Director's Corner, Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars
I'm gonna give you my heart
'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars
'Cause you light up the path

Hello from a sunny Beber Camp Tuesday! One of my hobbies today was gymnastics with Makor, and I walked away with a huge appreciation for what our campers are accomplishing. What struck me most was the complete absence of fear. Campers were trying new skills, pushing themselves, falling, getting back up, and trying again. You could almost see the adrenaline rush after they landed something they had been working toward. There was so much pride, confidence, and accomplishment in the room.

For the record, I successfully navigated the balance beam (a personal victory), but when it came to the tumble track, I became much more cautious. Watching campers launch themselves into flips and tricks was impressive. Part of me would still love to learn a backflip someday, although I suspect the window for that particular life goal may have narrowed considerably! I'll leave the aerial acrobatics to the campers and staff who still bounce back a little faster than I do.

My third hobby period took me to Arts & Crafts, where creativity was on full display. One group was making puppets, but they weren't just creating puppets, they were creating entire characters. Campers were developing backstories, personalities, and adventures for their creations. It was a great reminder that imagination is a skill too. Whether it's learning a new gymnastics move or inventing a puppet with a rich life story, camp gives young people the space to try something new, take ownership of it, and feel proud of what they've created.

Today, I found myself reflecting on how Beber becomes an extension of so many campers’ families. It’s a home away from home: a place where we can laugh, grow, take risks, and feel completely ourselves. At Beber, campers are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, try new activities, and build meaningful connections. Tonight’s Mishpacha program is one of the many ways we foster that sense of community across camp.

Every camper at Beber is welcomed into a lifelong mishpacha (Hebrew for “family”) that they return to year after year. Each mishpacha brings together campers from across divisions, creating connections that span ages and experiences. Our senior Ramot campers, along with our Pios and CITs in the Teen Leadership Program (TLP), serve as the “parents” of each mishpacha, helping guide and support younger campers throughout the summer. Through games, team-building activities, and plenty of laughter, campers met their mishpachot (the plural of mishpacha) tonight and began building the relationships that will make these groups feel like family all summer long.

A huge thank-you goes to our incredible Cornerstone staff leaders, whose dedication makes the Mishpacha program possible. Each year, Beber sends a group of staff members to the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Cornerstone Fellowship, where they spend several days learning how to create meaningful Jewish experiences that strengthen campers’ connections to one another, to camp, and to Judaism.

This year’s Cornerstone theme is kadosh (holiness), and tonight was a beautiful reflection of that idea. Watching campers of different ages, genders, and backgrounds laughing together, cheering one another on, and forming new friendships was a powerful reminder that Beber is truly a kehilah kedoshah (a holy community).

Some more people who make our community holy, safe, and fun are our wonderful division leaders! They are great leadership members to contact should you have any questions (not Health Center related) about your camper. Read more about your camper’s division leader below:

Meet the Summer 2026 Division Leaders!

Makor (Beginnings in Hebrew)

• Jolie Ring - O1, O2, O3, O4, O5

Hi! My name is Jolie Ring, I’m from Vernon Hills, IL, and I am so excited to be a Summer 2026 Makor division leader! This is my 13th summer at Beber and my 3rd year as a Makor division leader. I just finished my junior year at Syracuse University, where I am a double major in Psychology and Civic and Community Engagement, leading to a career in Jewish organizational leadership and non-profit management. I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know all of your kids this summer. Camp is truly my happy place and I am so excited to welcome your campers into the Beber bubble. My commitment is to create an environment where each camper is seen, heard, and ready for the summer of a lifetime! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything. My email is jolie.ring@bebercamp.com. I can't wait to spend the summer with your campers!

• Sam Rhodes - K1, K2, K3, K4, K5

Hello! My name is Sam Rhodes and this year at camp I am one of the Makor division leaders! This is my 12th year at camp. Previously at camp I have been a lifeguard, music staff, and last summer I was the Ramot head counselor. In the fall, I will be starting my junior year at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where I major in Political Science and minor in Data Science. I can't wait for an incredible summer filled with fun, growth, and amazing memories! Please feel free to reach out to me at sam.rhodes@bebercamp.com.

Kesher (Connection in Hebrew)

• Sari Stinson - G1, G2, G3, G4, B1, B2, B3, B4

Hi everyone! My name is Sari Stinson, and I am so excited to be the 2026 Kesher Division Leader! I’m from Vernon Hills, IL, where I work as a third-grade teacher. This will be my 15th summer at Beber and my 5th summer on staff. Beber has always been such a special place to me, and I love getting to help campers create memories, build friendships, and try new things. To me, camp is a place where kids can grow, gain confidence, and feel comfortable being exactly who they are. I’m looking forward to getting to know your campers and helping make this an amazing summer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions—my email is sari.stinson@bebercamp.com. I can’t wait to spend the summer with your child!

Ramot (Heights in Hebrew)

• Carly Colen - T1, T2, A1, A2

Hi! My name is Carly Colen. I’m thrilled to be a Ramot Division Leader this summer! This is my 13th summer at camp (my favorite place on earth). Previously, I was the Makor Division Leader for several summers, so I’m super excited to work with many campers who I’ve known since they were young, and get to know newer campers too! I have my Bachelor's in Political Science from Emory University, my Master of Peacebuilding and Mediation from the University of St Andrews, and my Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan. This summer, I want each camper to create lifelong friendships and feel connected to the magic of the Beber community. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at carly@bebercamp.com. I can't wait to spend this summer with your wonderful kids!

• Sophie Golden - T3, T4, T5, A3

Hi, I am Sophie Golden, and I am one of the Ramot Division Leaders this summer! This is my 13th summer at camp and my 4th summer on staff. I am a rising senior at McGill University studying sociology, with hopes of becoming a social worker. Camp is truly my favorite place in the world. To me, the most important part of camp is that Beber is a safe place where I feel I can be authentically myself! I’m looking forward to getting to know each camper in my division and watching them grow this summer. Please reach out to me at sophie.golden@bebercamp.com with any questions!

Teen Leadership Program (TLP) - Pioneers and CITs

• Morgan Morris

Hello! My name is Morgan Morris and I am a consultant for Beber Camp and the summer TLP director! I am from Edinburgh, Scotland and this is my 9th summer at Beber. I am a social worker and am currently earning my Masters in Israel Education from George Washington University. I am passionate about working with teens to grow their leadership skills, teach them about Israel, and help them transform into our future Beber staff members! My favorite places on camp are the lake and pool. I can’t wait to help your campers grow and thrive all summer long! You can reach me at morgan.morris@bebercamp.com.

Whether it was a camper conquering a new skill on the tumble track, creating a puppet with an incredible imagination, or meeting their mishpacha for the first time, today was filled with moments that remind me why Beber feels so much like home.

Peace, Love, 3BC,

Michael

Yesterday’s song was Worry No More by Amos Lee. Congratulations to Mitch Greenfield for being our one correct answer! I enjoy sharing a mix of more and less well-known songs for our daily trivia here, so look out for a fun combination of artists and genres throughout the summer.

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