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| there are 145 days till Session 1 2021.... |
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Dear French Woods Families
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Michael, Tristan and I hope that you had the happiest of New Years!
The highlight of my holidays is connecting to my French Woods family and this year was no different. After spending my annual New Year's Eve with camp friends I can say again - camp friends are the best friends.
Hiring continues! Please remember that we are looking for counselors and specialists in a variety of areas including Film, Circus, Ropes, Fine Art, Rock Shop, Waterfront and Stagecraft. Do you know someone with a free summer? We’d love to speak with them.
Darryn, and I will be attending a number of virtual job fairs in the next two months and I will even be in person at a hiring fair in London! If you or a friend is interested in a position, be sure to submit applications online ASAP to have the greatest chance of job availability in the area of preference.
We are still looking for nurses, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners in all sessions. Please let us know if someone that you know would be interested.
See you in June!
-Beth
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From Matt Stern, "Foggy glasses and all, I couldn’t be prouder of this dude..." Ethan Lafazan making his Broadway debut in The Music Man. "And I’m super thankful to him for putting Into the Woods and Merrily... in his bio, getting me closer to a Broadway playbill than I’ve ever been. 😂 Congrats, @ethan_lafazan! Your French Woods family is proud of you!!"
Madeline Pace performed in a new musical called String this past November at Interlochen Arts Academy and is looking forward to being in the ensemble of Oklahoma! in the spring at Interlochen as well.
Shay Brymer has been cast in the role of Kendra in 13 the Musical at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Merrick, NY.
Ella Bodner has been cast in the role of Patrice in 13 the Musical at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Merrick, NY.
We welcome back past French Woods Theater Director, Lou Maddocks, who wil be bringing with her nine talented teenagers from The Hammond School, a specialist school in performing arts based in Chester, England.
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Just Registered (to 1.13.22)
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Abby Malloy
Adam Bueno
Adelae Allen
Adeline Cherny
Adella Curkin
Adrian Farrell
Ahsher Curkin
Aidan O'Brien
Aiden Larkey
Ainsley McNicoll
Alexis Avila
Alyssa Cabassa
Alyssa Marvin
Amalia Roman
Amelia Morris
Amelia Wright-Frost
Amina Fiks
Amos Yang
Andrew Giventer-Braff
Andrew Marvin
Andrew Miyasaki
Anna Nysoe
Anthony Ostrovsky
Antoine Poloni
Arel DeSart
Aria Burgess
Aria Hillman
Arielle Stopak
Ash Quasney-Sandler
Audrey Colbourn
Austen Kite
Austin Barocas
Ava Firestone-Morrill
AvaClaire Lago
Avery Cabassa
Avery Otoo
Avia Roundtree
Ayaan Chan Shue
Ayden Slosberg
Ayla Groden
Beatrice Georgiades
Beckwith Fipp
Bella Pianko
Ben Gilad
Blakely Turk
Boaz Dimant
Brayden Labgold-Carroll
Brendan O'Brien
Bria Kaye
Calder Kite
Callie Lepselter
Calvin Godino
Caroline Cruz
Caroline Gerosa
Cassidy Hahn
Catherine Meli
Caye Nagorski Marshall-Green
Celeste Riemersma
Charlotte Brown
Charlotte Hamer
Chloe Kimmelman-May
Chloe Shin Yang
Christian Peterson
Christopher Glassie
Christopher Senior
Clara Adesnik-Chu
Clare McClean
Cole Rosie
Colin Ference
Connor Reilly
Connor Wood
Constanza Arias Sarabia
Cristina manguson
Daniel Munroe
Danielle Kravetz
Danielle Ohayon
Dante Garcia
Effie Berkman
Eliana Herskovitz
Eliana Zweig
Elias Rafful
Eliza Mason
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Elizabeth Alek Silver
