Hello Capital Camps!

    From the moment our campers begin their Capital Camps journey, they dream of the day they will be a 10th grader in Macks Village. A Macks Village summer means living in a tent, planning camp-wide carnivals, competing in the “Spoon Game,” access to the “Macks Stairs” path down to lower camp, getting your Benjamin Village (3rd-5th grade) buddies to mentor, and so much more. The Macks Village experience is packed with milestone moments and magic. Here’s just a taste of what you’ll hear whispered in the tents as you walk through the village:

    • One Village, One Community: As campers grow from village to village, they become more independent and learn to operate more on a village than cabin basis. By the time campers get to Macks, the tents are mostly just for sleeping – life happens across the whole village and as one community. Everything from the programming to sitting out in our hammocks is village wide. With this comes a unique closeness with each other and sense of one. This sense of one village, one community is felt throughout. In fact, on the second night of camp, I walked through the village to the sound of campers chanting: “We are one village, Macks Village!” That moment – so early on – said it all.
    • Ace Adventure Resort: A highlight of every summer is our three-day journey to Ace Adventure Resort, where we are right now! With zip lining, a mud obstacle course, rafting, and lake toys galore, it’s a thrilling adventure for all.
    • Hunger Games Program: Another Macks Village staple is our Hunger Games program, where teams compete in various challenges, tagging each other “out” with paint and shaving cream. With one final winner, the program encourages a lot of fun, ruach (spirit), excitement, and teamwork.
    • Creek Walking: Macks Village is surrounded by natural beauty, from the lake to the farm to the creek. Whether it’s being cozy in the hammocks above the creek or walking along the rocks, the creek provides a calm corner to reflect, relax, and reconnect.
    • Spoon Game: Perhaps the most iconic Macks Village tradition is the Spoon Game. Each camper receives a plastic spoon to decorate and wear around their neck. The goal? Always keep it on you. If a counselor shouts “Spoon Check!” and you don’t have it, you’re out. The game carries on throughout the summer until someone is crowned the winner. It’s fun, silly traditions like these that make camp special and bring people together with fun memories.

    I hope that when my campers look back on their time at camp, their Macks summer stands out as one of the most meaningful, joyful, and formative chapters. Next summer, they will leap into their two summers of leadership programs as LITs (leaders-in-training) and CITs (counselors-in-training), and I can’t wait to see how they continue to grow.

    I hope our younger campers look forward to the day they walk down the Macks Stairs with their spoons. This is truly an experience you cannot get anywhere else, and it’s a privilege to witness the magic Capital Camps creates every day.

    Best,

    Ari Geller

    Macks Village Leader