Dear Ryan,

Autumn is upon us here in Upstate New York, painting our surroundings with vibrant colors and reminding us of the beauty of change 🍂. Just as the seasons shift, Camp Rising Sun is dedicated to helping young people grow into passionate change-makers, ready to inspire positive transformations in their communities.

I’m thrilled to share that applications for the 2025 Camp Rising Sun and TELE programs will open in just one month! Each year, CRS brings a new cycle of growth, learning, and connection that mirrors the changing world around us. We are excited to see this cycle begin again, offering another cohort of young leaders the chance to develop skills, friendships, and insights that will last a lifetime.

For those of you eager to reconnect, we have some wonderful events coming up soon—the NYAA Annual Picnic in Central Park and the virtual Global Alumni Assembly. These gatherings are opportunities to stay connected, relive fond memories, and continue building the strong bonds that unite our global CRS community.

As we kick off this season of gathering and gratitude, I am looking forward to seeing many of you in person and online. Together, we keep the spirit of CRS alive, thriving, and changing.

Sincerely,

Helene Mattera, LAJF Executive Director

APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 OPEN IN NOVEMBER!

Our staff team and selection committee volunteers around the world are preparing for Camp Rising Sun and TELE applications to open for the Summer 2025 Season!

Go to lajf.org/apply2025 for more information. Applications should be available in late November—you can sign up to be notified when they open by clicking here.

We invite you to please share this news with any young people in your life who you think might be interested in attending. Also, if you would like to spread the word to schools or programs in your area whose students or participants would be eligible for our program, we'd love your help.

Email us at alumni@lajf.org if you want to support our recruitment and selection efforts.

LAJF BOARD RETREAT AT CAMP

Shout out to the LAJF Board of Directors! Each year, board members come together at our Rhinebeck campuses to connect with each other, and ensure the successful operations and sustainable future of our organization.

This year, we welcomed several new members to the board: Joseph Carrese (‘73, ‘74), Peter Giacone (‘83), Mary Lockhart, Charelle Shaw, Steven Yuniver (‘01, ‘02), and Sasha Zolley (‘98).

Some highlights from the weekend included:

• A pitch-perfect demonstration of the Assembly Bell by Barry Fulton ('99, '00) as he led a tour of the Clinton campus
• A special preview of 2025 programs and events, as we celebrate the 95th anniversary of CRS (stay tuned for more info!)
• Hiking up Burger Hill together to catch a stupendous sunset
• Sharing pictures and stories from the World Reunion 2024 in Poland
• The chance to write a new Vigil Letter, just like back at Camp (except this time we didn’t have to stay up all night)
• Visiting Red Hook to see the many improvements recently made at the old Camp

Head over to our blog for a full recap of this year's Board Retreat!

10th ANNUAL NYAA PICNIC IN CENTRAL PARK

Join us for this annual fall tradition—a CRS Alumni Picnic in Central Park! Thank you to the New York Alumni Association for hosting this special event. We’ll be gathering at the Heckscher Playground Lawns, located near 62nd Street and 7th Avenue. All Campus Rising Sun alumni, family, and friends are welcome. A light lunch will be provided and you are welcome to bring snacks and desserts to share. We look forward to seeing you there! Please register by clicking the button below and contact alumni@lajf.org with any questions.

VIRTUAL GLOBAL ALUMNI ASSEMBLY

While we know it's not always possible to get together in person, we can still connect with our broader community virtually! You're invited to another virtual Global Alumni Assembly on Saturday, November 16th at 10am EST.

The Assembly will feature campers from the 2024 season who will share their stories and experiences from the summer. CRS leadership will also provide some updates about exciting things coming down the pike! You don't want to miss this opportunity to see your favorite CRS people and meet new friends. Click the button below to register today!