Director's Corner, Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
One of the things that makes Beber Camp so special is the opportunity campers have to make choices.
Throughout the year, so much of a child's schedule is determined for them. School classes, sports practices, homework, and activities often leave little room to decide how they want to spend their time. At camp, we intentionally create opportunities for campers to have ownership over their experience.
Our hobby program is one of the best examples of this. Every five days, campers select three hobbies that interest them. Some return to activities they already love, while others take a chance on something completely new. One camper may spend the week perfecting a tennis serve, another may discover a love for jewelry making, while someone else builds confidence on the ski boom or learns a new recipe in outdoor cooking.
The goal isn't simply to fill the schedule. It's to help campers learn that their choices matter.
Sometimes a hobby becomes a lifelong passion. Other times, campers discover that something wasn't quite what they expected, and that's valuable too. Learning what you enjoy, what challenges you, and what you'd like to try next are all important parts of growing up.
What I enjoy most is watching campers take ownership of these experiences. They arrive at their hobbies excited because they chose to be there. They ask questions, encourage one another, stick with difficult skills, and celebrate their progress because the journey is one they selected for themselves.
At Beber, we believe independence isn't something that suddenly appears when campers become teenagers or leave for college. It develops one decision at a time. Choosing a hobby, trying something unfamiliar, overcoming frustration, and deciding to come back and try again are all small moments that quietly build confidence.
Long after campers forget exactly which hobbies they took during a particular summer, I hope they remember something even more important: that they were trusted to make choices, that those choices matter, and that they were capable of trying something new. Those are lessons that extend far beyond camp.
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Today was a really great day at Beber! The afternoon heat settled in, so we found plenty of fun ways to stay cool. Campers splashed in the pool, balanced on (and fell off!) the aqua park, and drank lots and lots of water to stay hydrated.
We also gave campers a special opportunity to choose between their regular hobbies and watching today's Spain vs. France World Cup semifinal as a fun, one-of-a-kind option that let them escape the heat and enjoy some air conditioning while cheering on the match!
On days like today, I'm especially proud of our decision to install air conditioning in every cabin at camp. It makes a real difference, giving campers a comfortable place to recharge after a hot day of outdoor fun and helping everyone stay happy, healthy, and ready for another great day tomorrow.
We had a really great day of eats today: scrambled eggs with bagels and lox for breakfast, grilled cheese and a build-your-own poke bowl for lunch, and, for dinner, a campwide favorite–barbecue brisket! I think I agree with a lot of campers when I say I really look forward to this dinner’s pretzel rolls, curly fries, and corn.
Tonight’s all-camp evening program was our beloved mishpacha program! Mishpacha (משפחה) means family in Hebrew, and that’s exactly what camp is all about. At the start of their Beber journey, every camper is placed into a lifelong Mishpacha alongside their siblings and cousins, creating a special camp family that stays together year after year.
Each Mishpacha is cared for by our Senior Ramot campers and CITs, who serve as the “parents” of the family. Tonight, they led a fun, interactive program designed by our incredible Cornerstone fellows to help every camper get to know their Mishpacha “siblings.” Campers filled in the blanks on slips of paper that read, “Find someone who…,” followed by descriptors like “has a pet at home” and “has been at camp for ten years.” I heard lots of excited questions and laughs as I walked around lower camp tonight, and it warmed my heart to watch campers let loose and get more comfortable with being with each other and being at camp.
The Mishpacha Program is one of Beber’s most meaningful traditions, strengthening connections across ages and reminding us that camp is more than just a place; it’s a family. I truly enjoyed watching every Mishpacha come together for an unforgettable evening tonight.
Whether choosing to step outside their comfort zone, support a friend, take on a new challenge, or fully engage in an activity, campers continued to take the opportunity to shape their camp experiences today through the many choices they were empowered to make. These choices help build confidence, strengthen our community, and make each day at camp more memorable and meaningful.
As today’s song lyrics say, the rest is still unwritten. I’m looking forward to helping your campers write another memorable and meaningful chapter tomorrow!
Peace, Love, 3BC,
Michael
Yesterday’s song was "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift. Congratulations to our correct answers:
- Jenny Wood
- Lillie Burkons
- Amanda Sussman
- Amy Bloomberg
- Jessica Fonoroff
Can you name the artist behind “Unwritten?” Send your guess to trivia@bebercamp.com, and I'll reveal the answer in tomorrow’s blog.