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.  

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

By Lauren Silas, Program Coordinator

We enter summer 2024 knowing something is different. The sense of community and Jewish pride flowing through camp is stronger than ever before. I am excited to share some exciting updates to our programming that will enhance each camper’s experience and deepen their connection to our shared Jewish culture and values.

Our goal for programming is to make each program special and intentional for our campers. This year, we tasked each village with ensuring they planned multiple programs relating to Israel, Jewish life, and mental, emotional, and social wellness (MESH). During staff week, I noticed staff members from all villages jumping at the opportunity to plan these types of deeply impactful programs for their campers.

At the Programming 101 workshop during staff week, three Israeli counselors in Kaufmann village excitedly began planning a program where they would teach their campers classic Israeli party games that are special from their childhood.

One of my favorite programs that begins each summer is Dyadic Encounters. In these programs, campers are intentionally paired with other campers they may not be as close with or have yet to meet. They are given a list of questions to ask one another and they each answer all the same questions. The other day at breakfast, Rebecca, Yalla Village Leader, saw one of her first-time campers bring another camper up to her brother and say “meet my new friend!”.

It is moments like this that make community-building programming so special. I am so excited to continue to see all the wonderful programs that our campers will get to participate in this summer. 

What an amazing second week of first session and a great Shabbat! To kick off week three of camp, let’s hear from leadership within our Yalla (1st time camper), Macks (10th grader) and LIT (11th grade) villages on what the past week has looked like for their campers and staff…..

The summer has been off to an amazing start for Yalla Village! Yalla Aleph and Yalla Bet campers have experienced so many fun activities during their week-long session at Capital Camps. Some highlights include jumping off the lake toys, flying through the air on the dual-zipline, and learning new Rikkud dances. 

One of my favorite parts of each Yalla session is the Yalla Talent Show. Through dances, songs, magic tricks, and many other talents, our Yalla campers beam with pride when performing in front of their peers and counselors. It has been incredible to witness these campers experience the magic of Capital Camps for the first time and build lasting friendships with one another.

On the last night of every Yalla session, the counselors present each camper with a “Yalla Certificate of Completion”. This certificate marks the end of a wonderful first Capital Camps journey. We conclude the night by singing songs led by Head Songleader, Nick May, and look forward to seeing the campers back in Benjamin Village next summer. I feel so lucky to get to know each Yalla camper and to be a part of their first summer at Capital Camps. 

I cannot wait for a fantastic rest of the summer in Yalla Village! –Rebecca Cohen, Yalla Village Leader

Macks Village is special for so many reasons, the first being that the separate cabins from previous summers are becoming one community. I am seeing that transition firsthand with your children. The friendships that they had from previous summers are growing stronger, while new friendships are blossoming.

We returned from our ACE trip on Tuesday, spending time together zip-lining, white water rafting, playing in the lake, and completing a challenging mud course. This trip created some core memories for my staff, the campers, and also myself.

Within two days of returning from ACE, Macks Village produced an amazing Carnival, which in addition to the giant slides and jump toys, featured 11 booths, including two new ones called Caricatures and Human Fruit Slot Machine.

I am very excited for the rest of the summer and I am truly lucky to be the village leader for your children. –Noa Brown, Macks Village Leader

LITs had a wonderful time in the south, balancing learning about our country’s civil rights struggles and recreational fun like enjoying a Blues cruise. We were very moved by the civil rights monument In LaGrange, Georgia, especially the Warren Temple United Methodist Church, which was the site of a lynching in 1940, and the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery. In Atlanta, we visited the childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as MLK National Historic Park and the famous Ebenezer Baptist Church. We explored some of Atlanta’s most historic landmarks, such as World of Coke and Ponce City Market. We learned a lot, pushed ourselves outside our comfort zone, and bonded as an LIT community! This week, we’ve jumped right back in at camp with Leadership training, camp traditions, and fun activities! –Brenda Serpick, LIT Village Leader

By Nate Strauss, Camp Director

As we prepare to welcome our second Shabbat of the summer at Capital Camps, I write you reflecting on the incredible week we’ve had here. Our Kaufmann, Macks, and LIT campers returned back to camp after unique and exciting trips away from camp, exploring different parts of our region and country and bonding as a village community. Yesterday, we celebrated the Fourth of July together wearing red, white, and blue and enjoying a camp-wide carnival, planned by the campers and staff of Macks village. As we welcome Shabbat after such an exciting week, I join our campers and staff thinking about this week’s parsha, Korach. This Torah portion challenges us to reflect on the importance of unity, harmony, and the sanctity of communal rituals—themes that resonate deeply with our camp’s Shabbat traditions. 

Just as Korach and his followers sought recognition and leadership roles, our campers are encouraged to embrace their unique roles within our camp community while appreciating the strength that comes from unity. Welcoming Shabbat together is a powerful way for our campers to connect with each other and with their Jewish heritage, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose. 

