Director's Corner, Sunday, June 21, 2026

Sunday, June 21, 2026

And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game

This Father's Day, I'll take a moment to share the story behind the neon shirts many of you have probably seen me wearing around camp. Years ago, it started as a simple way to be easily spotted. Whether a camper needed help, a staff member had a question, or someone just wanted to say hello, I wanted to be easy to find. Over time, the neon became part of who I am at camp. This morning, I was excited to add a fun new yellow neon Swatch watch to the collection, which felt like a fitting Father's Day gift to myself.

Father's Day also brought a special surprise as I had the chance to spend a little time with my grown sons. As any parent knows, those opportunities become less frequent as children get older, which makes them all the more meaningful. Watching them grow into the people they have become is one of the greatest privileges of my life.

Later in the morning, I stopped by the recording studio and was reminded once again how incredible our staff are. A group of campers was working on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," and I found myself fascinated not only by the music but by the technology. Seeing campers experiment with the electric drum kit, recording equipment, and creative process is a wonderful example of the opportunities camp provides to discover new passions and talents.

If there were an award for hobby area of the morning, windsurfing might have won it. The wind on Lake Beulah was nearly perfect, and it was exciting to see so many campers taking advantage of the conditions. Windsurfing has experienced a bit of a resurgence at camp recently, and watching colorful sails move across the lake reminded me just how special a place this is. Some summers, the lake is calm and perfect for waterskiing. Some mornings, like today, the wind takes center stage.

The afternoon gave me a chance to make my way around camp and visit a number of activity areas. I spent some time at gymnastics, the challenge course, and baseball, and each stop offered a different glimpse into what makes camp special. At gymnastics, campers were challenging themselves to learn new skills and encouraging one another along the way. At the challenge course, I watched campers step outside their comfort zones, trusting themselves and their peers as they climbed, balanced, and stretched their limits. And on the baseball field, there was plenty of laughter, hustle, and friendly competition.

A few sprinkles passed through during the afternoon, but they hardly seemed to register. Campers kept playing, climbing, flipping, and running as if the weather had received a memo that it was not going to interrupt the fun. Our Cornerstone staff led a wonderful challah-baking cabin activity, one of their many fellowship initiatives designed to bring Jewish learning to life through engaging, hands-on experiences and meaningful fun. Sometimes the best measure of a camp day is not whether everything goes exactly as planned, but whether the joy continues despite the unexpected. By that measure, today was a tremendous success.

Part of what makes days like today a tremendous success is our incredible operations team: our office, kitchen, transportation, and so many more staff that keep Beber running. Under the leadership of Julia Bessen, our Director of Operations, they coordinate countless details, solve problems before most of us even know they exist, and create the conditions that allow everyone else to succeed. Their dedication, flexibility, and steady support are woven into every achievement we celebrate, and our work simply would not be possible without them. You can help make our office team’s days run more smoothly by keeping flat packages flat. When flat packages are overstuffed, they do not fit into mailboxes, which keeps them from getting to your campers in a timely and safe manner. Thank you for helping us help your campers!

It’s wild to think that today marks one week of our campers being here! In just seven short days, strangers have become friends, routines have turned into traditions, and camp has started to feel like home. I've watched campers try new things, build confidence, share plenty of laughs, and create lasting memories. The energy, enthusiasm, and sense of community that have developed in such a short time are a reminder of what makes camp so special, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store.

Peace, Love, 3BC,
Michael

Yesterday’s song was "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan. Congratulations to our correct answers:

• Taryn Gluskin
• Jenna Cohen
• Carrie Goldman
• Jeffrey Katersky
• Jenny Micon Einberger

Can you name the artist behind the song “Circle Game?” Send your guess to trivia@bebercamp.com, and I'll reveal the answer in tomorrow’s blog!