Elizabeth Hahn
Elizabeth Kovtun
Elizabeth Ostrovsky
Elle Deitcher
Elleanor Honneus
Elliot Miller
Ellise Plevin
Elyse Corbett
Emilia Cannuscio
Estelle Allen
Ethan Cannuscio
Eva Edelman
Eva Lindveit
Eviana Kovtun
Faye Yang
Florence Haines
Francesca Sliwa
Frank Randazzo
Gabriel Leon
Gabriella Lieberman
Gaspard Viros
Giacomo Harris
Gideon Miller
Giselle Gurganious
Grace Heraty
Graham Woolley
Grant Godino
Greyson Wood
Griffen Dawkins
Hannah Susuni
Harrison Morgan
Hazel Moon Kereszi-Lynn
Hunter Wood
Idara Valdez-Starks
Imogen Dawkins
Isaac Hedgpeth
Isaac Sinton-Remes
Isaac Wise
Izzy Hamer
Jack Goldberg
Jacob Bae
Jake Ellengold
James McNally
James Wells
Jasmine Ornish
Jayden Matsis
Jeremy Whiteside
Jillian Weingarten
Jonah Weisberg
Judah Firestone-Morrill
Julia Roth
Julian Choi
Julianne Korb
Juliet Noeldner
Julieta Garcia
Kaden Evans
Kaelie Dieter
Kaia Nagorski Marshall-Green
Kate Borenstein
Kylie Schulman
Laia Alegret
Layla Gerstin
Layla Pritt
Levi Hedgpeth
Leyna Munroe
Lily Korb
Lola Norlander
Lulu Yurman
Lumi Haas
Maasai Hurt
Mac Luber
Maceo Lindsey
MacKenzie Abel
Mackenzie Weise
Maddox Quasney-Sandler
Madeleine Pace
Madelina Baranello
Madeline Santoriello
Madelyn Baeust
Maicah Ang-Horowitz
Malcolm Kirkpatrick
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Margaux Albano
Marta Hulme
Maya Figg
Maya Halpern-Thomas
Maya Sinelnikov
Maya Weitz
Melody Miller
Mia Groden
Mia Jenness
Michael Duwin
Mikhael Kisselev
Milo Kiely-Miller
Mira Shaklan
Mira Vlassis
Molly Luber
Natalie Hovav
Natalie Ogden
Nathaniel Coker
Nathaniel Colton
Nicole Berg
Nicolette Clivio
Nikita Kisselev
Nina Katz
Noa Dunayer
Noah Larkey
Noah Pianko
Nora Holmquist
North Vincent
Oliver Geller
Olivia Honneus
Olivia Miller
Penelope Stern
Piper Skoglund
Piya Karthikeyan
Quincy Butler
Quinn Harnish
Rebecca Kleinhans
Rene Posner
Rivka Viros
Rory McMahon
Ryan Geisler
Ryder Sugarman
Rylie McCollum
Sally Keane
Samantha Erickson
Samantha Solot
Samantha Wexler
Samuel Sherman
Sante Salomone
Santhosh Rizza
Sara Steele
Sarah Strom
Sarana Shafter
Sasha Kleinberger
Sasha Torop
Sayla Kleinberger
Scarlette Bejarano
Sedona Raphael
Serena Baranello
Shira Dunayer
Simon Maxwell
Snow Cercone
Sofia LaBelle
Sophia Vermes
Sophie Santoriello
Sparrow Lieu
Stella Kross
Summer Barocas
Sunny Feldman
Sutton Greenberg
Sylvie Shapiro
Tessa Somer
Thea Sherman
Theodore Kolack
Trinity Hart
Victoria Rudd
Viola Folkenflik
Vivian Goldstein
Wilhelmina Salomone
William Katz
Yash Chaddha
Zev Zweig
Zoe Kleinburdust
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January 1
Anandi Fuller
Harry Watters
John Masamtula
Masamtula Nnko
Nathalie Gendron
Sebastian Arce
Vedaan Shah
January 2
Brad Coleman
Coleman Breining
Mae Silverman
Zach Greenhawt
January 3
Daniel Murokh
Emre Gots
Isaac Hedgpeth
Leila Byrnes
Samantha Ramos
January 4
Brianna Seigel
Carly Samuels
Jordan Petan
Levi Putter
January 5
Alexandra Harris
Argus Choi
Ari Naznitsky
Brandon Elbilia
Calder Kite
Dane Burch
Helena Zeballos
Madeline Krasney
Natalie Ogden
Olivia Miyasaki
Sara Zeballos
Sasha Krasney
Simone Dinota
Sony Mussali
Thailen Merritt
Yann Robles-Casadella
Zoe Abrams
January 6
Allen Minard
Anabella Khavin
Chloe Hefner
January 7
Bunny Henault-Bassett
Charlotte Marino
Devon Jack
Lulu Henault-Bassett
Thelma Rubin-Rottenberg
January 8
Grace Dodds
Maggie Viles
Piper Clurman
Sarah Joe
January 9
Laszlo Sterling Summers
Natalia Ginter
January 10
Abbey Kass
Adelaide Roenfeldt
Asher Gellert
Ella Froah
Ginger Kaplan
Marielle Keum
Miranda Schneider
Victoria Nesbeth
January 11
Audrey Brda
Brunello Karides
Callie La Testa
Camilo Barrios
Elizabeth Kovtun
Francesca Collett
Isabelle Ulick
Julia Boxer
Lilliana Castelli
Madeline Woodlee
Vaughn Ibrahim
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January 12
Carly Stern
Charlotte Garrity-Butler
Chase Liuzzo
Noah Myers
