As another remarkable week comes to a close, so too does our First Session at Capital Camps. 

There is something especially meaningful about that timing, because this Shabbat we read Parashat Devarim, the opening of the fifth and final book of the Torah. Standing on the edge of the Promised Land, Moses knows that a new chapter is about to begin. Before the Israelites move forward, he pauses to revisit the journey they have just shared together – not simply to remember where they have been, but to help them understand what those experiences have taught them and prepare them for what lies ahead. 

Devarim reminds us that moments of transition are also moments of reflection. Before rushing toward what comes next, we are invited to ask: How have we grown? What will we carry with us? 

As I walked around camp this week, I found myself asking those same questions. 

Just a few weeks ago, many campers arrived feeling excited, curious, and perhaps a little uncertain. Today, they leave with new friendships, new skills and newfound confidence, memories of joyful Shabbatot, spirited Maccabiah competitions, late-night cabin conversations, and countless moments of laughter, discovery, and connection. 

Perhaps most importantly, they leave knowing they are part of something larger than themselves. 

That is one of the enduring gifts of Capital Camps. While duffle bags are packed and buses and cars head home, the values nurtured here – kindness, responsibility, resilience, and a deep connection to Jewish community – continue to shape our campers long after the summer ends. They return home carrying a piece of Capital Camps with them. 

At the same time, our journey continues. In just a few days, new campers will arrive for Second Session, bringing with them the same excitement, anticipation, and possibility that filled camp only weeks ago.  

As we welcome Shabbat, I am filled with gratitude for every camper, staff member, and member of our community who has helped make First Session so meaningful. Thank you for believing in the power of Jewish camp to inspire young people, strengthen community, and prepare the next generation to lead lives rooted in purpose, compassion, and Jewish connection. 

May this Shabbat offer each of us the opportunity to reflect with gratitude on the journeys we have taken, embrace the chapters still to come, and carry forward the lessons that matter most. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Havi Goldscher, CEO

Good afternoon, Capital Camps! My name is Lauren Ebenstein, and I am a Yoetzet for my fourth summer at Capital Camps. Outside of camp, I co-own a parent consulting company and administer psychological evaluations through private practice.

As we prepare to send campers home after an incredible session, it is important to remember that the transition from camp back to home is often accompanied by many emotions. At camp, we frequently remind campers that they can feel more than one thing at once, and that is especially true on departure day. Your camper may be excited to see family, sad to leave friends and counselors, proud of what they accomplished, and exhausted all at the same time.

The camp experience is unique because it allows young people to practice independence, build meaningful relationships, navigate challenges, and discover new strengths in a supportive community. Returning home after weeks of living, learning, and growing alongside their peers can take some adjustment. Just as campers need time to settle into camp at the beginning of the summer, they may need time to settle back into life at home.

One of the best ways to support your camper is to give them space to share their experience at their own pace. While you may be eager to hear every detail, many campers need time to process the countless memories they have made. Rather than asking questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” try inviting reflection with open-ended prompts such as: What was your favorite part of Shabbat? What did you enjoy most about your elective? Tell me about your village’s SING performance. What was a memorable Maccabiah moment? These types of questions often lead to richer conversations and help campers revisit meaningful experiences.

As your camper settles back in, you may also notice some of the growth that took place during their time at camp. They may demonstrate increased confidence, responsibility, problem-solving skills, or independence. Celebrate these accomplishments, whether they learned a new skill, strengthened a friendship, stepped outside their comfort zone, or simply became more comfortable taking care of themselves. Allowing campers opportunities to continue practicing their independence at home reinforces the growth they experienced this summer.

Finally, remember that camp is both physically and emotionally demanding in the best possible way. Campers often return home tired and in need of extra rest, familiar routines, and favorite foods. You can also help keep camp memories alive by looking through photos together, watching camp videos, singing camp songs, or encouraging your camper to teach you something they learned during the summer.

