Day In The Life: Cabin, Cabin, Cabin TENT!

I'm back at camp, serving on faculty. People always ask me just what it is that I do all day at camp, so  I'm going to try to give you a snapshot of a day in the life of a faculty member at camp. This was yesterday....

7:45am Tefillah (services) -- this morning led by one of the tzrifim (cabins). We also read a little Torah. All in 14.5 minutes! (Followed by breakfast....scrambled eggs!)

8:40am Shira (song session) and my 3rd cup of coffee...

9:00am Limud (learning) -- Our study theme for this group and this session is the "North American Jewish Experience." Our campers are learning about early Jewish immigration to the United States, and they had an Ellis Island simulation a few days ago. Today they were talking about what it was like to make decisions in the "new world" -- decisions about Jewish identity and how they could be both modern Americans and committed Jews.

10:30am  A little work in my "office" (i.e. my room in the Lodge) while the campers were having swim time

11:45am Ivrit (Hebrew) - a lesson about the Hebrew words of camp. Taught thru a modified game of Duck Duck Goose....tzrif tzrif tzrif....OHEL! (cabin, cabin, cabin....TENT!)

12:30pm Faculty Lunch and discussion. Pizza!

1:45pm Menucha (Rest time)

3:00pm walk to drop the chaverim campers (the little ones, our faculty kids) down at the lake for a boat ride with the babysitters

Then work on tomorrow's and later-on-in-the-session programming on my laptop with other segel (faculty) members

5:00pm - Meeting with a tzrif (cabin) to help them prepare to lead tefillot (services) later in the session. 

6:15pm dinner (stir fry!) followed by a quick change into longs-and-longs (long pants and long sleeves) in readiness for tonight's special event

7:00pm All Camp Tefillah followed by an awesome concert with Rabbi Noam Katz:

Then some late night meetings and a little socializing with the other faculty....

11:55pm off to bed so we can start all over again!

Camp is a lot of work and a lot of fun...doing holy work here in this beautiful setting.

Read more about our work at camp over here on the OSRUI blog, with this really nice post from my friend and colleague, Rabbi David Locketz.

Off to Camp 2012

Today was David's first day at OSRUI. Last year, I wrote a prayer for him as he went off to camp. It still holds true, so I'm reposting it here today. My heart is now in so many places....

A prayer for my dear son embarking on his second third year at summer camp...

May you find learning and growth of all kinds.
May you gain independence and feel comfort in your Jewish identity.
May the mosquitoes be guided away from you, and may the raindrops not fall into your tent (too much).
May the food be delicious and the pool the right temperature.
May you seek out new experiences and try new things (vegetables would be nice but I'm doubtful).
May you smile brilliantly for the camp photographer and show up daily in the online photo albums.
May you avoid the camp crud and may you never lose your socks.
May you take a shower and brush your teeth every day.
May you not send wet towels to the laundry, because the laundry is charged by weight.
May your arrows fly straight, your fishing line never get tangled, and your tetherball not whack you in the nose.
May you not fall off the top bunk.
May you not spend your whole canteen account on silly junk.
May you not lose your hat and water bottle in the first week.
May you not lose your way in the night to the outdoor bathroom.
May you write me at least one letter besides the mandatory first-day-letter.
May you create a life-long friendship (at least one, if not many).
May you  renew old friendships, since they are the most precious. (Are 9 year olds allowed to have "old friends"?)
May you learn more and more about yourself and your spirit and being.

May you return home in one piece with all your belongings,
and may you ever yearn to return to the land of summer camp.

His shirt says a lot about what is on our mind...

 We also left behind the little girl...just for a few days. But already she wants to stay longer. Which is exactly how I feel about camp....

Change in Routine

There are so many changes in our routine these days.
We notice a lot of things.
But this one is pretty big...
Our family isn't going to camp.

Don't worry, my kids are.
Camp is still one of the most important things in my life, one of my inspirations and my passions.

But this year I have a different place to be.

Today was one of the hardest days.
Because today was the day that we were supposed to all be at camp.
Together.
With our friends.
And yes, I know how blessedly lucky we are to spend the time together at camp each summer.

So we had to find a way to mark the occasion anyway. Tomorrow is the first day!

It's not quite the same.
But perhaps a new family ritual has been born....


See all the posts I've written about camp in previous years.

