by Barbara Lerman-Golomb. Originally posted on the Reform Judaism Blog. Read the entire article: http://blogs.rj.org/blog/2012/08/16/camp-the-great-continuum/
It’s hard to believe that camp is nearing the homestretch. Just a few short weeks ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to officially welcome second session families when we volunteered at Crane Lake Camp in West Stockbridge, MA, for Opening Day. The old timers waltzed in confidently to their “second home,” while the newbies moved with trepidation into this unfamiliar territory. Many of the children held tightly to belongings, mostly stuffed animals that would comfort them, helping to ease their home to camp transition.
As I checked in campers, I tried to recall what it felt like on my first day as a camper and what it felt like to be the parent of a first-time camper 14 years ago. My husband and I met at camp and moved through the ranks from campers to specialists. At an early age, our children inherited our strong connection to camp. This summer at Crane Lake, our daughter Joie is the program director, and our daughter Sophie is the upper Bonim unit head. Joie began as a counselor of the same group of girls from one year to the next, and when she became the drama director, Sophie became their counselor.