Through our Shabbat rituals—whether it’s lighting candles, singing songs, or enjoying a special meal—we create a sacred space where campers can pause, reflect, and recharge spiritually. These moments not only deepen their understanding of Jewish traditions but also strengthen their bonds with each other and with the larger Jewish community. 

As we gather to usher in Shabbat this week, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to witness our campers embrace these traditions with enthusiasm and joy. I am confident that these experiences will leave a lasting impact, nurturing their personal growth and reinforcing their sense of belonging to our camp family. 

By Larry Ginsburg, Senior Jewish Educator

What a joy it is to be able to celebrate the Fourth of July at camp! The anniversary of the fruition of a dream, a hope even, for life void of monarchy and guided by the rule of democracy. Our lives at camp are full, exciting, and always interesting. And yet, today on this day of celebration we are also continuously sitting in the grief and anxiety which has taken hold of the Jewish Community since October 7th. I have to ask myself, and I think many of us ask ourselves this question often: how can we find joy among sadness? I think the answer is hope. Tikva. Hope is the process by which we guide ourselves through the hard times, and allow ourselves to imagine a brighter future. When we allow ourselves to hope, we give ourselves the opportunity to hold both the pain of the current moment, as well as the joy in knowing the arc always bends towards justice, and that one day, God willing soon, we will see the release of hostages, the end of war, and ultimately, peace. This, I think, might be what the Founding Fathers felt as they led the way towards the country we have now.

In this week’s parsha, Korach, we read the story of rebellion. Korach and his followers raise rebellion in contest of Moshe’s brother, Aharon, seeking to undermine his claim to kehunah gedolah (high priesthood). The reason for the rebellion was that Korach and his men felt Moshe and Aharon went too far in appointing the tribe of Levi to increased holiness among the people. The holiness of Aharon’s tribe was proven when his staff, among all the others, began to bloom, and sprout almond blossoms. The blossoming of Aharon’s staff in some ways represents hope. Hope that the tribe of Levi will not just represent holiness, but that in the face of adversity they will rise above, and continue to have strength and courage in their mission.

I think about this hope and courage after yesterday having the privilege to hear the story of Noam Safir, whose grandfather Shlomo Mantzur was taken hostage on October 7th. He is the oldest hostage at the age of 86, having survived the Farhud Massacre in Iraq as a boy, he was kidnapped from his home on October 7th. Nearly 100 campers and staff listened to her attentively as she shared the story of her courage and how she has become a leader in the efforts to release her grandfather and all hostages. Sometimes, the blossoming staff of leadership and hope appears when we least expect it. What we learned from Noam was that sometimes, when called to leadership, we must be the ones to provide hope to others. May we all have the courage to give others hope, and in doing so continue to advocate for peace and

By Hannah Stoller, Atzma’im Coordinator

Three weeks ago, during specialist training week, I held extensive training sessions with our inclusion focused staff. I asked each of these counselors what they think the word Atzma’im means. Most of them responded that it means inclusion, as our Atzma’im Program is often referred to as our Inclusion Program. Many were surprised to hear that Atzma’im actually comes from the Hebrew word for independence.

Our Atzma’im program follows a true inclusion model, where campers requiring some extra support at camp have a “go-to” counselor in their cabin to help meet their needs. It may seem a bit counterintuitive to name this program after the Hebrew word for independence, since the whole program revolves around campers getting extra support from others. Many of us tend to think of independence as doing something on our own, without any support. Yet, some people will always need extra support to do things, and that is perfectly fine. In fact, our whole camp community is built around the idea that we need each other in order to thrive. So, why do we emphasize the idea of independence in our inclusion program?

An obvious answer is that living at camp, away from caretakers, helps to build campers’ independence. This is an especially important opportunity for our campers with disabilities, and it’s definitely one of the reasons the idea of independence is so important here. But there’s another kind of independence that we don’t think about as often—independence of choice. Here in our inclusive camp bubble, campers can choose what they want to do without the barriers that the outside world often puts in their way. Over the past week, I’ve witnessed our campers with Atzma’im support exercising their independence by choosing to do activities they may have never had the chance do before, as they may not have been offered the opportunity to do it with the necessary supports. Campers could choose whichever chug they wanted this week, knowing that they would receive necessary accommodations wherever they were placed. They could choose to climb a lake toy because they knew that their counselors and peers would physically help them up. They could choose to do the zip line because they knew a staff member would be there to calmly help them through it. 

It’s a bit of a paradox, the idea of independence here. In order for campers to truly make their own choices and carve their own path, they actually need communal support. Independence doesn’t mean doing something without help; it means being able to choose what you want to do and being told yes, even if it does require heavy support. In a world that so frequently fails to accommodate people with disabilities, camp is a rare haven of “yes”. When campers know that the answer will always be yes, they begin to break down the barriers that have been put before them so many times, and finally discover what they want. THAT is true independence.