Joseph Pawlak, Author at Woodloch Resort

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~ shared by J. Ranner

“No one has ever become poor by giving.”

– Anne Frank

Whew!

I sincerely cannot believe how fast another holiday season has come and gone. It seems like only yesterday I was parading around in my awesome Indiana Jones Halloween costume and thinking to myself, “ehh… we’ve got time.” A metaphorical boulder started chasing us all down and suddenly we’ve arrived in a brand new year with all of the holidays a spirited blur.

I’ve been fortunate enough to always have a good holiday. I have a large family so there’s never a true sense of loneliness. There was no shortage of delicious food and fun times with the people I truly care most about in this world.

Yet as I age, I still find the most rewarding part of the holidays to be bringing joy to those who truly need it. The holidays aren’t always the best time of year for some people; as a matter of fact, they can actually be the most difficult. Which is why when someone, and it can be ANYONE, goes out of their way just the teeniest bit to make someone’s holiday a little bit better, it can change the world in ways that none of us have the ability to comprehend.

For the second year in a row, Woodloch Resort celebrated “12 Days of Giving.” Essentially, we had 12 different surprises for friends… and even complete strangers. “We’ve been very fortunate to endure these past 7 years in business,” says John Kiesendahl, owner. “Woodloch was built on a the cornerstones of family, friendship, heart and warmth. What better way to show the appreciation for what we have than to pay it forward?”

Through a bustling holiday season swirling with snow squalls, staff meetings and very busy weekends, dedicated volunteers headed out into the cold and shared Woodloch warmth with the world!

Here’s a recap!

Day 1: “The Angel Tree”– Woodloch employees selected names off of our “Angel Tree” and brought holiday joy to local youth that otherwise wouldn’t have had it. Dozens of kids were greeted by those gifts Christmas morning.

Day 2: “Blanket the World”- teaming up with several local businesses in the Honesdale and Hawley area, we collected over 100 toasty warm blankets to be shipped all over the world to those in need.

Day 3: “Operation Christmas Child”– care packages stuffed with everyday personal items- including school supplies, personal hygiene items and accessories – were collected and sent oversees to underprivileged children. It’s a program that certainly expands year after year!

Day 4: “Adopt A Family”– our departments banded up and gathered all the elements for a nice holiday and surprised a local family in need.

Dessin Group Picture

Day 5: “S.O.S – Save Our Shelter”– The Dessin Animal Shelter of Honesdale, PA has been fighting to keep its doors open due to financial woes. In addition to hosting a benefit weekend for the shelter in October, Woodloch has been working closely with The Boy Scouts of America and The Girl Scouts of America to continually gather supplies for the animals in need- everything from food to treats to toys to cleaning items are ALWAYS in demand!

spa resort, golf getaways Day 6: “Show on the Road” – Eric and Sammy of the Social Department (and stars of the Woodloch stage!) loaded up their sleigh with sound equipment and surprised residents of the Ellen Memorial Health Care Center with a holiday musical show! Even St. Nick himself showed up with world-famous Woodloch chocolate chip cookies for everyone!

Day 7: “Random Tabbing” – There’s no feeling in the world quite like having a delicious meal… then finding out that someone has picked up the check for you! For a week, Woodloch’s Boat House Restaurant randomly took care of the tabs for unsuspecting diners.

Day 8: “Thanking An Employee” – We’re a family here… and family takes care of their own! Several employees were discretely given a few extra dollars for the holiday season.

girlfriend getaway

Day 9: “Filling The Tanks” – We’ve all fueled up our vehicles before in the bitter cold- I think the general consensus is that there is little to no joy in the experience! However, we sent two of our lovely ladies out at The Market at Woodloch to not only pump gas for unsuspecting customers… but to pay for it as well. Plenty of smiles resulted for so many reasons!

