By Debby Shriber, Director, Crane Lake Camp
Olim campers lined the gates of Crane Lake yesterday morning, jumping and cheering wildly with the arrival of each car. Full-summer campers and counselors anxiously awaited their new bunkmates. Medical staff, senior staff, board members, and other friends of CLC all helped get all of our families checked-in. I saw so many smiles and hugs as campers greeted one another following a 10 month break and counselors high fiving kids as they ran up to their bunks. Session 2 is officially underway!
Some highlights of opening day included our all-camp lunch and pep rally, and unit time, in which campers were able to spend some quality time with their entire unit to become better acquainted with their counselors and unit heads. Our opening ceremony in the Outdoor Sanctuary was as beautiful as it was first session, and included the passing of our Torahs from oldest campers to youngest, singing joyful songs together, and reading our camp’s mission statement.
The afternoon was filled with bunk time, and our Upper Camp (Chaverim and Olim) enjoyed an “Proneg” (pre-dinner oneg) on the main lawn, complete with sliced fruit, cheese and crackers, and mingling time. Our evening programs centered around the idea of Hineni, Here I Am – we’re here and ready to engage ourselves fully in everything camp has to offer. We gathered in the Beit Am to present the “Here I Am” poster that all of us had created by signing our names earlier in the day. Some of our past staff members were invited to send in videos to camp… previous Maccabiah generals and beloved Crane Lake family members sent in videos wishing us a fantastic summer, and reminding us to make the most of each moment at camp, because summer flies by too quickly. It definitely added to the Maccabiah fever that is already permeating camp, and at the end of the video, cries of “1-2-3-4 We want Color War!” filled the room.
Our Cornerstone Fellows with second session's "Here I Am" sign, underneath first session's "Hineini" sign
It’s going to be a great session! Stay tuned to the blog for more updates from session 2.