Blog

By Sarah Silver, URJ GUCI Camper Candles flicker; illuminating faces singing with all their heart. Prayers echo as a community chants as one. Sweaty bodies jump in unison as song leaders make their way through the crowd. Campers twist and turn to the beat of Israeli...

By Monica Valentini, Former URJ GUCI Camper and Counselor The past 11 summers with GUCI have been irreplaceable, unmatchable, and profoundly meaningful. I have had experiences that guided me to where I am now and have met the people who have had the most significant...

By Leah Jacobson, URJ GUCI Counselor 1) Finding huge Jewish Community At home, some people may have larger or smaller Jewish communities and GUCI gives us the opportunity to know immediately from the beginning that we all share the bond of being Jewish. 2) Forging...

By Abi Cox, URJ GUCI Counselor Camp is SO much fun, all of the memories that are created and the friendships that are made is what keeps us coming back year after year. Camp is a place that every camper is able to freely express their true self and learn how to grow...

By Debra Freyman Klevens, URJ GUCI Parent Originally posted on Medium.com I am often quick to judge people based upon my perceptions, but when you truly stop and try to get to know a person is when the real beauty begins. As my daughters prepared for sleep-away camp,...

By Hannah Zeidenstein, URJ GUCI Counselor Whether this is your first or sixth summer coming to camp, everyone always looks forward to the signs on the front of their buildings. Counselors put in a lot of thought and hard work into making sure our cabin theme is...

By Ashley Schlaeger, URJ GUCI Song Leader and Counselor If there's one thing GUCI knows how to do, it's harmonize. For me, personally, one of my favorite days on camp is Shabbat. Shabbat at camp is an incredibly special time. Each week at camp, we are separated by...

By Jeremy Klotz, URJ GUCI Director Dear friends: Today marks the first Shabbat of Goldman Union Camp’s 2017 Kallah Aleph (first session).  There is a wonderful spirit in camp today.  After a demanding and intensive staff orientation, our campers are here, the cabin...

By Maddie Weikel, URJ GUCI Counselor Despite this being my eleventh summer on camp, I felt nervous when I drove down Moore Road at the beginning of June. At the end of last summer, I knew that most of my closest friends would not be at camp this year, but I was so...

By Laura Levine, URJ GUCI Counselor Every day at camp we have "chofesh," or free time, before lunch and dinner. It is an unstructured break from our schedule full of engaging programs and activities where campers have time to relax and enjoy time with their friends....

By Arianna Goldstein, URJ GUCI Counselor Camp can be stressful and intimidating when it comes to dietary restrictions. I have struggled with this problem for my entire camp career and have learned throughout the years that the salad bar is my best friend. This is my...

By Ethan Stone, Former URJ GUCI Camper and Counselor When people say that GUCI is a place where you will make friends for life, they really mean it. It’s incredible to me that I almost never see my camp friends, but they’re still some of the most important people in...

Thanksgiving is a time where you sit back and reflect on what you’re thankful for.  Every year there are events, people, places and things that add a new layer to your life and who you are. As I’ve already had a month since celebrating our Canadian Thanksgiving, I’ve...

As we approach these High Holy Days and embrace the season’s invitation to reflect upon the meaningfulness of our lives, I’m always pulled toward the relationships and adventures that I experienced at camp. Indeed, whenever I return to the foundations of my Jewish...

By: Mia Hollander, Anaf Camper This is my sixth summer at GUCI. Last year I was a 13 year old girl and I definitely had some attitude. Continuing to come back to camp, however, was the best choice I have ever made. The community camp gives is the most welcoming I have...