Why Jewish Camp Rocks (Reason #4,325*)

*Okay, I'm not sure where I am in the list, but it must be somewhere close to this.

This video is a repeat performance of the last few meals at our house. They've taken to singing at meals, and this is one of David's favorite songs from last year and this year at OSRUI. I think he can't quite handle the lack of song sessions and general camaraderie now that he's back home so he's taken to organizing his siblings into these impromptu song sessions.

He doesn't quite get all the Hebrew words right, even though I've tried and tried to convince him of the correct way to pronounce them. We'll keep working on it...

Make sure you check out the eye roll that David gives his little brother and the enthusiastic drama that Sam brings to the whole experience. And Yael just plays along...



I can't stop smiling when I see them singing together...

Dispatches from Camp: Making Friends

There's a special place in the world for the children of Jewish professionals.

(sometimes known as RK's - Rabbis' Kids - but I'm thinking of the children of all Jewish professionals!)

They live in a unique world...they are often in a fishbowl, observed on all sides by congregants. Everyone knows their names, they are public property in the synagogue.

They are the kids who know all the blessings, who can answer almost every question in Sunday School, and whose parents don't let them slack off on their Hebrew homework.

But they are also the kids whose parents love Judaism, who make it a part of their lives, who bring it alive in ways that many of their classmates never see.

Jewish summer camp is full of all kinds of kids. 

Jewish kids of all shapes and kinds, with all manner of background and experience. 

But for my children, camp is a uniquely special place. 

Even though they are not quite old enough to realize it, they are making friends that will last their lifetime. And many of those friends (although thankfully not all) are also children of Jewish professionals.

I hope that these are the friends that they can call when they are frustrated and fed up with their parents.
Their parents who are running synagogues.
And those friends will understand.

This is what I hope for my children.

(Pictures of Sam and his friend, whose mama is a Jewish educator and also serving on faculty at camp with me. They are hunting bugs and being spies...all at the same time.)

Dispatches from Camp: Morning Commute

Each morning I wake up and walk down to the Beit Tefillah (chapel) for morning prayer.

Camp is usually quiet...the morning walk clears my head and I walk slowly, breathing in the morning air, reveling in the natural surroundings.

Does a commute get much better than this?

Dispatches from Camp: Skipping Away

One of my favorite things about being at camp is the freedom that my children feel while there.
We certainly supervise them, but there is no concern when they run ahead on the path or escape our eyes for a few minutes.
I know there is someone who is ready to look out for them.

Camp is a remarkably safe way to teach children independence.
We send them away from home, but we know that they're not out in the world alone. They are constantly cared for while still gaining responsibility. Their parents aren't hovering and asking them if they changed their underwear - but they are safely ensconced in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Campers get to make choices, in ways that they often never get to do. They are presented with a list of activities and asked to choose. They are given the option to swim the lake or sleep in. They put the food on their own plates from the provided meals.

Campers have tasks to take on, tasks that they might never take on at home. They have to consider what goes to the laundry, they clear their plates from the table, they are responsible for keeping and maintaining their own belongings. (And sometimes they don't do any of this very well...but that's part of the learning process, isn't it?)

I know that I don't need to add my voice to the many who speak of the importance of summer camp for children.
But something this very true bears repeating over and over again.

Because I want camp to always be there for my children and their children.

Dispatches from Camp: A Little Bit Artsy

As I've written before in previous years, I have the honor of serving as faculty at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I spend 2 weeks each summer working with the campers and staff to create the most amazing living Jewish environment. We are so blessed to be able to come to camp as a family - my kids love to be here. I must admit that Solly is a bit of a distraction everywhere I take him...

This year I'm working with a group called Tiferet. This is OSRUI's arts unit - the campers in this group spend a good chunk of each day in their "Studio" groups - drama, visual arts, music or dance (in addition to all the other camp activities like swimming, sports and rest time...). Many of the traditions in Tiferet are unique and creative.

Like their Beit Tefillah, which consists of a lot of stumps to sit on. The Tiferet campers have even painted canvas "stump covers" that they bring out for each service.

Ah...camp.

For my first day, I hung around to check out the studio activities. Here are some of the campers' work:

More to come...

