Blog

Jillian Shkolnick is an Assistant Director at GUCI. When I talk about my job, I usually get one of two responses. For anyone that has no history or affiliation with a summer camp, they tend to be confused and ask what I do when camp isn't in session. For anyone that...

Michael Kaplan is an Assistant Director at GUCI as well as a Regional Advisor for NFTY Ohio Valley. I first met Casey in 2003 – I was in my last year of Shoresh and she was in her first year of Gezah (apparently I had a thing for more mature ladies as Casey is a whole...

Jordan is a first session Gezah camper and for one of his classes, was asked to write about something in his past that he would change if he could. If I could change one thing from my past, I would've asked my parents to go to sleep away camp two years earlier. My mom...

Grateful for Being Whole-Hearted, Vulnerable and Finding Self-Love – at GUCI “But what if it’s not good enough?”, I asked myself 2 minutes before our last board meeting. As chair of the GUCI Board of Advisors, it is a goal to ensure there is a short bit of Jewish...

Shalom from Overland Park, Kansas! My name is Ben Walker and I am excited to have recently joined GUCI’s Board of Advisors. What’s the board of advisors? Great question, and one that I had myself when I heard from Katy Shapiro asking whether I would be interested in...

Throughout the summer GUCI is lucky to place host to many guests – faculty, alumni, camp doctors/nurses and artists-in-residence. During Kallah Bet (second session) we had a visit from Alan Goodis, a national touring Jewish musician based in Chicago, who grew up here...

Every camp parents know this car-ride conversation: “How was it?” “Great!” “What’d you do? “Lots of fun stuff.” Sound familiar? After a session at camp, I’m sure your child has countless camp moments they can share – but will they? Getting kids beyond the “it was...

Prepared by Shirah Kraus Juice: Summit Rosenberg, the Gezah (7th-8th grade) unit head, enjoyed Yom Lilah, or Day of Night. Instead of attending the regularly-scheduled evening programming with the rest of camp, Summit surprised his campers with a camp-out on Gezah...

Written by Maayan Feintuch I’ve always known GUCI would have an ever-lasting impact on my life. I could feel the difference in my preteen/teenage/young adult self when I would come home each summer ten-fold times more confident, more willing to take new risks, bolder...

Written by Shirah Kraus Shavua Tov GUCI friends and family. Every week we have been making a havdalah-inspired post. In this service, we bless the sweetness of Shabbat (juice), the fragrant smells (spices), and the light (fire) that we hope to bring with us into the...

Written by the Garin Kallah Aleph Staff   During shiur, Garin studied The Jewish Family; a value that highlights how differentiation in family is positive. The campers participated in activities and group discussions regarding their families make up, Judaism, and...

Written By, Shirah Kraus Juice: Our long-time camp doctor, affectionately known as Scotty Doc, grew up at GUCI and has stayed in touch with many camp friends. This past week, he enjoyed celebrating a birthday with one friend who was once his Gezah camper. Spice:...

Written by Lauren Sharp Bernstein Did you know that attending Shabbat services could change your life, forever? Yes, I am serious, spending an evening at synagogue could change your life. Here’s how it changed mine. When I was 13, My mom and I were at Shabbat services...

The below post was written by Avodahnik Sam Steed, Blue Team Captain, following our Yom Sport (color war day). This summer I was given the remarkable opportunity to serve as a Yom Sport captain for the blue team and it was one of the most rewarding, amazing days of my...

Written by Shirah Kraus Juice: Stefanie, our camper-care intern is new to GUCI and just arrived at camp. She says “This past week has been a wonderful whirlwind of new places, people, and traditions! While this was my first week at GUCI, the camper interactions that I...