In the summer of 1992, I had just graduated High School. I was excited to start college as a music student at Florida State University (I transferred to UF after one year), but I was pretty nervous about living in the dorms. I knew about Camp Coleman because my cousin and some good friends went every summer, and I thought to myself that going there for a summer as a counselor would be a good experience before I transition to college.
Starting in that summer of 92, I worked at Coleman for seven summers in a row. During those years, I learned how to be a better counselor, I learned how to play guitar and started leading services, I became more comfortable in my own skin, and I discovered talents and passions that were previously unknown. I became obsessed with ultimate frisbee, writing funny songs and raps, planning fun programs such as MTV night and camp scavenger hunts, and everything else camp related.
During those first few summers, there were a few occasions that I dressed up as Waldo, from the Where’s Waldo book series. One night for my unit’s evening program, I made a scavenger hunt and the goal was to find Waldo. It ended at the fire pit where we had S’mores and storytelling. I told everyone that the amazing characteristic of Waldo is that on the one hand he is unmistakably easy to see. You see his red and white stripes and you immediately know who he is. But at the same time, he blends in very easily, and if you’ve ever looked at one of the Where’s Waldo drawings, you know that it can be difficult to find him!
This is the magic of Jewish summer camp. Each camper and staff member develops further into their own unique selves, while also blending in, and fitting in, with the community.
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All of this, the playing, the singing, the growing, the friendship making … all of it is under the rubric of Judaism. There is a set period of each day that is devoted to Jewish learning, and there are services every day, and a special service on Shabbat. But these are part and parcel of the camp schedule. A large Israeli contingent comes to camp every summer and teaches campers and staff about life in Israel. We use Hebrew words when talking about all of the activities and buildings. All of the counselors are Jewish. Rabbis, cantors and educators come every summer to further work with, and blend into, the community. Judaism infuses every element of camp.
And as for the camp services, they aren’t led by the Jewish professionals. They are led by the campers! Each service has a theme - something like friendship or memories or Jewish heroes, and the campers write a short paragraph that not only ties into the theme, but also into one of the Hebrew prayers. Every camper participates in at least one service every session, from the kids entering 3rd grade to the oldest campers entering 10th grade. In this way, they not only learn the rubric of Jewish prayers, but more importantly, they connect themselves to the prayers.
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There is no doubt about it; I am a rabbi because of my experiences at Camp Coleman. I don’t say that to suggest that Camp Coleman, and the 15 URJ camps in North America are successful because they nurture future clergy. They are successful because they help each camper and staff member find and discover the best parts of ourselves, helping us figure out who we are and who we want to be.
Tonight, we think of the 10000 Jewish children that will not have these experiences at our URJ camps during this coming summer. Of course, there are many other Jewish camps that our kids attend, and most of them are closing as well.
Camp Coleman has a tradition of a wonderful Oneg on Friday night. It happens at about 11:00 PM, after dinner and services, and after the campers have gone to bed. All of the staff enters the Chadar Ochel, the dining hall, and takes place in a feast of sweets. After a bit of time, there is ‘Good & Welfare,’ where staff members share something wonderful from the week, or thank someone for helping out during this or that activity. In that spirit, I give my thanks to Camp Coleman, and to all of the Jewish summer camps that continue to help raise our children with the best of Jewish values, guiding them to fit in while also standing out, and helping them learn to strengthen and create their own Jewish identity.
