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Director's Corner - Sunday, July 6, 2025

July 6, 2025

“Celebrate”

Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music
Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music
Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music
Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music

Today, the entire camp enjoyed a hearty breakfast of apple turnovers together in the dining hall before gathering their spending money and lunches, and setting off for the Bristol Renaissance Faire and the Milwaukee County Zoo.

It was our goal in the off season to provide a more age appropriate trip for our youngest division so Makor headed to the Milwaukee County Zoo. It was actually a trip that I did when I was a camper back in the 80s.  The zoo offers the opportunity to observe so many interesting animals and many campers were in awe of the peacocks just wandering around.  Each camper was also allowed to choose an add on special exhibit.  They chose from a train ride, a sky glider ride, a carousel ride, a zoo shuttle or a super cool dinosaur exhibit.  Campers spent the day wandering around in small groups with a counselor, taking it all in. They ate delicious food and did a little shopping too. I loved looking at all of the adorable stuffed animals that they came back to camp with.  

Hear ye! Hear ye! Ramot, Kesher and TLP went to the Bristol Renaissance Faire.   Located in Kenosha the fair offers an immersive experience that transports our campers to a fantastical 16th century village. The grounds span around 30 acres and there is so much activity, with lively street performers, costumed characters, and a variety of themed entertainment, from fire whip performances to comedy shows (complete with tomato throwing), a thrilling joust, musical performances on stage, and many walking minstrels. The spectacle of people dressed in elaborate costumes added to the festival's charm, making people-watching a highlight in itself. Of course,there were some really great food vendors. There were also themed events and demonstrations, such as falconry displays and storytelling sessions.

I want to commend our kitchen, operations and program teams for their impeccable organization, smoothly coordinating the boarding of over 500 people onto 13 buses across three different locations on camp to two separate destinations, complete with packed lunches and their spending money. It's no easy feat but they do it with such precision and efficiency.  

Upon arrival at their destinations, campers and staff enjoyed their packed lunches in the parking lot. They were divided into small groups based on friend requests, each group accompanied by dedicated staff. Throughout the day, there were designated meeting spots where leadership team members, along with medical support, were stationed every half hour. Nurses and clinicians were on-site to handle any issues, and there were mandatory check-in times to ensure everyone stayed hydrated and to assess group well-being. Our TLP campers get a taste of responsibility by being allowed to travel in small groups with more check in times but allowing them to branch out and explore on their own.  

Here are just some of the many foods sampled by campers today on their outings.  Campers sampled a delightful array of treats including portobello mushrooms, crepes with ice cream and fruit, Spanish fries with onions and cheese, deep-fried mac and cheese bites, broccoli cheese soup in bread bowls, sorbet served in fruits, artichokes, ice cream, fried cheese fritters, cheese pizza, and more. It's a wonder anyone had room left for the indoor BBQ dinner back at camp!

We had a bit of rain while at the faire and zoo.  Campers at the zoo had plenty of indoor exhibits to visit but came prepared in their raincoats to be able to move about freely.  The Renaissance Faire is mostly out in the open but we quickly sprung into action getting all the groups into shops to hang out while the rain passed.  Even before it faded into a drizzle, campers were back out taking full advantage of all that the faire had to offer.

We arrived back at camp with plenty of time to shower, clean up our bunks and relax after an amazing day out of camp.  

After a shortened GA, we headed to Crown Hall to honor our  3 and 5 year campers and staff.  At the 3 year milestone, campers and staff are presented with a custom Beber Camp water bottle to stay hydrated in style.  At each major milestone, stickers are added to the water bottle as just another incentive to keep coming back to the place that they call “home away from home.”  With close to 60 campers and staff reaching their 5-year milestone, we decided to present tonight as a sort of “graduation” ceremony.  We set the stage with chairs and even made a podium for them to come up to and present their 5 year speech.  Each group of campers came up to the stage to the graduation march and told their reasons for coming back year after year to Beber.  There were funny speeches about cabin memories and inside jokes and heartfelt speeches of gratitude for lifelong friendships and counselors that helped them grow.  Here are a few highlights from some of the speeches:

From Orly from Madison:

For my speech I have decided to give 5 thank you’s to the people who make Beber my happy place.

First, I’d like to thank the Waterfront directors Freya + Charlie. I spend lots of time on the lake, and it is the most organized place at camp. My favorite memory from camp is sailing with Freya, and I don’t know how it happened, but I can actually kinda wind surf now, instead of doing my usual routine of giving up and joining Ramot Float. Also, the life jacket system is really working this year.

Next, thank you to the Kitchen staff for making my five years at camp delicious.

Thirdly, thank you to the counselors. It is no secret that you guys have a tiring job, but I want to let you all know that you’re the reason camp is fun.

Fourthly, thank you to Bruce for running a fan favorite hobby, water skiing. The campers love you and you are really good at taking attendance!

Lastly, thank you to my parents for understanding that my favorite place on earth just happens to be away from them. Bye Beber Camp! See you next summer!

From Eden and Ariella

Hello BEBER camp!

I’m Edan B from Northbrook, Illinois
And I’m Ariella G from Skokie, Illinois

E: To put these past 5 years into perspective, we’ve decided to come up with a list of 5 things that we could have had instead of our Beber camp experience.
A: For the same $35,000 dollars 5 years at camp costs, we could have had: 25,200 packets of Annie’s Mac & Cheese
E: 17 additional Aqua Park obstacles
A: 175 Crocs
E: 1 19.5 foot Six Yamaha speed boat
A: And 866.3 pounds of powdered eggs
E: But the difference between all of these things and 5 years of Beber is that none of these items could ever compare to an experience like we’ve had here at camp.
Ari: Our time here has been priceless. Thank you to our parents for giving us this gift and
Both: THANK YOU BEBER CAMP FOR AN AMAZING 5 YEARS!

We also honored almost 10, 5 year staff, 6 of which were international staff and our first ever 5 year staff member from the Dominican Republic.  Having them back here for 5 summers is an incredible testament to the community that we build.  

Tonight was a true opportunity to “Celebrate.” From heartfelt speeches to the excitement of jacket presentations and surprise giveaways, the energy was unmistakable. Beber Camp came together not just to mark a moment, but to honor the shared love and lasting impact of a truly meaningful experience. What a night to remember!

Peace, Love, 3BC

Michael

Today’s Trivia: Who sang “Celebrate”? Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a chance to be featured in tomorrow’s blog!

Yesterday’s Trivia Answer: Bob Marley and The Wailers sang “One Love.” Congrats to:

  • Clarissa Cohen
  • Jennifer Stern
  • Wendy Elman
  • Tobi Pinsky
  • Andy Whitman
  • The Millers
  • Sarah Salamon

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