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Archives for June 2018

Woodloch Summer 2018 – Meet The Interns! | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch Summer 2018: Meet our Interns!

~shared by J. Ranner

We can all breathe a little bit easier. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all of our waterslides are open. And perhaps best of all, to the joy of children everywhere, SCHOOL IT OUT!

But while classroom learning is halted a bit until the golden days of autumn, some students are tasked with the right of passage known as “The College Internship.”

Every year, Woodloch is happy to welcome interns from all across the country who are pursuing careers in the hospitality industry. We’d like to introduce you to this year’s cast!

Cassandra

Cassandra is going to be joining us this summer as an intern in the Human Resources department at Woodloch. She will be learning the trade of employment, payroll operations, benefits management, and more. She attends Bloomsburg University, where she will be obtaining her degree in December in Business and Human Resource Management.

Cassandra has been “classically” Woodloch trained- she started working as a teenager in our Housekeeping department at Woodloch Springs. She since worked at our main property as well as at our spa sister property, The Lodge at Woodloch. “Woodloch means a lot to me because it opened me up to many different employment opportunities,” says Cassandra. “When I started working here so young I was nervous, as it was my first job. However, the employees and management made me feel so welcomed and taught me the hardworking skills that I have today.”

“Most of my family also works here and has been here for over 10 years,” she continues. “I returned here for the internship because I remember the warm hospitality feeling and the great feeling of making the guest happy and joyful. Everyone was and is always smiling, even on their worst days.  The positive energy around me makes the work environment a great place to work!”

Kerriann

Coming all the way from Clemson University is Kerriann. She is pursuing a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management and will be a senior this fall. She will be joining in on all of the fun and games of the Social Department this year.

Originally from Boonton Township, New Jersey, Kerriann spent summers nearby and of course, fell in love with the area. She’s new to the Woodloch family, but like she says, “I have always heard about what great experiences people have had at Woodloch!” Now, she gets to be a part of it all!

Dan

Dan was an intern last year in our Marketing Department and is back for a second summer. This fall he will be entering his junior year at Penn State University majoring in Marketing and minoring in Digital Media Trends and Analytics.

Growing up in the area, Dan viewed Woodloch Resort as a staple in the local community. Throughout his time with us, he has gained experience in data analytics, campaign strategy, and brand management. He admires the resort’s commitment to making every guest feel at home and loves being a member of the marketing team.

Emily

Emily is from Long Island, New York. She’s currently a senior at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, with a sustainable hospitality and tourism major and entrepreneurship minor (just about perfect for our line of work!). You can find her currently working at The Lodge at Woodloch in the food and beverage department.
“I personally applied to work at Woodloch because, when I was little, my whole family and I would rent a house and celebrate the Fourth of July here,” says Emily. “We visited a few years in a row and I always remember having so much fun! From then on, I knew one day I wanted to work here.”

Woodloch Way Back When

The Story of Woodloch Chapter II: “Woodloch Way Back When…”

~shared by Joseph J. Ranner

When our tale last ended, Harry and Mary Kiesendahl took a plunge and purchased a small boarding house just outside of Hawley, Pennsylvania… ready to take on the challenges that would certainly head their way…

For Woodloch’s first few years, Harry Kiesendahl had little to no time for rest and relaxation- he’d leave that to his resort guests. Still needing to work to support his family, he found himself commuting back and forth to his businesses on Long Island during weekdays then back to the resort on weekends with hardly enough time to catch a wink. Until Woodloch was profitable enough to keep the family afloat, such was the way of life.

Mary Kiesendahl, the true “heart” of Woodloch, was always within reach of her guests. In fact, she kept her resort reservations book with her almost all the time- even on her nightstand as she slept. Between greeting, serving and cleaning, you never knew when the phone would ring with inquiring guests. She liked to be ready. She did all of this while taking care of her 3 children in the Pennsylvania wilderness while Harry was away.

