Chayei Sarah – Josh Micley

This week’s parsha, Chayei Sarah, tells the story of Abraham’s mission to find a wife for his son, Isaac. After Abraham entrusts his servant, Eliezer, with this important task, Eliezer embarks on a journey to find the right match for Isaac. He has a very specific criteria in mind for how he will know who the right woman is: she is someone who will not only offer him, a weary traveler, some water, but also, offer it to his camels. A few days later, when he arrives by a well, Rebecca does exactly this; instantly, Eliezer knows she is the one. 

At first glance, Rebecca’s actions may seem like simple kindness or basic decency. But if we look deeper, we can see something much more profound in the way Rebecca’s actions are described. It is clear that Eliezer was not seeking just a basic gesture; he was looking for someone who would go the extra mile. Our foremother Rebecca reminds us that true care is not about the bare minimum – it involves doing more, extending ourselves, and showing generosity without being asked. 

As I join the Capital Camps community, I find deep inspiration in this message. One of the things that drew me to this camp is the way it embodies Rebecca’s mindset. Capital Camps consistently goes above and beyond to create transformative experiences for our campers. Whether it’s through a commitment to personalized camper care, fostering leadership opportunities, or creating a safe space where every child can explore their Jewish identity, Capital Camps exceeds expectations. 

As we look ahead to the upcoming summer, this is the spirit that the entire Capital Camps team will carry with us. And as you anticipate the summer ahead, I encourage you to reflect on what you will bring with you—whether it’s a talent, a passion, or a unique quality—that can help elevate the experience for those around you. Just as Rebecca’s generosity left a lasting impact, it’s our collective strengths that make Capital Camps a place that truly goes “above and beyond.” 

Best,
Josh Micley
Camp Director

Welcome, Josh Micley!

Dear Capital Camps Community, 
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Josh Micley to the role of Camp Director for Capital Camps. Josh brings a wealth of experience in education and leadership, as well as a lifelong passion for Jewish camping. He will be joining the team beginning on November 12, 2024. 
Josh’s journey to this role began at Camp Yavneh in New Hampshire, where he attended as a camper before serving as a counselor, unit head, and member of the education staff for many summers. Each experience deepening his commitment to the transformative power of camp to help all children develop and grow, both as individuals and in their Jewish identities. 

Josh comes to us from Kennedy High School in Chicago, where he served as Assistant Principal for the past five years. Before that, Josh worked as a Social Studies teacher in New York City public schools. He brings expertise in differentiated education (DE), operations management, as well as immense experience with student, parent, school, and community partnerships. He’s excited to leverage this diverse skillset in the Jewish camp space, which has always been close to his heart.  
Josh is especially excited to be part of a pluralistic Jewish community at Capital Camps that is inclusive, engaging, and full of meaningful experiences for every camper and staff member. He’s also looking forward to experiencing the magic of Capital Camps alongside his wife, Alexa, and their three young children, Aaron, Elan, and Meirav. In his spare time, Josh enjoys playing tennis, biking, and exploring new places by foot.  Josh is committed to building partnerships with parents and guiding the growth of our campers and staff. He is excited to partner with the year-round team of camp professionals including Ilana Kornblatt (Assistant Camp Director), Adina Golob (Community Care Manager), Penny Hartzman (Camp Registrar and Office Administrator), Max Nozick (Program Associate), Maddie Siegel (Communications + Marketing Associate) and Ezra Suldan (Family + Community Engagement Manager). Adina will continue to be the main point of contact for individual camper needs. Ilana will continue to be the main point of contact for individual staff needs/questions.  

Please join us in welcoming Josh to the Capital Camps family. We are excited for the future and are confident that under his leadership, camp will continue to be a place where children, teens and staff can grow in a fun, safe, and inclusive environment anchored in Jewish values.  

