Director's Corner, Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Imagine all the people
Livin' life in peace
You, You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

One of the things I have been thinking about today is confidence.

Confidence is an interesting thing. It doesn't usually arrive all at once. It grows quietly, built by one small success at a time. Sometimes it's trying something new. Sometimes it's realizing you can do something today that seemed impossible just a week ago. One of the greatest privileges of camp is getting to watch that confidence grow in so many different ways.

This morning I spent some time down at the waterfront talking with a couple of our waterski instructors. They were genuinely excited because two of our Makor campers skied using the full rope instead of the boom for the first time. If you've ever watched someone learn to waterski, you know that's a big milestone. They also shared that one of our Kesher campers completed an incredibly long slalom run. Those accomplishments don't happen by accident. They come from practice, encouragement, perseverance, and the willingness to try again after falling. Seeing the excitement on our instructors' faces reminded me that our staff celebrate these victories just as much as the campers do.

Later in the day I sat down with a camper and asked how things were going. Without hesitation he smiled and told me, "I've made a ton of new friends." It was such a simple answer, but it said so much. Just over a week ago, many of our campers arrived wondering if they would fit in or if they would find their people. Today, many of those same campers are walking around camp with a growing sense of confidence and belonging.

I also had the chance to catch up with one of our Artists in Residence, Len Keilin, who, many years ago, happened to be my camp director. Len has been teaching pickleball this week, and he couldn't stop talking about how campers were already hitting balls accurately into a milk crate as a target. It was another reminder that confidence isn't limited to one activity. Whether it's on the pickleball court, the waterfront, or in an art studio, campers are discovering new abilities they didn't know they had.

Perhaps what has been most rewarding to watch, though, is our counselors. During the first few days of camp, many were understandably relying heavily on supervisors for guidance. Now, just over a week into the summer, I see them stepping forward, making decisions, leading conversations, solving problems, and building relationships with their campers. Their confidence is growing right alongside the campers they serve.

Confidence is contagious. When counselors believe in themselves, campers begin to believe in themselves. When instructors celebrate progress instead of perfection, campers become willing to take risks and try new things. Those small moments build upon one another until suddenly a child who was nervous on opening day is trying something they never imagined they could do.

That's one of the beautiful things about camp. We don't simply create opportunities for fun. We create opportunities for confidence to grow, one small victory at a time.

One of the most exciting chances for camper confidence to take center stage arrives tomorrow. This afternoon, our Senior Ramot and Pioneer campers let the secret out: Maccabiah is coming! Maccabiah, our once-a-session color wars extravaganza, is packed with opportunities for campers to discover new strengths, take brave chances, and surprise themselves with what they can do. Whether they’re jumping into a pool relay, racing in track & field, tackling a trivia challenge, or cheering on their teammates, every camper will have a moment to step into the spotlight and let their confidence shine. Beyond the friendly competition, Maccabiah brings our camp community together in the most spirited way. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of earning points for your team, hearing the cheers of your friends, and realizing, “I did it!” By the end of the day, campers won’t just be celebrating victories; they’ll be carrying a little more confidence in themselves, too.

Each session, Maccabiah has a unique, thoughtful theme that brings campers and staff of all interests and backgrounds together. Our First Session 2026 Maccabiah theme stems from the quote, “We are the world—united in color.” Tomorrow’s festivities will celebrate not only the camaraderie and teamwork between all of us at Beber Camp, but the love and hope that we have for the entire world. United in beautiful colors tomorrow, campers and staff will work together to build connections, celebrate our differences, and demonstrate the power of a community that comes together with one shared purpose: lifting one another up while making the world a brighter place.

Today was a bit rainy, but tomorrow is looking beautiful, just in time for Maccabiah. Today’s meals were French toast, our delicious Poke bar and loaded nachos, and nourishing chicken fajitas and island noodles. Today’s all-camp evening program was the staff talent show! You can watch the highlights on our Instagram story, where you will also find lots of Maccabiah updates throughout the day tomorrow.

I’m off to rest now—tomorrow is a big day! I can’t wait to watch your campers shine in their red, yellow, green, or blue.

Peace, Love, 3BC,
Michael

Yesterday’s song was “I Lived” by OneRepublic. Congratulations to Emily Wolff for being our one correct answer of the day!

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