Hello, Capital Camps!

The LITs have joined camp after their Central Europe trip, and we wanted to share some powerful reflections they’ve offered on Jewish identity and history. You can read more about the trip here:

• July 14 bulletin
• July 22 bulletin
• July 24 bulletin

The Leaders-in-Training (LIT) program for rising 11th graders is a transformative five-week experience that combines three weeks of travel and exploration across historical Jewish sites, followed by two weeks of immersive leadership training at camp.

Over the course of this five week experience, they learn Jewish history, Jewish culture, and gain exposure to diverse experiences. A goal is to return to camp and utilize this experience as they set forward as role models, caring for the younger campers, and planning programs for them. The entirety of the five-week program provides a scope of the whole picture and give them a chance to put their practice into action. 

When they arrive back at camp, they dive into into two weeks of leadership training, getting a behind-the-scenes look into camp and what it takes to lead programs, make decisions, and put on a camp experience for others – especially the youngest campers. Everything they learned on the trip – from the diverse cultures, to the rich Jewish history, sets them up for this.

“One day on our trip, we went to a Holocaust Memorial where the Jewish people were pushed into the water and left to float. The very next day, we went to Chabad to proudly and joyfully celebrate Shabbat with other Jewish people from around the world. Experiencing these two events back-to-back, seeing how despite the hardships of the past we did not give up, was very moving and powerful. We sang songs and prayed together, seeing firsthand how Judaism and Shabbat are celebrated and expressed around the world. I am so thankful that camp gives us a place to express our Judaism freely and practice being Jewish however we want to.” – Isaac G., Bethesda, MD.

“One of the most meaningful Jewish historical sites, for me, was visiting the concentration camp Terezin. Our tour guide led us to a dark, hidden room under the dining hall, and shined his flashlight to show us prayers on the walls, where we learned that this was a secret synagogue that the Jewish people would secretly use to pray. It was extremely powerful to learn that despite these living conditions and the horrors surrounding them, they fought to preserve their identity. Heartbreakingly, we were able to draw parallels from this historic site to the living situations the hostages in Israel face today. This whole experience made me even more grateful for camp, where we get to pray as loudly as we want and to be proudly Jewish together. Capital Camps gives me a lot of confidence to safely express my Jewish joy alongside my closest camp friends.” – Tabitha C., Chevy Chase, MD.

Good morning, Capital Camps!

It is my greatest joy to be spending a second summer as an Atzma’im (inclusion) counselor.

Being an Atzma’im counselor means showing up each day with intention, flexibility, and the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and valued for exactly who they are. It’s not just about helping in the traditional sense, but more about co-creating spaces where all kinds of independence, expression, and growth are not only possible, but truly celebrated.

What inspires me most about the Atzma’im program is that it doesn’t shy away from adversity, but instead embraces it. You see real moments of joy, struggle and triumph in the smallest daily interactions. It reminds me that growth isn’t and that empowerment looks different for everyone.

Being part of an inclusive and accessible community means we don’t assume sameness. We plan with intention. We reflect. We ask better questions. At camp, we design programs that reflect not just who is here, but who could be here, if we do it right. Inclusion is not a checklist, it’s a mindset. It’s something you recommit to every day, especially when it feels inconvenient or hard.

It’s an honor to do this work, and I’m grateful to be growing alongside our amazing campers and staff.

Best,

Maddie King, 2nd-year Atzma’im and Reich Village 6th grade counselor

Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to welcome leaders from over 25 community partner organizations that our campers engage with during the year. They came to see what their participants experience each summer here at Capital Camps. A clergy member from a synagogue that many of our campers attend shared an observation that I haven’t stopped thinking about. He said, “You can always tell who the camp kids are. They walk into a room and act like they own the place, in the best possible way.” 

He went on to explain that our campers walk with confidence, groundedness, and presence. They know they belong. They are used to being part of something that values them, that sees them.  

That comment got me thinking about the power of vision — the ability to see not only what is, but what can be.  

This Shabbat is called Shabbat Chazon, the Shabbat of Vision. It always falls just before Tisha B’Av (the 9^th of Av), when we reflect on moments of loss in Jewish history, including the destruction of the Temples and times when our communities have felt fractured or disconnected. But even as we acknowledge that pain, Shabbat Chazon asks us to hold on to hope. The name comes from the vision of the prophet Isaiah, a vision not just of where we are, but of where we could go. This Shabbat invites us to step back and really see, to reflect on what we’re building and what kind of people we’re becoming. 

I felt that invitation to reflect during the Kaufmann overnight trip which I had the privilege of joining this past week. Out at Ohiopyle State Park, over 100 miles away from our regular camp setting, I watched a group of campers come together in a new way. Embracing outdoor adventure, setting up tents, and sharing laughs around a campfire, it was more than just a fun night. It was a moment when this group began to coalesce in a new way. You could see them starting to trust one another more deeply, take responsibility, and step into a sense of shared identity. It was a glimpse of a group turning into a true village. 

And then there was Maccabiah, when camp transformed into a sea of cheering, color, and spirit. But beyond the energy and competition, what stood out to me most was the way the camp community came together across ages. Yalla campers competed side by side with Macks campers, LITs, and CITs. You could see the trajectory of growth across our community, younger campers looking up to older ones, and older campers modeling what leadership and ruach (spirit) look like. It was like watching the future of Capital Camps unfolding in real time. 

Each of these moments reminded me that vision does not just belong to prophets. It is something we are called to practice every day. It is in the way we see each other, support each other, and believe in each other’s potential. 

May this Shabbat help us see more clearly, and may it strengthen our commitment to building a camp community where everyone is noticed. And may our campers continue to walk into spaces with the confidence of someone who owns the place.