Warmly,  Havi Goldscher, CEO
Sarah Barnett, Board Chair
Allen Mattison, Camp Committee Chair

Parshat Noach

In this week’s parsha, Parshat Noach, we read about Noah and the flood, a story that offers many profound lessons. One key theme is Noah’s commitment to following God’s command to build the ark, even when it must have seemed illogical to those around him. His steadfastness in the face of doubt teaches us about the importance of dedication, vision, and trust in a higher plan. The waters of the flood symbolized chaos and destruction, but they also provided an opportunity for rebirth and renewal. 

This idea of preparation and renewal can be applied to many areas of life, including enrolling children in summer camp. Just as Noah was preparing the ark for future challenges, Capital Camps parents enrolling their children in summer camp are preparing them for their future by providing experiences that build independence, resilience, and community. Capital Camps, like Noah’s ark, can be seen as a protected space where young people are nurtured, guided, and allowed to grow in a safe environment. 

Just as Noah built the ark with great care, selecting the right animals and materials, parents also carefully select the right camp that aligns with their values, interests, and hopes for their children’s growth. Capital Camps provides opportunities for kids to make lifelong friendships, deepen their Jewish identity, strengthen their understanding and relationship with Israel and Israelis, and learn valuable skills. The community and experiences they build can serve as a foundation for their character, just as Noah’s ark became the foundation for a new world. 

Ultimately, the story of Noah reminds us that preparation and trust are key components in creating positive change and nurturing the next generation. By investing in their children’s future, parents act as builders of their own “arks,” creating environments where children can thrive and be ready to meet the world with strength and faith. 

Our participation for summer 2025 is strong as we head into November.  Over 75% of our 2024 campers have made plans to return next summer with an additional 63 campers that will join for their first summer experience.   

If your family is interested in helping to promote Capital Camps to your friends, congregation, school, family or neighborhood, please let us know and we can provide you with materials.  Thank you for building your ark for the future and helping others to do the same, just as Noah did for the Jewish people.  

Havi Goldscher
CEO, Capital Camps & Retreat Center

World Mental Health Day: A Commitment to Well-Being at Capital Camps

As we celebrate World Mental Health Day, it’s essential to reflect on the ways we prioritize mental health at Capital Camps and Retreat Center. Our camp community understands that mental well-being is as crucial as physical health, especially in a vibrant environment where young minds and hearts come together.

At Capital Camps, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive atmosphere where every camper and staff member feels safe, supported, and valued. Our commitment to mental health is woven into the very fabric of our camp culture, ensuring that all individuals can thrive both emotionally and socially.

We are proud to have licensed mental health professionals on our team, available to support campers and staff alike. These experts conduct regular check-ins and provide resources for campers and staff. Our trained counselors are trained in the developmental stages of the campersand are committed to creating an environment where campers feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and emotions.

Community is at the heart of Capital Camps. We foster strong relationships among campers and staff. Our leadership programs and Macks village pair older campers with younger ones, creating a supportive network where everyone feels seen and heard. This sense of belonging is vital for emotional well-being.

At Capital Camps, we celebrate the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our campers. Recognizing and honoring our differences fosters empathy and understanding, essential components of mental health. Our inclusive programs ensure that everyone has a voice and a place within our camp community.

As we observe World Mental Health Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to nurturing the mental health of our campers and staff. At Capital Camps we believe that prioritizing mental well-being is a cornerstone of a fulfilling summer experience. Together, we create a space where every individual can grow, connect, and thrive.

 

–Adina Golob
Community Care Manager

The Beautiful Impact of Family Camp

Over Labor Day Weekend, we welcomed over 60 participants to Capital Camps & Retreat Center for one of our favorite traditions, Family Camp. Over the course of the weekend, we engaged in many camp activities, including celebrating Shabbat, various sports, Israeli dancing, arts projects, aquatics, farm exploration, and more. Our young campers got the chance to experience camp in a different way than they typically would in the summer – whether that be trying some new activities such as ziplining or playing a new sport. Our adults got to be adults together – experiencing the fun of camp with their families while having plenty of time to kick back and enjoy the beautiful Waynesboro mountain air. The group consisted of a mix of families exploring camp for the first time, as well as seasoned camp families. 

