The Best Lake There Was!

By Ellie Spector, Aquatics Director

Camp has always been a place to try something new. Whether we are welcoming new friends in our cabins, trying new foods, or learning new traditions, every day is an opportunity for growth. This year we are trying something both old and new at the pool: bringing back swim groups for Benjamin Village and Reich Village. Our dedicated team of lifeguards work hard to plan creative, fun pool games that teach campers stroke development and comfort with the water.

The sounds of kicking with kickboards and cheering on relay teams from the pool deck can be heard across camp. Our Benjamin campers have affectionately referred to the barbells as “pool lollipops.” Our campers especially enjoy seeing their counselors get in the water and join in on the fun.

Of course, there is still plenty of free swim and the purple and green slides are the usual highlight. Campers can also be seen trying new tricks off the diving board and starting a game of water polo against their counselors.

Down at the lake, the lake toys are the star of the show. Campers excitedly swim out into the water ready to try their first Iceberg of the summer or race a friend to top of the Wibit. I watched proudly from the beach as a counselor assisted her campers in climbing up the “pavilion” lake toy, pulling her cabin up so they could all enjoy the experience together. The other day one of our Yalla campers reached out a hand to swim with his buddy to the trampoline so they could both jump together. There’s nothing better than having fun in the lake with your new best friends.

Aquatics has always been one of my favorite activities at camp. While it’s nice to cool off on a hot day, these moments of teamwork and joy are what make camp so special. I am so excited to continue to see all the wonderful ways our campers will enjoy the pool and lake this summer.

Across the Villages

By Amanda Willen, Chloe Brandwin, Sarah Kimel, Capital Camps Assistant Village Leaders

What an amazing first week full of so much bonding, story sharing, fun in the pool, and a special Shabbat. To kick off week two of camp, let’s hear from three of our amazing Assistant Village Leaders on what the past week has looked like in their villages.

“Benjamin Village has had the most amazing time. I love how some of our programs have really allowed them to express their creativity to the fullest – activities such as creating their own robot and even performing for our very own Benjamin Idol! As Assistant Village Leader, it has been unbelievably special seeing them fall more in love with camp every day and continuing to form amazing relationships with their counselors, cabin mates, and Macks Buddies. I was inspired watching them experience Shabbat this past weekend, as for many of them it was their first ever Capital Camps Shabbat! Our fifth graders baked Challah and other Benjamin campers helped spread Shabbat joy by decorating posters for the dining hall. It was fun seeing them dance around at Shabbat and learn from the older campers some of the traditions that make camp so memorable. Also, super proud of our very own Benjamin camper who read Torah for the camp community this morning!” – Amanda Willen, Assistant Village Leader, Benjamin Village

“What a special first week here at camp for Reich Village! Something I’ve noticed about our young Reich campers is they are loving the independence that comes with being a part of this village, such as getting to choose their own sports during the week! Some overall highlights for Reich campers include aquatics – they LOVE the lake toys – and playing gaga. We’ve had a lot of fun programs that allow them to have a competitive spirit and build community through teamwork. I hope that the experience of having a little less structure than they did in Benjamin Village allows them to continue to grow and become more independent, grow more social with each other, and learn about themselves in a unique way.” – Chloe Brandwin, Assistant Village Leader, Reich Village

“Something I find very special about Kaufmann Village is it’s probably the first year where a lot of the bonding is done more on a village level than a cabin level, allowing for campers to really grow their friendships outside of their small cabin circles. It’s really so great to watch. Our Kaufmann campers have had several meaningful evening programs, including dyadic encounters, where they were randomly paired up and given a series of questions to answer, and our nightly campfires where a few counselors play the guitar and lead the village in song! They of course had a blast at Shabbat, engaging in rikkud (Israeli dancing) and all of the singing moments. I am so excited for them to continue expanding upon their leadership skills this summer and acting as role models for all of our younger campers.” – Sarah Kimel, Assistant Village Leader, Kaufmann Village

Our First Shabbat of the Summer!

By Nate Strauss, Camp Director

In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Shelach (send), we learn about the story of Moses sending twelve spies into the land of Canaan. These twelve people spend forty days exploring the land, learning about the local flora and fauna, and understanding the people who live there. Upon reporting back to Moses, the spies bring fruits they find such as grapes, a pomegranate, and a fig to share about the bountiful land they found. Although some spies returned concerned over whether the Israelites could live in the land, two were optimistic and assured that everything would work out. 

Exploring new places, thoughts, and feelings is also experienced right here at Capital Camps. Whether a camper is returning to camp after having joined us last summer or this is their first time stepping foot here, new feelings and experiences are found by all, helping each camper grow in so many ways.  

Concluding our first week of First Session, I can’t help but reflect on all the newness I’ve noticed being explored. Our counselors have created new bonds with their campers, building strong relationships and helping campers solve problems and meet each other. Our campers are seeing camp in new ways, bringing all that they learned with them from the prior school year. Our Leadership Team is finding new ways to empower and support our staff members and excite your campers. 