Thank you for trusting us with your children this session. We hope that the friendships, memories, and growth they experienced at Capital Camps continue to have a lasting impact long after they leave camp. We wish your family a smooth transition home and look forward to welcoming your camper back again soon.

Warmly,

Lauren Ebenstein, Benjamin & Macks Village Yoetzet

Hi Capital Camps families!

This past Shabbat, we welcomed families and other guests from near and far to celebrate our third-year staff, who have dedicated their time and effort to work at Capital Camps for three total summers. Each of these staff members has made a significant impact on the camp community.

Last week, we learned about the Torah portion Lech Lecha. One interpretation of this translates to “go to yourself”. At its core, the portion invites us to reflect on who we are, who we want to become, and the journey of discovering both. Camp is an opportunity where we can take time and space to do exactly this. Camp isn’t just a place people come to each summer. It’s a place that helps staff and counselors become the people they are capable of being. Every Shabbat, every friendship, every challenge, every act of kindness helps us better understand ourselves, our purpose, and the best and truest versions of who we are. 

Our third-year staff have been exemplifying this practice of becoming better and truer versions of themselves for years, and it is amplified this summer. Each of these staff have spent three summers on staff learning, growing, and making a difference for every single person at camp, and becoming better and truer versions of themselves. 

On Shabbat, I asked our campers and staff to reflect on the question, “How have I become a truer or better version of myself here at camp? What have I learned about myself so far this summer that I hope to take with me outside of camp?” Here is what some of our third-year staff shared:

“I am definitely my best self at camp because I am truly at my happiest. I get to spend two whole months with my closest friends and watch campers grow into their best selves as well. I get to do a job that I love and that I have learned so many valuable life skills from, such as effective communication, and instilling confidence not only in myself but in the people I work with. Who wouldn’t want that!?” – Brielle Rudolph, Co-Arts Coordinator, Rockville, MD

“I love who I have become because of Capital Camps. Overall, camp has made me a more confident person with the skills I’ve built, such as my communication skills. Needing to know how to properly communicate with your co-counselors, campers, and other staff is crucial to being able to succeed at the job.” – Harvey Boyd, Macks Counselor, Glasgow, Scotland

“Capital Camps brings out the best in me because it is where I am most connected to my Jewish community. I get to create these meaningful experiences with people who I have grown up with, in the place I love more than anything.” – Maddie King, Reich Assistant Village Leader, Gaithersburg, MD

A large component of my role – and one that brings me great joy – is seeing our staff grow year after year and positively impact our entire Capital Camps community. It is a personal honor to get to work with each of these individuals, and our entire exceptional staff team. We are deeply grateful for the dedication, heart, and care that our staff bring to camp each day. We hope our campers and first and second-year staff will one day be celebrating their Third-Year Staff Shabbat too as they continue on their own self-journey.

Best,

Ilana Kornblatt, Associate Camp Director

Hi Capital Camps! My name is Rylin Bloom, I’m from Baltimore, MD, and this summer I serve as the Programming Coordinator for Capital Camps. One of the biggest highlights of this role is assisting in the planning of Maccabiah, our camp-wide color war.

For many campers, summer camp is defined by the people they live with each day. Maccabiah expands that circle by bringing together campers from different cabins and villages, creating opportunities for new friendships and connections that might not otherwise happen. Campers discover that their camp family is much larger than the walls of their cabin, strengthening the sense of belonging that makes camp feel like home.

One of the most meaningful aspects of Maccabiah is the way it encourages campers to step outside their comfort zones. Whether they are racing through team challenges, collaborating in creative competitions, or working together to solve problems, campers learn that success comes from cooperation and communication. Activities are designed to be about more than winning; they challenge campers to support one another and celebrate each other’s strength.

Leadership also takes center stage during Maccabiah. Representatives from each village play a role in guiding their team through cheers and spirited competition. Campers are given the opportunity to use their voices, motivate their peers, and contribute to something larger than themselves. These moments help build confidence and teach valuable lessons about the impact that positive leadership can have on a community.

