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

Good morning, Capital Camps!

My name is Evie Winston, and I’m so excited to be spending my first summer here as a cabin counselor in Reich Village with our awesome 6th and 7th graders. I’m originally from London, England, and it’s been amazing to join such a fun and welcoming community.

Even though it’s only been a few days, I’ve already seen how camp helps campers grow in so many ways. Whether it’s making new friends, trying something for the first time, or just feeling comfortable being themselves, it’s clear how much support and care this place offers. It’s been really cool to watch the bunk come together and build such a strong bond so quickly.

One part of camp that has really stood out to me is how campers connect with Jewish traditions in a way that feels both fun and meaningful. After meals, we sing Birkat Hamazon, and the energy in the room is incredible. And every night, we end the day with Hashkiveinu. Sometimes it’s just our cabin, other times it’s the whole village or all of camp, and no matter what, it’s a calm, reflective way to close out the day.

I’m so excited to see these connections continue to grow over the next few weeks. Watching campers laugh, learn, and support each other has been the best part of my experience so far. I feel really lucky to be part of this and to get to play a small role in helping make their summer so special.

Warmly,
Evie Winston
Cabin Counselor, Reich Village

The first days of camp are always filled with excitement, energy, and the beginnings of new routines. Cabins settle in, friendships begin to take shape, and our community starts to come alive in both familiar and fresh ways. In these opening moments, we’re reminded how much each person contributes to making camp feel like home. 

This week’s Torah portion, Korach, offers a powerful lens through which to reflect on the kind of community we’re building. Korach challenges Moshe and Aharon’s leadership, asking why they hold special roles when “the entire community is holy.” It’s a bold question and one that raises important ideas about leadership and responsibility. But what Korach misses is that leadership is not about status or spotlight. It is about stepping forward with humility and care for others. 

Already this week, we’ve seen those quieter forms of leadership all around us. Campers welcoming new bunkmates, staff lending a hand without being asked, and moments of kindness that help set the tone for the summer ahead. 

Yesterday’s all-camp evening program brought this idea to life in a joyful and meaningful way. Through a combination of a spirited song session and a pre-Shabbat carnival of stations, we experienced what it means to prepare for Shabbat as a community. Some campers helped create a mural featuring a prayer for the State of Israel, others cooked a traditional Yemeni dish that will be served at lunch tomorrow, and still others assembled spice bags for our first Havdalah. Each person contributed in their own way, and together, we built something greater than any one individual. 

As we welcome our first Shabbat of the summer, may we carry with us the message of Korach: that true leadership is about showing up for others with consistency, humility, and kindness. 

Warmly,
Josh Micley, Camp Director

Dear Capital Camps Community,

Establishing the Jewish connection to Israel and bringing Israel to life beyond just news headlines is a huge priority for Capital Camps. Each morning, we begin the day with Hatikvah and the Hebrew word or phrase of the day. Hebrew language is such a powerful tool to unlock the beauty of Israeli culture and society. Our Israeli sh’lichim (staff and emissaries from Israel) are fully immersed in every aspect of camp life, as madrichim (bunk counselors) to program specialists, and are teaching our hanichim (campers) the coolest Hebrew phrases and slang. For example, just the other night Yalla campers learned games, songs, and skills from the Tzophim, Israeli Scouts. 

This year, we’ve designed an Israel Adventure Week that will give campers an interactive connection to the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels of 3,500 years of history. Beginning with a life-size map program, hanichim will travel through time and changing borders from Abraham to Moses to modern political dynamics. Then, we will have the opportunity to be like Elizer Ben-Yehuda and invent our own modern Hebrew language. Next, building upon our connection to Hebrew language and history we will explore the ancient and modern connection of poetry, prayer, and music, from King David’s Psalms to Eurovision’s champions to Israel’s chart-topping hits. Our next adventure stop is everyone’s favorite: OCHEL! (FOOD!) No Israel experience or Jewish event is complete without food. Our campers will get to make the famous Sabich sandwich from scratch at the farm – chopping their own vegetables to make Israeli salad, frying their own chatzilim (eggplant), and most importantly making pita from scratch in the farm pizza oven! Now that we’ve established a historic connection to the land, language, and legacy, campers will travel with their Early Zionism Passports to meet luminaries of Zionist ideology as it was forming at the end of the 19th century. Finally, to bring it all together hanichim will be able to ask us any questions on their mind – no question is off limits! 

These few weeks at camp provide a beautiful opportunity for our hanichim to celebrate and cheer their Judaism and connection to Israel. From Israeli dancing to Shabbat song sessions, Judaism’s rich tapestry of ideas, practices, and traditions are in full bloom at Capital Camps. 

Thank you,

Adam

Dear CIT Parents,

As we kick off what’s sure to be an incredible summer at Capital Camps, I want to take a moment to speak directly to you: the parents of our CITs. This is a milestone summer for your teens, filled with opportunity, growth, and leadership.

The Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program is a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s where campers begin stepping into leadership roles while still enjoying the fun and spirit of being part of the community. They’re building new skills, supporting younger campers, and learning what it means to be a role model, all while strengthening friendships, discovering more about themselves, and stepping into their next chapter at camp.

As the Yoetzet (village social worker), I work closely with our staff team to support the social-emotional wellbeing of both campers and staff. CITs hold a special place in that work.

In the first days of the summer, we guide CITs as they:

• Build new group connections and expand their social circles with kindness and curiosity
• Step into leadership with courage while still practicing self-awareness and empathy
• Learn to balance responsibility with self-care, while recognizing that caring for others starts with caring for themselves

We’ve intentionally spent time preparing our team to support each CIT’s journey, and we’re already seeing meaningful signs of growth. Our goal is for them to leave this summer more confident, more connected, and more capable. This is all in service of each CIT’s development not just as future staff, but as thoughtful, caring young adults.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child during this special and transformative summer. We’re excited to partner with you in supporting their development and leadership, and we’re here to connect anytime along the way.

With warmth and care,

Sara Birnbaum, MSW