John, just entering his “tween” years, found the first few weeks of Woodloch challenging. Alone in the woods without his friends back home, missing his father during his midweek furloughs, endless chores and more were trying for a young man. The song changed when the first summer guests arrived, as lifelong friendships were forged on a weekly basis. It got even better for young John when he got acquainted with the young ladies at the camp next door. Life was getting better.

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It was a never-ending labor of love for the Kiesendahl family. Cooking a meal was followed up by also greeting diners as they arrived. A long day of yard work was capped off with a night of bartending. But it was always worth it. As guests would depart (at the same time together on Saturday mornings), hugs, handshakes and even a few tears were all part of the routine. Kids promised to write each other, and lifelong friendships were established. To this day, these children, their children and even grandchildren still call Woodloch “HOME” upon visiting. “It always felt like our guests weren’t ‘customers’, but actual company visiting us for the week in our home,” says John. “That feeling soon became our mission statement, and is still true to this day.”

It became evident after a season that Harry was needed full-time at the resort. Not only was the resort picking up in bookings, but his children John, Nancy and Steven were growing up without him around much. There were lonesome times for the rest of the family in a small adjoining cabin as they eagerly awaited his return from New York life week after week. He made the difficult decision to sell his business interests in Long Island and became a full-time Pennsylvanian.

While EVERYONE in the family pitched in during the early days, it didn’t take long for the Kiesendahls to realize they needed help, and not just any help. They needed support from people that cared for others the same way that Mary did. To have the success they wished for, they knew that employees had to have the same sort of empathy for others that they did.

Historic photo of two men in six wheel snowmobile.
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As the resort grew and grew, the Kiesendahls hired help consisting of friends, family and even former guests- people they knew they could trust to welcome guests with warm hospitality. “Many were in school with us- they started part-time, but their responsibilities grew as our resort did,” says John.

Fred Gelderman, one of Woodloch’s longest tenured employees, followed his mother in to work one day and was recruited for yardwork at the ripe old age of 11. “At the end of the week, I was given a brown envelope with $2.50 and all the food I could eat- not a bad deal,” says Fred. While furthering his study of the hospitality industry at Cornell University, John Kiesendahl decided to bring his roommate, Randy Barnes, home with him one weekend. For Randy, it was a match made in heaven. “Every weekend of my senior year, I commuted to Woodloch,” says Randy. “I couldn’t believe that I was getting paid for having fun with people.” He knew it was a lock when he met his now-wife Elaine as she worked in the dining room.

Word was getting out about this magical place so close by called “Woodloch.” Through the power of word of mouth, the 14 room property was booked to capacity, and there was clearly demand for more rooms. Expansion began in the 1960’s with the construction of new cottages, hotel buildings, lounges and game rooms. The property itself doubled in size with the acquisition of the girl’s camp (much to John’s disappointment). Anytime adjoining property went up for sale, Woodloch made every effort to acquire even more beautiful property alongside Teedyuskung.

Financing all of this necessary expansion was a trying ordeal. “Banks just didn’t have the confidence in seasonal businesses. If you had a bad summer, you might fold,” said Harry Kiesendahl. Ever the innovators, Harry and Mary called upon their guests offering “vacation bonds” to help finance Woodloch’s expansion. The response was overwhelming and heartwarming. “It was one of the most gratifying things that could have happened,” said Harry. “It was then that I realized how trusting and loving our relationship with our guests had become.”

Woodloch developed a reputation of being “the place” to relax and enjoy peaceful surroundings. But it also became a haven for FUN. Bingo, square dancing and even “the hokey pokey ”were soon accompanied by amenities like tennis courts, miniature golf, and bocce ball courts. Fleets of boats and snowmobiles provided smiles year round, while the activities program evolved into trivia contests and athletic events for ribbons, trophies and eventually medals. Summers were filled with cookouts and capped off with staff water ski shows every Labor Day Weekend.

