Valentine’s Day – 2016

There are very few places on earth more romantic than the Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge and the Florida Keys. So it only makes sense that Valentine’s Day is a big deal here at camp. To celebrate, we pull out all the stops with a skit and dance that recognizes some of the very special sweethearts that make up the heart of the BPKFL. Music was provided by camp favorite Lou Renshaw.

Camp Sweetheart Awards:
Tin City – Joan Cottrell
Rustic – Eva Stockbauer

After the award ceremony, Frankie (Mike Conley) took the stage to wow! everyone. Then our talented cast took to the stage to entertain everyone with a play titled “Judgemental Happy Hour” written by Kathy Conley. The cast included:
Brad & Debbie Brininger
Kerry & Pat Kane
Judy Rubelein
Ron & Bonnie Searles

Ringing in the New Year – 2015/2016

The new year is an opportunity to set the tone for the year to follow, and if you want to spend lots of times in the Keys, it only makes sense to be in the Keys when you kick off the new year. For those guests lucky enough to join us, the new year is a chance to put the old year behind us and look ahead to all the wonderful things the new year will bring.

Our 2016 New Year’s activities had many highlights. As usual, we hosted a skit and a dance for all our guests and a great time was had by all. The annual hat contest gives our guests to show off their creative side, and this year the contestants did not disappoint! We had several very interesting submissions, including one very large inflatable shark hat!

The hat contest with only the beginning of the fun we would have that night. With everyone gathered in the rec room to dance and enjoy the music, it only made sense to have a dance contest. With several categories to choose from, there was a dance for every person in attendance. Who knew there was so much dancing talent at the BPKFL!

As we got ready to usher in the new year, David East, our New Year’s baby, began his campaign to secure votes for his bid as an independent candidate for president. David’s platform included several reforms that were fishing friendly and he distinguished himself as being the only candidate interested in promoting and protecting fishing in the Florida Keys. Campaigning on his behalf were all of the New Year’s babies from last year’s skit. They happily mingled in the crowd stumping up support for our favored candidate.

 

 

 

Christmas – 2015

If you are lucky enough to spend Christmas in the Keys, then you know that the Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge is the place to be. There are so many magical things that happen during Christmas here on Big Pine. From Santa coming by boat to a special homemade Christmas dinner, here are some of the highlights of what made our holiday season special in 2015.

In the rest of the world, Santa is stuck delivering presidents via a cumbersome sled led by reindeer. How old-fashioned! Here in the Keys, Santa and Mrs. clause come to visit in style, gliding along the water until they reach shore, where they are greeted by an enthusiastic crowd singing Christmas carols. Once they arrive, Christmas is officially in season.

Santa and Mrs. clause make a dashing couple, and they are always bring with them lots of Christmas cheer and warm smiles for all of our guests. Once they got settled on Sun Beach they took a moment to listen to all the Christmas wishes from kids young and old alike.

Christmas dinner is another big highlight of holidays at the big pine key fishing line. Dinner was held on Sunday, December 20 this year and Joan and her team of volunteers made every single dish from scratch. Rest assured that love and holiday wishes are added to every pie crust, every loaf of bread, and every bite of stuffing! As always, we could not have pulled off feeding every guest without a dedicated team of volunteers serving and cleaning up. We appreciate their hard work and hope that you will take a moment to thank them for their efforts when you see them around camp.

They are:
Cash Box: Vinny Ferrara, Bob Sentineal
Invocation: Tom or Hilde
Table Decorations: Kay Annunziato, Dorothy Ross
Carriers: Dan Millen, Tom Cousins, Bill Barbosa, Tom Woolsey
Meat Server:  George Leppa, Jed Scanlon
Servers:  Carol P, Suzie F, Jim, Bill B, Tom W, Gail B, Mary S, Lois W, Tom C, Beth, Ruth
Tea and Coffee: Brian and Jill Smith
Trays: Bob and Barb, Caroline and Doug, Jean and Ragnar M
Pies: Sarah, Mary, Lois
Table Clean-up: Sarah, Wayne, Ginny
Runner: Dave

The Christmas Eve play is another highlight of the holidays, and this year was no exception. During the show we were able to peek in on a BPKFL family as they reflected on their experiences during a past Christmas and the Christmas witch that visited them. Of course, you couldn’t tell a story about a witch at Christmas without hilarity ensuing, and this tale delivered!

