Director's Corner - Wednesday, July 17
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Sunshine Days
I think I'll go for a walk outside now
The summer sun's callin' my name
(I hear ya now)
I just can't stay inside all day
I've gotta get out, get me some of those rays
(Everybody's smilin')
Sunshine day
(Everybody's laughin')
Sunshine day
(Everybody seems so happy today)
It's a sunshine day
Today was the most perfect day. I could not have asked for more perfect weather. Warm, sunny with a slight breeze and I can’t believe we are already done with our third day of hobbies.
Speaking of hobbies, I am going to take the opportunity to share with you some information about our hobby program here at Beber. Our hobby program is an integral part of our daily schedule here at Beber. Campers have 3 hobby periods each day for a total of five days. Campers customize their hobbies by choosing from a list of a wide range of fantastic opportunities for each period during hobby signups. Our area director team led by our hobby director oversees a team of staff responsible for facilitating the hobbies which are geared towards teaching a skill and having it perfected within the five day hobby rotation. If after trying out the hobby on day one, the camper feels it isn’t a right fit for them, we allow them to switch into a more appropriate hobby. This further exemplifies customization and camper choice. During staff training, the area directors work with hobby leaders on a curriculum for their hobbies that focuses on both skill development and fun in a safe and well supervised environment. In a single day here at Beber, campers can learn to get up on waterskis, make a ceramic bowl and traverse the challenge course. By the end of the session, campers will have participated in 9 different hobbies allowing them to get a well rounded experience. Some campers have their favorite areas of camp and our unique program allows for several different hobbies to try in each major area. Others branch out and try a little of everything during their time here. Every hobby period we meet at the iconic Beber hobby wheel where campers break out to meet their hobby leaders at various signs around the wheel. This may seem like a huge task but by day two everyone knows exactly where to go and it works like a well oiled machine enabling our campers to maximize their time in that activity. Hobby leaders check in their campers and then they head off to learn new things, perfect old skills, meet new people and have fun. I cannot wait to introduce you to our hobby team in a future directors corner.
In my travels around camp today I was able to get a sneak peek at the Makor dance hobby campers. There were a lot of them signed up for this hobby and it was just so much fun watching them in our indoor dance studio taking their newly learned moves seriously. They were eager to perfect their dance skills and make it stand out when they hopefully perform it in the Fine Arts Festival at the end of the session for all of the camp to see.
We have a former staff member here for this hobby week working with our movie making hobbies. Danny Farber brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that he is sharing with the campers from the proverbial drawing board to finished production. I also cannot wait to see these videos also proudly viewed at the Fine Arts Festival at the end of the session.
Todays Meals:
Breakfast: Chocolate chip and regular pancakes with fruit
Lunch: Mac and cheese with a fried mac and cheese treat
Dinner: BBQ on the Island with all the fixings
Tonight the entire camp gathered together in Crown Hall for the staff talent show. Per tradition, the show opened with a performance by the Beber Band “Lo-”Key”-Ha.” This year's music staff team has such a vast array of talents from drums to guitar and keyboards and even flute and trumpet. Various staff groups performed parodies to popular songs, danced, and played instruments. Campers supported them with shout outs for their counselors and hobby leaders and loud cheers. Many of the staff performed group acts from their home countries. We even had an incredible performance by our staff from Mexico which told the story of two Mexican volcanoes and included several popular Mexican songs. What stood out to me most was the plethora and diversity of the acts. I was told that we had so many acts that we had to make some cuts due to timing issues. This clearly shows how much the staff have become comfortable with being in front of the camp, sharing their talents and setting the real life example that here at Beber you can be cool, crazy, and anything you want. I hope that this same sense of comfortability trickles down to the campers who will have their own divisional talent shows in the coming days.
The PIOs traveled to Northwestern University for a tour of the Hillel facilities on campus and some of the educational areas as well as having time to shop and explore. They had a pizza lunch followed by an extremely emotional and memorable trip to the Illinois Holocaust Museum. They rounded out this eventful day with dinner at Ken’s Diner. The feedback from their experiences so far has been incredible. Their action packed session is off to a fantastic start.
Tonight I had a sneakout with O1. These youngest campers are just so happy to be here and a joy to be around. The wonder with which they see camp reminds me of my first summer here at Beber back in 1982. I sincerely hope that they have a wonderful time here and that these memories last as long as mine have.
So much is happening here at Beber and we are having so much fun making memories on these “Sunshine Days”.
P.S. Congratulations to the following who knew that U2 sang "Beautiful Day!"
Franci F
Jenny M
Amy B
Dennis P
Ronit R
Jessica F
Brian B
P.S. - Today’s question: Who sang “Sunshine Days?” Email your answer to trivia@bebercamp.com for a shoutout in tomorrow’s blog!