Over 40 Young Professionals Retreat to Camp Nubar for the 7th Annual AGBU YP City Escape Weekend

Young professionals hoping to leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city got their wish at the end of this summer during the 7th annual AGBU City Escape weekend. The event, which was initiated by the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York (YPGNY) in 2006, has since grown significantly in popularity. This year, YPGNY was pleased to co-host City Escape with the AGBU Young Professionals (YP) groups of Montreal and Philadelphia. By joining forces, they drew 40 participants from their respective cities, as well as from Boston and Washington, D.C., to AGBU's Camp Nubar in the scenic Catskill Mountains.

The participants arrived at Camp Nubar on Friday, August 24, 2012, excited to take advantage of the fresh air, hundreds of acres of pristine forests and the private, spring-fed lake that are unique to its upstate New York location. The camp's vast grounds and state-of-the art facilities made it the ideal venue for a weekend full of outdoor activities, including an early morning 10K run, nature hikes and swimming, as well as basketball, hockey, soccer and volleyball games that brought everyone to the courts. Tina Hagopian of Philadelphia was one of the dozens of YP's who enjoyed socializing with her peers around both picnic tables and campfires. As she commented, "The YP groups put together a wonderful couple of days and a fun itinerary. It was nice for those of us who attended Camp Nubar in the past to relive our experience as adults, and it was even better seeing those that hadn't been to camp enjoying it as much as they did."

For many of the YP's who are also Camp Nubar alumni, the weekend was indeed nostalgic, especially as they celebrate the camp's 50th anniversary this year. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and those new to the AGBU family quickly found themselves at ease and making new friends. Greg Basralian, a tri-state area native, was introduced recently to the YP network, and remarked, "This was the first YP event I've attended, and, from the moment I arrived through the rest of the weekend, I felt so welcomed by everyone. I made friendships in three days that I know will last a lifetime ... It was wonderful to find a group of such hard-working individuals. The event was well-planned and the execution was even better – all of the groups worked together in perfect harmony. My only regret is that I did not attend a YP event sooner, but I look forward to my further involvement with YPGNY."

YPGNY Chair Alexis Halejian can assure Basralian that he will have plenty of opportunities to make up for lost time and to continue to meet like-minded peers from across the US and internationally. Halejian stated, "It was an honor having YP Montreal and YP Philly co-host our annual City Escape to Camp Nubar. It doesn't get much better than meeting and reconnecting with young professionals from across the world, surrounded by the beauty of the Catskill Mountains. We hope this weekend tradition only continues to grow year after year." Marianna Mekbekian, a Brazil native, made it clear that the event has broad appeal. As she shared, "In Brazil we don't really have a camping culture, and City Escape was my first camping experience. It was a very pleasant weekend. Not only did I enjoy Camp Nubar's incredible countryside, but I had the chance to mingle with new people. Being the only participant from overseas, I was warmly embraced by the YP family and I would gladly come back next year."

When the City Escape weekend came to an end on August 26, all of the participants had proven that they were never too old for camp. And while they've already resumed their lives as young professionals, they are already looking forward to next year's event – and, until then, to a YP calendar full of exciting events.