A Letter to My Son at Camp

Dear David,
Please take out the trash.
Love,
Ima

Dear David,
Please practice piano.
Love,
Ima

Dear David,
Please empty the dishwasher.
Love,
Ima

Dear David,
Just wanted to make sure you didn't miss me too much...
I'm sure you're having a fabulous time!
Love,
Ima

(This was an actual letter that I mailed yesterday...)

A Mama's Prayer for Summer Camp

A prayer for my dear son embarking on his second year at summer camp...

May you find learning and growth of all kinds.
May you gain independence and feel comfort in your Jewish identity.
May the mosquitoes be guided away from you, and may the raindrops not fall into your tent (too much).
May the food be delicious and the pool the right temperature.
May you seek out new experiences and try new things (vegetables would be nice but I'm doubtful).
May you smile brilliantly for the camp photographer and show up daily in the online photo albums.
May you avoid the camp crud and may you never lose your socks.
May you take a shower and brush your teeth every day.
May you not send wet towels to the laundry, because the laundry is charged by weight.
May your arrows fly straight, your fishing line never get tangled, and your tetherball not whack you in the nose.
May you not fall off the top bunk.
May you not spend your whole canteen account on silly junk.
May you not lose your hat and water bottle in the first week.
May you not lose your way in the night to the outdoor bathroom.
May you write me at least one letter besides the mandatory first-day-letter.
May you create a life-long friendship (at least one, if not many).
May you  renew old friendships, since they are the most precious. (Are 9 year olds allowed to have "old friends"?)
May you learn more and more about yourself and your spirit and being.

May you return home in one piece with all your belongings,
and may you ever yearn to return to the land of summer camp.

Summer Camp Highlights!

Now that we've returned home, most of the laundry is done, our mosquito bites have started to heal, and camp is slowly becoming a memory for my kids...so I share with you now some of the highlights of our 2 weeks at OSRUI...

We got to hang out with the amazing Dan Nichols. He worked with all the different kids around camp in smaller groups and he did a big concert for the whole camp. It was awesome! When David was little, he would sing Dan's songs and call him "MY Danny Nichols." Pretty cool to get them together again....

We spent Shabbat afternoons at the waterfront...

We met the frog that lives in the Tzofim ark. On Shabbat morning, I even got to pick him up and move him so we could carry the Torah without disturbing him.

We got to feed the goats. Every day. All the time.

There were puddles to stomp in.

And then a fan to dry off the wet feet...

Some of us got to fly high on the "flying squirrel" at the Alpine Tower.

Some people got to ride around in the stroller all the time.

And I got to spend Shabbat with my husband and family!

A great time had by all....looking forward to next summer already!

I'm (a little) less certain

As you may know, I'm a big advocate of Jewish summer camp. I think it's so great for kids to go away for a few weeks, gain some independence, learn something new, and have the opportunity to immerse in Jewish identity.

My kids LOVE camp.

But today, this conversation made me a little less certain about, um, the other parts of the summer camp experience.

David, with a huge smile: Hey, mom, yesterday I got to second base and then a home run!
Me: Oh, were you playing kickball? or baseball? What sport?
David: Fart baseball.

Hmmm.....

(Oh yeah, then I asked him to smile and instead he showed me his lunch...)

Time to go home from camp....hard to believe it's been 2 weeks!

Favorite Part of Camp

Ask Sam and Yael what their favorite part of camp is and they'll both tell you "the horsies."

On Wednesday, they got their turn riding...

I can't believe it's almost time for us to head home...it's been a great 2 weeks!

Scenes from Shabbat at Camp....

On Shabbat at camp, everyone gets dressed up in their finest (camp) Shabbat clothes, and greets each other with smiles and happy hugs. Here's David, waiting outside his tent, doing what he loves to do best:

In the dining hall, waiting for dinner...

Dinner is followed by Shabbat Shira, a rockin' and crazy song session. Can you see all those kids in the distance? They're lining up to go into Port Hall, that building right there, to start the fun. And yes, Michael has a bear on his head.

On Shabbat, we don't swim in our pool, but instead spend the day on the waterfront. Here are my littles, enjoying the sand and the sun....

A restful and lovely Shabbat was had by all!

How was your Shabbat?

See more great Summer photos at Summer Stock Sunday.

Sock it to me

Every camp has their traditions and culture.
Every camp has their rituals and routines.

Here at OSRUI, one of those unique and creative rituals, long-standing and with blurry origins, is High Sock Thursday in Kibbutz haTzofim.

