This week’s Jewish value is Sakranut, meaning curiosity. Curiosity can take many different forms at camp; we can show curiosity by trying new things, asking questions and stepping out of our comfort zone. The only way to learn is to be curious and camp is a great place for that. This week, we had two counselors reflect on curiosity at camp along with how campers believe they have curiosity at camp.

They say curiosity killed the cat. Well, then, it’s a good thing they also say that cats have 9 lives. Curiosity is an invaluable trait that isn’t always given the credit it deserves. Where would we be if we didn’t try new things? What would we discover? I for one gain the most when I am curious and take risks, and there is no better place to foster this curiosity than here at camp. Where better than a place like this to try new things without the fear of being ridiculed or judged? My 1st year camper jumped head first into the session claiming it was already the best day of her life, and her reasoning was, and I quote, “I love trying new things!” I hope “sakranut,” the Jewish value of the week, takes everyone here at camp as far as it has taken her. – Eve Morin, General Counselor

Ever since I was a young lad at CLC, I have experienced curiosity in many forms. From wondering if I would want to extend my two weeks in k’tanim to four weeks (I did extend to four weeks), to wondering how I can put a fun new twist on an old program. Even in this past week I used curiosity to change up a program called a photo scavenger hunt. Photo scavenger hunts happen every year at camp, so we needed to do something to change it up. In the past, the campers were be given pictures, which they would recreate and take a matching picture of it. These pictures would never be seen by anyone. So to change it up we gave each bunk a list of activities and tasks to do and told them to take videos and pictures of them. At the end we then projected all the pictures and videos on to a screen so all the campers could see and laugh at all the silly things they just did. The campers had a blast and there was even one person who came up to me and said, “This was the best program I’ve ever done at camp”. It is examples like this that show how curiosity can turn a mundane activity into an extraordinary one. – Ben Stein, Lower Camp Programming Specialist

“I have started to play a lot of volleyball.” – Jordan E., bunk 24

“I tried yoga chug because I was wondering what it would be like.” – Aliza C., bunk 8

“I made a bowl on the pottery wheel for the first time.” – Gus B., bunk 21

“I often wonder what is for lunch today?” – Rebecca T., bunk 16

“I’m curious to know what Olim is doing for trip day.” – Michelle C., bunk 12

“I played bananagrams for the first time.” – Ilan B., bunk 27

“I tried dance chug for the first time.” – Leah M., bunk 16

“I showed curiosity when I came to camp for the first time.” – Ben S., bunk 19

Thank you to Emily R. and Shoshana H. from the Daily Bubble Chugim for the interviews with campers!

By Lindsey Blackman, Communications Specialist