Long after the final points are tallied, it is these relationships, lessons, and memories that remain, making Maccabiah one of the most transformative experiences of the summer.

Rylin Bloom, Programming Coordinator

Every camp journey begins with a choice. 

The choice to leave home for a few weeks. To meet new people. To try something unfamiliar. To say yes to experiences that can’t be fully imagined until they are lived. 

This week, as part of our summer Parsha Project, campers explored Lech Lecha, the story of Abraham’s journey into the unknown. God asks Abraham to leave behind everything that is familiar – his home, his family, and the certainty of what he knows – and travel toward a future that has not yet been revealed. 

The Hebrew phrase Lech Lecha is often translated as “Go forth,” but many also understand it as “Go to yourself” or “Go for yourself.” Abraham’s journey was not only about traveling to a new place. It was about discovering who he could become by having the courage to step into the unknown. 

As I walked around Capital Camps this week, I couldn’t help but think that every camper has already lived their own version of Lech Lecha. A few weeks ago, they left the comfort of home and stepped into cabins, bunks, and villages filled with new faces. Since then, they have said yes to so much: jumping into the pool or lake, cheering each other on at Maccabiah, expressing themselves through art, shira (song session), rikkud (dance), and drama, gathering for spirited meals and song sessions, and building friendships across campus, Shabbat tables, and everyday moments across camp. 

That is one of the extraordinary gifts of Capital Camps. It creates a Jewish camp community where young people are encouraged to stretch themselves, care for one another, ask meaningful questions, and discover not only what they are capable of, but who they are becoming. 

As we prepare to celebrate our third and final Shabbat of First Session together at Capital Camps, I am filled with gratitude for the campers who bring their energy and curiosity, the staff who guide them with care, and the families, alumni, donors, and friends who help make these journeys possible. From morning activities to evening programs, from cabin-time conversations to all-camp programming, every part of the summer gives our campers opportunities to grow in confidence, deepen their Jewish identity, and feel the joy of belonging to this special community. 

May this Shabbat remind all of us to embrace new journeys with courage, remain open to unexpected possibilities, and continue building lives filled with purpose, compassion, and connection. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Havi Goldscher, CEO

Hi everyone,

My name is Alec Rubin, and I am writing to you from Slovakia, where our Leaders-in-Training (LITs) are a few days into their two-week journey through Central Europe.

This trip is an opportunity for our teens to deepen their understanding of Jewish history, connect with the stories of the communities that came before them, and reflect on what it means to carry Jewish life forward today.

Our journey began in Budapest, where we explored the Medieval Synagogue and learned about the rich history of Jewish life in Hungary. Standing in a place that has served as a center of Jewish community for centuries brought history to life in a powerful way. We also visited the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial, where the LITs learned about the experiences of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust and reflected on both the devastation of that era and the acts of courage and humanity that helped save lives.

Throughout our time in Budapest, we saw how Jewish history is woven into the fabric of the city. From the banks of the Danube River to landmarks such as Parliament and the Liberty Statue, our teens have been engaging with the stories, challenges, and resilience that have shaped Jewish communities across generations.

Alongside these meaningful educational experiences, the LITs have also challenged themselves in new ways. One highlight was an underground spelunking (cave diving) adventure more than 150 feet below the surface. Watching the teens support one another through tight passages and unfamiliar terrain was a wonderful reminder of the confidence, courage, and teamwork they continue to develop together.

Tomorrow evening, we will gather for our first Shabbat of the summer in Krakow. There is something especially meaningful about celebrating Shabbat in a place where Jewish life once flourished, endured unimaginable loss, and is now being renewed. I am looking forward to sharing this experience with the teens as we continue learning not only about Jewish history, but also about Jewish resilience, continuity, and the responsibility each generation has in shaping the future.

