by Jen Shevitz, camper parent
I finally stopped procrastinating and got Hannah packed for two weeks at camp the night before she left. We drove up with her friend Jake the next day and as soon as we hit the front gates, Hannah felt like she was home. We did our check in, lice check, pictures, and then headed to her cabin. She dove right in with 15 other girls and 4 counselors. After getting her unpacked and organized, I said my goodbyes and left my girl. Once she is behind those gates, we exchange letters and I see the pictures that camp posts. Not only do we parents get to see pics and letters, but the camp keeps a blog written from the perspective of different staff members. From what I could read and see, Hannah had an incredible time.
Hannah said this was the best year yet at camp. She was home as soon as she walked through the gates. She immersed herself in living a Jewish life full of joy, fun, and faithfulness for two full weeks. All her letters home raved about the friends, food, and chugim (electives). Favorite activities included the cabin camp out, Shabbat Shira (song session), swimming, hiking, Maccabiah, and more. Hannah loves the counselors. Some were from Israel. Some were from past years and some were new. The counselors not only take care of our kids, but are in charge of all the chugim, depending on their specialty. They lead shira and prayers. They teach and lead the kids in discussion and learning. Hannah also wants to be a song leader someday so she can lead shira when she is a counselor! One of the best moments of camp she said was during Maccabiah. The camp was divided by house (the 4 houses of Hogwarts) and the song leaders started lead them in competing cheers. As Maccabiah progressed, the kids all inter mixed and became one large group – holding each other and singing together. They said it was totally not planned and just amazing to watch.
Hannah comes home from camp tan, dirty, sleepy, and so incredibly happy. The friends and connections she makes and the learning she does about herself, the world, and Judaism stay with her. She talks and talks and talks and talks the entire ride home and for weeks after. I love that Hannah loves camp and the sense of Kehillah Kedosha (holy community) that it gives her. I love that when I pick her up she is attacked by her cabinmates who don’t want her to leave and all of her counselors rave about what a great kid she is. We have 5 years of camp behind us and 5 more to go til her senior year when she gets to be a CIT (counselor in training) and then when she graduates a counselor. I can’t imagine a better counselor then someone who has spent their entire childhood growing up on those grounds. Til next year Kalsman…Thanks for an awesome summer!!
Note: text and photos taken with permission from Jen’s blog. Specific posts here and here.