(this was part of a 3-legged race, obviously)

It does add a little bit of fun and excitement.

Do rituals need to have purpose? Or is their very purpose to add purpose to our lives? What purpose does wearing "high socks" serve for our campers and staff? Certainly it builds community. Certainly it builds silliness, which is a critical element for fun at any summer camp. And certainly it gives us a sense of shared experience.

So why do we wear High Socks on Thursdays?

Because that's what we do.

---

Heading into Shabbat at camp....I can't wait for the quiet, the peace, and the pure Shabbat-ness of it all.

Eaten Alive?

I've never quite seen as many mosquitoes as I've seen this summer at camp.

Seriously, I have mosquito bites in places I didn't even know I had skin.

And one on my eyelid.

This photo that I found seems to be appropriate...

La la la....

Scene: Morning Services at camp

Songleader explains that the tune begins with "la la la"
Camper turns to me and says: "Why does everything have a la la la in it?"

Just Kidding Around....

We've arrived at OSRUI!

My oldest child spent 2 weeks here and we picked him up on Sunday, and then returned a few hours later (with freshly laundered clothes for him, thank you Sun Laundromat) to move into our rooms and begin our family's time at camp. I will be serving as faculty for Kibbutz haTzofim, a section of OSRUI that spends most of its time outdoors, and lives in large platform tents.

This is a new experience for me and my family! For the past six years, I've worked with Kallah, a similarly-aged unit (kids in about 4-7th grades) but living in cabins and eating their meals indoors.

I knew things were different right from the start:

At OSRUI, the "Downstairs" units live in tents while the "Upstairs" units live in cabins. As you can see, we take this division pretty seriously!

Another major difference - you might have noticed that the full name of this unit is "KIBBUTZ haTzofim" - and we take that Kibbutz concept as far as possible. These campers work together to prepare meals, work in the garden, and perhaps best of all, take care of the animals:

Yep, no kidding around (oh, it never gets old with me), we have goats and even a cow. I hear there are some bunnies around but I haven't seen them. I'll keep ya posted.

Our campers in Tzofim get all the other fun parts of camp, too - they venture "upstairs" to the pool, the waterfront, the arts center, the sports center, etc...but it's just a little bit different from what I'm used to in the past. And you know what? It's really exciting for me to step outside of my element! My kids are also enjoying the picnic tables and the goats, so hopefully the fun will continue!

More updates as camp continues....

Dispatches from Oconomowoc

Today we received 3 letters from David at camp. Yep, three.
(The third was relatively incomprehensible, I think it might be a continuation of an-as-yet-unreceived letter!)

The first is the required "ticket into dinner letter" that the kids have to write on the first day.
I laughed a little as I read it because I didn't sign him up for (expensive) horseback riding. Guess he missed that memo! A friend pointed out that he forgot to sign it (there's no line, probably why he missed it!), but luckily, I'm quite sure of its authorship.

Here's the second letter:

So...do you think he really misses me? (Note, it's addressed only to MOM) Or do you think that he's trying to make me feel better? Maybe a little of both.

One week down, one to go. I do miss my boy. I feel better going into Shabbat with this sign of life.

Shabbat Shalom!

One Happy Camper

So...we dropped off our oldest kid at camp on Monday.
(This is not a post about the importance of Jewish summer camp - this is purely an Ima post.)

Which means it's now been 2 days since I've heard from him.

I haven't called.
I haven't texted.
I haven't emailed.

Okay, that last one was a little lie. A rabbi-friend emailed to ask me a reasonable camp/work-related question. I snuck in a P.S. "how's my kid?"

But aside from that?

Truthfully, I miss him. I miss having him around and a part of our daily lives. But I'm also so curious to know how he's doing, I want to hear about every little detail, I want to know everything.

And I know that I just won't.

That is what I realized today. I just can't know it all any more. When he started in daycare (8 years ago!?), I got a little slip of paper at the end of every day. It charted every diaper change, every meal, every nap, every everything and I got a little written note telling me how his day went. Things have certainly changed since then.

But now? There will be mountains of details that he's not going to share with me. Not even because he's being secretive or whatever, but because that's just how it is.

And that's the sound of my heart breaking a little....

...but also rejoicing, too.
He's independent, bright, happy, and ready.

He's still my baby. Always.
But he's growing up too.
And that's okay.