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Of course, ownership wasn’t without trials and tribulations here and there. The 1970’s gas shortage was of no worry to resort guests when they were guaranteed a full tank of gas for the ride home. In 1972, a Thanksgiving snowstorm led to widespread power outages. With a full guest count, the traditional Thanksgiving feast had instead become a candlelight dinner of ham and bologna sandwiches. “Everybody still got into the spirit- and I think it made it easier for what we were truly grateful for- each other,” says John.

By the late 1970’s, the winds of change were blowing across Lake Teedyuskung. John, after earning his degree from Cornell and serving in the US Navy, had returned home to step up in the business. He took charge of the expanding kitchen operation. The resort gained national recognition in 1978 as it was selected as one of America’s top family resorts by Better Homes and Gardens. The Kiesendahls had endured 20 years of ownership, and the second generation was waiting in the wings to proudly carry on the legacy…

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Filed Under: History

Weddings Blog: The Rules & Etiquette You Should Know About Military Weddings | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch’s Blog

Keep up-to-date with all things Woodloch on our blog featuring exclusive recipes, heartwarming stories, lifestyle content, contests and more.

The Rules and Etiquette of A Military Wedding

Guest post shared by Stephanie Bates, blogger at Military Travel Mama

There is something special when it comes to military weddings. Something that differentiates them from regular, civil types of ceremonies.

Everyone who had an opportunity to witness one such festivity will confirm this. Either it has something to do with the sight of a just married couple walking down the aisle passing beneath the arch of swords or it has to do with all the military traditions presented and exhibited at the wedding – military-themed weddings indeed create a unique atmosphere and unforgettable experience for everyone.

Unusual Locations

First of all, if we’re talking about military couples, we can’t help but think of all the things they needed to waive and all the stuff they go through that ordinary couples doesn’t have to deal with.

Living a military life comes with a necessity of making big compromises and these couples often don’t see each other for months because of frequent deployments. Settling in one place comes very difficult for them, so is planning their wedding and arranging for a wedding location also.

So don’t be surprised if you’re invited to attend the wedding taking place on a military base or on some other remote but beautiful location, such as Pocono mountains for example. Remember that oftentimes military couples have no option and had to plan for it that way.

What Else is There For You to Know?

Well, if you’re lucky enough to be present at this type of wedding, then you should dress accordingly for an occasion.

It’s common practice for military weds to wear their military uniforms instead of traditional wedding suits at their wedding. If by any chance, the bride is the one serving in the Army, she doesn’t have to give up on wearing her wedding dress, but she’ll need to show respect and give credit to the Army. With that being said, it is common for them to wear military boots underneath their wedding outfit.

All of the other service members present at the wedding are welcome to show up in their military uniforms also, wearing all the medals and ribbons they were presented with during their service and military career. In these cases, wearing boutonnieres and similar floral decorations is not recommended.

Finally, if you’re not a military member but you’re still present at the wedding, you should wear your formal attire and preferably white. In order for people like you not to stand out from the rest, you can be presented with a nice custom military-styled challenge coin, which can serve as a beautiful memorabilia at the same time.

Challenge coins are not exclusive to the military nowadays. They find very broad usage with different types of organizations and on different types of events, such as this one. You can order your batch of uniquely crafted high-quality challenge coins from companies like Embleholics.

Is That All?

Certainly not! List of all the things you can experience and see on military weddings is very very long. It’s too little space for us to mention everything here. Instead, we will just give you a brief list of other things you’ll most likely witness when attending a military wedding.

  • Cutting a wedding cake with a sword, saber, or some other type of styled blade. Regular kitchen knives are out of the question.
  • Lots of patriotic elements present at the wedding, from raising the flag to singing the national anthem.
  • A ‘’table of honor’’ especially served for military members and positioned very close to the newlyweds.
  • Bride’s dress can have sewed military name tag, stating her new family name.