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Day 11: “Holiday Cooking Class” – Joey Ranner (our activities director) and Dave Nordenhold (dessert chef and creator of delicousness) performed their famous “Cooking Class” for almost 50 local seniors in Wayne County’s outreach program. Special thanks to our BFF’s at Avery Transportation for helping them to arrive in style!

kiley coffee salvation army Day 10: “Salvation Coffee Drop” – Speaking of things that can certainly add to the stress of the holidays… having to shop in the cold! That’s why we loaded up our famous Woodloch Bakery truck with hot coffee and our famous baked goods to shoppers at our local Salvation Army. Fatigued shoppers were given a spot of java to help them endure the elements!

girls PSP 12 days

Day 12: “#PSPSTRONG” – Needless to say, it was a long and tough year for those who work so hard to keep the great state of Pennsylvania safe. We loaded up our trucks and stopped at State Police barracks in Blooming Grove and Honesdale with coffee and plenty of crumb cake. Just a small (but infinitely tasty!) token of our appreciation for all that they do!

Needless to say, it was a very rewarding holiday for all of us here at Woodloch. But I think the key lesson to be learned here is to keep the giving spirit with you, all year long. Even the smallest things that we do can influence change in the BIGGEST of ways!

family reunions, girlfriend getaways

Ahh… flowers are in full bloom, the days are getting longer, and the temperatures are getting warm enough for me unleash my inner Matthew Mcconaughey and tan in my backyard. Summer is CLEARLY on the way… alright, alright, alright!

With the excitement of delicious cold drinks and sunshine comes a whole NEW slate of activities and events that will be headed your way in 2014 at Woodloch! As a staff member, I always feel that each summer will be harder to trump than the last… and every year, I’m once again humbled as our team continues to unleash the awesome for all of your family and friends.

Let’s take a sneak peak at some of the cool stuff headed your way this summer!

Tournament of Thrones – Sweet Mother of Dragons! This summer, join us up at the Athletic Field as you compete head to head against other “Houses”- remember, only one team can emerge victorious and wear the crown upon “The Iron Throne.” Teams of 10 to 12 players will compete all summer long in games based on the popular show. Brush up on your archery skills and swordsmanship… “Winter is coming!”

golf resort, spa resort

“The British are Coming!”– Blast back to past for a double-edged retro salute to the British Invasion of America in the 1960’s! It all starts with our special “British Invasion” edition of “So You Think You Know Music”- be sure to brush up on the era. Monday evenings will transform our North Lodge lawn into Liverpool, England- it’s our UK Rock Fest featuring UUU!

Woodloch Goes to the Movies for our brand new carnival! Each and every game draws inspiration from your favorite movies- whether you’re visiting a park sprawling with dinosaurs, unleashing your inner Katniss Everdeen or using your superpowers to fight for justice! There will even be a special game that pays tribute to movie soundtracks! Win great prizes!

Abracadabra! Have you ever dreamed of one day becoming a magician? I know I have, and this summer, Woodloch will be offering our first ever “Magic Workshop” to our guests! Join illusionist John Graham as he teaches you to dazzle friends and family with sleight of hand using everyday objects. Both kids and adults will be “enchanted” all summer long!

Late Night with Joey – with so many changes being made to late night television, we thought we’d make a run at producing our own late night show! Every Thursday in the summer, join our very own Joey for a unique interactive comedy show featuring YOU, our Woodloch guests! Be ready for ANYTHING!

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, kids. There’s even MORE to report- but you’re just going to have to stay tuned for more information in the coming days!

Pool Games at Woodloch from Woodloch Pines on Vimeo.

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family reunions, girlfriend getaway

~shared by J. Ranner
Sometimes, despite my “young” age, I feel like an 85 year old man trapped inside the body of a 28 year old. I’m what they call “an old soul”- I’m very big on tradition and would love to go back to “the good old days” which I don’t directly recall, as they happened decades before my own birth.