 

I was overjoyed to attend Family Camp as the songleader. In this role, my goal was to unify the community by sharing some of our favorite camp-wide traditions: Shabbat services, Shabbat song session, Shabbat cabin circles, and Havdalah. I am a firm believer that music is an incredibly powerful tool in building an engaged Jewish community. Whether they’ve grown up at camp or this was their first time setting foot into our camp environment, music speaks to each person’s soul. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the feeling of watching people’s faces light up when they recognize a tune, or watching people put their arms around each other when we join together for the Hashkiveinu. 

During our time at Family Camp, we received the tragic news that six hostages had been murdered by Hamas. In a time where it can be so difficult to find Jewish joy, when it feels like the entire world is against us, gathering in communal spaces such as camp is so important. At Family Camp, every individual had the opportunity to process in their own space as needed and was also given the gift of being surrounded by a community that so proudly and openly celebrates our Judaism. For me, as well as many others, one of the best ways to get through such tragedies is to embrace the power and beauty of the Jewish community, and that’s exactly what we were able to provide for our participants.

At the end of the weekend, we gathered to reflect on our time together. It was heartwarming to hear several of our current camp families share the impact of spending their weekend at camp and witnessing with their own eyes what it is that brings their kids back summer after summer. Families who have not yet sent their kids to Capital Camps expressed how the camp environment blew them away and they were excited to sign their kids up for their first summer! It was incredibly special to watch people fall in love with the magic of Capital Camps. 

L’Shalom, 

Maddie Siegel 

Communications and Marketing Associate

P.S. We’ve decided to make Family Camp Weekend at Capital Camps a Labor Day Weekend tradition! Save the date – August 29-September 1st!

A Message from Ilana Kornblatt

This week’s Torah portion is Ki Tavo which focuses on blessings and curses, as well as acknowledging and being grateful for God’s gifts. The parashah begins with the mitzvah of bikkurim, the offering of the first fruits, which is brought to the Temple as an expression of gratitude for the abundance of the land that God has given the people of Israel. This mitzvah emphasizes the values of thankfulness and recognizing the Divine hand in everyday life.  


At Capital Camps we often reflect on and recognize the divine and special moments in each day- the little moments that make a summer at Capital Camps so very special. We recognize the peacefulness of swimming or boating in the lake, the awe of being able to stargaze and see stars in a way we can only see from our specific vantage point at camp, and- just as the mitzvah of bikkurim teaches us- the beauty of our natural surroundings when we spend time helping cultivate our farm and learning about teva (nature).  


Ki Tavo also speaks to the collective identity and responsibilities of the Jewish people. When the Israelites bring their first fruits, they declare their history and relationship with God in a communal context. At Capital Camps, shared responsibility is ever-present. Each day, every camper and staff member plays a role in making the Kehillah (community) the strongest it can be. Whether this is done by completing a Nikayon (cabin clean-up) role, checking in on a friend to see how their day is going, helping the cabin to accomplish a challenging task at the ropes course, or so much more, every individual plays the role in the collective success of camp.  


Ki Tavo reminds us of the importance of gratitude and community that comes from following a path of meaning and purpose. Likewise, Capital Camps provides a space for each individual to recognize gratitude and blessings in everyday life, while bonding each of us with the larger camp community, and by extension the global Jewish community at large.  

Here are some questions to discuss with your campers about Parashat Ki Tavo: 

  1. What is the most naturally beautiful thing you’ve seen at camp? 
  2. How do you show gratitude during camp? How do you show gratitude during the school year? 
  3. What is your favorite aspect of the camp community? How do you contribute to making it strong? 
  4. Bonus: where is your favorite place on camp to stargaze and why? 