And the list goes on and on…

Filed Under: Weddings

Family Tree Research: Discover Your "Roots" | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch’s Blog

Keep up-to-date with all things Woodloch on our blog featuring exclusive recipes, heartwarming stories, lifestyle content, contests and more.

Discover Your Roots: Tips for Researching Your Family Tree

Here at Woodloch, we are very fortunate to celebrate a rich 60-year family history of resort ownership and operation. We know that many of our guests are interested in our family history as well as their own, and we want to offer some tips about how to begin researching one’s ancestry!

1. Gather information

If you’re anything like us, your attic/basement/garage/storage room is probably filled with old photos, letters, newspaper clippings, and general mementos that offer insight into your family’s past. Gather what you have, and start there.

2. Speak with relatives

Now that you’ve compiled the resources that you’re working with, begin talking to family members. See how they can help provide more information and fill in the blanks. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — your extended family is probably chock full of stories they would love to share; they’re just waiting for someone to ask! The best questions start with “what,” “why,” and “how.” You’ll want to dig deep to get the most out of your questions!

3. Write it down

Make sure you get all of the above information in writing so that you don’t have to go back and try to rely on memory. A great place to start is with a quick search for “pedigree charts” on Google. Free charts abound, and this is where you can start logging all of your family history on paper.

4. Search the internet and explore genealogy websites

This is a given. The internet is overflowing with information right at your fingertips. It is by far the easiest way to gather information quickly. Websites such as FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com are great places to start researching family name databases and begin connecting the dots.

5. Organize what you have

Once you’ve gathered all of your findings, enter them into the family tree programs that you’ve decided to use either online or on paper charts. Be sure to fi le copies/notes/photographs in an organized manner, and keep all of this information in a safe place.

6. Plan what’s next

Once you’ve compiled and documented all of your research, you may want to visit the towns that your ancestors lived and explore sites where records are kept, such as courthouses and places of worship, to gain access to additional resources firsthand.

We wish you the best in your search and happy hunting!

    Filed Under: reunions

    What You Need for Your Lake Trip in PA | Woodloch Resort

    What You Need for Your Lake Trip in PA

    In getting ready for your adventure to Lake Teedyuskung, we know that you’ll have to do some packing, and we’re here to help ensure you’ve got what you need! Among the resort hotels in Pennsylvania, Woodloch offers a variety of lake activities along with plenty of other fun things to do. Deciding what to bring with you can be tough, so check out our do and don’t tips below!

    What to Bring

    If you happen to arrive before your room is ready, no worries; we’ve got you covered! We suggest that bring a day pack with you — something you can easily access, perhaps a smaller version of a carry-on. That way you can enjoy some of the activities while you wait for your room to be ready! If you’re going to be hanging at our lake this summer, you’ll want to be sure to have your swimsuit and beachwear with you! Grab your sun hats and sunglasses; staying safe under the summer sun is essential! Be sure to pack sunscreen to help reduce sun exposure. If you happen to have left it at home, we also have it available for purchase on property at our gift shops!

    Mini Arrival Checklist:

    1. Day Pack
    2. Your Swim Gear
    3. Sun protection (sunscreen, hats, sunglasses)

    What’s Best to Leave at Home

    Don’t worry about lugging towels along with you; we have thousands of them just ready and waiting for our guests! You also don’t need electronics next to the lake. You’re here at Woodloch to enjoy the great outdoors and experience an unforgettable retreat with your family. Don’t miss out on something memorable while you’re too busy worrying about what is playing on your iPad! We also suggest leaving any valuables at home like designer sunglasses, purses, and jewelry. While our rooms do have lockboxes, it’s best to keep those valuables at home!

    Leave it:

    1. Towels
    2. Electronics
    3. Expensive items

    With our wide range of outdoor activities and full access to gorgeous Lake Teedyuskung, you’re sure to have a wonderful time at Woodloch. As one of the leading resort hotels in Pennsylvania, your summer is about to get brighter with a trip to the beautiful Poconos Mountains!