Director's Corner - Thursday, August 8

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Time of Your Life

… It's something unpredictable
But in the end, it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

I can’t believe it—it’s our final day and the last blog of summer 2024! Time has flown by so quickly. After enjoying a delicious French toast breakfast, we gathered at Crown Hall for the opening ceremonies of Beber Fest and the grand finale of our Fine Arts Fest 2024, where a few more bands took the stage to perform in front of the entire camp.

Beber Fest is a special break from our usual routine, offering campers a chance to explore a variety of activities all around camp. Each camper received a passport and, with a buddy, set out to enjoy some last-minute fun. They roasted marshmallows at outdoor cooking, took a loop around the aquapark, shot hoops on the Ron Kaplan Courts, petted animals at the farm, played on the challenge course, zoomed down the zip line, created their 5-year plaque or a friendship bracelet, dipped candles, recorded a song, practiced yoga poses, and so much more.

We also held a sailing regatta where campers competed for the coveted Beber Cup and an archery contest for the Golden Arrow. Some campers tried to experience everything on the list, while others stuck to their favorite activities. Additionally, campers had the opportunity to see the CIT Project—a renovation of a space in Sycamores (our office) dedicated to our core value of Love of Israel.

After Beber Fest, we headed to the dining hall for a Nacho bar lunch, followed by packing up our belongings. Bunks spent the afternoon gathering clothes from the clotheslines, packing their items, and cleaning their spaces. Once everything was packed, they loaded their luggage onto trucks for the journey home. Campers enjoyed some free time playing frisbee, having a snack, and reminiscing until our dinner barbecue on the island.

A special shout-out goes to our operations team, Julia Bessen, and Cheryl Kaplan for the incredible job of organizing all the campers' luggage and ensuring everyone gets home safely.

Today, we introduced a new tradition at Beber. While it's long been a tradition to recognize 5-year campers during our closing ceremony, we've created something special for those who have spent three summers or more at Beber. Each of these campers received a commemorative Beber water bottle to keep them hydrated during future summers. At the end of each summer, they'll receive a special sticker to add to their bottle, celebrating another memorable summer on the shores of Lake Beulah. Campers absolutely loved this new tradition!

After dinner, we returned to Crown Hall for our closing ceremonies, kicking things off with a lively rendition of the Beber Boogie. We then honored a few of our 5-year campers (with many more to come next summer, thanks to the impact of the 2020 COVID summer). Various hobby areas also presented special awards, including archery, music, Arts and Crafts, Mahjong, sailing, and Swim the Lake. Each area created unique and meaningful awards that truly reflected their spirit and celebrated the achievements of the recipients. We also recognized our dedicated birders who woke up early several mornings to go birdwatching.

Next, we presented the Jane Beber Camper Award. Jane Beber, the daughter of Sam Beber, loved this camp and often visited, impressing the community with her dancing skills. Each session, this award is given to a camper who embodies Jane's spirit.

Staff also had the opportunity to submit nominations for our Beber Belief Awards. Several staff members were awarded certificates in categories such as Pride & Ownership, Spirit & Fun, Culture of Gratitude, Health, Safety & Wellness, and Meaningful Jewish Life. The room was filled with cheers for these well-deserving recipients. The final award, the Ron Kaplan Staff of the Session Award, went to Liv Putman and Ieuan Morris for their outstanding session and daily embrace of the Beber spirit. They are true role models, embodying Ron Kaplan's spirit in their work ethic and dedication to Beber Camp.

We also honored campers who gave back to Beber through their B’nai Mitzvah mitzvah projects, raising over $10,000 this year. A heartfelt thank you to all the generous contributors, and congratulations on your B’nai Mitzvahs!

Several staff and CITs celebrated their 10th summer at Beber, sharing highlights of their camp experiences and receiving the coveted 10-Year Blanket. One of the most remarkable honors was presented to Abdiel Robles, our kitchen manager, who is celebrating his 10th summer all the way from Mexico, becoming our first-ever Mexican staff member to reach this milestone. We also honored staff members celebrating their B’nai Mitzvah summer after 13 years at Beber, presenting them with a beautiful plaque to commemorate this achievement.

I want to share part of a 10 year speech

Hi Beber Camp!

My name is Goldie and it’s my 10th summer at camp! Finally getting the blanket. One might say this blanket is the reason I’ve kept coming back to camp because every time someone at home would ask why do you leave every summer, I’d say something like “oh, it’s my eighth summer! I’m only 2 summers away from getting my 10 year blanket but really I’d just say that because it’s easier than trying to explain to them the Beber magic that makes me wait patiently all year for summer to come along.

Every year when I would get off the bus I’d run to my mom, give her a big hug and cry. I wouldn’t be crying because I missed her so much, I would be crying because I didn’t want to leave camp. I didn’t want to leave the Beber bubble and go back to reality. I wanted to stay at the place I call my home. And now that is the real reason I keep coming back every year. Beber is my home. It’s where I can be cool and crazy and anything I want. Beber is where I learned how to sail, how to clean a toilet, how to be independent, how to give everything my all, and most importantly Beber has taught me how to be myself. Beber is where I can be me and not care what anyone thinks. Beber is where I’ve made the best relationships, the best memories, and best of all, met the best people. Beber has gifted me with so much love and laughter these 10 years and I don’t know where I’d be every summer if I wasn’t at 3BC.

So to wrap my speech up, I just want to say a thank you to everyone here at camp right now. Without you guys, there would be no Beber bubble, no Beber magic, and no Beber. So keep coming back to camp. Keep coming back for that 5 year jacket, the 10 year blanket. Keep coming back to camp because no matter what, Beber will always be there for you like how it has been there for me.

Our staff are racking up the years, as we also celebrated several 15- and 20-year milestones. Congratulations to Ari Atlas and Julia Bessen for 15 summers, and to Russell Wiener for 20 incredible summers of bringing his passion for music to camp. Russell even treated us to “20 Questions for 20 Summers,” which turned into a hilarious stand-up comedy routine.

Campers enjoyed a slideshow and song session, commemorating their time here this summer. We ended the night with Shehecheyanu, "Bless This House," and "Tucked Away," leaving not a dry eye in the house. The tears and hugs showed just how much this place means to everyone, and how they eagerly wait “10 for 2,” as we say here at camp. I will miss seeing all of your kids every day and wish them a year filled with LO HE HA (Love, Health, and Happiness). This has truly been a special summer!

Thank you for tuning in every day, and thank you for entrusting us with your children. This is one very special community! I hope you’ll join me next year as we celebrate Beber’s 50th anniversary!

P.S. Congratulations to the following who knew that Billy Joel sang "This is the Time.”

Brian B
Ronit R

P.S. - Today’s question: Who sang the song "Time of Your Life?” Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a shoutout in my next blog!