Phoebe Cooper
Sophia Krembs
Taylor Rubenstein
January 13
Aila Debira
Cadel Shin
Elizabeth Shin
Elle Mazor
Jacob Leighton
Mia Rosenblum-Solis
Nina Wartski
January 14
Mikaela Gerstenhaber
Samay Bafana
Skyler Davenport
Wilhelmina Salomone
January 15
Beauty Hurley
Eric Langerman
Isla Patterson
Theodora Ungvari
Wesley Lichtenstein
January 16
Ava Condron
Breyanna Bassett
Camila Checa
Finbar Fennessey
Francesca Kong
Katherine Sawyer
Nathan Schreier
Nora Gossett
Olivia Feinblum
Roscoe Rubin-Rottenberg
Sabrina Sanders
January 17
Charlotte Sellier Pacheco de Almeida
Chloe Gabriel
Diana Davidson
Gia Danza
Maximiliano Mesh
Rosa Lamont
January 18
Emily Malkan
Miles Perlman
Nolan Medalla
Thea Sherman
January 19
Andrew Stein
Charles Whitaker
Chris (Aiden) Walton
Elyjah Moderio
Frith Cole
Kathryn Costello
Lilly Burnside
Luke Nighswander
Roman Amin
Samuel Stein
January 20
Andrew Miyasaki
Annabelle Nam
Kala Sekiguchi
Madelyn Bae
Noah Pianko
Siena Nitzky
Simone Mena
Sophie Knutzen
Sydney Hurley
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January 21
Carlos Cruz
Carly Konheim
Dorian Vaughn
Lorenzo Brito
Monica Malas
January 23
Braden Blacker
Gabriel Leon
Piero Mogavero
Remi Elberg
Zoey Gurien
January 24
Amalia San Juan Albores
Har-El Shrem
Rhea Brand
Rhea Sriram
January 25
Amelia Hovey
Bridget Thomas
Eliana Ferrari
Evelyn Pasch
Michaella Bennahmias
Rebecca Supcoff
January 26
Aviram Livneh
Jeremiah Landsman
Madison Cartelli
Mira Dickman
Morgan Silva
Vivianna Mason
Winter Thompson
January 27
Adrian Farrell
Azalea Case
David Isaak
Elsa Baker-Spitzer
Jake Lazar
Lilly Sanchez-Greenfield
January 28
Caledonia Marcoux
Caterina Berg
Grace Fastovsky
Maia Coplit
Nathaniel Zipper
Oona Ahlers
Rory McMahon
Skylar Rosenberg
January 29
Alice Chovanec
Ella Jerge
Francisco Solis
Lola Wolfgang
Marta Hulme
Rachel Chovanec
Sophia Dugan
January 30
Bex Segal
Cody Hoover
Elroy Solondz
January 31
Jocilyn Driscoll
John McGoff
Lucy Kassel
Nathan Kossoy
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Session 1 2022 Shows (subject to change)
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The Jungle Book -Ages 7-9
Join Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie and the gang as they swing their way through madcap adventures and thwart the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan. Specially adapted from the beloved film, this musical includes all your favorite Disney tunes, with colorful characters and that toe-tapping rhythm.
The Phantom Toll Booth – Ages 9-11
Even surrounded by dozens of toys, Milo is bored. Nothing interests him at all. The Demons of Ignorance are certain he will be their next victim, telling him “If you get the urge to do anything - don’t. It could be dangerous.” To the rescue comes The Phantom Tollbooth! With a book adapted by Mr. Juster himself, witty lyrics full of wordplay by Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler On The Roof, She Loves Me) and a melodious score by Arnold Black, The Phantom Tollbooth is an endearing show.
Finding Nemo – Ages 9-11
This father and son underwater adventure begins when Nemo, a clownfish, is stolen from his coral reef home. His timid father must then travel to Sydney and search Sydney Harbour to find Nemo.
Camp Rock – Ages 11-12
This summer was supposed to be about relaxing, enjoying their music, and getting to know each other better. But with Camp Star across the lake threatening Camp Rock’s very existence, Mitchie and Shane must spend every waking moment getting the young campers into top shape for the final jam.
42nd Street – Ages 11-14
When the leading lady of a Broadway musical breaks her ankle, she is replaced by a young unknown actress, who becomes the star of the show. This ultimate backstage musical has many hit tunes and some of the greatest production numbers in musical theater.