Special thanks to everyone who participated and made the evening a success!

 

 

Thanksgiving Dinner – 2015

The holidays are special time at the Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge, and that goes double for Thanksgiving. This year 172 lucky guests were here to join us for one of our favorite holidays of the year!

There is a long-standing tradition of hosting our extended BPKFL family for a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner complete with all the traditional, homemade goodies you remember: turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, corn casserole and a sweet potato casserole that will make your heart sing. And don’t forget the cranberry sauce and homemade, piping hot, made from scratch bread!!!  Yum!

Of course, Thanksgiving dinner would not be complete without the homemade pies. Joan and her team of volunteers outdid themselves this year with a beautiful array of apple, key lime, pumpkin, and minced meat pies, all topped with whipped cream. Delicious!

In addition to all the amazing food, and wonderful volunteers, the night was made even better by beautiful weather with a slight touch of fall chill in the air. There is nothing like eating Thanksgiving dinner outside under the stars with the salt breeze complementing the smell of your turkey. If you have never celebrated the holidays in the Florida Keys there is truly nothing like it.

Special thanks to all our hardworking volunteers who take time out of their vacations to serve others. They are:

Cash Box: Bob Sentineal, Vinnie Ferrera

Invocation: Joan Cottrell

Table Decorations:  Joni Millen, Gail Barbosa

Food Carriers:

Dan Millen, Tom Cousins, Bill Barbosa, Tom Woolsey, Mike Kingman

Food Runner: Dave Grossman

Meat Server: George Leppa

Servers:

Lorie Kingman, Gail Barbosa, Carol Pringle, Sue Creswell, Bill Barbosa

Tea & Water:  Jill &Brian Smith

Trays:  Jean & Ragnar Midtskogen Doug & Carolyn, Labine

Pies: Joan Cottrell, Mary Sentineal, Lois Woolsey

Pie Carrier: Tom Cousin

Table Clean-Up:  The Sentineal Family

Thank you for making our Thanksgiving special every year!

Back to Reality Dinner – October 2015

Fantasy Fest draws crowds to the Florida Keys from all over the world for what is one of the largest parties on the Key West calendar. Of course, all that fun can take a toll, so the “Back to Reality” dinner is our way of making the transition back to real life a little less painful. This free event features fish chowder, chili, bread and pie; all made from scratch by Joan and Shirley right here at the BPKFL.

For this year’s event, we had Rob Lancaster on the bar, Brian and Joan Gladwell serving the chowder and chili, and Shirley handing out the pies. For those who have taken part in the Fantasy Fest festivities, there’s nothing like a little comfort food to make it easier to head home.  For our early-arriving winter guests, the Back to Reality dinner is the first social gathering of our winter season.   Whatever your reason for being here, this is a great chance to get together, and an even better way to miss the Sunday traffic that is leaving the Keys after Fantasy Fest. Check out all the fun we had!

Back to Reality 2015

Back to Reality 2015

Back to Reality 2015

Back to Reality 2015

Back to Reality 2015

Cover Story 2015: Legacy by Brian Gladwell

LEGACY

Looking back, this past year has held a lot of special meaning for me. Growing up, I always worked at the Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge (BPKFL) and decided in college that coming back to the BPKFL would be my dream job. Now that I have had a chance to be a part of the day to day operations, I have learned so much about what makes it a special place, not just for our family, but your families as well.

Year in Review – 2015

It is our BPKFL volunteers that make the full calendar of activities possible. Your support makes us who we are and we appreciate all you do while you are here. Here is a month-by-month account of our activities – October 2014 to September 2015 – and the volunteers that make them possible.

Theater Review – 2014/2015

Skits and plays are an important part of life at the BPKFL. It is the chance for guests to share their acting talents and be a part of the entertainment. From New Year’s to a special “Big-O” parties, everyone looks forward to being a part of the show!

 

Activity Photos – 2014/15

Thanksgiving dinner 2014

Activities are a big part of life at the BPKFL. Here are some of the photo highlights from 2014/15. 

Air Gun Match, Photography Contest, St. Patrick’s Day Drinking Contest, and Fishing Tournament Award Winners – 2015

Activities and events are a big part of life at the BPKFL. From fishing tournaments to photography, there is something for everyone at the BPKFL.

Here’s to all our guests who accomplished big things in 2014/15.