Director's Corner, Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Hope when you take that jump
You don't fear the fall
Hope when the water rises
You built a wall
Hope when the crowd screams out
It's screaming your name
Hope if everybody runs
You choose to stay

When parents ask campers about camp at the end of the summer, they often expect to hear about some of the signature events like the waterparks, Maccabiah, trips, talent show performances, or other special events. And those moments certainly matter. They create excitement and become part of the story of the summer.

But after many years at camp, I've noticed that some of the memories campers treasure most aren't the big moments at all. They're the small ones.

They're the conversations outside a cabin before bed. They're sitting next to a friend at lunch. They're laughing uncontrollably during a walk between hobbies. They're the counselor who notices a camper having a tough day and checks in. They're the spontaneous volleyball game at GA, the ski boat ride, the inside joke that develops over the course of a session, or the extra few minutes spent hanging with campers before bed.

Those moments rarely show up on a schedule. They aren't highlighted in newsletters or announced at flagpole. Yet they are often the moments that create the strongest sense of belonging.

Today had so many of those moments. The weather was beautiful, activities were running all over camp, and there wasn't one singular headline event. Instead, there were hundreds of small moments unfolding at the same time. As I walked around camp, I saw campers fully immersed in hobbies, counselors laughing alongside campers, friends talking as they moved from activity to activity, and a community that simply looked comfortable being together.

One of the great gifts of camp is that it creates space for these moments to happen. Away from screens, schedules, and many of the distractions of everyday life, campers have the opportunity to build friendships and connections that grow stronger one small interaction at a time. We spend a lot of time planning the big moments at Beber Camp, and we're proud of them. But days like today remind me that camp's real magic often lives in the moments nobody plans. Those small moments may not make the Instagram story, but they are often the ones campers remember long after the summer ends.

Tonight, small (and big!) moments happened in each of our evening programs. Campers shared collective effervescence at the Makor talent show with a variety of unique performances, including skits, dances, impressions, and more. Kesher voyaged around the world (aka Lower Camp) learning dances, games, languages, and more from counselors of more than 9 different countries! And Ramot’s divisional lip sync battle brought energy, laughter, and wholesome connections. As someone who spent many years as the Director of Programming at Beber, I have a special place in my heart for these creative programs and for those who dream them up and make them into reality. Thank you to our head counselors, division leaders, and incredible programming team for putting your all into every program and creating opportunities for small, personal moments to change lives at camp.

As I’ve mentioned in past blog posts, I am constantly fascinated by and grateful for the creative choices our chefs and kitchen team make. Today was a delicious day of eats here at Beber. For breakfast, we had our signature breakfast bar and pancakes. Lunch came with countless options: not only did we have quesadillas with rice, guacamole, and other sides, but we also had a poke bar with salmon, avocado, and a variety of other veggies. Dinner tonight, as featured on our Instagram story, was sloppy joes. All of these meals were accompanied by big smiles, full bellies, and important “small” moments in conversations all throughout our dining halls.

As we continue to dive into Week 2, I am so excited to see what small but impactful moments come to light. May we all enjoy the small moments just as much as the big ones.

Peace, Love, 3BC,
Michael

Yesterday’s song was “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles. Congratulations to our correct answers:

• Andy Whitman
• Mitch Greenfield
• Galite Shafer
• Margot Kleinman

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