Hello, Capital Camps!
My name is Nathan Osheroff, but most of the camp community knows me as Nosh. I am the Head Songleader this summer – or as I like to think of myself, the CCRC Vibes Coordinator. This is my 12th summer at Capital Camps, and my fourth on staff, and music has been the throughline of all of it. From playing instruments for the village during SING as a camper, to jumping up and down singing at the top of my lungs during Friday night song sessions, my childhood camp memories are defined by song.
During the week, I run shira (music) activity blocks, where I get to directly engage with one cabin at a time, teaching Jewish music. On Shabbat, I have the privilege of assisting Rabbi Misha Clebaner in running services, song sessions, Siyyum (our Friday night closing ritual), and Havdalah, where music shapes the holy and sacred spaces at camp.
Music at camp isn’t background noise: it’s the heartbeat of this place. It’s how we celebrate, how we connect, how we welcome Shabbat, and how we say goodbye at the end of summers that always feels too short.
What moves me the most is knowing that the music doesn’t stay at camp. Campers spend the entire year listening to self-curated Capital Camps Spotify playlists, teaching their families the songs that are the most meaningful to them. A melody heard on a random Tuesday at home can instantly bring someone back to a Friday night in Waynesboro, surrounded by the people who make camp home.
It is a profound honor to help create the musical moments at camp that continue to unite our community, serving as a lasting thread that connects us long after summer has ended.
Best,
Nathan Osheroff, Head Songleader