I am excited to continue this journey together and to see the many ways our LITs grow through these experiences in the days ahead.

Alec Rubin, LIT Counselor

Hi there! My name is Benny McLenaghan. This is my fifteenth summer at camp, sixth on staff, and I have the privilege of serving as the Macks Village Leader this summer!

Macks Village (10th grade campers) hold leadership roles in multiple programs throughout the summer, planning a village-wide talent show, curating the reveal of the Benjamin-Macks buddy pairs, and most notably, hosting the camp-wide carnival.

A few days into the session, Macks Village met as a group to decide the carnival theme, ultimately landing on rodeo! The campers spent hours preparing art and planning carnival stations and activities. This was a great exercise in creativity, teamwork, scheduling, and executing the vision.

On the day of the carnival, the heat created the need to pivot into a mostly indoor space instead of the original plan out in the sun. The Macks campers welcomed this challenge with excitement, quickly altering their plans to make the carnival successful, and learned the value of flexibility and adjusting on the spot.

Now that we have entered the second half of the session, and the Macks campers begin to think about their leadership in LIT and CIT years, they are already equipping themselves with the skills they’ll need to succeed. The carnival is just the first of many more amazing memories they’ll create for the rest of our community, and I’m so excited to see it.

Best,

Benny McLenaghan, Macks Village Leader

Shavua Tov, Capital Camps! It’s time to start our third week of 1st Session!

Each summer at camp sparks new programs, new favorite memories, and new practices that become new traditions. This year, one way we’ve embraced the newness has been through the Parsha Project, a multi-year program that launched with the start of the session. The Parsha Project changes how we read, approach, and experience the Torah at camp; rather than sticking to the “traditional” Torah reading calendar, the Capital Camps community will be making its way through the entire Torah, one Shabbat at a time, over the next four summers.

That model doesn’t just live on Shabbat, though. Each week, villages engage in specially-crafted programs that relate directly to the parsha (Torah portion) that will be read on Saturday morning. These programs can happen anywhere & everywhere on camp: in the village, at the farm, high up on the ropes course, in Omanut… the ideas are endless! Just last week, for example, campers at the S.T.E.M. activity built egg-drop containers, launched them off the chadar ochel balcony, and talked about Noah building an ark that would need to withstand (slightly) more treacherous conditions.

Because of the Parsha Project, campers will come home more familiar with the characters, themes, and stories that will be read in synagogue this October & November. I encourage you to make the most of that opportunity for energy & engagement – ask them to teach you something about those portions!

This week, in advance of our third Shabbat of the summer, we’ll focus on Parshat Lech L’cha. Campers will engage with what it means to begin a journey, venture out of what’s familiar, and embrace what’s new. As they’ve learned from their time at camp, there’s so much joy, wonder, and opportunity in the newness.

Warmly,
Ezra Suldan, Family & Community Engagement Manager

One of the moments that stayed with me most this week happened in Benjamin Village. 

Our youngest campers took on an egg-drop challenge, carefully designing ways to protect a single egg before putting their creations to the test. There was plenty of excitement, a lot of cheering, and, of course, a few cracked eggs. But behind the fun was a bigger and more beautiful question: What does it mean to care for something precious? 

That question offered a meaningful connection to this week’s exploration of Parashat Noah through our Parsha Project*, even as many of our communities at home will be reading Parashat Pinchas. 

Parashat Noah begins in a world that is fragile and in need of protection and renewal. Noah is asked to build an ark—not only as a shelter from the storm, but as a vessel for the future. In Parashat Pinchas, the Israelites also begin to look ahead as a new generation prepares to lead. Though these stories are different, together they remind us that the future is shaped by the care, intention, and faith we bring to the present. 

I see that same sacred work unfolding every day at Capital Camps. 