Little Me - Ages 11-14
Little Me is based on Patrick Dennis’s novel subtitled, The Intimate Memoirs of that Great Star of Stage, Screen and Television, Belle Poitrine. The show follows Belle’s career through a series of advantageous marriages to a diva’s life of luxury. The show was tailored to the talents of Sid Caesar and featured the choreography of Bob Fosse.
Urinetown – Ages 11-14
This is an award-winning satirical comedy musical, poking fun at local government, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and petty- minded, smalltown politics. Urinetown rejects musical theater convention. There are parodies of all- time successful Broadway shows including Les Misérables. In addition, the production satirizes its own significance. Last but not least, in reverse pantomime style, the unconventional plot line shatters audience expectations of a pleasant ending.
Anastasia – Ages 11-17
Inspired by the beloved films, Anastasia transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
Hello Dolly Ages 11-17
A matchmaker named Dolly Levi takes a trip to Yonkers, New York to see the “well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire,” Horace Vandergelder. While there, she convinces him, his two stock clerks, his niece and her beau to go to New York City. In New York, she fixes Vandergelder’s clerks up with the woman Vandergelder had been courting, and her shop assistant, so that Dolly can follow her designs on Mr. Vandergelder for herself.
Guys and Dolls – Ages 11-17
In New York, a gambler is challenged to take a female missionary to Havana - they fall for each other, and the bet has a hidden motive to finance a crap game.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Ages 11-17
A comedy written by William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play set in Athens and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict among four Athenian lovers. Another follows a group of six amateur actors rehearsing the play which they are to perform before the wedding. Both groups find themselves in a forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans and are engaged in their own domestic intrigue.
The Diary of Anne Frank – Ages 11-17
The Diary of Anne Frank brings to life her extraordinary account of the years spent in hiding with family and friends in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. In this heart-wrenching and poignant story of a spirited and innocent young girl frozen at the threshold of womanhood, Anne Frank becomes a universal symbol of a shining light extinguished before its time.
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French Woods Meets the Challenge for Today’s Kids
Prior to summer 2021, returning campers and campers new to French Woods had spent 18 months with limited social interactions from a lack of get-together with friends, few extracurricular activities and remote learning. Was there a heightened concern that kids would struggle with simple things like dealing with disappointment, learning to share or taking turns after all those months in isolation? Of course, but like other years, children found their stride quickly and felt protected and safe at camp.
Today's kids (and parents and staff) could have some additional mental health challenges after dealing with an unparalleled pandemic. We all did/do. What we want to convey and to reassure you is that French Woods has consistently been addressing such needs for decades. There are a number of ways that French Woods has historically met these needs. But, we do not rest on our laurels. Our professional French Woods team debriefs and constantly researches and reviews what else we can do to always make it better.
We deal with with eating disorders, anxiety and depression. We always ask if your child has had any recent changes in their life or is experiencing any issues that would be helpful for the camp leadership team to know ahead of time. With our parents input, we are aware of mental health issues of campers and address them with compassion, professionalism and the utmost desire to make all our campers successful, safe and happy. We teach and continue to work with staff to understand social skills development, homesickness, skillful discipline and how to deal with bullying and protecting the children from it. We as administration and head counselors validate our staff, and in turn staff learn to validate the kids, each other and our parents. We allow our campers to have regular appointments with their mental health professionals in a private and dignified manner.
We have a big brother, big sister program, a first time camper liaison, twelve qualified head counselors to work with the kids, and with the first time camper support team we have added an extra layer of support and assistance for the children. Getting the right staff is paramount. Beth Schaefer, owner and staff director, works throughout the winter to hire the best people available incorporating background checks, multiple reference checks and personal interviews. French Woods is not a traditional camp and it is vital that our staff matches the needs and wants of our campers and their famililes. Darryn is a great staff liaison year round and each of the twelve head counselors, in addition to Robson, Ron, Beth, Rose, Errick and myself are always there for the staff. Our Staff Orientations are far more comprehensive and sophisticated than most camps.
We teach communication up, down, and sideways. In staff trainings, we explain to our staff how children’s processing skills are different and that we need to listen and not downplay their concerns. They need to know that what kids say is important. Active listening will assist the counselors in understanding their campers and then directing them in the right direction. We concern ourselves with every safety issue especially with what has transpired over the past two years.
We organize the data you give us about your child's food allergies/dietary needs and disseminate it to the appropriate administrative staff. Our executive chef, Ryan, feeds hundred and hundreds of people three meals daily. He caters to all of the dietary needs for each camper and staff member including celiac, that requires food to be made in a separate area including being boxed and served.
