Director's Corner - Monday, June 30, 2025
June 30, 2025
“Once In a Lifetime”
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
It was a beautiful Monday at Beber Camp with sunshine, fresh hobbies, big milestones, and the buzz of adventure in the air.
We kicked things off early this morning with one of Beber’s greatest camper challenges: Swim the Lake. Nineteen campers, most of them in the Swim The Lake hobby, put on life jackets, boarded boats across the glassy lake, and swam their way back to camp just after sunrise. Staff paddled nearby in kayaks and ski boats, and every single swimmer finished in under an hour - a first! As they stepped from water to shore, they were met with cheers, hot chocolate, and the kind of pride that only comes from doing something hard and doing it together. And true to our sacred community, every participant stayed on the beach to cheer in the final swimmers.
We kicked off the rest of the day with a hearty breakfast featuring delicious pancakes—both classic and chocolate chip, fueling us for a busy morning ahead. After cabin cleanup, campers dove into their morning activities. A standout session was Drama Games with G1 and our Fine Arts Area Director, Victoria. Campers played imaginative games like freeze and charades, fostering creativity and generating lots of laughter along the way.
The energy stayed high with the start of Hobby Week 3. Campers met at the Hobby Wheel under the dancing Green Flappy Man (a tribute to our Maccabiah champs) and launched into new adventures like:
- Paddleboarding and windsurfing
- Model Rocketry and horseback riding
- Backstage at Beber
- Synchronized swimming
- …and even meeting Amy the cow, our newest farm friend
Meanwhile, our CITs were everywhere, interning in hobbies, helping in programming, and learning firsthand what it means to be a Beber staff member. Their growth and initiative are showing in big ways.
Lunch was a brand-new hit: pizza bagels and onion rings, and wow, it was a crowd favorite. In the afternoon, our Kesher and Ramot campers began packing for their three-day trips. Tomorrow they'll head out on adventures that promise challenge, connection, and unforgettable stories. I’ll share more about those trips in tomorrow’s post.
Behind the scenes, the trip-prep hustle was on with gear packed, food loaded, safety protocols reviewed, and staff trained. While all of that was happening, the rest of camp carried on with laughter, learning, and movement.
Dinner brought us chicken fajitas, chips, salsa, and guacamole (a house specialty!), but the real treat came next: our All-Camp Talent Show. Each division sent a few top acts to the stage, and the crowd was electric.
Highlights included:
- The CITs dancing in wigs and Hawaiian shirts to a mashup from Camp Rock and Lilo & Stitch
- Senior Ramot Girls performing original lyrics reflecting their Beber journey
- Senior Ramot Boys ending the show with a high-energy finale that brought down the house
At Beber, talent shows are more than just fun, they’re moments of courage, self-expression, and community pride. Whether campers are solo performers or part of a group, they’re learning to support each other, take risks, and celebrate everyone’s unique spark.
A special highlight this week has been welcoming alumni onto our trips. Levi Wolff, a former camper and staff member (and now a PhD in Chemistry!) returned to help lead a canoe trip and share his love of science. He even hosted a hands-on science night for A1, where campers learned about freezing point depression by making frozen yogurt with toppings. Sweet and smart!
We also welcome Jon Fields and Zach Leeds this week as trip staff, bringing their own expertise to our biking and fishing adventures.
Tomorrow brings Makor Mania, where our youngest campers take the reins, and the departure of our trips. Excitement is everywhere. With the right prep and incredible staff, we’re ready for the next big chapter in this once-in-a-lifetime summer.
Help Us Spread the Word: Tours & Family Fun Day
If you know a family who might love Beber as much as yours does, now is the perfect time to introduce them to camp! We’re offering summer tours and hosting 2 Family Fun Days later this season, and we’d love your help getting the word out.
Tours are a great chance for prospective families to experience the energy of Beber in action, and Family Fun Day is a relaxed, activity-filled afternoon designed just for new families to get a taste of what makes this community so special.
Tour sign-up info: Click here
Family Fun Day RSVP: Click here
Your recommendation means the world to us—and it's often what inspires new families to take the leap. Thanks for being part of that story!
Peace, Love, 3BC,
Michael
Today’s Trivia: Who sang “Once In a Lifetime”? Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a chance to be featured in tomorrow’s blog!
Yesterday’s Trivia Answer: Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross sang “Endless Love.” Congrats to:
- Andy Whitman
- Heather Carp
- Jessica Fonoroff