Welcome to Trip II! This was an exciting and uplifting week as we welcomed over 270 campers to The Home of Happiness! In this second part of the summer we have campers coming from all over Ohio – including large delegations from Toledo, Columbus and Akron-Canton. This session we also have over 25 campers from Israel, who, alongside our 24-member Mishlachat (Israeli staff delegation) add to the richness of our Jewish cultural life at camp.
Each summer we have a Camp Wise core value that becomes the summer theme, informing programming ideas, games, and other areas of experiential learning. This summer our theme is HaKarat HaTov (gratitude)! Each of our cabins will spend a portion of one of their days focused on learning the Jewish roots and texts of gratitude with our Jewish Educator, Rabbi Shana Nyer. But this is not the only way HaKarat HaTov shows up in our camp program. Each of our counselors and specialists have been trained to help integrate daily reflections on the good things around us into cabin moments, sports games, time at the art shack, pool, lake and more. For example, at archery, campers learn about “hitting the mark” the Jewish concept of trying to do the right thing – and how to apologize when we misstep. The entire goal is to internalize the ability throughout camp to seek the good in others and in ourselves. This is the essence of how we begin to build community at camp – and it’s an essential lesson for a healthy life outside of camp, too.
As adults we well now that our youth experience the pressures of the world around us in their lives. We see kids today experiencing increased anxiety and struggling with higher frequencies of diagnoses like depression and other psycho-social concerns. While mindful practices like seeking out the good can’t solve every issue to be sure, they can build resiliency and strength in young people to help meet many of life’s challenges.
As we continue to grow throughout this session, we will become ever more grateful for each other, thankful the learning of how to meet people different from ourselves, and better each day at recognizing the many good and beautiful blessings that surround us. Don’t forget to check out this week’s cabin photos and more in the Campanion app! Wishing you a Shabbat shalom from the Home of Happiness, Camp Wise!!