Director's Corner, Thursday, August 6, 2026
Thursday, August 6, 2026
There is something bittersweet about the last night and final morning of camp. Bags are packed, cabins are cleaned (sort of), and goodbyes begin. Before long, buses will pull away and the sounds of camp will grow quiet. It can feel like camp is ending.
But the truth is, the most important part of camp is just beginning.
The friendships built over these past four weeks don't disappear at the front gate. The confidence that came from trying something new, the resilience learned through challenges, the kindness shown to friends, and the values we've lived together all travel home with our campers. Camp doesn't stay on the shores of Lake Beulah; it becomes part of who they are.
As our campers head home tomorrow morning, my hope is that they bring a little bit of Beber with them wherever they go. If they leave with stronger friendships, greater confidence, a deeper connection to their Jewish identity, and the courage to make a difference in their communities, then this summer has been an incredible success. The memories will always be special, but it's the people our campers have become that matter most.
Today began with our final hobby day of the session. Although it was slightly shortened due to the scheduling adjustments we made earlier this session because of air quality concerns, campers still had the opportunity to spend time doing activities they love and enjoying one last chance to explore their favorite hobbies with friends.
In the afternoon, campers returned to their cabins to pack up their belongings and reflect on everything they experienced over the past few weeks. Packing is always a bittersweet tradition—it’s a reminder that camp is ending, but also a chance to remember the adventures, friendships, and accomplishments that filled each day.
We gathered one final time for our closing degel, celebrating a wonderful session together and recognizing the incredible community we built this summer. We then wrapped up the day with a fantastic indoor barbecue, sharing great food, plenty of laughs, and one last meal all together as a camp kehilah kedoshah.
We closed out our final evening together with one of our most meaningful traditions: Closing Ceremony. It was a beautiful celebration of the people, accomplishments, and memories that have made this summer so special. This past Sunday evening, you may remember that we heard heartfelt reflections from our five-year campers and staff. Tonight, we heard from those celebrating 10 or more years at Beber Camp. This summer, we were proud to recognize Beberites celebrating 10, 15, 20, 30, and even an incredible 45 years as part of our camp community. What a remarkable testament to the lasting impact of Beber Camp and the relationships built here that so many people continue to return, year after year, generation after generation.
The evening also gave us the opportunity to recognize campers for their dedication and achievements throughout the session. Awards were presented across all of our hobby areas, including music, challenge course, fine arts, athletics, and many others. We were also thrilled to celebrate our dedicated birders, who faithfully joined Trudy for early morning birding adventures on weekend mornings. Their enthusiasm and commitment certainly deserved a special round of applause!
Some of the evening's most meaningful moments came as we presented several of our camp's highest honors. Two campers received the prestigious Jane Beber Abramson Camper Service Award, recognizing their outstanding commitment to serving our camp community. Congratulations to Bella S. and Chaya G. on this marvelous accomplishment! Two members of our operations team were honored with the Floyd Abramson Operational Staff Award for their exceptional behind-the-scenes contributions that help make camp run so smoothly: a huge congratulations goes to Will from our kitchen team and Carlos from our maintenance team. Finally, one outstanding counselor was recognized with the Ron Kaplan Staff of the Session Award for exemplifying the very best of what it means to be a Beber staff member through his leadership, dedication, fun-loving personality, and care for our campers. Mazel tov to Harry on this massive accomplishment!
We then enjoyed an incredible slideshow created by our talented media team, allowing us to relive so many unforgettable moments from the summer. To our photographers, thank you for the care, creativity, and countless hours you invested in capturing the joy of camp. Your commitment to producing beautiful, high-quality photos—and your attention to ensuring every camper's story is told—has been truly appreciated by our families and our community. Thank you as well to our social media team, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our Beber families connected each day, always sharing the spirit of camp with enthusiasm, positivity, and smiles.
As the slideshow came to an end, we gathered together one last time in song. Singing beloved camp favorites like “Tucked Away” and “Bless This House” reminded us that while the summer may be ending, the friendships, traditions, and sense of belonging we share at Beber Camp will remain with us wherever we go. It was a fitting and heartfelt conclusion to an extraordinary summer.
On behalf of our entire camp staff, thank you for trusting us with your campers this summer. It has been a privilege to watch them try new things, challenge themselves, make lasting friendships, and grow in confidence each day. Their enthusiasm, kindness, and spirit are what make camp such a special place.
To our campers: thank you for making this summer unforgettable. Keep the camp spirit with you throughout the year, stay in touch with the friends you've made, and continue to embrace new adventures wherever you go.
We wish all of our campers a safe trip home and a wonderful rest of the summer. Thank you for being part of our camp family.
For a final time in 2026:
Peace, Love, 3BC,
Michael
Yesterday's song was "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae. Congratulations to our correct answers:
- Michael and Ari!
Thank you to everyone who has participated in the daily song trivia this summer! I hope it has brought joy to your day as it has to mine.