must-see and, unfortunately, I was given the role of camera woman as they took it in turn to sprint up the 72 steps. These are located in front of Philadelphia’s Museum of Art and next to the bronze statue of Rocky himself. Of course this meant another great photo op for the boys to get their muscles out.

Aside from these top attractions, just taking a walk around the city is a great way to absorb Philadelphia’s quirky culture. The architecture and art work located at every corner makes it a beautiful and serene city and taking a dander is a cheap and cheery way to see what it’s all about. 

Love Park was a treasure we just happened to stumble upon, as was the Schuylkill River, and then there was South Street. This is a quirky, and extremely bohemian road that stretches across the city creating its southern border. 

Along the street is an urban mix of kooky shops and restaurants littered with unique art pieces and murals. Bright colours, original artistry and all to the sound of Bob Marley- South Street is Philadelphia’s true treasure and an absolute must.

That All-American Experience

Wayne County Fair wristbands

Now on to Honesy-D, the nearest town to camp. This is where most of our days off would be spent, a small town with an all-american look. 

A usual day off would involve raiding the Walmart, munching down some decent grub and watching the latest Twilight film. 

However, if a more cultured american experience was desired then you needed to head into the town itself. There was a few B&Bs to choose from and all had that homely feeling, but that could just be because the older lady that ran ours suggested we call her “mama.”  

Although Honesdale wouldn’t normally be on a travelers list of places to see in the US, I highly recommend that on any journey, you stop in a small and town. It’s places like these where you get a real insight into the culture of a country because there’s less of the tourist pulls to distract you. BEX FYI: Visit the unknown.

Honesdale is the kind of white picket-fence neighborhood where swinging benches hang from porches and american flags flap from the beamers, so you wouldn't expect much nightlife. We did however, manage to find one lone bar with music where the residents of Honesdale were just all too interested to see who these crazy kids were.

A large man at the end of the bar, wearing a white suit and sunglasses, stared us down until his minion man came to tell us that drinks were waiting for us at the bar. We were expecting a shot and were astonished when an $11 Pink Flamingo cocktail each was waiting for us. We thanked him and continued to dance but when the other locals joined in the boogie, the gangster man took a huff and stormed out of the bar. His minion warned us that “we’d done it now.” Uh oh, upsetting local big wigs may not be a good idea.

We continued to dance with a slight fear lying in our bellies.  To dispel it we distracted ourselves by persuading the owner to let us dance on the bar. Now I don’t mean slutty style, we just wanted to have a Coyote Ugly moment. But that dream was short-lived as Whitney stumbled and smashed a glass and we were then removed. 

The next morning we woke to “mama's” big breakfast. Eating like kings we didn’t want to leave but “mama” had other ideas. She’d had complaints of noise and the theft of a flag so was not keen on having us stay any longer. “Mama” was not happy. None of the girls had any knowledge of this flag theft and we all believed we’d been as quiet as can be but the boys sat there in suspicious silence.

Aside from the town’s bar, the big must is the Wayne County Fair. If you’ve ever seen the end scenes of Grease you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.  It is an annual event where people come from all over the county to attend. There are rides and animals, and food and music. It’s a colourful event and a whole lot of fun.

The best part though, was munching on a corn dog. There’s a first for everything and eating a corn dog had always been on my list of things you have to do before you die. It was surprisingly tasty but I think it just wouldn’t have tasted right unless I was standing in a random field, surrounded by crazy farm animals and sharing it with my Honesdale crew.

Again Honesdale provides another all american experience. 

Get your Scrant-ON!

Round Lake Specialists hitting a local bar

So Mexico ended my US tour for 2009 but obviously I hadn’t had enough because in 2010 I went back. Returning to Round Lake Camp, I spent another summer as dance specialist in the Pennsylvania sticks and was able to rack up a hold other host of american cities on my “been there” list.

Scranton, known as the electric city, may not be as well-known as other US destinations but it is more than deserving of a post. It was the closest city to camp, about an hour away, and located in the Lackawanna Valley- I just love that name. It became known as the electric city after the streetcar system was established there in 1886- a bit of historical info for you.

For camp counsellors Scranton really was electric. It was like Disneyland for us because it meant real food, great shops and being back in civilization. 

