By: Michael Levy, Anaf Unit Head

In high school there are always the stereotypical groups of people. The jocks, nerds, thespians, etc. All of the people who fall into these typecasts exist at camp, but the groups do not. I have never seen another place where these groups are absent. Personalities and qualities of the individual shine through much brighter at camp than interests and hobbies do. Connections with cabin mates are far more based on character than they are on what people are involved in outside of camp.

Once these relationships are formed, campers share their interests with their cabin, opening the door for kids to try things they normally wouldn’t. The “jock” learns how to solve a Rubix Cube, the “bookworm” gives music chug a try, and the “artsy” kid practices Frisbee tricks. I personally discovered new hobbies that I never would have without camp. I’ve always been active and athletic, with zero musical skills. Over the years tons of my cabin mates played guitar, which subsequently caused me to teach myself to play during the year, greatly increasing my musical skills. This school year, I, the “athletic” guy, roomed with a theatrical lighting design major. He also happened to be a former cabin mate.

As the Anaf Unit Head, I am in a unique position. I have an incredible group of incoming high school freshmen and sophomores. Through the environment we cultivate and the programs we curate my team of counselors will work hard to continue GUCI’s legacy of breaking down these socially constructed barriers that falsely claim that a kid can’t play baseball and play guitar and be an honors student. Reflecting on Kallah Aleph, I am proud of the community Anaf created over their four weeks together and I am thrilled with the direction Kallah Bet is heading.