Director's Corner, Saturday, August 2, 2025
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Happy
It might seem crazy what I'm about to say?
Sunshine she's here, you can take a break
I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don't care baby by the way
Because I'm happy (happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy (happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy (happy)
Today was a sunny and perfect day which created the perfect backdrop for our final Shabbat.
This morning, campers enjoyed a leisurely start to the day at GA, playing games with friends and relaxing in the hammock park. We even had some campers wake up early for birding and group fitness. Before heading to the Island for breakfast, I had a chance to join in on some pickleball and Baggo. It was a great way to begin the day!
This morning at services, campers continued to impress me with their leadership. The sound of over 400 people singing the prayers together filled the space with tremendous joy.
This morning, our CITs once again captivated the camp with their unique take on this Shabbat’s Torah portion in their Saturday Torah Live skit. This week's portion focused on Moses's final words to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the holy land. Moses's message was a reflection on their journey, reminding them of times they fell short and times they showed true strength. He spoke about the importance of knowing when to let others lead, when to step up, when to check in, and when to apologize.
The CITs connected this message to their own summer journey into leadership. They reflected on the failures and victories that shaped them, from the resilience gained from long shower lines to leading a team in Maccabiah and navigating Makor Mania through the rain. They even touched on how the challenges of COVID-19 and not being able to go to Israel twice ultimately brought them back to camp and helped them become the leaders they are today.
They beautifully illustrated acts of leadership by sharing personal examples: helping a Makor camper bake challah, sitting with a Kesher camper during Bat Mitzvah tutoring, and taking a Ramot camper to the flagpole after a late wake-up.
In their final act, they spoke about the process of moving from camper to CIT to staff, showing how they are "passing the torch" to the next generation—a concept known as "L’dor V’dor."
Lara, our Jewish Life Director, concluded by asking the campers, "What will your final act of leadership be this week?" It was a powerful call to action, encouraging everyone to reflect on their own growth.
The CITs' Saturday Torah Live skits have been a consistent highlight, and I am so proud of their hard work in learning the Torah portions and connecting them back to camp life.
After a beautiful and moving service, we gathered in our cabins for Mikud, a special time for discussion. We reflected on what leadership means to each of us by discussing various questions. We talked about the characteristics of a good leader, identified leaders we admire, and explored different leadership styles, such as servant versus traditional leadership.
For lunch, we had cold cuts and meatball sandwiches with all the fixings, including lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and chips. We even have a delicious chicken salad that is made from the Friday night chicken leftovers. It’s a favorite of mine!
After rest hour, we gathered on the basketball court for our Mishpachot program. We started by making Mishpacha Unity Bracelets, with everyone using a shared design. Campers were encouraged to share their favorite camp memories while creating the bracelets.
Next, they held an appreciation web activity. Campers shared a compliment or something they appreciated about another camper, then tossed a ball of yarn to them, eventually creating a beautiful web of connections.
To close, each person shared a favorite memory from a list of prompts, such as "One thing I loved about our Mishpacha this summer was..." or "One small moment that felt really special to me this summer was..."
It was wonderful to walk around and see how the senior Ramot campers led these activities. Our camp families have been together since the first week of the session and spent time together during Maccabiah and this final Shabbat. These activities helped solidify bonds that will hopefully last for many summers to come.
This afternoon's Shabbat programming was full of fun activities for all the divisions. The Makor campers rotated between the aquapark, 9-square/gaga, and Maccabi Games. The Kesher campers split their time between the pool and a creative Shabbat program. They played charades with a twist: to guess a word, a camper had to run to their counselor for a "leadership act" to perform for their cabin. Once the cabin guessed correctly, another camper ran up to get the next scenario. It was a fantastic and creative way to integrate active fun with leadership skills. Finally, the Ramot campers rotated between the pool and the Maccabi Games.
For dinner, we had baked ziti. Delicious!
We ended the night with our final Havdalah. The night was beautiful and emotional as we sang "Bless This House" one last time in the Amphitheater. We watched an incredible slideshow of pictures and videos from the 3-day trips, and it was wonderful to see all the smiling faces and hear the campers cheer when their trips were shown. The beautiful settings of the trips made for some amazing photos.
We also announced this week's cabin cleanup winners! Stay tuned for the overall summer winner, as we are still tallying the final week's scores.
There's a feeling that our time together is coming to an end. It's a time to savor every last moment and bottle up these memories to carry us through until we are back on the shores of Lake Beulah.
What a perfect final Shabbat. As we sang "Bless This House" and watched the slideshow of summer memories, the energy in the amphitheater was pure joy. It’s hard to believe this incredible session is coming to an end, but if there's one thing we've all felt today, it's that undeniable sense of happiness. Just like the song says, we're all "clapping along" because we've found our happiness here at camp. Every smile, every cheer, and every shared moment is a reminder that this feeling, this joy, is the truth we’ll carry with us until we meet again.
P.S. Congratulations to the following who knew that Amy Winehouse sang "Valerie”
- Jessica Fonoroff
P.S. - Today’s question: Who sang ““Happy”?” Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a shoutout in tomorrow’s blog!