The city has numerous hotels, including big names like the Radisson and the Hilton, and for the life of me I don’t know why every year we all opted for a run-down motel called the Red Carpet Inn. This was a wholesome, american motel just like the ones you see in the movies. It provided all the bare necessities and at a reasonable price. More importantly it “allowed” us to pack 7 people into a 2 person room, take midnight skinny dips and boogie on the balconies. Well I say “allow,” I’m sure technically it wasn’t allowed but there were never any complaints...well almost never.

Trips to this fine city have provided me with many a memorable day, mostly because the food was epic and the two malls were a godsend. 

The first time I visited Scranton it was my first day off. About twenty of Round Lake’s specialists rocked up excited to sample our first piece of American culture. 

Arriving fairly late we piled into one of the rooms to chill out and plan the following day. However, it came to a halt when one of my camp besties, the drama specialist, took a funny turn that meant we had to call 911. When paramedics arrived they scooted the patient and myself to the ER. At the time I was pent up with worry but looking back I think it’s super cool I actually got to visit a real ER- no sign of George Clooney though and not at all like Grey’s Anatomy. 

Fearing it was something more serious we waited for hours on test results but eventually doctors confirmed it was just a panic attack. We were free to go but with no shoes or money (apparently I wasn’t good at this going to hospital and being prepared thing) hitching a ride back to the hotel proved rather interesting. We finally flagged a taxi who agreed to take us but by the time we got back to the motel the party was over. Nothing like a bit of hospital drama.

My next visit saw us visit a local bar where Scranton residents treated us like exotic creatures. Everyone was eager to find out who this crazy bunch of Brits were. BEX FYI: partying with the locals is definitely a cultural experience worth having.

Later that night we headed back to the motel but our large group had picked up a certain Scranton resident who was not keen to say goodbye. We hinted and hinted that this was the end of the night but Majestic was not getting it. He was dressed in what looked like pajamas and covered in cake mixture. Apparently he worked in a cake factory and hadn’t felt the need to change after his shift. 

Much of the night was spent trying to get rid of this guy so that we could head to bed...after some hefty heave ho from the guys we bid farewell to crazy cake man. Meanwhile Scranton police had arrived to investigate the noise. Fearing the worst the girls lined up in a row and tried to sweetly apologise to the officers. They accepted our apologies and agreed to having us take a series of posy pics with them whilst we insisted on calling them Office Dimples. A bit cringe but jail averted.

So, so far Scranton has provided me with a run in with two of its emergency departments. One more to go?

These are just a few occasions that stick out in my mind but lord knows there were a good few more fun experiences to be had in Scranton...

Scranton has played host to a whole load of crazy camp antics that I couldn’t even begin to write about but I can surely say that it holds a place in every Round Lake counsellor’s heart.

“Get your Scrant-ON!”

Summer Lovin'...what not to love?

Cast of Round Lake's Summer Production of Grease 2009

“Summer lovin had me a blast...summer lovin’ happened so fast.” Probably the most iconic words for Round Lake Camp 2009. 

Yes, camp holds host to many summer romances making this song an appropriate soundtrack to the summer, but these lyrics signify more than just the summer night hook ups; our camp production was the legendary Grease musical. Unlucky for anyone that wasn’t into 60s rock n roll, this soundtrack blasted on repeat day and night. We ate our breakfast whilst humming “You’re the on that I Want” and we went to bed tapping the tune to "Grease Lightening." 

Almost four years later, if I am shaking my stuff in a club and the DJ starts to run dry and play cheesy pop, and "Summer Lovin" comes blasting through the speakers, I’m taken back to my days rehearsing crazy routines in the sweltering summer heat and hand jiving the months away.

As dance specialist, it was my job to choreograph the dances and teach the kids just how to strut their stuff for the big performance. Myself, along with drama specialists (Jess and Leanne) busted a rib, literally, trying to get the production ready on time. Stress, chaos and exhaustion was the picture of myself, Jess and Leanne. During rehearsals there was many a day the girls would turn to each other and said “na this isn’t gonna happen.” But after weeks of late night set building, bruised knees and sore throats the production all came together.

The hard work did pay off and contributed to a very proud and emotional moment (yes I cried like a baby.) To see these kids, that each struggle with their own different disabilities, overcoming them to perform your routines is overwhelming. For many of these kids managing to learn a script or a routine may seem impossible and the idea of standing in front of hundreds of people can be their worst nightmare. However, every child overcame their personal boundaries and performed an amazing and utterly unique performance of Grease. 

