Director's Corner, Sunday, July 20, 2025
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Walking on Sunshine
Ohhhh, yeeeh
I used to think maybe you loved me now baby I'm sure
And I just can't wait till the day when you knock on my door
Now everytime I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down
'Cause I just can't wait till you write me you're coming around
As the sun sets on yet another beautiful day here at Beber Camp, I can't help but reflect on how spirited and lively the campers were for their final day of the first week of hobbies. While campers were sad that it was the last day, they were also busy wrapping up projects in arts and crafts, finishing their dances in dance hobby, and trying to slalom as long as possible on the waterskiing boat.
Today, I had the opportunity to float around a couple of different hobbies to see their last day in action. I started my morning at the farm with outdoor cooking. For some reason, the animals are extra friendly this year (LOL), as the goat and our cow, Amy, followed us wherever we went during the hobby! Some campers had fun picking their own eggs from the chicken coop and then made delicious sunny-side-up eggs with cheese – yum! The rest made their own personal versions of s'mores with chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows.
Next, for second hobby, I stopped into the dance studio to see what the girls were creating. It was such a great process to watch the counselor, Ava, work with the campers to brainstorm which moves to incorporate into their routine for the Fine Arts Fest. Ava made sure every voice was heard, and each idea was added in some unique way.
A new hobby, "Survival Skills," finally tested their handmade rafts today, with about nine boys from Kesher and Makor participating. A big shout out to Anita for creating and running this incredible hobby!
The boys managed to bring their rafts down to the lake, and it was a huge success! It was so impressive to see them use old lifejackets, plywood, and other items to create their own functional rafts. They must have felt so accomplished, and it was the best seeing the look on their faces when they realized how well their creations floated. Great job, Anita and the boys!
We also checked out the newspaper hobby, where they were putting final touches on their latest edition in the "boardroom" (my office). Then, we got to see the Rock Band hobby rocking out to "Zombie" by The Cranberries—rock on! We wrapped up the third hobby by judging indoor cooking's plates. I, along with some other special guests, served as judges for their fun "Chopped" competition!
All in all, the first week of hobbies was a resounding success! The campers' energy, passion, and spirit truly shone through as they put their all into every activity. I hope they got everything they hoped for out of their hobbies and are excited for their next week of new adventures!
Meals:
- Breakfast: French toast with powdered sugar and syrup!
- Lunch: Shawarma with pita, hummus, and Israeli salad!
- Dinner: A lovely cookout on the Island!
Evening programs were buzzing across camp!
- Makor enjoyed "Makor on the Shore Survival," a cool new evening program created this summer. It featured a series of rotations designed to see if they could survive being lost at sea. Challenges ranged from building a shelter with tarps and stakes to finding a backpack full of random items and choosing only three essential ones to escape the island, explaining their choices. What a creative program! A big thank you to Makor Head Counselor, Esther Loewenthal, for putting this together.
- Kesher: Talent Show!
- Ramot: Lip Sync Battle!
- TLP: Pool partay!
Tonight, I want to take a moment to introduce our fantastic Area Director team. These dedicated individuals are responsible for creating, facilitating, and supervising the very activities that are the heart of our camp day. They are an extremely hardworking and energetic group, and their attention to detail, especially regarding camper safety, is deeply appreciated.
Here they are:
Brady Traugot, Music Area Director & Head Song Leader: This is Brady's fourth year on staff and seventh summer at Beber overall. From NYC, he just graduated from Vassar College with degrees in psychology and music (and was a varsity fencer!). He'll be starting his master's in social work at NYU this fall. Brady keeps coming back to Beber for the sacred community and the campers' daily engagement and enthusiasm.
Thom van Keeken, Challenge Course Area Director: This is Thom's fourth summer at Beber and third as Challenge Course Area Director. Hailing from the Netherlands, he graduated a year ago as an outdoor sports instructor and now works full-time at an outdoor store in Amsterdam. In his free time, he loves nature trips and outdoor sports challenges. Thom loves returning to Beber because of the amazing staff and campers, and he values how the Challenge Course helps campers and staff expand their boundaries and support each other.
Victoria Schubarg, Fine Arts Area Director: This is Victoria's ninth summer at camp and second year on staff. She's currently studying music at Mount Holyoke College and will graduate next spring, participating in the orchestra, flute choir, and dressage team. This summer, her goal is to support her staff in running memorable hobbies, incorporating new ideas, and spreading joy and enthusiasm through fine arts.
Lara Zeigler, Director of Jewish Life: This is Lara's second summer at Beber, and she's thrilled to be back! She lives in a Chicago suburb and teaches at a public school during the year. As a proud mom to two happy Beber campers, being here is extra special for her. Lara's favorite part of her job is finding creative and meaningful ways to help campers explore their Jewish identity and spending time with campers of all ages, seeing Jewish life come alive across the Beber community.
Hannah Harris, Arts & Crafts Area Director: This is Hannah's third year at camp and second as Arts & Crafts Director. From England, she loves spending her summers here, and at home, she runs kids' club activities full-time. This summer, Hannah is excited to reintroduce classic activities to arts and crafts and make it one of the best places to be.
Luke Simpson, Athletics Director: Luke, from northeast England, is our Athletics Director this summer. This is his third year at camp and his first as athletics director. He's looking forward to being active and sporty with the campers. At home, he has coached gymnastics for over five years, played semi-professional football, and practices jiu-jitsu in his spare time.
Freya McDowell, Waterfront Director: Freya is our Waterfront Director, originally from the Lake District, England. She currently lives in Canada, working at a bobsled track in the winter. This is her fourth year at camp, and she's excited to teach many new skills on the waterfront. Over the winter, she fell in love with bobsledding and has begun training, hoping to one day represent Ireland in the Olympics.
Charlie Jenner, Windsurfing & Sailing Area Director: Charlie, from South Wales in the United Kingdom, is in his second summer at camp as the Windsurfing and Sailing Area Director. He recently finished his degree in Maths and Physics back home. Charlie loves coming to camp because the campers are hilarious and always make him laugh. This year, he's looking forward to developing the sailing and windsurfing hobbies now that they have a dedicated area director.
As we wind down the first full week of camp, we're feeling proud, a little sweaty, but mostly just grateful for the friendships, the laughter, and the community we're building together.
As we reflect on this incredible first week, the feeling that resonates most is pure joy—much like the infectious energy of "Walking on Sunshine." From campers excitedly sharing their crafted masterpieces, to the triumphant splash of handmade rafts, and the vibrant performances at evening programs, every moment was filled with smiles and a sense of accomplishment. Our dedicated Area Directors and staff have created an environment where campers truly feel like they're "walking on sunshine" every single day. We can't wait to see what brilliant new memories the next week brings as we continue to build this unforgettable summer together!
Trivia Time! Yesterday’s question was: Who sang “I Want to Break Free?” Answer: Queen
- Brian Berns
- Ronit Ripes
Today’s trivia: Who sang “Walking On Sunshine” Send your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a chance to be featured in tomorrow’s blog!