Good evening, Capital Camps!

We are so excited to support your Benjamin Village campers at Capital Camps this summer! Whether they are first-time campers or on their 3rd or even 4th summer at camp, we know that there will be lots of opportunities for learning, growth, and development. 

Capital Camps staff are specially trained to support your camper wherever they may be developmentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. We help cabin and specialist staff understand the importance of supporting each camper with developmentally appropriate and individualized expectations while helping them to learn and grow as individuals and part of a community. 

In Benjamin Village, the cabin is the heart of the community and it becomes the home base from which campers explore and engage with the rest of the village and camp. Each activity, from the pool to omanut (arts), from sports, from Maccabiah (color war) to Shabbat, and everything in between, is designed to give your camper opportunities to grow and challenge themselves. We can’t wait to see their eyes light up when they learn something new, share an accomplishment, or realize how they have helped a friend. 

This is the true gift of camp, and we thank you for entrusting us with your children. We are so excited to play, learn, and grow together!

Deborah Harburger, MSW

Dear Yalla Parents,

Welcome to the joyful, jam-packed world of Yalla Village – where your 6-9-year-olds are growing in every way imaginable! What a whirlwind of excitement it’s been as our amazing 2nd-4th grade campers have officially kicked off their Capital Camps journey! From the moment they stepped off the bus or car, wide-eyed and a little nervous, they started stretching their wings mentally, physically, and socially. They will learn to use their words to express big feelings, solve little problems, and build friendships that matter. With the support of their counselors, leaders, and our Camper Care Team, they’re developing independence, emotional awareness, and a strong sense of self. This is the age where their brains are shifting into high gear – thinking more logically, asking deeper questions, and discovering just how capable they really are.

Socially, Yalla is a launchpad for lifelong friendships. Campers are learning how to be kind, how to listen, how to share, and how to be part of a community. They’re practicing empathy and respect in every cabin conversation and group game. And thanks to our diverse staff from the U.S., Israel, Mexico, and the U.K., they’re experiencing a beautiful blend of cultures and perspectives that broaden their world in the most joyful, interactive way. Every day is a new opportunity to connect, grow, and shine. Yalla is more than a village, it’s a place where your child discovers just how strong, loved, and limitless they truly are.

And of course, Jewish life is the heartbeat of it all. This session your children will be dancing through tradition – literally! From the ruach (spirit) that fills our meals, to the beauty of Shabbat, they’ll be connecting to their heritage in ways that are meaningful and unforgettable.

In just one short week, we will watch your children transform. What might have begun with a few tears and nerves will blossom into a world of possibilities, pride, and lifelong connections.

With ruach and gratitude,

Kara M. Damsky, LMSW

“It’s hard to believe that camp is almost over.” The chatter among our campers is starting to pick up, and they’re right. The time has really flown by.

At summer camp, we offer so many outlets for creativity, enjoyment, community building, and friendship—opportunities presented in ways that can’t be replicated anywhere else.

Last week, our campers and staff competed in a highly-anticipated camp favorite: Maccabiah, our team color competition. During this event, we broke down our typical groups to bring the whole camp together in new ways. Campers with siblings were placed on the same team, creating unique family bonding opportunities. Campers also mixed with campers from other cabins and villages, widening their range of connections in our Capital Camps community. This new perspective encouraged a deeper understanding of team building and collaboration. Several activities occurred over the two-day period. In their themed teams, campers and staff created team cheers, participated in our iconic Maccapeel (relay race around camp), and competed in classic camp activities like sports, aquatics, and arts and crafts. All of these in our team format gave campers different opportunities to take on new leadership roles and create lasting experiences. 

