Blog

I am lucky enough to have a unique vantage point from which to view the magic of G.U.C.I. As the parent of two campers—I hear how the magic is made for them summer after summer. From my children I learn of best friends and swimming twice in one day and struggles up...

Hello family and friends of G.U.C.I.-ites! I have the pleasure of writing to you as a member of this summer’s Avodah, which is a two-month work/study program for students entering twelfth grade. We are almost four weeks in, and it’s been a blast so far! Basically, as...

Fourth of July at G.U.C.I. is an exciting time for all the staff and campers.  There is so much American spirit.  We had special flag centerpieces on the tables at breakfast and lunch, and many of the units changed their cheers to make them about America.  Everyone...

Hey everyone! Gezah just came back from our two-day off-camp trip, Yom Tiyul, and we all had a blast! Gezah has so much crazy energy this session, and it was no exception on this trip. We first went to Conner Prairie, a living historical museum in a large park full of...

Garin Kallah Aleph has officially left the building! Sunday was their final day at camp. This session was a lot of fun! Our session began right away with lots of excitement when on only our second day at camp we were already climbing the Migdal, our 65-foot alpine...

The lights in the Chadar Ochel go out. Candlelight flickers on faces beaded with sweat. The room is still buzzing, perhaps reverberating, with echoes of clapping, stomping, and some sort of scream-singing. But for just a moment, everything is relatively quiet,...

I am one lucky dude.  This is my twenty-seventh summer at G.U.C.I.  Now, instead of seeing the faces of my best friends at camp, I am now seeing the faces of my best friend’s children at camp.  It’s a very good circle.  It’s a holy refrain.  And I get to sing it over...

Shalom! I’m Rae Dick, a Gezah Counselor and one of the drama specialists for Shoresh! I absolutely love working with both units! Each unit has one hour a day where they pick a choice activity called chug. Chugim switch every two weeks, so campers have the opportunity...

Tikkun Olam is important at G.U.C.I., and while the campers always take part in some sort of Tikkun Olam project (check back here in a few days to learn more about this year’s program), the staff generally works with the campers toward a similar goal.  However, this...

Families and communities (the successful ones) do not just happen; they are built, gradually, piece by piece.  Nowhere is this truer than at Goldman Union Camp.  Every fall when camp comes to an end our community disperses; the members of our family return to their...

For those of us with first-hand experience of the value added from summer camp experiences, a recent study from the Foundation for Jewish Camp only reinforces what we’ve long known: Jewish summer camp not only works, but lays the groundwork for a more vibrant Jewish...

For those of you who are first-time GUCI parents, or for those who have always wondered just what your campers’ letters home mean, we thought it would be helpful to provide you a GUCI glossary of terminology used around camp. Enjoy! The camp logo is the Torah wrapped...

by Rabbi Jon and Sandy Adland, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation  In 1985, our son Joshua took his first steps on the lawn outside the motel unit at GUCI. From that summer until now, Sandy and I have been at GUCI with one of our children. We watched them go from staff...

Dear G.U.C.I. Parents: As I indicated in last week’s newsletter, all campers and staff returned to camp from their various trips and we had an incredible Shabbat. T’fillot (worship services), Shabbat dinner blessings, and singing never were so sweet. Now we have sped...