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
