Director's Corner - Sunday, June 16, 2024

Director's Corner - June 16, 2024

Brand New Day

All you lovers in the world (it's a brand new day)
Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl (startin' up a brand new day)
Stand up all you lovers in the world (it's a brand new day)

It’s a brand new energy here in Mukwonago.  In fact, it’s been an electric day as we finally welcomed our campers back to the shores of Lake Beulah! Months of meticulous planning have led up to this moment, and it’s indescribable to hear the sounds of laughter and see the joy on everyone's faces again. The camp feels whole again, buzzing with life and excitement. For our returning campers, it’s a heartfelt reunion, and for our newcomers, a thrilling adventure awaits.

As I pen this blog, the camp has settled in for the night after a fantastic first day. A heartfelt thanks goes out to our incredible staff. Their dedication during staff training has truly shone through today. They’ve immersed themselves in camp life, learning how to create the best possible experience for your campers, testing out favorite activities, and building the foundations of a memorable summer.

The weather today was a mixed bag.  At times it was perfect, with clear skies and plenty of sunshine—ideal for games of beach volleyball, 9-Square in the Air, or simply hanging out in our playground and expanded hammock area. New friendships blossomed, and old ones rekindled as campers played icebreaker games and toured the camp to get oriented.  We also had a little rain during arrival time as well as our opening ceremony - more on that later.

Early arrivals were treated to a delicious BBQ lunch on the island. Campers spent the afternoon unpacking, getting fitted for lifejackets, meeting the health center staff, and signing up for their first week of hobbies.

Dinner was a hit with chicken nuggets, french fries, mixed vegetables, vegetarian and gluten-free options, a full salad bar, and frozen ices for dessert. Huge thanks to our returning kitchen manager Abdiel, the kitchen leadership team of Fer, Michel, Jesus, Carlos, Jafet, Cesar, and Chuck, and the entire food service team for their hard work in feeding over 500 people with delicious options.

For those who don’t know me, I’m Michael Wax, and this is my 34th summer at Beber Camp. I started here as a camper from Louisville, Kentucky, in 1982. It’s an honor to serve as the camp director, and I thank you for entrusting us with your children. We’re committed to providing them with an unforgettable summer. My two sons grew up here, and I understand firsthand the importance of our mission: creating an inclusive community that challenges and nurtures fun, individual and community based growth, and Jewish identity in a safe, positive and diverse environment with exceptional professional leadership.

This evening, we held our opening ceremony in Crown Hall. We typically meet in our amphitheater but with a small rain shower, we moved inside. Campers sang favorites like “I Wanna Go Back to 3BC,” “Gum Trees” and “The Beber Boogie,” along with an encore for Kesher, Ramot and TLP of “Love Story” and “Don’t Stop Believin'”  I shared our core values: Sacred Community, Leadership, Courage, Gratitude, and Love of Israel. We also introduced the leadership team and discussed stepping out of comfort zones, showing gratitude, and the importance of our staff who will be taking care of everyone this summer.

Speaking of staff, check out this link.  You can see a little blurb about your camper’s counselors. This is something new and I hope you like it!

I hope every camper will try something new, discover a new passion, and make lifelong friends. I can’t wait to share more stories with you. I’ll write this blog nightly, aiming to post on our website by 10 AM each day.  I’ll also send out a push notification linking you to the blog when I've completed it. Don't forget to turn on push notifications on the Campanion app. Note for returners - I will not be posting the blog on Campminder.  I will only be posting on our website. But - don't forget to use the Campanion App where you can also view photos from the previous day.

Tomorrow, I’ll provide updated contact information for those wanting to know more about their camper’s experience. Remember, the camp number is 847-677-7130. For emergencies after 10:30 PM, dial 3.

Here’s to Summer 2024. Peace, Love, 3BC,

Michael

P.S. - I love trivia, especially music trivia. Today’s question: Who sang “Brand New Day”? Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a shoutout in tomorrow’s blog!

Congratulations to the following who knew that Zac Efron and the High School Musical Cast sang "We’re all in this Together" from my June 2 blog.

Jill R
Ronit R
Lindsey L
Anne R

P.S.S. - Check out our Parent Summer Checklist linked here. We’ll take great care of your campers, and we challenge you to tackle some summer bucket list items. If you have a fun activity to share, email kim@bebercamp.com, and we might feature it in our blog!

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