Brant Lake Camp's Centennial Celebrations

04/13/2026

Brant Lake alums, parents, and friends: we invite you to join us for a spirited evening of fun and connection for BLC alumni, parents (past & present) and friends to reinvigorate support for the ADMF.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
6pm to 9pm

Hill Country BBQ
30 West 26th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues
New York, NY

Dinner & Open Bar
Honoree: Billy Frischling

Brant Lake Camp’s First AnnualCelebration to BenefitThe Andrew Dreyer Memorial Fund Wednesday, May 13, 2026 6pm to 9pm 30 West 26th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues New York, NY,...

08/12/2019

Here's a great end of Season Video from this summer

2019 Highlight Video!!

07/06/2019

Check out the 4th of July video short on our YouTube Channel, featuring Brant Lake Camp's own Bobby G:

Brant Lake Camp 2019

09/01/2017

Dear Alumni and Friends of Brant Lake Camp:
At camps across the country, campers and staff have the opportunity to interact with
international staff members who participate in the Camp Counselor and Summer Work
Travel J-1 Visa programs. These staff make rich contributions to a camp’s culture, affording
children the opportunity to build friendships and learn more about the world outside the U.S.
Right now, the White House is considering cuts to the J-1 Visa program as a part of the
implementation of the Buy American and Hire American Executive Order. In response to this
threat, Brant Lake Camp has joined with camps across the country in a legislative action
campaign to help the White House and members of Congress understand the importance of
the international cultural exchange and the value of the J-1 Camp Counselor and Summer
Work Travel programs.
Because this threat would have severe consequences for Brant Lake Camp, I am writing to
ask you to join the effort. To add your voice to the thousands of camp professionals who
have already sent messages to Congress, please take a minute to participate in the
legislative call to action. Protect international cultural exchanges Brant Lake Camp and all
American camps.
Sincerely yours,
Richie Gersten
https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/public-policy/current-action-alerts?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f54185%2frespond

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. Because of our diverse 11,000 plus membership and our exceptional programs, children and adults have the…

04/13/2017

This is a mix of photos from the weekend party during camp and the weekend party for Alumni after camp.

02/16/2017

BLC Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2017

Hey BLC ALUMS!

Hope you are all well! One more time, we want to thank so many of you for participating in the Centennial Celebrations and for the overwhelming responses. What spirit, memories, friendships and reminiscing. All told, we think we had approximately 1500 participants in the 3 events: The IN CAMP event for present campers and alums under 21, the POST CAMP event at BLC, and the NYC Event. We have just posted a number of pictures from the Celebrations on the BLC pages. We hope that you will take a look through and enjoy these photos. THANKS!

One more request to make of you, if you are willing: We want to collect words (one, two or three max) that you think of when you think of BLC and your experience there. Please list your BLC WORDS on Facebook or just email to me at [email protected].
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As we move onward embarking on our second century, we want to tell you about some changes we have made to our leadership.

Bobby G and Karen have moved to Director Emeritus status. Both are feeling good and will be at camp. We still welcome their many contributions.

I, Richie, remain the Executive Director, but am now joined by
Max Gersten and Andy Berlin as fellow Directors.

Mieks Gersten is our Associate Director and
Assistant Directors are Jen Gillet and David Cutler.

Dave Cramoy has retired from his Directorship, in order to completely enjoy what he terms the 4th quarter. He, we are glad to say, will remain involved and present often.

As most of you have heard, sadly, Merl Norcross passed away this past January at 89 years old and after 68 summers at BLC. No one has been more beloved than Merl.

Happily, Irwin plans to be back for his 69th summer leading our Music and Dramatics program. Incredible!
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Hey younger alums: in response to the enthusiasm garnered at the August Celebration, Max Gersten is planning an Adult Camp at BLC for August 25-27, 2017! It is not solely an alumni event. One is welcome to bring friends, but to come, one has to be invited by YOU – a BLC alum. Feel free to invite as many friends as you wish. Details are not fully completed, but there are likely to be buses from NYC on Friday afternoon and returning Sunday afternoon. Cost for the weekend will be $375 with your own transportation or $450 if using the bus provided (discounts for bringing friends). For more information email [email protected] with "Adult Camp" as the subject.
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Here is an update on the fundraising that occurred at the BLC Celebrations. Jim Frischling and Greg Luckman initiated a campaign to build the Libbie Gersten Alumni Room as part of the major renovation to the Junior Clubhouse. Just about $30,000 was collected. The project was delayed until 2018 as by the time all the necessary permits were attained, we felt it was too late to start this year. Look for pictures, or even better, come by in person to take a look in 2018.