We have invested in two doctors and 9 nurses present for every session. Each one is professional, caring, capable, hard working, and important to our success.
French Woods is a really powerful place for kids to have transformative experiences and for them to learn many of the skills that we know are going to be useful to them and helpful in promoting their mental health and well-being throughout the year, not just throughout the summer. No camp is more attentive to the needs of campers, parents, and staff than we are, almost to a fault. We want every child to be successful and that is what we do. And sometimes a child's success is just making it through the three weeks and we celebrate that.
We can keep your child safe. Wherever we are in the world with COVID and politics and mask-wearing or not-mask-wearing, as a camp, as staff, and administrators of a camp - health and well-being are bottom line for us.
I welcome your calls and emails. With our parents as our partners, we can and will give your children the best summers of their lives.
Isaac
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News From Rose
Announcing a CIT Retreat!
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Dear CITs and Parents,
As many of you know, French Woods offers a Counselor-In-Training program for campers who are 15 to 18 years of age by August 1st of the summer of attendance.
Our CIT’s play an important role at French Woods that adds to the positive and safe environment at camp. They become ‘senior’ members of the FW community and are recognized as committed teens that want more and need more.
We are excited to announce that we are holding our second ever CIT Training and Leadership Retreat the weekend of May 28th through the 30th. Last summer we collaborated with and incorporated Entertainment for Change (EFC) and the Impact Artist™ into our French Woods majors and minors. The retreat will feature Jade Zaroff, founder and president of Entertainment for Change, as our scholar in residence. There will be hands-on training and brainstorming, plenary sessions, panel discussions with former Supers now in college and a choice of breakout sessions including topics on conflict resolution, today’s teens most pressing challenges, decision making and much more. We have built in ‘down time’ for our CIT’s to socialize and a community service project.
CITs that are registered for camp are eligible to attend. Remember you must be registered for camp as a CIT to be part of the retreat. There will be a limited amount of retreat spots for registered campers turning 15 after August 1, 2022 and before December 31, 2022.
CITs attending the retreat may arrive either Friday evening on May 27th or Saturday morning, May 28th. The official opening plenary will begin at lunch on Saturday. The closing session is scheduled in conjunction with lunch on Monday. For your convenience, we will have a bus leaving NYC to camp no later than 9:30 am Saturday morning. Buses will depart camp at 1:30 pm on Monday and return to Manhattan at 5 pm. There will be required COVID protocols in place so we can maintain a safe environment.
The retreat is partially being subsidized by the Hancock-French Woods Arts Alliance. The cost to register a CIT for the retreat has been reduced to $150 for the weekend. Check out the video from our 2018 retreat: https://fb.watch/aBmq8bCXH9/
You can sign up for the retreat directly through your CampIn Touch account under forms and documents.
Any experienced CIT/Super who would like to help spearhead the community service project or if you have specific ideas and are interested in helping to plan the retreat should contact me. rose@frenchwoods.com (607) 637-8404
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Do Camp Families want peace of mind?
AM Skier, a company that has been working with summer camps for over 80 years is offering tuition insurance that enables parents to recoup their lost investment in camp tuition.
Similar to trip insurance, camp families can purchase coverage to help protect the non-refundable portion of the tuition to send their child to camp.
The primary purpose is to reimburse camp families for the unused, non-refundable tuition for a camper who cannot attend camp or must leave camp early. The most common reasons are an unforeseen illness/injury (including Covid-19) to the camper or an immediate family member or the death of family member. (If Camp chooses not to or is not permitted to operate, this coverage would not apply and premium would be refunded or rolled over.)
If you’re interested in finding out more about this coverage, you can email To sign up and register for a plan, please contact: PeaceofMind@amskier.com
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Hi Frenchwoodites!
So many of you were in contact over the holidays. I can’t tell you how good it is to hear from everyone.
Keep those emails and texts coming. I love to hear from you.
We have a real surprise coming this summer. Anyone who has ever watched a show or concert in the Pavilion or the Playhouse knows what it is to sit on those hard benches. Well, no more. We called in a company to design and install seat cushions for both theaters. The measurements have been taken. The installation will take place the first week in May. That should make quite a change.
It’s now only 145 days until camp. I can’t wait. See you soon.
Ron
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The Performer is Your Newsletter
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The Performer is only as good as the contributions we receive from the French Woods community. Let us know what is going on in your life.
Your camp friends love to hear what you are doing.
email admin@frenchwoods.com, call 607-637--8400 or write us at P.O. Box 770100, Coral Springs, FL 33077-0100.
We love hearing from you.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
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