10 years ago, I arrived at Crane Lake ready to move into Bunk 5 as a new Lower Bonim camper. I spent that summer swimming in the lake, trying the ropes course for the first time, and winning my first fight song. I spent that summer getting to know the girls who grew up to be more like my sisters than friends. I spent that summer looking up to my counselors and hoping to one day be just like them. And I spent that summer realizing just how special it is to call CLC your home.

What makes Crane Lake so incredible is the bonds you create growing up here. Living in a bunk with the same group of girls allows you to grow incredibly close to them, and the friendship we shared was impossible to describe to anyone who didn’t spend their summers at sleepaway camp. We could recount memories in unison and break out in laughter over a single look, reminiscent of an inside joke from years ago. I always knew I could turn to my bunkmates at any point during the school year and it would feel as if we hadn’t even left West Stockbridge. We were, and still are, a family.

The years I spent as a camper shaped the person I am now. Camp was the place I could try new things and step out of my comfort zone, surrounded by the love and support of my bunkmates and counselors. Things that normally terrified me, I was excited to do at camp. These moments
allowed me to create countless memories that still feel as if they were just yesterday.

Every year, I returned to camp excited to spend another summer living with my best friends in the place where I felt most comfortable. Once my time as a camper came to an end, I returned to camp excited to give campers that same confidence.

2 months ago, I arrived at Crane Lake ready to move into Bunk 5 as a third year Lower Nitzanim counselor. For many of my campers, this is also their first bunk. They have spent their summer swimming in the lake and trying the ropes course for the first time. And I got to spend this summer watching them get to know the girls who will grow up to be more like their sisters than friends.

By Sarah Stein, General Counselor