And although the experiences of our campers and staff are different from those of the 12 spies going into Canaan, I know that the sensation of newness can be felt by all. Just as the spies worked to understand the land and report back, our campers are exploring everything around them, eager to dive deeper into activities and programs.  

As we enter the first Shabbat of the session, I look forward to sharing even more newness with our campers and staff and I hope that your Shabbat brings more newness and light to you and your family. 

Shabbat Shalom from Waynesboro, PA, let’s celebrate all that’s new around us. 

A Commitment to Mental Health

By Adina Golob, Community Care Manager

As we find ourselves immersed in another unforgettable summer at camp, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a topic that is close to our hearts: mental health. Here at Capital Camps, we believe that nurturing the emotional well-being of our campers is just as vital as fostering their physical and intellectual growth.

Our dedicated counselors are at the forefront of promoting positive mental health practices among our campers. Through meaningful connections, active listening, and compassionate support, they create a safe space where campers can express themselves freely and develop lifelong coping skills. Whether through group discussions, one-on-one chats, or structured activities focused on emotional awareness, our counselors are committed to guiding campers toward emotional resilience.

At Capital Camps, we recognize that mental health is a community effort. That’s why we build such a strong team of yoetzot. They provide ongoing resources and guidance to both campers and staff. As we continue to evolve and grow as a community, we remain committed to prioritizing mental health. Through open dialogue, and a supportive environment, we aim to empower our campers to thrive emotionally and socially. Together, we can foster a camp experience where every camper feels valued, understood, and supported.

Highlighting Our Dedicated Staff

By Ilana Kornblatt, Assistant Camp Director

We are so fortunate to have a diverse and dedicated staff team working with our campers this summer! Read on to learn a little bit about why a few of our counselors chose to work at Capital Camps this summer and what they are excited about as we launch in Summer 2024! 

“My name is Yarden, I’m from Pardes Chana, Israel. This is my first year at camp. I wanted the experience of coming to camp. The campers are amazing and we’re having so much fun already! A highlight so far has been singing Taylor Swift songs with my cabin! The campers are so kind and patient and it’s been a great start to the session. I’m looking forward to all the fun camp programs to come and especially the Shabbat Song Session and Rikkud (dancing) with everyone!” –Yarden Ratzon, Mt. Meron Cabin Counselor, Reich Village 

“My name is Harry and I’m from London and this is my second summer at camp. I came back to camp because I wanted to have a big impact on new campers and see my campers from last summer. The camp community is something I treasure and value very highly and I’m so happy to be back this summer!” – Harry Tredler, Yerushalayim Cabin Counselor, Benjamin Village

“I’m Talia Moraru. I’m from Washington, DC and this is my 10th summer at Capital Camps and my second on staff. I’m a Rikkud Specialist and counselor in Misgav Am. I came back to camp because I want to create the experience that my counselors made for me growing up that made Capital Camps my second home. I’m really excited to bond with my campers and all of Kaufmann Village. I’ve met amazing new people so far this summer and love spreading the joy of camp dancing!” – Talia Moraru, Misgav Am counselor and Rikkud (Israeli dance) specialist, Kaufmann Village

We can’t wait for your campers to get to know all of our wonderful staff members this summer!!

Greetings from Capital Camps!

By Melissa Grossman, Family + Community Engagement Director

We gathered on the plaza this morning for B’Yachad (joining together as a camp community) to raise the flags, sing our morning songs including Hatikvah and Modeh Ani and laugh at our shticky weather and sports report from some of our seasoned counselors. As I looked around, I couldn’t help but to smile watching our community ready to start their first official day at Capital Camps. I saw backpacks filled with towels, bathing suits and water bottles, sneakers ready for outdoor adventure and sports and watched many campers who arrived to the flagpoles early eager to get started, learning the 2024 camp dance (the song is titled “Lighter” by Galantis, take a listen on your own – your kids will be impressed when they return home!).

There is something about that eagerness of the first day that is very inspiring to those of us who work for Capital Camps year round. In my role, the “planning season” includes recruiting new campers, following up with returning campers, planning events like camper reunions and new camper Shabbat dinners and working with community partners at synagogues, day schools and JCCs to ensure their communities are aware that Capital Camps is the place to be! We have several prospective family days/tours as well as community partner days this summer. We can’t wait to show visitors our summer home, observing children as their best selves – where they will see your children as their best selves – playing sports, making mezuzot in omanut (arts and crafts), jumping off the trampoline in the lake and so much more with their best friends in their favorite place.

Opening Day!

By Nate Strauss, Camp Director

In the last 24 hours, I have had the honor and pleasure to welcome hundreds of campers back to Waynesboro, PA for what I know will be an amazing and impactful first session of Summer 2024! Throughout the day yesterday, I got to meet so many families and their campers, hearing all about what our campers are looking forward to and are excited about. Once our campers arrived and handed off their luggage, they got to meet our amazing staff members, play games, have dance parties, and connect with friends, both new and old. Once everyone arrived and gathered by village, they got to meet their counselors and were assigned their cabins. Watching each cabin community form was incredibly special for me as I start my first summer here at Capital Camps. The joy and enthusiasm I saw on the faces of our campers was deeply meaningful. 

