By Rabbi Sandford Kopnick, Faculty

It is hard to believe that one way or another I’ve been showing up here in Zionsville, Indiana for 38 summers.  What a joy to work with Jeremy Klotz, our new Camp Director, who has brought his remarkable perspective to our camp.  This year, Rabbi Jim Bennett and I had the pleasure of working with the staff during the Orientation week, where we were able to reminisce and aid in the training of the remarkable people who care for our campers.  And while many things have changed in 38 years, it is remarkable how many things are the same.

This week, the other faculty members and I cooked a few hundred hamburgers for Yom Sport dinner, and we all put together the quiz bowl competition, too.  We are asked to help counselors write programs about our study theme, and the counselors are still very talented, resourceful, funny, and high quality people.

Sure there are differences.  There is a lot more “electronic” at camp.  The influence of technology is both a blessing and a curse.  Yet, the respite from gaming and relentless social media reminds our campers  (and staff) about playing outside, caring for and being in nature, and working on friendships without having to look at a screen.

Some technology is good:  The last few years I’ve had the joy of watching project in a building with state-of-the-art equipment, which has allowed the shows to be better supported by our campers.  The communication between the camp and the campers’ families has been increasing in style and content.  I love how social media and other forms of communication have been included to keep our parents connected without compromising the campers’ experience.

And finally, I continue to be amazed, as I watch the way kids and staff simply love being Jewish here.  They talk about beliefs, they experiment with our services, they sing their hearts out, and they create a spiritual community that supports each other as they celebrate our heritage.

When Jimbo (Rabbi Bennett, excuse me!) and I watched the staff during Orientation, we could name friends and co-workers from our past years at camp about whom we were reminded as their young folks were taking their turn as counselors.  We saw big personalities, schtick, and unbelievable sensitivity and professionalism.  As many things have changed, the best part is that the core values are as good or better… and now with a new director who grew up here.  Talk about moving from strength to strength!

Sandford Kopnick, Avodah ’79, ’84