Last month, a group of seasoned Crane Lake counselors attended a retreat as part of Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Cornerstone Fellowship. These staff members spent the week with counselors from over 60 other Jewish camps! After having the opportunity to exchange ideas with others who are passionate about Jewish camp, one fellow was inspired to (unprompted!) reflect on what makes Crane Lake so special. Check out Josh Fragin’s thoughts on The Crane Lake Difference!
The Crane Lake Difference by Josh Fragin
Shalom (hello), everyone! Before I begin, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Josh Fragin, and I’m a student at the University of Michigan, approaching my twelfth summer at Crane Lake and my third on staff. I started attending camp when I was in Lower Lower Nitz (7 years old) and have worked as a counselor with the youngest campers for the past two summers. Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Foundation of Jewish Camp’s Cornerstone Retreat. At the retreat, we had numerous opportunities to connect and learn with other counselors from hundreds of Jewish camps across North America. While I learned a great deal, my biggest takeaway was that although, like any organization, there are areas where Crane Lake can improve (where are my 10-year onesies at?), I kept being drawn back to why Crane Lake is the best camp. So, without further ado, reflecting on my experiences spending two-thirds of my summers and almost 52 weeks in The Bubble, here’s why I believe Crane Lake is the best camp.
23 Hours a Day with Your Bunk
At Crane Lake, the schedule works so that from Sunday through Friday, with the exception of one period for chugim (choice activity), you’re with your bunk, engaging in activities selected for you. Saturday is a little different due to free play, but I believe the bunk-focused atmosphere six days a week truly embodies the culture of Crane Lake. Your bunkmates will become your best friends as you do everything together. While it may take months or years to establish lasting friendships outside The Bubble, camp accelerates that process to just a few days or weeks. Some friends I made 12 years ago in Lower Lower Nitz still return to the camp with me today. I also always appreciated that my schedule was largely chosen for me; it encouraged me to try activities I never knew I was interested in (shoutout to my ultimate frisbee and yoga fans!) and see different bunkmates thrive in different areas. Finally, the bunk-based schedule makes the limited choice activity time feel extra special, as you can’t wait to return to your bunk to share what you did in your chug (elective) or during free play.
Traditions
No one does traditions better than Crane Lake. When other camps hear about our Color War and Fight Songs, they are amazed at how much we care about these events and how special they are to every Crane Laker. I like to categorize traditions into two groups: lighthearted and monumental.
Lighthearted traditions are something that all of camp looks forward to, but don’t have quite the zealous following of the monumental traditions. Lighthearted traditions, in my opinion, include (but are not limited to):
Meanwhile, monumental traditions are perhaps the most special moments at camp, where you feel part of something greater than yourself. Monumental traditions include:
Ultimately, the culture and dedication to these traditions at Crane Lake are unlike anything you’ll find at other camps.
The People
It may sound cliche, but if you ask most Crane Lakers what keeps them coming back, they will respond with “the people”. We’ve created a culture of giving back (and kindness) that is uniquely Crane Lake. From first-time campers and international staff to those who have been here for over 20 years, Crane Lakers love camp and strive to make it the best possible place. Campers return as staff to create the same memories for their campers that the great counselors before them made. We look up to plaques and banners in the Rec Hall honoring incredible people who came before us, and we want to embody their spirit. I remember as a young camper staring at the Cornerstone plaques above the water fountain in the Beit Am, thinking how legendary those counselors were, and now it’s an honor to have my name alongside theirs.
There’s something about Crane Lake that is unexplainable to those outside the bubble. The way we care about certain things (things??? t-h-t-h-i-t-h-i-n-g-s things things…) is incomprehensible to someone who’s never been to camp. We are a culture rooted in tradition, filled with people who love camp and strive to make every moment fun. So yes, I might be a little biased, but I truly believe that Crane Lake is the best camp on earth.
—Josh Fragin
Josh Fragin
Josh Fragin is a 3rd Year Counselor and Cornerstone Fellow at URJ Crane Lake Camp, where he began as a camper in 2014.