Director's Corner - Tuesday, June 25
Tuesday June 25, 2024
“I Hope You Dance”
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance... I hope you dance...
I was awoken at around 5am by some thunder and rain but luckily by the time we had degel (flagpole), the sun was shining and stayed like that the whole day allowing for an exciting day two, week 2 of hobbies and more exciting cabin activities.
I had a chance to head out to the farm today during cabin activity to hang with K2 and K3 as they helped to feed the animals and even hold the new ducks. I am amazed that we have such a productive farm facility complete with an organic garden, sheep, bunnies, chickens, goats and ducks. Our friendly cow Amy, nicknamed big butter, will be joining the farm family very soon. The space has a classroom for farm education and creative nature projects and there is both an indoor and outdoor farm kitchen to prepare farm to table dishes. This afternoon, for Hobby 2, I was able to participate in the paddleboarding hobby. Well, really, the kids were trying to dunk me in the water and I didn’t do much standing on the paddleboard. During Hobby 3, I was honored to be a waterski boat driver for some Kesher campers. For the afternoon cabin activity, I stopped by Makor swim lessons at the pool. Our lessons combine swimming skills with fun interactive games in a safe setting for our youngest campers to gain confidence in the water.
Here are a few more area director introductions:
Maddie Bird
Hello there, my name is Maddie and I am the Music Area Director this summer. I just finished my sophomore year a George Washington University in DC. I am a third generation (14th summer) Beber staff member as I am the daughter of Kym Bird and the granddaughter of Ron and Cheryl Kaplan. It is an honor to be able to bring music into the lives of Beber campers. Teaching campers how to record music, play an instrument or sing on stage in our Glee Club just “rocks”! I am looking forward to preparing the campers to showcase their talents in the Fine Arts Festival at the end of the session. Rock on!
Russell Wiener
Russell Wiener is a musician, producer, performing artist, and music educator celebrating his 20th summer at Beber Camp. Based out of Los Angeles, CA he has toured the country and put out many records with his bands The Nextdoors and The Title Trackers, and has engineered recordings and managed tours for luminaries such as Alan Parsons and David Pack among others. He is proud to say he has played many shows, and produced many recordings, with and for so many talented former campers and staff of Beber. Russell is our music AD emeritus and provides important technical guidance to our music program.
Ciara Cunningham
Hi everyone, I'm Ciara Cunningham from Ireland, and I've just wrapped up my first year as a Maths and Science teacher in Dublin. Since 2019, I've been a dedicated staff member at Beber Camp, taking on roles like PIO Leader and Senior Ramot Counselor. This summer, I'm excited to return as the Fine Arts Director, continuing the role I loved last year. Fine arts covers a broad area of hobbies including indoor cooking, newspaper, dance and the musical.
Freya McDowel
Hi I’m Freya and this is my 3rd year at Beber! I am a Sailing and Windsurfing Area Director. I learned how to windsurf while working on a French island and then went on to instruct in Greece for the next 3 years. Now I’m the Sailing and Windsurfing director at camp! I love the water! There is nothing better than hopping on a board and feeling the wind take you across the lake!
Alice Leng
Hey everyone, my name is Alice and I’m from London, England! This is my second year at camp, and this year I am the Aquatics Director. That means I oversee the programming that happens at the pool, which essentially means I get to spend every day in the sunshine at the best location on camp. My favorite part about camp has to be free swim, when campers from all divisions come to the pool to chat and play games, and of course to jibit trade and play mahjong. Back at home I’ve just graduated university and for the past year I’ve been interning in events management, as well as working part time as a swimming instructor. I am so excited to be back at Beber, and I am looking forward to another summer of learning new things, meeting new people and, of course, lots of fun!
David “Swany” Swanson
My first summer at Beber was 1998! To say that my time here has built me into who I am today would be an understatement. I have had the privilege for the last 11 summers to be the Waterfront Director where I have worked alongside exceptional staff as well as spent time with an uncountable number of cool campers. The energy and culture on the Waterfront is the place to be and I look forward to all that I share time with.
You can check all the Area Directors here.
Today’s Meals
Breakfast: Eggs and hash brown potatoes
Lunch: Hotdog bar
Dinner: Pasta with alfredo or marinara sauce, garlic bread and green beans
Tonight Kesher exploded with talent on the Beber stage as they sang, danced, and performed skits for their friends and counselors in the Kesher talent show. There were no shortage of acts and performances were met with standing “O”vations cheers, shout outs and “oh snaps”! I just love the confidence that exudes when they get offstage to such adoration from their peers.
Ramot participated in a Beber trivia night where questions were asked about camp knowledge and bunks competed for bragging rights! Makor participated in an Olympic game night with a nod to the 2024 summer Olympics. Bunks competed in events like tug of war, a Beber version of the javelin throw with hula hoops and pool noodles, a personalized craft project where each camper made their own Olympic ring to be connected together and hung in the dining hall later this session, beach ball keep away and a rousing game of knockout on the Ron Kaplan courts.
The PIOs mastered mission ImPIOssible tonight, a fun mock heist/spy mission evening program to build teamwork between the PIOs. The CITs also had a teambuilding and energetic program of Race Around the World where they navigated both physical and mental challenges to get back “home!”
We celebrated several birthdays today here at camp. It is a special tradition that the entire camp sings Happy Birthday in both Hebrew and English followed by a chant about “skipping around the room.” Campers celebrating their birthday get a frosted cookie cake to share with their bunk as a special treat!
As you can see, here at Beber we strive to give the campers a life changing memorable summer experience where they are free to express themselves and learn life skills all while having fun, and building strong bonds and friendships.
P.S. Congratulations to the following who knew that Caron Wheeler and Soul II Soul sang “Keep on Movin’!”
Ashley M
Who sang “I Hope You Dance?” Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a shoutout in tomorrow’s blog!