Right after cabin assignments were given out, I had the privilege of getting to meet with every village for a “Meet the Director” session, where we talked about our commitment to providing safety and fun for every camper. Campers and staff spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking, exploring their villages, and getting ready for their first dinner in our dining hall.  

After dinner, we gathered for an exciting opening night program where campers got to experience camp traditions such as watching our Leadership Team perform our Summer 2024 camp dance and think about what they’re most excited about for the session. We also formerly introduced the theme of the summer, Am Echad / One People. This theme embodies the global Jewish peoplehood that every camper, staff, and member of our community is a part of and can experience right here at camp. Campers will experience the theme through programming, activity blocks, and much more. 

I am deeply excited to see what else this summer brings and I know that our campers of all ages will have a wonderful session here at Capital Camps! 

2024 Labor Day Family Camp

Counting Down to Summer

Happy May! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Passover full of reflection, favorite foods, and time with family, friends, and community. This Passover was particularly special for me, as I concluded the holiday by officially moving from Michigan to Washington, D.C. Since moving, I have loved getting to be in-person with the Camp Team and larger Capital Camps & Retreat Center team as we work together and plan for an amazing Summer 2024 (including finalizing all of the awesome swag for our campers and staff).  

I have started to develop a morning routine to make sure that I get in the car and get to the CCRC office on time. This routine has become a ritual for me, as I can ensure that all I need to accomplish gets done on time. My routine reminds me of some of the customs that we as Jewish people observe during the counting of the Omer, the unique mitzvah of counting the days between the second Passover seder and the holiday of Shavuot. Just as the counting of the Omer is a countdown to Shavuot where we celebrate receiving the Torah, each day that I come to work at Capital Camps is one day closer to the start of Summer 2024! I love the opportunity to rejoice, and both receiving the Torah and the start of camp feel like great reasons to celebrate to me.   

The month of May is not just a time to count the Omer, but it is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is at the forefront of our focus here at Capital Camps. Not only do we know how our campers and staff benefit mentally from being outside in nature for the time they’re in Waynesboro, but we also know that the beautiful community we create at camp can help us all feel more connected. So, as you continue to count the Omer and get ready for the celebration of receiving the Torah and the start of camp, I invite you to also take a few deep breaths, spend time outside when the weather is nice, treat yourself to something fun, and check in with yourself and your family to see how you’re feeling. You are not alone, truly, and this community is here for you always.  

As we count 20 days of the Omer, 219 days since October 7th and 133 hostages still being held in Gaza, we also count with positive anticipation the remaining 41 days until the start of Summer 2024.  Looking forward to seeing our campers and staff in Waynesboro next month. 


Leadership Team Weekend scavenger hunt

A Message from Nate

Happy April, Capital Camps! As the trees start to bloom and rain rolls in (to help all of the wonderful plants at camp grow), we get even closer to the start of Summer 2024 in Waynesboro, PA. April is a special time for our team, as the annual Leadership Team Weekend at camp starts today! We will gather to dream up the best programming and experiences for our camp community. April is also a special month this year because the Jewish holiday of Passover is coming soon. Passover holds special and unique meaning to Jewish people around the world and for me, Passover is an important reminder that we, as Jewish people, can both remember and commemorate our ancestors who were enslaved in the land of Egypt and experience the freedom we get to feel in our everyday life.  

Thinking more about the idea of freedom, camp is the perfect setting to truly get to experience and feel free. For our campers, freedom is flying down the zipline and feeling the wind rush by them. For our counselors and staff, freedom is getting to create and plan programs that help showcase their interests and passions in front of an inclusive and special community. One of the ways I experience freedom while spending time outdoors is by practicing mindful breathing and meditation, getting to bring fresh air into my body and notice all that’s around me. Never practiced mindful breathing before? I’d love to invite you to try it out right here in this newsletter! 

Mindful Breathing with Camp Director Nate 

  • First, stretch your arms up over your head or lift your shoulders up towards your ears and then lower your arms or shoulders down 
  • Next, do the same thing, but this time, take a deep breath in as you stretch your arms or shoulder and breathe out as you lower 
  • Try this three times, breathing in as you lift and breathing out as you lower 
  • Now, try to take three breaths with your arms down, breathing in slowly, but this time, breath out loudly, just like the roar of a lion 
  • After you’ve tried this, shake your arms and your legs a few times to find movement, and see how you feel after breathing 

Want to see an example of this mindful breathing? Check out this Instagram post on my new Camp Director account. If you have Instagram, be sure to give me a follow! 

This Passover, let us keep all who are struggling in Israel, in the United States, and around the world in our thoughts, prayers, and most importantly, our actions. As we gather with our families around our Passover seder and hear the saying, “next year in Jerusalem,” maybe we can also add, “and this summer at Capital Camps!”

Happy Passover!