Dear Capital Camps Community, We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Nate Strauss to the role of Camp Director for Capital Camps. Nate brings a profound dedication to a bright Jewish future, a hands-on approach, and deep professional experience within the Jewish community to this role. He will be joining the team beginning on March 4, 2024.  Nate is a firm believer that strong Jewish experiences lead to unique and inspired Jewish identities. He served in multiple roles at the Michigan State University Hillel including Director of Jewish Student Life and Assistant Director, and understands the nuances of being a young adult in today’s Jewish and secular societies. His leadership style is heavily influenced by a passion for team-building and guiding teams towards achieving collective goals and fostering a collaborative atmosphere. He is passionate about working with teens and addressing their needs as it relates to mental health, social dynamics, and engaging in creative Jewish and Israel-focused experiences. He is excited to work with our younger campers and help them explore what it means to build community and embrace independence apart from their home life. A core mission for Nate is to cultivate an environment where campers can develop their own Jewish identity and competence, autonomous of their secondary or Jewish day schooling.  An outdoor enthusiast, Nate can’t wait to leverage every acre of camp for camp programming, self- and group-discovery, and appreciation of nature. Fun fact: he is a certified yoga instructor!  Recognizing the significant step it is for a child to attend camp and for a family to invest and reinvest in Capital Camps, Nate is committed to parent partnerships, and guiding the growth of our campers and staff. He is excited to partner with the year-round team in each of these areas including Adina Golob (Community Care Manager), Melissa Grossman (Family + Community Engagement Director), and Ilana Kornblatt (Assistant Camp Director) as well as Max Nozick (Program Associate) and Penny Hartzman (Camp Registrar and Office Administrator). Please join us in welcoming Nate 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 Sarah Barnett CEO Board Chair

Ben Weiner, Atzma’im Counselor and Capital Camps Intern

I became aware of the Atzma’im/inclusion program’s existence at Capital Camps only in my 10th grade summer. I believe that that speaks volumes to the incredible job that Atzma’im counselors have done and will continue doing to allow their campers the ability to gain independence and help support them, all while ensuring they never feel singled out.

For the past two years on staff, I have been an Atzma’im counselor for several campers requiring vastly differing ranges of support. There is no better feeling than seeing your camper be accepted, included, and appreciated by their cabinmates no matter their physical, emotional, or intellectual disability. Through my work as an Atzma’im counselor, my camp view has completely shifted. Not all campers love dancing in a loud Habimah/central area or can handle silent prayer on Saturday mornings. Although these were staples throughout my camp experience, the Atzma’im program is about providing campers with equitable accommodations to best support their needs while also supplying them with a meaningful and enjoyable Jewish experience.

There is no one-size-fits-all model for Capital Camps and the Atzma’im program is the perfect image of that. All campers gain a better understanding of how to support those different from themselves and gain inclusion skills that can be found nowhere else. Since my involvement in the program, I have volunteered with several disability inclusion programs at Clemson University. Inclusion starts with Capital Camps but it most definitely does not end there. I’m forever thankful for my involvement in the program and I can’t wait to see what camp experiences are forever impacted this summer as a result.

Hannah Stoller, Director of Inclusion

While I love countless aspects of Capital Camps, what has kept me here for 16 years and continues to fuel my love for this place is the Atzma’im program, our fully integrative inclusion component. Through various support structures, we ensure that campers with a wide range of disabilities and neurodiverse identities can experience the magic of camp.

The “what” and the “who” of the Atzma’im program are pretty simple. Campers who need some extra help in order to have their needs met at camp are assigned a “go-to” counselor who provides 1:1 support. What’s a little more nuanced and commonly misunderstood is the “why” of Atzma’im. Inclusion is a longstanding Jewish value, and we have the Torah texts to back that up. B’tzelem Elohim is the idea that all people are created in God’s image, and it is introduced at the very beginning of the Torah. This value guides our understanding of why we continue to cherish and nurture our Atzma’im program.

