Director's Corner, Thursday, July 16, 2026
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Summer camp is made up of countless moments - campfires, songs, cheers, late-night laughs, and unforgettable adventures. While every summer brings something new, it's the traditions that connect each generation of campers and create the lasting memories that make camp feel like home.
Traditions matter because they give campers something to look forward to and something to pass on. Some traditions happen every day, like gathering at flagpole, singing Hatikvah, cheering together, or heading off to hobbies with friends. Others happen each week, from Israeli dancing on Friday evenings and Shabbat celebrations to Mishpacha and evening programs. Then there are the traditions that campers count down to all year long - Maccabiah, Makor Mania, our three-day trips, Banquet, Swim the Lake, the Musical, Lip Sync Battle, field trips, and yes...Waterpark Day.
These traditions aren't important because they happen on a certain date. They're important because of the feeling they create. They become the stories campers tell, the memories they laugh about years later, and the experiences that connect generations of Beber campers.
Today was originally supposed to be Waterpark Day, one of those classic Beber traditions. However, as many of you know, the air quality throughout much of the Midwest has been affected by the wildfires in Canada. After carefully monitoring the conditions, we made the decision that staying closer to camp and spending more time indoors was the right choice for our campers' health and wellbeing.
One of the things I love most about Beber is that while traditions are important, they don't define us. What defines us is the creativity, flexibility, and positivity of our staff. Within an hour, they completely reimagined the day while making sure campers still had an incredible experience.
Makor and Kesher enjoyed trips to local bowling alleys, while Ramot headed to an indoor adventure park where they could stay active in a comfortable environment. Back at camp, our programming team transformed the time her into something special. Kesher campers brought incredible energy to a Lip Sync Battle, while Makor campers rotated through a variety of fun stations including Just Dance, creative drama games, and other interactive activities that kept the laughter going all day long. We wrapped up the evening together with a movie, giving everyone a chance to relax after a full day of fun.
The waterparks haven't disappeared, they've simply been postponed. We look forward to making that tradition happen later this session when conditions improve.
One thing I've learned over many summers is that camp isn't memorable because every day goes exactly as planned. It's memorable because of the people who turn unexpected moments into great ones. Today was a wonderful reminder that even when circumstances change, the spirit of Beber doesn't.
As you write letters to your campers this week, or when they come home after the summer, ask them about our traditions. Ask them about their favorite evening program, what happened at Maccabiah, who made them laugh during Lip Sync Battle, what they loved about their hobby, or which camp tradition they'll remember most. My guess is their answers won't just be about the activities themselves. They'll be about the friends they were with, the counselors who made them feel at home, and the memories they created together.
Those are the traditions that last a lifetime.
Peace, Love, 3BC,
Michael
Yesterday’s song was "Heroes" by David Bowie. Congratulations to our correct answers:
- Nicole Jamison-Dinowitz
- David Bate
- Amy Bloomberg
- Lillie Burkons
- Jenny Wood
Can you name the artist behind “Sweet Caroline?” Send your guess to trivia@bebercamp.com, and I'll reveal the answer in tomorrow’s blog.