One of my pet peeves today is sincerely the state of prime time television. Though there are a few really great shows on air (Game of Thrones and Mad Men are my personal favorites), it’s safe to say you have to sift through some garbage to find quality. Too many reality shows and morbidly dark shows are consuming the airways in my opinion.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s, America had a golden age of GAME SHOWS- exactly what I want sometimes. Low key TV that helps me kick back, unwind and relieve my stresses for a while. Whether it was the hilarious antics of “The Dating Game,” battling wits with “Jeopardy” or watching your favorite stars with “Hollywood Squares,” there was always something for everyone.

Games got so popular that toy companies even started selling HOME EDITIONS of their most popular shows, so the fun could continue even between airings of your favorite shows. Which got me thinking: since Woodloch can sometimes kind of be like a game show with some of our events, how great would it be to have “home editions” of some of our marquee events?

I’ve huddled up with my friends in our Social Staff and I think we’ve come up with the perfect solution. Look for new installments of this blog often!”

SCAVENGER HUNT – Home Edition

Ahh, yes. The Scavenger Hunt. It is one of our oldest and most traditional contests, but it does not lack in intensity. As anyone who has participated knows, it is one of the craziest hours you will spend on your Pocono Woodloch vacation. Teams of 10 to 12 players come together to run for their “bonus,” try to crack our brainteasing puzzles, and of course find items on an extensive list.

Despite all the gears turning at once, the good news is that this game actually translates fairly well to a smaller ordeal- perfect for reunions, picnics, parties and even team building endeavors!

SET UP

PLACE: You’ll need a rendezvous point for when the game ends. It can be inside, outside, wherever really- just as long as everyone leaves and arrives back at the same time.

TIME: For us, it has always been 55 minutes total, but we typically work with larger teams. Depending on your group, you may have to expand this- you DO need a time constraint of some sort to add to the fun fury of the hunt.

MATERIALS: Luckily, this isn’t an expensive endeavor but you may have to spend some time developing an appropriate list, “Frantic Pic” bonus and accompanying puzzles. As someone who has developed them, it never feels like “work”- it’s far too much fun! But you will need a computer and a printer if you’d like to include these options. Make up your packets so your group has a chance to give everything a try. We give you a list, a photo bonus, and about 12 puzzles for each hunt. Play it by ear.

DESIGN: First and foremost, you need an ITEM LIST. Ours feature over 60 items- really strong teams typically come up with about half of that when they return. For smaller endeavors, scale it back. Think of what someone can possibly find in their environment, what they already might have, and in some circumstances, what they can MAKE (i.e. costumes, puppets, postcards etc.) and try to balance it out. The harder it is to obtain an item, the more points you should make it worth. Great ideas for puzzles exist on Sporcle, and you can even check out our “Roadtrip Concierge” program for extra ideas on Frantic Pic bonuses and items!

GO: You’re going to need someone to serve as Grand Marshall / MC / Leader / call it what you will. They will not only be organizing and timing everyone but will be responsible for fairly scoring everyone. For BIG groups, you may need to have “scorekeepers” to give you a hand when everyone returns. REMEMBER: players can “argue” all they want, but the judge’s decision is always final!

INCENTIVE: Of course, at Woodloch, we are ALWAYS about competition. The fun of the games is always a reward in itself, but we like to spice things up by offering prizes to our guests. There’s nothing quite like the euphoric sense of hoisting that gold medal high and placing it triumphantly around your neck.
You can always buy a few cheap medals in places like the dollar tree and certainly online, but don’t underestimate the value of human craftsmanship! Sometimes, all you need is an ideal with some tin foil and string!

And that is really all you need to get a good home-made Scavenger Hunt underway… that and enthusiasm! Always have a few cameras and camcorders around to capture all of your smiles!

Like where we’re going with this? Check back often for new installments in this series!

poconos shopping, girlfriend getaway

It seems that we live in a world of opposites and stark comparisons. Day and night. Republicans and Democrats. Dreamers and realists.

And those who love shopping and those who can’t stand it.

