From Camper to Counselor

How summers at Crane Lake inspired Haiden Clarin’s return to camp as a counselor.

Apr. 29, 2026

Haiden Clarin’s camp story began on a tour of Crane Lake in 2017, a visit that would ultimately shape who she is today.

Now, after concluding her time as a camper as part of Olim ’24, Haiden is preparing for her first summer on staff. From her early memories of growing up surrounded by Crane Lake traditions to the lifelong friendships she’s formed, Haiden reflects on how camp shaped her into a confident leader and why she’s excited to return as a Junior Counselor.

Dear Crane Lake Community,

As early as I can remember, I was introduced to the idea of camp: tons of old CLC photos, several vintage CLC staff t-shirts, and many long and short stories that represented my parents’ 2002 CLC summer. There is a specific kind of adrenaline as I counted down the days to shipping and subsequently tracking my duffels’ journey to West Stockbridge. I was definitely destined to be a “camp kid. “

My journey as a camper started after a tour of camp. With open eyes and a high ponytail, I explored the fresh Berkshire air and found a sense of comfort in the place I had heard so much about: the views from the lake, gravel roads, the upper and lower fields. Teva, the old gymnastics pavilion and Chadar, plus the rows of bunks seemed to piece together a story I had been listening to my entire life. With my declaration, “Yes, this is it,” that I made when my two feet landed out of the rental car, before the actual tour, I was officially ready to begin my own camp story.

My official camper name tag marked my first summer as a CLC camper. Living in Gardenview with a top bunk by the window, I fluffed my pillows and re-tucked my blanket in order to climb down and join the other first year campers for an opening day grilled cheese lunch. My first summer was magical: when my parents asked me about my favorite activity, all I could talk about was the people I had met. I came home beaming about my new friends with their phone numbers and emails, of what were soon to be lifelong friends, written on my arm in Sharpie.

As the years went by, those Sharpie scribbles faded, but the bonds they represented only grew stronger. CLC became the environment where I felt like my best self. It gave me the confidence to laugh and excel from Reveille until lights out (sometimes even after too). I distinctly remember the moments where my friends and I had late night dance parties in our bunk, the times we “debriefed” our days on the porch until way too late, and of course the rainy day chronicles. To me, these are the moments I remember most. Whether I was stepping into new leadership opportunities or just sparking a conversation at Chug (a.k.a. cloudbusting or reading), I realized that the magic of CLC is built on the people. Getting to know everyone across camp – not just in my bunk – became something incredibly special to me.

Even during the winter months, I never really left. My phone was always a digital scrapbook of Crane Lake memories: photos of the iconic CLC sunset and Saturday freeplay memories took up my lockscreen. Whenever a camp song or a fight song played on my playlist, I’d blast the volume and immediately send a clip to my camp friends just to relive a feeling of butterflies on the second Saturday in July. There is something about the pride I feel in unapologetically singing those lyrics that always drew me back to the idea of camp. To this day, ‘Summertime Forever’ plays in my car as I drive to and from school.

The definitive turning point for me was my Olim summer. During the intensity of Color War, standing in front of the CLC community as one of the oldest campers, everything shifted. My heart has always understood CLC, but in that moment, I looked at the younger units across Crane Lake (and my sister Alix!) and took in their pure, growing love for this camp, bringing myself back to memories in their tiny Nitzanim shoes. I knew I wanted to be a part of protecting and shaping that experience of being an unapologetic Crane Laker.

This summer, I’m stepping into a counselor role to share the same love for CLC that shaped me into a confident leader, passing that passion on to a new generation of campers. And I cannot wait to start this journey with all of you!

With gratitude,
Haiden Clarin

Haiden will return to camp for her first summer on staff and 9th overall. We can’t wait to welcome her, and our entire community, back for another amazing summer!