The concept of B’tzelem Elohim teaches us that every single person has inherent value and beauty to bring to the world. We know that every child has their own strengths and gifts to contribute; accessibility limitations should not prevent campers from being able to share their gifts with us and experience others’ gifts. When we keep our doors open to campers of all abilities, we can all experience each other’s different strengths and subsequently become more independent, more empathetic, more justice-oriented. There is no one party that benefits the most from the Atzma’im Program. It simply enhances our entire community, and its impact is woven into all aspects of camp life. We are committed to inclusion because it’s right and just, but also because it’s the best. 

Art comes in many forms here at Capital Camps: it could be through the literal making of art in Omanut (our art room), dancing during Shabbat, acting in our annual camp show, creating music during shira, and even cooking a meal down at the farm. Whatever it may be, all these things make a lasting impact on the staff and campers here from generation to generation. 

I find it so special walking around camp and everywhere you look there is something that has been left behind by people from years gone by. If you peer into Habima (our theatre space) you will see decorated wooden plaques from Maccabiah (our color war) dating all the way back to 2003. Wandering around to our amphitheater the walls of the stage are adorned with brightly colored paintings depicting our community coming together at Shabbat. If you take a short walk down to Omanut, you will see artwork on the walls from 15 years ago and messages and names written on the benches by campers and staff from years gone by. 

As well as artwork, the arts are engrained in many other experiences throughout our community. As the whole of camp congregates before each meal on the plaza for byachad you may see the dance and Rikkud specialists lead this year’s or even 2016’s camp dance that is forever in campers’ and staff’s memories. Another whole camp event is when everyone comes together to watch the annual camp show, this year being ‘High School Musical’. As the campers prepare to perform the musical that they’ve been working on so incredibly hard for every day, fellow bunk mates will be chanting “C is for the camp show, A is for the amp show, M is for the mp show, P is for the p show!”, a chant which was started who knows when! This year during our Shabbat services, we have also sung songs new to campers but familiar and known to staff members who may have been here for 18 years or more! 

Whatever it may be, art is an integral part of bringing together our whole community, and each and every camper and staff member have added to the painting which is Capital Camps. In many ways, without the arts Capital Camps would simply be an idea on paper, which in itself was a creative artistic spark 36 years ago that started the camp we have today. A quote that perfectly encapsulates the way I believe art impacts and truly changes everyone who passes through capital camps every year is:

“Art pulls a community together.. Art makes you feel differently. That’s what artists are doing all the time, shifting and changing the way you see life.” ~ Lister Sinclair 

Your Arts Coordinator,

Sophie Irons

A rabbi had a son who used to wander off into the woods. One day, the rabbi decided to ask his son why he went wandering each day. The boy said to his father, “I go there to find God.” 

“Well,” the father said slowly, “That is a very good thing. But, my son, don’t you know that God is the same everywhere?” 

“Yes,” the boy answered, “But I am not.” 

-Hasidic Tale, and a story shared on page 37 of our camp Siddur 

To me, and to numerous others at camp, this story hits home in a special way. Camp is a special place where individuals can be themselves in a way they might not be able to anywhere else. So, why do we ever have campers leave camp? Surprisingly, it’s for the same reason. 

During the summer, each village has a different campout or trip that is specifically picked for the campers of that age group. For our campers in Benjamin and Reich, they start their campout time by taking a trip down to our lake in the afternoon. Once there, they will help set up tents, do some fun programs, and help as our outdoor adventure specialists prepare a delicious dinner cooked over the fire. In the morning they will pack up and have breakfast by the lake before “returning” to camp and their normal schedule. 

For Kaufmann village, they will get the chance to get on a bus early in the morning to head to Harpers Ferry, WV for a fun-filled day of hiking, rafting, and enjoying some time doing other activities away from camp. For Macks village, the time off camp extends to spending 2 nights at ACE adventure resort. Each day is filled with fun activities and a chance to bond with one another and their counselors by being away from camp. During 1st session, our LITs get to enjoy traveling around Israel for 3 weeks together. Earlier in the summer, our CITs took part in a multi-day service trip to Richmond, VA.

