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