The contributions towards the Andrew Dreyer Memorial Fund, which allows multiple campers to be Brant Lakers that could not otherwise afford it, collected about $50,000. THANKS for your generosity. Contributions can still be made by sending a check made out to the fund to Billy Frischling at 444 E 86th Street, , NY, NY 10028.
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As for a major new project for the summer of 2017, we are excited to be placing a roof over the Hockey Rink, allowing us another major facility for rainy days. Additionally, we are wood paneling the KOOL Komplex and have built a dugout at Norcross (Inter) Baseball Field.

We have also gotten off to a great start on an amazing project that will be ready for 2018 in addition to the major renovation of the Junior Clubhouse. Charlie Maxam and his son, Hunter, have taken down trees and leveled a 100 yard by 90 yard field in what were the woods above the soccer field. It is the most audacious project that we have undertaken in many a year. It will be utilized primarily for Lacrosse and Flag Football, two of our faster growing sports activities. It will take a year to grow the grass, but we look forward to its opening in 2018.
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Quick Hitters:
BLC Alum Spencer Weisz, a senior on Princeton’s basketball team, has become the third person in Princeton’s history to score 1000 points, grab 500 rebounds, and pass for 300 assists. Some of us will be watching Spencer play at Columbia on February 24th.

In addition to Spencer Weisz, there are four other BLC former campers playing Division I sports: Spencer Kulman playing baseball at Wofford University, Leo Kone playing football at Wake Forest, Oscar Boochever playing football at Cornell, and Jared Mactas playing golf at Elon University. Next year Josh Goldstern will be playing soccer at the University of Virginia.

Bobby G is still gaining attention in Chapel Hill for being the oldest living Tar Heel athlete. He is leading the UNC Walk for Health. Recently, he was out for breakfast and Roy Williams came by his table, hugged him, and surreptitiously picked up his check.

Danny Bernstein’s Backyard Sports Cares not-for-profit is being honored in April at the Summer Camp Opportunities Dinner.

At a recent Friday night basketball game at Dalton, there were 5 coaches on the bench (5!) – all of them Brant Lakers: Head Coach Teddy Frischling, assistants Charles Stone, Zach Cohen, and Keith Williams, and JV coach Max Gersten.

02/15/2017

11/28/2016

Another wonderful article about the amazing Bobby G!

https://uncwalkforhealthdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/theheartofmeadowmont_dec16.pdf

11/09/2016

A nice video short from the NYC Centennial Celebration

10/26/2016

Here's a wonderful memory from Dan Wolk about August's 100th reunion.
"MY FRIEND STRETCH

Before the reunion he was Louie, but now we called him Stretch– – –a name befitting an ingenious rebirth.The reunion was the 100th anniversary of Brant Lake Camp where I enjoyed many summers. Usually I avoid reunions. Especially at my age. My contemporaries often enter on canes or walkers. A once handsome head of hair was transformed into a shiny bald countenance. And some of my friends or classmates can’t attend, or are only a memory.But, at the 100th anniversary of Brant Lake Camp, I played in the one inning baseball game; thankful that it was only one inning. I intended to perform a double axle off the high diving board but was afraid I might fall off the end. I did, however, share stories of the olden days and, sitting by the campfire, experienced youth flowing through my heart–––as long as I did’nt place too much stress on that heart!. Yes, it was a wonderful spirit of nostalgia for a time that never fades.And then there was Louie, soon to become Stretch. When we were 12 years old Louie ran like a deer, hit the baseball into the sophomore row, led the Green team in the canoe tug-of-war and was slim as an arrow, (which he shot with great precision.) In those days, Louie was a mere wisp of a boy.But, when I saw Louie at the opening ceremony of the reunion he was rotund.” Too much food. Too little exercise.” He huffed and he puffed and he barely made it up the hill to the basketball court. But he made a promise. The next day he would wear the same green shorts he wore as a camper. My response:

“ How wonderful to live with dreams. Good old Louie.” And I chuckled politely.” Wait, Dan. You’ll see.”On the next day there was Louie, a smile spreading across his face. He was wearing his green shorts from when he was 12! The secret? An overnight diet? No. A quick stomach operation? No. Holding his breath and pulling in his stomach? Impossible.The secret? Louie, now to be called Stretch, had a tailor sew the shorts from the time when Louie was 12, into a green cloth, possibly over 4 yards in length, and from that piece of cloth the ingenious tailor fashioned a pair of shorts that incorporated the original shorts. They almost covered a small section of his right hip!

Everyone laughed but I gained even greater respect for Stretch than in his early days when he was an athlete. Here was a person, my contemporary, my bunk mate, who not only lived within his means but also lived within his seams. And, with the wisdom of age, as his life changed, he realized there are several ways to fit in! Even if you have to go to great lengths!

Stretch’s tailor can be reached at 1 800 Bigger Than Life."