To my GUCI family,

When you asked 18 year old Dori what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have quickly and confidently answered a Camp Professional. While I don’t know if I fully understood what that meant, I knew it included spending 12 months of the year thinking about camp and having the “best summer ever” every summer… and also driving golf carts, having a walkie-talkie, and wearing Chacos as part of my work uniform.

Fast forward to today, I cannot believe how lucky I am that I got to do my dream job… and it was even better than I expected because of this community I got to work with. So much of my role was relational, and I cherished that my job was to engage and enjoy this experience with so many wonderful people. An off-season filled with recruiting visits, calls with new families, staff interviews, and endless conversations on how to grow camp made August through May almost as exciting as summers. And then spending summers engaging with and supporting our staff, jumping into programs with campers, watching Chug presentations, singing breakfast songs, making endless tie-dye, exchanging friendship bracelets, and all the other little moments that made this job all that we know to be so meaningful. From the full-time team, to seasonal staff, to faculty, to campers, to camper families, to visitors, and beyond, I deeply thank you for the impact each of you has made on me. This job has been some of the most fun of my life because of each of you!

GUCI will always be my home away from home. This is where I got married. This is where I spent my third trimester pregnant (because if you’re going to be hot and uncomfortable while pregnant, you might as well do it at camp where you are happy!). This is where I brought Sophie for her first (of many!) summers at camp. And while these events have made the space special, it is the memories and relationships with all of you that have made it so important in my heart.

While my time working full-time at GUCI is ending, my love for this community never will. I am excited this next chapter will allow my love for GUCI to grow in new ways, whether it is as a Shabbat guest, visiting with Austin on faculty, or in just a few years becoming a camp parent to Sophie (Avodah class of 2039!). And in my new role as the NFTY Program & Events Manager, I’m excited to continue to support our teens in having more meaningful and impactful experiences during the year, just like they know they can get at camp.

Thank you, my GUCI family, for making my dream of working at camp come true. It has been my greatest joy and privilege to have spent these years as one of your Assistant Directors.

It’s never goodbye, always l’hitratot. I cannot wait until our paths cross again!

With all my love,
Dori Singer Zoot