By Rachael Pass

Geza Unit Head

Shalom GUCI community!

My name is Rachael Pass, and I am thrilled to be the Geza Unit Head this summer! I am so excited to be back at camp again for my fifth summer on staff. My GUCI career began in 2000, as a nine-year-old coming to Garin. I haven’t stopped coming back since! I was a camper through Anaf, went to Israel with the NFTY trip in 2007, returned for Avodah in 2008 (where Chase Foster, our Program Director, was my Unit Head!), and have been on staff since 2009. This is my second summer working as the Geza Unit Head, and I could not be more excited!

I recently graduated from Brandeis University outside of Boston, Massachusetts. There, I majored in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and in Psychology, with a minor in Education Studies (so, yes, basically I majored in Jewish camp!). In my free time, I like to hula hoop and play guitar—both are skills I’ve learned at GUCI! I like to be silly and have fun, and I’m so excited to spend the summer being silly and having fun with Geza!

Geza is by far the BEST unit on camp! Comprised of seventh and eighth graders, Geza gets the best of both worlds by being in the middle. We’re old enough to be included in special programs (like canoeing!) and young enough to be constantly silly and energetic. We get to be role models for younger campers without the worry that our time as campers is coming to an end. We also get Yom Tiyul, our special overnight camping trip as a unit. On Yom Tiyul, we go off camp for two days and cook our own food, go on fun hikes, and spend time bonding as a unit. Tiyul is by far my favorite part of the session, because the campers get to show their competence and independence while we all get closer to each other through our connection with nature. It gives us a time with no distractions where we all (campers and staff members alike) get to know each other better and make strong personal connections to each other. Geza campers balance fun and silliness with exploring their own identity, and I love getting to be a part of that.

I’m so excited to be spending another summer working with Geza! I’m also ecstatic to be working with Jake Klingensmith, our Head Counselor, for a second summer in a row. Jake brings a unique energy to Geza and I couldn’t be happier that we get to lead this wonderful unit again. This summer will absolutely be the best yet!!