What makes these campouts special to the campers is that they are separated into their grade-level groups, rather than the entire village. By doing so, it gives campers a unique experience and a chance to bond with their peers in a special way. Something about being in a place, or space at camp, that you aren’t used to, but with the people you are used to, always leads to creating special memories. Despite the campers leaving camp or their typical living spaces for their trip, to them it still feels like just another day at camp. They are surrounded by their friends and counselors but they get to try new things that they wouldn’t be able to at camp or during a normal camp day. It creates something special for each group. 

Much like the boy from the story shared earlier, our campers bring their authentic camp selves to all the places they go, even if things are a little bit different than they are back in Waynesboro. During the year, I love hearing about families joining together in the special hand motions of Birkat Hamazon or camp friends expertly in sync during a Rikkud dance at a B’nai Mitzvah. Campers and staff alike end up bringing that camp magic with them no matter where they go, no matter what time of year. 

Austin Theis

Assistant Camp Director

Critical thinking is the process of actively conceptualizing, applying, and analyzing information gathered from observation, experience, reflection, or communication. Here at camp, we are offered daily opportunities to hone our critical thinking skills in a myriad of ways. Take outdoor adventure for example. Yesterday while I was at the low ropes course confirming that a camper had what they needed, I looked up and saw three campers calculating their next foot placements, using information that the adventure team had provided earlier, as well as observation of their suspended cabin mates in front to move across a series of elevated ropes and challenges.

Similarly, down at the lake campers enjoy climbing up and jumping from enormous inflatable lake toys. This process, disguised as fun, is in reality a critical thinking workshop, as many of the installations are quite difficult to master (I’ve tried). Campers need to not only observe each other but also rely on one another to get onto and then up the floating Iceberg, aqua-pavilion, and Wibbit inflatable tower.

Less obvious but equally important examples of critical thinking can be found in the cabins, where campers, some brand new to camp and shared living space, work on turn-taking, compromise, and problem-solving, strengthening friendships here at camp and building life skills that will prove invaluable on campuses and in workplaces years down the road.

Yes, at its core camp is about having fun. It is a magical place that for me provides the energy to get from September to May, but dig a little deeper and it’s a trove of learning experiences and critical thinking opportunities that our kids look forward to each and every day! 

Doug Putchat

Reich Village Leader

In this week’s Torah reading Moses recounts the revelation at Mount Sinai during which the Jews were given the Ten Commandments. These Commandments were carved on two stone tablets. According to tradition, the first five address the relationship between individuals and God while the second five address the needs of the community. 

On the first day of camp, I talk with each village about their individual hopes and dreams for the upcoming summer. Camp provides many opportunities for each of us to choose our own adventure. Some of us prefer the lake to the pool or pickleball to tennis. Some of us chose a creative chug such as ceramics, dance, or mystery chug while some choose a more active chug such as rock climbing, soccer, or basketball. I asked each camper to think about what they individually wanted out of this summer. 

In addition, we talked about the type of community we are building here at Capital Camps. During these first-day talks, I reminded everyone about the Code of Conduct each camper signed. Our Code of Conduct is based on values such as kindness (Chesed), treating everyone with fairness (Tzedek), gratitude (Hakarat Hatov), teamwork (Avodah Tzevet), and social responsibility/community mindfulness (Kehillah). 

As we conclude our first week of second session and prepare to celebrate Shabbat, I am very proud of the ways we have come together as a community. I admire the Kaufmann campers who took it upon themselves to help their peers use kind words and the Benjamin campers who shared the many ways they are thankful for new friends. Our LITs showed amazing teamwork as they planned and ran a mini Maccabiah program for our Rookie campers. In Reich Village, several bunks have joined together to form grade-level cohorts and Macks Village had a special program with representatives from JCADA (Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse) on healthy and positive relationships. And of course, our CITs are enjoying the hands-on learning that comes from the opportunity to work with campers. 