In many ways, Jewish overnight camp becomes a kind of ark for our children: a safe, joyful, deeply Jewish environment where they are surrounded by community, guided by caring role models, and given the space to grow into themselves. Our staff are not simply leading activities or running evening programs. They are helping campers discover confidence, form lasting friendships, ask meaningful questions, and deepen their connection to Jewish life and identity. 

Like Noah’s ark, camp protects something precious. It protects time for friendship and curiosity, for Shabbat and song, for laughter, Hebrew words, Jewish questions, and the quiet confidence that grows when a child feels fully known and fully welcomed. And just as the ark carried life forward into a new world, Capital Camps helps carry Jewish life forward by nurturing young people who feel connected, proud, and ready to help build the Jewish future.

As we prepare to welcome another Shabbat at Capital Camps, I am filled with gratitude for the campers, staff, families, alumni, donors, and friends who make this community possible. Together, we are building something that reaches far beyond a single summer: a place where young Jews feel rooted in community, proud of who they are, and inspired to carry the joy, confidence, and connection they find here into vibrant Jewish communities wherever life takes them. 

May this Shabbat remind us that some of the most meaningful things we build are the ones whose impact will continue to unfold for years to come. 

Shabbat Shalom,
Havi Goldscher

*This summer at Capital Camps, our community has launched a special initiative, the Parsha Project, to connect more deeply with the weekly Torah portions. Rather than following the summer Torah readings, we began the summer at the beginning of the Torah and are making our way through the fall parshiot together. This community-wide project will continue over the next four summers, allowing us to journey through the Torah in a meaningful and intentionally different way. Because the portions we are exploring at camp will be read again in synagogues and Jewish communities throughout the year, campers and staff will have additional opportunities to revisit these stories with new understanding, personal connection, and a camp lens. In this way, the learning that begins at camp can continue to grow at home, creating even more impact, engagement, and connections long after the summer ends.

Dear Capital Camps Families,

There’s something at camp we call a “normal day.” Simply put, it’s a day with no accessories or add-ons. The “normal days” lay out the structure of camp in its most authentic form. These are days when we climb the towers at the ropes course, and an hour later we jump off the inflatables at the lake. These are days that set in place the authenticity of a summer at Capital Camps.

We also have many days when camp changes; days when it’s not a “normal day.” Maybe it’s yesterday’s carnival, or possibly a campout. Maybe it’s Maccabiah, camp show, or maybe it’s CIT Siyyum. These days bring new energy and excitement to camp. The “normal days” and the “special days” weave in and out to create a fabric of camp.

This summer, we proudly debuted “Waynesboro Wednesdays” as a new hybrid day bridging our “normal days” and our “special days.” Waynesboro Wednesday draws out both camp pride and the highlights of a normal day at Capital Camps, placing them all into the spotlight. We see campers and staff wearing old Capital Camps shirts, enjoying the camp-favorite grilled cheese and tomato soup music lunch, and we even find the goats making their way up from the farm and onto main camp in the afternoon. We dig deeper into what Capital Camps has to offer, and we connect over our love for Capital Camps.

We also intentionally unite our entire camp community for an all-camp evening program. Last Wednesday kicked off our camp-wide Parsha Project, a multi-year project guiding our camp community one parsha at a time to complete a full cycle of the Torah. Last night, we all joined together for the camp carnival. Our Macks campers planned an incredible carnival complete with inflatable water slides, DJ entertainment, and interactive carnival booths. One additional significant benefit of all-camp programming is siblings being able to enjoy time together.

Waynesboro Wednesday might look different week to week, but more than anything, it is a day for Capital Camps pride. It’s a day we actively remind ourselves that home isn’t just a place we come from, but it’s also a place we come together. Home is a place where we all feel like we belong and can be our true selves. On Waynesboro Wednesdays here at Capital Camps, the songs are a lot louder, the chatif (snack) is sweeter, and the community is even stronger. Thank you for being a member of the Capital Camps community, and happy (belated) Waynesboro Wednesday!

Warmly,

Sam Belkowitz, Programs Manager