Director's Corner - Thursday, August 1

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Country Roads

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

Our Ramot and Kesher campers have returned from their exciting adventures, and it was fantastic to see them step off the bus, full of stories and smiles. They quickly set up and swept out their tents on lower camp, getting everything ready for the next session. Working as a team, they unloaded all their camping supplies, demonstrating not only efficiency but also a deeper appreciation for the effort behind organizing their trips. It is a TON of work!

It was quite a sight to see all the tents piled high in the utility vehicle, ready to be taken back to the camping room. With over 85 tents sent out for their trips, the campers showed remarkable teamwork and responsibility. The health center was on standby to provide any needed medical assistance immediately, instead of waiting for the usual clinic call after dinner. As they got off the bus, they were met by a program team member who gave them the plan for unpacking and asked about their trip highlights and biggest accomplishments. Their responses were truly inspiring, ranging from overcoming fears of camping to conquering mountains and biking long distances. This is why we emphasize our tripping program—it helps campers realize their potential and achieve real success. What an invaluable life lesson!

After unloading their gear, the campers enjoyed well-deserved showers, picked up their freshly washed laundry, and tidied up their cabins. Before dinner, they had the chance to play games on lower camp and catch up with friends they missed while away. I strolled around and witnessed them excitedly sharing their adventures and fun experiences.

Tonight’s GA was filled with fun as campers reconnected with friends and staff from all divisions. They played Kan Jam, basketball, and relaxed on the Blue swing and hammocks. The atmosphere was electric, with everyone back together again.

For the evening program, Ramot and Kesher campers reunited with their trip groups to fill out evaluations, providing valuable feedback to improve future trips. They offered great suggestions and gave shout-outs to the exceptional staff who supported them. It was wonderful to hear about the new friendships formed and the exciting activities they tried. The campers felt safe and well-cared-for, which is our top priority. Each trip group did a small closing activity before rejoining their bunks to finish the session and come back as one unit after being apart for three days.

I’m thrilled to have them all back at camp, a bit tanner, stronger, and filled with pride and memories that will last a lifetime.

For the morning, Makor spent some time running the aquapark and paddling on the lake as they took over the waterfront.  In the afternoon they had a really awesome lip sync battle where they were given time to prepare a song and then perform it for their staff judges.  The creativity of these young campers is astounding.  It was really fun to watch.  For their final activity of Makor Mania they went to arts and crafts to write thank you notes to the East Troy fire department and evaluate their programming and time during Makor Mania.  Their feedback was outstanding and they loved having the camp all to themselves and getting to sleep late and enjoy creative programming.  The campout was a highlight as well and I had so much fun with them over the three days.  

Meals
Breakfast: Waffles and strawberries
Lunch: Quesadillas
Dinner: Spaghetti and Meatballs

The PIOs spent their final day with their Taste of Beber campres, ensuring that they were well cared for and having the time of their lives.  They really bonded with their campers and were great role models.  I am so very proud of their hard work and relentless energy.  They left this afternoon for a trip to the Wisconsin State Fair.  This will be their last night together as they leave in the morning.  It has been such an amazing experience for them and a privilege to watch them grow as leaders.  They have worked hard and played hard and it will be very difficult to say goodbye to them in the morning.  I hope that the lessons they learned and the memories that they made will be with them forever.

I’m looking forward to our final Shabbat of the summer!

P.S. Congratulations to the following who knew that Johnny Cash sang "I’ve Been Everywhere.”

Ronit R
Brian B
Jessica F

P.S. - Today’s question: Who sang “Country Roads?” Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a shoutout in tomorrow’s blog!