By Jeremy Klotz, Camp Director

Shalom GUCI!

One of my favorite parts of being a camp director thus far is working with cabin counselor groups. This is really where the magic of camp is created; where the rubber meets the road. I get to work with these groups planning programs, working on cabin dynamics, helping co-counselors get to know each other, and in some cases, to get along. Creating strategies and helping counselors achieve the goals they set for their cabins is very rewarding for me.

One of the many reasons GUCI is so important to current campers and staff, as well as alumni, Faculty and friends is that it is a safe place where people feel comfortable exploring, and where people gain independence and self-confidence. Like anyplace else, though, people at camp do have to face and overcome challenges. Watching or being a part of counselors and campers overcoming fears or challenges is a highlight of my job. The challenge described below is a great example.

Every once in a while a group of campers who have been together for a few years gets placed in a split cabin due to enrollment numbers. For example, this year we have 19 campers in one grade, and our maximum per cabin is 14. As a result, some of those campers who really wanted to be together could not be. The initial few days for them were tough. They expressed their concern to us and asked for answers. Drama ensued. With the help of camp leadership, this cabin’s counselors accepted the challenge of making this cabin a success.

Creating community is difficult work. It takes time, effort, strategy and patience. The talented counselors in this cabin challenged the campers to rise to the occasion. What did they want to make of their summer? Did they want to be upset about this, or create the summer they envisioned before Opening Day? They arranged fun and meaningful cabin bonding activities, like climbing our six story Apline Tower, and planned an amazing bunk night. The campers started getting to know each other and really working well together as a group. They realized that they have a lot in common, and that they have a ton of spirit.

We received an email from a parent of one of the campers in this cabin who was initially upset about this. Her camper wrote home seven days into camp describing how elated she was to be at camp; how camp reaffirms her connection to Judaism; how her cabin is so amazing and now other cabins in the unit want to be like them. It’s not important whether those other cabins really want to be like them. It’s only important that this cabin believes it. This cabin committed to changing its situation. The counselors put in the time, put forth the effort, created and executed the strategy, and patiently waited for great results. The campers trusted each other, faced their situation, and did the hard work of building their cabin community. Now, having planted the roots of cabin unity, they have over two weeks to ride the wave. This is the magic of GUCI in action.

Shabbat Shalom!

– Jeremy Klotz