The other children and counsellors gave a standing ovation and the demand for “one more song” meant a mini dance party on stage. Still a young and shy 18 year old, I was mortified at the idea of having to get up and accept my flowers but I did and it’s a memory I won’t forget. Even now I get shivers when I relive the it. I had never felt so proud of myself for having helped these children be part of something special or as proud of my friends for doing the same and the kids for being so wonderful. This photo marks that moment for me; the finale of Grease with all my wonderful kids. That truly is what camp, especially Round Lake, is all about; everyone pushing themselves to their own limits, doing things you’ve never done before and having the time of your life.

Do I have to say anymore to recommend taking part in a Camp America Programme? No matter what your age, background or experience, camp can be life changing and the best fun you'll ever have. it has you doing things you never imagined with people you never knew existed. It opens up your mind in so many ways and stays with you for the rest of your life. Why do you think I kept going back? It is pure Summer Lovin'!

Round Lake Camp, Pennsylvania ♥

ROUND LAKE CAMP 2009

So let's start at the beginning, always a good place to start. When I was 18 I was fairly shy and happy enough to fade into the crowd. This trip, my first trip, changed all of that.

I had always wanted to travel and was determined to do so as soon as I left school. I defiantly stood up to the family whose woes and worries meant they implored me not to leave. They felt the need to showcase some of the scariest horror films, all set in the US, in an attempt to make me stay. It nearly worked, but I armed myself with a can of mace and promised I wouldn't stray on deserted farms where potential chainsaw yielding men may be seeking camp counsellors. 

So I applied to Camp America and got accepted to Round Lake Camp, Pennsylvania. I think possibly the best decision I ever made right there. It was an affordable way to go and see some of the world, I worked for 2 months and my visa gave me an extra few months to travel afterwards. Camp America helped me through the visa process, dealt with my medical insurance and organised the flights. I knew I would be looked after by a reliable company if something went wrong. It was the perfect solution for a young traveller with limited resources.

It also seemed like the safest way to go travelling alone. However, I don't think I actually was ever alone. From the moment I stepped on that plane at Heathrow with my bright red T-shirt claiming "Woo I'm going to camp," until the moment I arrived back a dirty brown colour walking through UK customs with no shoes (a story I will later explain), I was not alone. 

I met aussies and israelis, americans and dominicans, chileans and columbians and a whole host of fellow Brits. These people became summer family and many of them remain my all time besties.

I worked for 8 weeks at Round Lake which is a special needs camp for Jewish children. It's hard to put into words the experiences I had there but I feel this picture pretty much sums it up. I remember writing home to my parents and describing camp as Dirty Dancing meets Snakes on a Plane...an absolute riot but oh the time of my life. I was the camp's dance specialist and thought of myself as a Johnny Castle type and the kids ensured that the summer was filled with joyful chaos and raucous activity.

As with any trip, it is the people you meet that make it. Although you may not keep in touch with every person you ever met on your travels, they all stick with you because you share those camp memories; that includes the kids as well as the staff. For them, you were their mums and dads for the summer and they sure become as much a part of your life as you were in theirs. 

Of course working 24 hours a day with challenging kids pushes you to your limits but that is why the people you meet become your closest friends. You see each other at your ultimate highs and your all time lows, whether that's dancing on tables in the local hillbilly bar or getting caught stashing an un-kosher pizza into your bunk.

I couldn't recommend going to work in a summer camp more. It made me grow that back bone mum always said I needed, and gain the independence that today stands me in good stead. Camp gave me unforgettable memories, the time to travel the rest of the US afterwards, the friends to travel with, the money to pay for it; the only price you have to pay is the fatty fatty bum bum you come home with after months of PB and J sandwiches.

This picture is of the lake at camp. The lake that I cursed every morning when I had to dive into the icy cold water. The lake I refused to get in after a scary spider ran across my face, much to the children's delight, but the lake I loved come Friday night when all was calm and the sun began to set. 

Friday night was Shabbat at camp. We celebrated with songs and dances despite the fact that probably 90% of staff were not jewish- it was just fun. The view as you can see above was so beautiful and Shabbat just meant a good time.

 I will never forget my three summers at Round Lake Camp, it's a part of who I am. This picture marks my time there. It is my most sacred place on earth.