The holidays are soon coming up, and that means venturing out into the wonderful world of retail searching for that perfect holiday gift, whether you enjoy it or not. Some people enjoy flocking from outlet to outlet in search of something special, while others end up tired and frustrated. My mother could probably be a professional shopper while I tend to sympathize with those who soldier on through the motions. As a matter of fact, I do everything in my power to minimize my shopping trips.

But what if I told you that there was a way to keep everyone happy? Shoppers are content because of the wide variety and selection of products while the non-shoppers have the painless experience of minimizing the “back and forths.” You would be able to do most of your shopping under one roof . . .

If this sounds at all appealing then you are in luck. In grand tradition, Woodloch Pines will be hosting their annual Craft Fair on Sunday, December 8th from 10 AM to 2 PM. Held in the Heritage Club, more than 40 local vendors set up shop and proudly display all of their 100% homemade goods. I also like the idea of my holiday spending cash staying in the area and benefitting local artisans.

The selection of crafts has become more and more varied over the years. There are items available for nearly everybody on your shopping list including:

hand-crafted woodworks and carvings
sculpted glass and pottery
hand woven quilts, mittens, hats and sweaters
toys
food and wine accessories
and so much more!

And as always, this event offers free admission and is open to the general public as well as our house guests. PLUS, sign up for our exclusive Woodloch Diner’s Club for a chance to win a free golf outing at Woodloch Springs, Boathouse Restaurant certificates, a complimentary “Dinner & Show” package and Woodloch Springs Grille Room gift cards– just for showing up! Meal reservations and overnight accommodations are also available. Why not make a day of it all?

So you can either join the legions of other shoppers, braving the elements to head to a crowded store, battling crowds to net possibly fruitless results, or you can head to Woodloch’s Craft Fair, browse in a relaxed and stress-free environment where you are sure to find exactly what you need. To me, the choice is clear and easy.

I will have my shopping complete (save for a trip to the coal mines for my poorly behaved friends) before I even miss a second of my 49ers game . . .

Tis’ the season.

girlfriend getaways, travel deals

As I start my 15^th year of employment at Woodloch Pines Resort (how time flies), time after time I’ve heard guests simply refer to the resort as “HOME.”

And as a sweet Midwestern girl with ruby red slippers once said, “There’s no place like home.”

How fitting, then, that during Wednesday mornings throughout the summer of 2013, you will be whisked away by a whirlwind of fun with our all-new “Oz” games by the lake. “It’s timeless, really. The movie and the book offer a great story to all ages and tastes,” says Social Director (and “Man Behind the Curtain”) Joey Ranner. “So why not incorporate the love that we share into some great games?”

In case you are a Woodloch rookie, Wednesdays in the summer host a new type of theme game on the shores of Lake Teedyuskung every year. In the past, we’ve pushed the adrenaline with “Fear Factor,” saluted Hollywood’s biggest movies with our “Blockbuster Games” and even paid tribute to real-life heroes with our “Firefighter Games” and “Police Games.”

Planning for this year’s festivities started months ago. Since then, the Woodloch team has been had at work trying to get things just right. “We either go big or don’t go at all,” says Ranner. “With every game that we do, things have to be new, they have to look good, and most importantly, they have to be FUN.” After months of brainstorming, drafting, and ultimately crafting the new games, “Oz” is ready for its summer run.

So to shake things up, this year’s games will follow the Yellow Brick Road to great times with family and friends. The Social Staff have crafted 6 unique relay events that take elements from the beloved movies and add the thrill of competition. This year, guests can expect:

Working together to pave a Yellow Brick Road of your own
Helping the Scarecrow put himself back together again
Using the natural resources of the lake to bring justice to that Wicked Witch…
Tracking down ruby red shoes…
Flying high with bellman monkeys
Enjoying delicious Oz treats with “munchkins!”

And it simply wouldn’t be our Theme Games without a little bit of flair. The Social Staff will be running these games in the full costumes of your favorite Oz characters- but that’s all we will say about that.

So when you do click your heels three times this summer, you’ll be magically transported somewhere over the rainbow to the Emerald City of Woodloch!