As we reflect on Ki Tavo and the importance of gratitude, I am feeling grateful for the warmth of the Capital Camps community Year-Round! Our Year-Round team is already planning for the best summer yet in 2025! We have over 550 campers already signed up to join us next summer and over 50 amazing counselors have applied to join our staff team- these numbers show a glimpse into how much our community enjoyed spending the summer at Capital Camps in 2024 and can’t wait to return in 2025.  


I also feel grateful for the opportunity to have spent Labor Day weekend with many camp families- new and existing- as we celebrated Shabbat, played sports, splashed in the pool, made art by the farm, and so much more. It was a wonderful way to close out our Summer 2024 season. Save the date for Labor Day Family Camp 2025: August 29 – September 1. 


As we continue our reflections from summer 2024 and plan for summer 2025, I hope you and your family will take time to reflect on all the wonderful moments from this past summer- camp and otherwise- that you want to hold close to you as we continue on in this school year.  


Sincerely,

Ilana Kornblatt

Assistant Camp Director

Shabbat Shalom

By Nate Strauss, Camp Director

As we enter our final Shabbat of First Session, I look back at an amazing week we’ve had here in Waynesboro. We said l’hitraot (see you again) to our Yalla Bet campers and the first cohort of our FIDF Legacy campers. We also welcomed our Yalla Gimel campers and the second cohort of our FIDF Legacy campers this week and I cannot wait for them to experience Shabbat here as part of our community. 

This week, I met with our Emerging Leaders cohort, a group of staff members who are in their third or fourth year on staff here at camp in leadership roles within their villages and specialty areas. In our meeting, we discussed the Jewish value of chesed, or kindness, and how we as a camp community can practice this value through our words and our actions. On July 17th, camps around the world will be celebrating Camp Kindness Day, a celebration of the magic of camp and the way summer camps can nurture kindness in all.  

This week’s parsha, Parshat Chukat, presents a profound lesson on kindness that resonates deeply with the spirit of summer here at Capital Camps as we think about Camp Kindness Day. The parsha recounts the story of Moses striking the rock to bring forth water for the thirsty Israelites, an act that is seen as an expression of divine kindness despite Moses later being denied entry into the Promised Land for this action. This act teaches us that kindness, even in moments of frustration or challenge, is a fundamental value. Similarly, here at camp, kindness forms the core of the camp experience, where campers and staff alike embody the values of compassion, empathy, and support. 

Just as Moses’s act of striking the rock was an immediate response to the Israelites’ needs, so too do campers at Capital Camps learn to be responsive to the needs of others. Whether it’s helping a fellow camper with a difficult activity, comforting a homesick friend, or inclusively welcoming new campers, kindness is one of our guiding principles. In the hustle and bustle of camp life, this kindness creates a supportive community where everyone feels valued and cared for, much like the unity and solidarity among the Israelites in their journey through the desert. 

As we welcome Shabbat and all that it offers us, I invite you to join us as we bring the intention and practice of kindness into this day of rest. As we gear up for our final week of the session, I cannot wait to see how our campers and staff embody this value and infuse our community with even more kindness.  

CIT Reflections

Just a few days ago, our Counselors in Training (CITs) were given their placements with cabins and other departments around camp. Although the CITs have only been in their cabins for a few days, camp time has a way of making it feel like they’ve been part of their cabin families for much longer. As a staff member, it’s incredibly heartwarming to see a camper eagerly approach one of their CITs, instantly seeking their attention. Watching our CITs connect with their campers adds a new depth to the camper-counselor relationship, making it even more relatable and rewarding.

When the CITs aren’t with their campers, they’re busy planning Maccabiah (color war) fake outs and rehearsing for our SING competition. CITs go through many monumental milestones, and it’s exciting to see them do things they once watched their own CITs do years ago.

One particularly special moment was being in the pool during Havdalaqua, a relatively new but very special CIT tradition. Each day the kids grow closer, bringing our community together even more. I can’t wait to see all that our CITs accomplish during the rest of this session!