Beyond grand events like Maccabiah, so much of the magic at camp happens in the everyday moments of our activities. We get creative with our art projects. We laugh and play in the pool. We work as teams in sports. We adapt our minds to overcome obstacles at the ropes course. We also offer camper-selected programming through a daily chug (elective) block. These chugim activities range from extensions of daily camp activities—rikkud, tennis and pickleball, archery, arts and crafts—to more unique programs catered specifically to our campers’ interests and each chug, like Israel Adventure Week led by our Head of Israel Education, Experience Mexico led by our Mexican counselors, gymnastics, Zumba, diving, tea time at the farm, the camp show, creek walking, and so much more. Needless to say, we are filling our campers’ time at Capital Camps with a diverse range of activities, from typical days with their cabins to programs that allow them to branch out into unique personal interests and creative abilities.

It’s inspiring to see campers dive into new experiences, whether it’s mastering skills on the sports field, unleashing creativity in arts and crafts, or discovering a hidden talent during a specialty block. These aren’t just fun ways to pass the time at camp; they are opportunities for campers to learn new skills, build confidence, and experience things they might never encounter at school or at home. What makes these moments even more profound is the way campers engage with one another—sharing laughs, collaborating on projects, cheering each other on, and navigating challenges side by side. This naturally fosters incredible bonds and friendships that we know will last long after the summer ends. Witnessing these connections form is a powerful reminder of the deep, meaningful impact camp has on each child.

I can’t wait to watch as these moments wind down what has been an inspiring, meaningful session.

Best,

Sam Belkowitz, Program and Staff Engagement Coordinator

Hello from Europe, Capital Camps!

Our Leaders-in-Training (LITs, rising 11th grade) have been in Europe for a week, and this trip has been truly remarkable. So far, we have seen some of the oldest synagogues in Europe, walked through the Jewish quarter of Prague, and listened to some beautiful music in a gorgeous Spanish synagogue.

As Jewish people, we know that our history is so important to our present lives and future generations. Our LITs are expanding their perspectives and really navigating complex experiences, asking interesting and tough questions. Their curiosity is immense and gives me hope for the future of the Jewish people, especially as we are in the places where that future was almost entirely destroyed. We began our journey in Munich and below are some recaps from our second stop of the trip in Prague:

7/10 Recap:

The LITs had an incredible first full day in Prague. We began the morning by visiting the Prague Castle and the Parliament. We made our way to the Pinkas Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue, and the Old-New Synagogue, where we learned the rich history of the Jewish people in Prague. We ate lunch in the Jewish quarter and many campers made sure to try the famous Chimney Cake! We had an awesome afternoon doing summer bobsledding, followed by our dinner in Prague’s Old Town. We ended the night at a classical music concert at the Spanish Synagogue.

7/11 Recap:

Today the LITs experienced a mixture of meaningful, fun, reflective, and celebratory moments. The day began by heading to the Terezin Concentration Camp. We explored the caves, walked the train tracks, and observed the crematorium. One of our campers is a fourth-generation survivor of Terezin and shared his story, helping establish an even stronger connection to the tour. Seeing the barracks and crematorium of Terezin, to walk under the Arbeit Macht Frei (work makes you free) sign was beyond words. Following the tour, we had a lighter change of pace at the Fun Arena, where campers partook in archery tag, human foosball, 8-ball pool, and more arcade games. Finally, we got ready for Shabbat, which kicked off with a dinner at Chabad of Prague. After the meal, we broke out into an impromptu Shabbat session, reciting classic camp songs and bringing the campy feeling all the way to Prague.

7/12 Recap:

The LITs had a reflective and relaxing Shabbat. We headed to Chabad of Prague for camper-led Shabbat morning services, followed by group reflection time. Following lunch, we enjoyed a walking tour of Prague’s astronomical clock area and the Charles Bridge. We spent the afternoon enjoying some free time in Prague’s Palladium, and concluded the night with a Havdalah service back at the hotel.

7/13 Recap:

Today we departed Prague and headed to Vienna. We stopped along the way at Aqualand Moravia for a fun waterpark adventure. Once we arrived in Vienna, campers enjoyed free time, some of whom enjoyed a game at Top Golf.