At camp, we recognize that each of us is created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. Each camper and staff member is valued and appreciated. Everyone has a role to play in creating and building this year’s special and unique second session community. We had an amazing first week and can’t wait to see where this summer’s adventure leads us. 

Lisa Handelman

Camp Director

Something unique about going to sleepaway camp is that you have no choice but to jump in with full force, and there are a lot of feelings that come along with this transition… Excitement to be more independent, and nerves about being away from home. Pride in trying something new, and fear that it may not go how you’d like. Happiness in building a new community and memories, and sadness that your loved ones aren’t there to experience it with you.

A lot of these emotions are like double-edged swords, but we can’t have growth and wins without challenges and getting out of our comfort zone.

Camp can be hard, whether you’ve been here for one year or ten, but the skills we leave with go way beyond the walls of our Waynesboro summer home. Returning back to CCRC for the first time in 10 years to be the camp’s first Behavior Specialist exemplifies what this place means to me; I’m so happy to be stepping out of my usual routine and facing new challenges head-on alongside your kids this summer!

Hillary Lacks

Behavior Specialist

B’ruchim Haba’im! Welcome! Yesterday we welcomed our second session campers to camp. As I stood in the Welcome Center greeting each car, and each bus, I felt a newness to camp, regardless of the fact that I have been here myself for five weeks. I saw the wonder and curiosity in the eyes of new campers, and the comfort of returning in the eyes of those back again. Our staff who have also been here for weeks showed up differently today. They brought the excitement as if it were their first day of camp as well!

Cheers of reuniting with old friends and new were heard all through camp as we entered the dining hall as one community for our first meal of the session…classic pizza bagels! Hearing a full camp chant of Hamotzi and Birkat Hamazon, the prayers before and after the meal, was music to our ears. 

As campers settled into cabins, tents, yurts, and rooms, and got to know their counselors and villages, we are filled with overwhelming joy and hope for the next three weeks. We know our long-time campers wait all year to get back here and new campers eagerly anticipate experiencing the magic of camp for the very first time. We promise it is worth the wait!

Melissa Grossman

Assistant Camp Director

The song for summer 2023 is called “This is Where the Adventure Begins” and we can’t wait for our Session 2 campers to arrive and start on an amazing camp adventure. Summer 2023 will include a combination of new adventures, camp-wide hallmark programs and the return of some old camp traditions.

As we celebrate 36 summers at camp, we will be bringing back some former camp songs and traditions. Our CITs have created a Seudah shlishit program based on an “old camp” tradition. On Shabbat, after our Shabboptions (a chance for everyone to pick among several creative Shabbat electives) and a music-filled T’fila (services), we have an afternoon of free time, swimming, playing sports or exploring elements at the ropes course. At the end of the Chofesh (free time) block, we gather for a special Shabbat treat. We learned from talking to former Capital Camp leaders that there used to be creative programming to accompany this special afternoon snack. We have named the new version of this program Seudah shlishit since it comes at the time of day when traditionally families gather for a third meal. Our CITs now do a short creative presentation of the week’s Parsha followed by some intriguing questions and yummy cupcakes.  

We added some new adventures and brought back some fan favorites. We have two new lake toys for campers to explore and we have added pickleball to our sports program. Our Kaufmann campers will once again have the opportunity to go on an out-of-camp adventure which will include white water rafting. Our Macks campers will be traveling to ACE and our Benjamin and Reich campers are planning on having a campout at the lake. Our Benjamin campers will once again have the chance to make challah for Shabbat dinner and Benjamin, Reich, and Kaufmann Village will each have an opportunity to contribute to Shabbat services. 

Of course, we have all our camp-wide hallmark programs planned such as SING, carnival, and Maccabiah. We have a great staff who are looking forward to welcoming all our Second Session campers. Our sports, arts, aquatic, and outdoor adventure team have fun daily activities planned. Our cabin counselors have created both silly and meaningful village and evening programs. We are ready for a session full of fun and friendship. Let the adventure begin!

Shabbat Shalom,

Lisa Handelman

Camp Director