Director's Corner, Friday May 29, 2026

"These are days you'll remember, never before and never since..."

Summer is getting closer.

Last week, I mentioned that we had just completed an emergency response tabletop exercise with local law enforcement and security partners. It was one of many reminders that while campers have not yet arrived, camp is very much underway.

One of the things I love about this time of year is that so much important work happens behind the scenes. Most of it will never be seen by campers and families, and that's exactly the point.

Our goal is simple: when campers arrive, we want them focused on being campers.

We want them making friends, trying new activities, laughing with cabinmates, singing at campfires, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. We want camp to feel like a break from the pace and pressures of everyday life, while also providing a meaningful experience that helps campers grow in confidence, independence, and connection.

Creating that environment takes a tremendous amount of preparation.

Safety and security remain a major focus as we prepare for the summer. Earlier this month, we conducted our annual emergency response tabletop exercise. This year, we were joined by the local Chief of Police as well as security leaders from the Milwaukee Jewish community. These conversations are valuable opportunities to review procedures, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that our plans remain current and effective.

In addition to these planning exercises, we have been testing gates, cameras, communication systems, and other security infrastructure across camp. In the coming weeks, we will also conduct training with the security personnel who will be on site throughout the summer.

One of the things we emphasize every year is that safety is not a destination. It is an ongoing process of reviewing, evaluating, learning, and improving. If you would like to learn more about our approach to emergency preparedness and security planning, I encourage you to read our Emergency Preparedness at Camp article on the Beber Blog.

The same mindset applies to our Health Center.

Over the past several months, our year-round nurse, Maya, along with the rest of our Health Center team, has been reviewing health information for every camper who will join us this summer. We are also excited to be launching a new Health Center Best Practices initiative. While we believe we already provide exceptional care, this effort allows us to formally document and codify many of the practices and procedures that have helped us care for campers successfully over the years.

We are also introducing our new "Fight the Bite" campaign, which focuses on tick awareness and prevention. Like many of our health and wellness initiatives, the goal is education, awareness, and helping campers enjoy everything camp has to offer safely.

Meanwhile, staff are beginning to make their way to Beber from around the world. We are fortunate to have many returning staff members joining us again this summer, along with talented new team members from countries including New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, France, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, and beyond. Their diverse experiences and perspectives help make our camp community stronger and enrich the experience for our campers.

Around camp, projects continue to move forward as well. We recently completed the concrete work for the loading dock at our new maintenance facility. While a loading dock may not sound particularly exciting, it represents an important long-term improvement. Once operational, deliveries that previously traveled through areas near the Lodge will instead be routed to a dedicated facility. Fewer vehicles moving through central areas of camp means a safer environment for campers.

And, as often happens when preparing a camp that serves hundreds of people each summer, there are always a few unexpected challenges along the way. Last week, while preparing one area of camp, a water line was accidentally struck. Thanks to our multiple well systems and the quick work of our maintenance team, the issue was resolved quickly with minimal disruption. Moments like these serve as a reminder of how much planning, infrastructure, and problem-solving happen before the first camper ever steps off a bus.

There is still plenty of work to do before Opening Day, but each day brings us one step closer.

Campers deserve the opportunity to simply be campers. To disconnect from screens, build friendships, try new things, gain confidence, and experience the magic that comes from being part of a caring community. Everything we're doing right now, from reviewing health forms to testing security systems to preparing facilities and training staff, is in service of that goal.

Next week, more than 200 staff members will arrive at Beber, and our focus will shift from preparing the place to preparing the people. I look forward to sharing more about Staff Week and the training process in my next Director's Corner.

Until then, enjoy these final days before summer begins.

Peace, Love, 3BC

Michael

Last Week's Music Trivia

Last week's song was "The Waiting" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

Congratulations to our correct answers:

Ali Cantor
Amy Lefton
Stefanie Mintz
Andy Whitman
Jill Rivkin
Yair Bernstein

I'd love to see even more participation this summer, so don't be shy about sending in your guesses!

This Week's Music Trivia

Can you name the song and artist from the lyrics at the top of this week's Director's Corner?

Send your guess to trivia@bebercamp.com, and I'll reveal the answer in next week's edition.

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