We look forward to continuing to share this journey with everyone.

Best,

Brenda Serpick, LIT Coordinator
Ariella Ball, Ben Weiner, Sophia Schwab, LIT Counselors

There’s something special about the final week of a session. By now, the routines have become second nature, friendships are deeper, and everywhere you turn, it just feels like home. We’ve learned each other’s rhythms, shared countless smiles, and created memories that are hard to put into words. Our cabins become more than just buildings. They become communities. 

At camp, our shared spaces are not just places to sleep; they are reflections of how we live together. This is an idea reflected in our weekly Torah portion, Parshat Balak.  In it, we hear the words: 

“Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael.” 
“How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.” 

This line offers a powerful reminder that how we live together matters. The way we treat each other, the way we show up for one another, and the community we create all matters. 

This week, we’ve seen the truly expansive nature of our tents here at Capital Camps. Our LITs began their journey through Central Europe, carrying the spirit of camp with them as they travel. We welcomed a new Yalla group of first-time campers who jumped right into the energy of camp life. And we opened our tents even wider as we embraced a cohort of Israeli Legacy Camp participants who are joining us for the final ten days of first session. Our camp community is both rooted and mobile, growing in size and stretching across the world. 

And while after next week most of our campers will no longer be living in a tent or cabin, my hope is that they will all ask themselves the following question: what from this space can I carry into the year ahead? 

Will it be the way friends cheered for one another during Maccabiah?  

Will it be the conversations that fill the moments between programs with meaning and depth? 

Will it be the ruach (spirit) filled energy of Shabbat at camp? 

Mah tovu asks us to make our dwelling places special, wherever we go next. To take the best of what we have built here at camp and find ways to bring it into our schools, homes, and friendships in the months ahead, with the goal of creating a better tent for all.  

Shabbat Shalom,
Josh Micley

Good morning, Capital Camps!

During our staff development week prior to camper arrival, I presented our Atzma’im Inclusion Program to all of our new staff members. I shared that we support campers with a range of disabilities and needs, and I explained the structure by which we do this. As I was creating this program and detailing how different members of our community support our campers receiving Atzma’im support, I was able to remember and see how Atzma’im is truly a collective effort here at Capital Camps. Here are the some of the ways people in various roles support with the Atzma’im Program:

Atzma’im Counselors: These are the dedicated “go-to” counselors for our campers with Atzma’im support. They are extra informed about the campers’ needs and trained to support them day to day. This is the campers’ primary support person.

Cabin Counselors: They work to build an inclusive cabin culture so that all campers feel at home.Cabin counselors in bunks with an Atzma’im counselor seamlessly handle the role of the Atzma’im counselor on their hours off and days off.

Specialists: Sports, ropes, aquatics, and art specialists will get to know campers when they come to their specialty areas. They work side-by-side with the Atzma’im counselors to make sure that the camper can participate appropriately and is provided all necessary accommodations. 

Other counselors in the village: Other staff in the village can step in to hang out with the campers, provide a break for Atzma’im counselors, help to uphold inclusive behavior among peers, and keep campers’ needs in mind when planning programs.

The Leadership Team: I personally work routinely with different members of the Leadership Team to help support our campers. Whether it’s collaborating with a yoetzet to discuss social-emotional dynamics, asking our Ropes Coordinator to accommodate a camper on the zipline, working with our CIT village leader to coordinate CITs shadowing Atzma’im support counselors, there’s helpful work to be done by everyone.

The campers: We have developmentally different expectations for different aged campers regarding supporting their peers with disabilities. In the younger villages, campers may actively find ways to include their peers in programming and down time. In the older villages, campers may also help their peers with some daily tasks or advocate for them when necessary.

Making the Atzmaim Program a reality is truly a team effort involving every member of our camp ecosystem. I am endlessly thankful to be part of a community where everyone is so committed to this culture of inclusion.