Marnie Hackman

CIT Coordinator

“Being a CIT really gives us a unique perspective on camp and appreciation for the hard work that all of the staff do. As J-Life specialists, we have a new understanding of Judaism and how much it serves our camp community.” – Sam, Josh, and Jack, J-Life Specialist CITs

“CIT summer is incredibly special because I’ve gotten to connect with new friends and work with younger campers while still getting to live out the camper experience – it feels like a full circle moment. I’m hoping by the end of the summer to understand how to better help the kids and bring their ideas to life and work together as a staff team to ensure the best for our campers.” – Shana M., Benjamin Village and Farm CIT

“Being a CIT is a really fun balance of being a camper while having campers of my own. I’ve learned so much leadership and really gained a lot of confidence. I hope to leave summer with more connections than ever before, between my fellow CITs, co-counselors, and all of my campers.” – Zach L., Benjamin Village CIT

Challenge by Choice on Ropes

By Niamh Fitzpatrick, Ropes Staff

Here at camp, we take pride in our ropes course – something that is a favorite camp activity for so many of our campers, yet something that takes a lot of bravery the first time.

On the ropes course, we motivate and inspire campers to participate in team-building games and the high ropes elements. When they see they are capable of accomplishing challenges on the ropes course, they feel encouraged that they can do just about anything else they set their mind to. We as facilitators are trained to recognize those who might need an extra boost of courage, using team-building games that involve working together as a cabin to handle a task to reach a desired outcome. Some groups may succeed, while others may not, so it’s our job to pick them back up, find the problem, and help guide them to the solution. We use these activities to bring cabins together so they can help each other accomplish challenging tasks not only on the ropes course, but anywhere at camp.

To apply what the cabins learn in the team building games, we introduce them to the low ropes elements. The “wall” is an excellent example of a challenging low ropes element, bringing many campers out of their comfort zone. It means involving all campers in a game that has an element of risk and responsibility for their cabinmates’ safety. The task is to get everyone over the “wall” by lifting each individual camper up and over, while the other campers spot each other. This obviously can be scary for the campers, so we invest the time into making sure everyone is confident in what they’re doing. This proves to them anything is possible, whether they try it individually or as a team.

As a facilitator on the ropes course, many of us understand what it’s like to be afraid of the high ropes. The staff are not fully immune to the fear. This is what makes us excellent facilitators – we can equally relate and talk to the campers with compassion and empathy. For a worried camper this can be a really hard task, even if it seems easier to others. Our goal on the ropes course is to create an environment that challenges each camper as an individual and as a team.

The best part of being a ropes facilitator is witnessing our campers overcome their fears. Accomplishing a task that makes them uncomfortable pushes them out of their comfort zone in a safe and well-controlled environment.

A Unique LIT Experience for 2024

By Skylar Chasen, LIT Counselor

Our Leaders in Training (LITs – rising 11th grade) spent the first week and a half of camp on an exploration trip throughout the southern region of the country. On this trip, the campers learned about the history of the Civil Rights Movement through a unique Jewish lens.

This trip really opened our eyes to how deep-rooted America’s history is in our present-day life. Something that stood out is that each block of the cities we visited finds a way to honor the city’s history – whether good or bad.

We were fortunate enough to hear from several speakers who shared about their life stories and taught the campers the importance of learning, remembering, and passing on stories from the past. This is extremely important in Judaism and ensuring we preserve the stories of our ancestors for generations to come.

In addition to the Civil Rights museums and engaging speakers, we did endless fun activities that enabled the campers to bond with each other in an entirely new way and space. We swam in the Mississippi River, went bowling in Alabama, and tried all kinds of new foods in Atlanta. I truly saw the kids’ bonds with one another strengthen throughout the week and look forward to watching the lessons on this trip impact their leadership and camp experiences.

Now that we are back on camp, the LITs have been learning what it means to be a leader on camp. We’ve had incredible leadership blocks, including real and meaningful conversations with leadership team members. We’ve had interactive activities such as Camp Is Cake, where we look at all the ingredients of a cake separately in order to represent how camp is composed of many different parts and creates something amazing when put together as a recipe.