Best,

Hannah Stoller

The sense of community at camp can be attributed to a variety of factors. We’re sharing the same physical space, we’re all practicing Judaism, we share the experiences of camp together, and the list could go on and on. However, in my humble and biased opinion, there is no greater community builder at camp than that of music.

We experienced this community building power firsthand last night. Near the end of shira (song session), a buzz flew through camp as fireworks started to go off nearby. Just because there was a distraction didn’t mean that the singing had to stop. It was apparent that we had an opportunity to make this moment even more memorable with a slight pivot. So, we decided to move the energy from our regular indoor space to the outdoor plaza and do our weekly siyum (closing song) ritual on the grass under the light of the stars and sounds of the fireworks.

There is a practice at camp of making ordinary moments extraordinary. Music is just one of the many tools at camp that helps us curate the magic that our campers and staff alike bring with them throughout the year. 

Best,

Nick May

At camp, we begin each morning with Modeh Ani during B’yachad at the flagpole. During this communal moment before the day begins, we stand together and say, “I give thanks.” It’s a simple phrase, but a powerful one. It encourages us to pause and notice the people, places, and moments that sustain us. 

That spirit of noticing is at the heart of this week’s Torah portion, Chukat. In it, we encounter a moment of deep loss: Miriam dies, and almost immediately afterward, the Israelites find themselves without water. Our tradition teaches that a miraculous well had followed the people through the desert in Miriam’s merit. When she passed, the water dried up. 

Miriam wasn’t always front and center, but she was a quiet source of strength and nourishment. Only when she was gone did the people realize just how vital she had been. Her story invites us to ask: what are the “wells” in our own lives? What are the sources of support and care that we might not always recognize? 

During meals this past week, I asked a simple question to campers across villages: what is one thing you’re grateful for at camp? Their answers were a beautiful reflection of what really matters here. Some campers named their counselors, their friends, or the people who make their meals. Others mentioned Shabbat, the lake, the pool, and grilled cheese (of course). 

What struck me most was how many of these answers pointed to relationships and small comforts, the things that might not always make the schedule or get a shoutout, but that shape the camp experience in deep and lasting ways. 

Miriam’s well reminds us that some of the most important contributions are the quiet ones. At camp, so much is held together by small moments of care, by people who show up day after day to support others, and by spaces that give us the chance to be ourselves. 

Gratitude is not just about saying “thank you.” It’s about noticing. It’s about honoring the people who make a difference without needing attention, and about becoming that kind of presence for someone else. 

This week, may we continue to notice the “wells” around us. May we carry Modeh Ani not just at the flagpole, but throughout our day. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Josh Micley

Dear CCRC Community,

My name is Zach Stern, and I’m thrilled to be serving as the Ropes Coordinator this summer. This is my 14th summer at camp and my 4th on staff, and I feel incredibly privileged to lead such a meaningful part of the Capital Camps experience.

Our Challenge Course, often called the ropes course, is much more than a set of high elements. It’s a full-day team-building experience designed to help campers grow both individually and as a group. A day at the ropes course offers campers the chance to take on challenges, strengthen communication, and deepen relationships with one another.

Our staff arrive a week early to develop both the “hard” technical skills required to operate the course safely and the “soft” facilitation skills that bring the experience to life. Our goal is not only to help campers push beyond their comfort zones, but also to guide them in building stronger, more supportive cabin communities.

Each ropes day begins with team-building games that challenge campers to work together and communicate effectively. Our staff are trained to help groups navigate moments of tension and engage in meaningful reflection during structured debriefs. The transformation that can take place in just one day is remarkable. Some of my most meaningful moments on staff have come from watching cabins leave the Challenge Course as a more connected and cohesive group.

Capital Camps is the most important place in the world to me, and I’m honored to help create moments of growth, connection, and confidence for our campers.

Respectfully,

Zach Stern