Archive for 'Letters from Staff'

Prayer of a Herzl Madrich

February 10, 2012 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Staff.

By: Aiden Pink

Dear God,

Give me inspiration to come up with new and creative ideas for chugim and evening programs. Show me a sign that I’m on the right path, following in the footsteps of Herzl Legends.

Help my team win Bikkurim.

Watch over all of my campers. Help Taste be less homesick. Help Noar make new friends. Help Ha’atid be open to new experiences. Help Tzofim appreciate their individuality, and not succumb to peer pressure. Help Kadimah deal with their hormones. Help B’Yachad be a dugma to the rest of camp. And help Teva Trek not be eaten by bears.

Give me patience when my campers break the rules, and compassion when they need a shoulder to cry on. Give me the strength to survive the long hours, planning programs late into the night and waking up early in the morning. Failing that, give me a large supply of 5 Hour Energy Drink.

Having my campers fall asleep during minucha might be too much to ask, even from You, so at least help them recognize the virtues of silence, if even for an hour a day.

Help me appreciate T’fillot, Shabbat, T’sha B’Av, and all of the unique Jewish experiences at Herzl, and help me share that appreciation with my campers.

I know ghosts don’t exactly square up with Jewish mythology, but even so, can you please make Rosemary leave me alone when I’m shmiring? It’s even creepier now that the Old Chadar is gone.

But most of all, thank You for giving me the opportunity to come back to my favorite place in the world. Herzl is where I feel closest to You, and every day I’m at Herzl is truly a blessing.

Amen.

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Herzl Campers Unite…in Morocco!

January 27, 2012 by Herzl Camp Admin, under General Posts, Herzl, Beyond Webster, Letters from Staff, Where Are They Now.

By: Jonathan Edelman

Herzl Camp staff members Jonathan Edelman and Yonatan Dotan are living in Israel for the year while participating in the KIVUNIM program. KIVUNIM, a program in international Jewish education, provides an intensive academic and experiential encounter with Middle Eastern, North African, Asian and European cultures. 

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This Blog’s For You, Kid!

December 23, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Staff.

 

By: Anna Simon

Yesterday, someone told me that no one will read the blog this week due to Chanukah, school winter breaks and travel plans. I say, we prove ‘em wrong!

This week, I dedicate our blog to you – our loyal readers. Thank you for giving us a reason to write each week.

Happy Chanukah!

Shabbat Shalom!

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A Love Letter to the Nozrim

December 16, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Alumni, Letters from Staff, What I Learned from Camp.

By: Kimmy Lear

The annual ozo announcement never fails to bring me an amount of anxiety.  Eight years after my own experience, I can still remember the sting of pain I felt when I did not find myself on the 2004 ozo list.  I remember thinking that I would never go back to Herzl, that all my sacred camp relationships would quickly disappear and I would absolutely have the worst summer of my life (I was a very dramatic 16 year old).  I am writing to tell the wonderful Nozos of 2012 that I have felt how you feel right now and I know that it is painful and disappointing.  I also happen to know that seven years later, you will feel different.

It is now a common joke in my family that when anything goes wrong, I always respond with “I survived ozo rejection so this should be a piece of cake.”  The ability to handle disappointment, pick yourself up, and figure out another way to go on is an important lesson.  I consider myself lucky that at 16, I was forced to face rejection and find a viable plan b.  I had planned on being an ozo since I was ten years old.  I would run around in my older sister’s “team ozo” shirt and fantasize about the inside jokes on the back of my shirt and the song that my friends and I would write together.  My 2004 summer was not what I had always planned, but there was something exhilarating about having an entire summer ahead of me that I could independently plan.

I spent the summer working at Camp Olami where I met an entirely different group of friends and had a completely different camping experience.  To my surprise, I loved working at Olami (what can I say, I just love camp). I also learned that, although I love camp, I especially love Herzl and I needed to go back because, even after the disappointment, Herzl was still my place.

After two years away from camp, I was nervous about rejoining my friends who were ozrim together.  My first day of staff week, I immediately remembered one reason why Herzl is so magical; your camp friendships can survive anything.  One summer away did not erase the years we had spent writing flag songs, crying on Shabbat, dancing to breakfast music, and staying up all night just to see the sun rise over the lake.  Needless to say, I loved being on staff so I went back again, and again, and again, (and then one more time).

My last summer on staff as the Noar/Kadimah program director was actually “the best summer ever.” My best camp friends and I decided to take one more summer together at the place we love the most.  I shared a bunk bed with the same girl I shared a bunk bed with in Ha’atid.  She was an ozo, I was not. I have 95% forgiven her.

To the 2012 Ozrim:  Congratulations! You will have a wonderful summer, but first, call your dear friends who are upset and tell them how much you love them and how excited you are to be on staff with them in 2013.

To the 2012 Nozrim:  Congratulations!  I know it doesn’t seem like it today, but you have an amazing opportunity to take this summer and do something different and something great.  You, too, will have a wonderful summer. And please trust me when I say, Herzl is still your place.

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Are Herzl Camp Alumni Food for the Soul?

December 2, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under General Posts, Letters from Alumni, Letters from Staff.

By: Anna Simon

What does it really mean to be Herzl Camp alumni? I decided to start with the dictionary…

The American Heritage Dictionary defines an alumnus, as “a graduate of a school, college, or university.” Alumni are also former members, employees or contributors. According to Merriam-Webster online, the noun “alumnus” comes from the verb “alere”, which means “to nourish.”  Fascinating.

So, does that mean am I responsible for providing healthy and delicious food for the campers? Well, there are definitely a few precedents for that…

Alum Amy Cytron spent a day working hard in the kitchen this past summer. She actually did nourish the campers!

Some of you may remember when the Hanhallah used to cook dinner in the old Chadar for all of camp on Thursday nights. The kitchen staff had the night off so the Hanhallah would take over the kitchen and prepare the food. Admittedly, the only person who actually had any knowledge of cooking at the time was Shelley Kornblum, who always doctored up the baked beans.

So it’s been done before, but for most of us, cooking for the campers is just not a realistic option!   So I go back to the dictionary…The definition for nourish is “to support or encourage”. From there, I’m taking the leap that alumni take action to keep Camp thriving for the next generation.  Nourishing. Supporting. Encouraging.

At Herzl, alumni nourish, support, encourage in a lot of ways.

Did you know that the majority of our camper parents are actually Herzl alumni themselves?  If you are reading this blog, you probably do know that BUT what you may not know is that it’s unusual, even unheard of, at other camps.  Herzl is a “legacy” camp – a shared experience between parents, kids, grandparents, maybe even great-grandparents!

So, if you have kids, you are probably supporting Herzl by sending the next generation of campers (and BTW, there are still spots available for Summer 2012, click here to register!)

Or maybe you are supporting and encouraging Camp by coming back to camp yourself – for Winter Alumni Camp…or Family Camp…or Kishishim…or the ’72 Ozo Reunion…or the ’60-64 Staff Reunion…(More info on our Alumni page)

And over 1,000 of you will live camp vicariously this December by making a gift to camp so you can be part of the next generation of campers.  There’s a simple joy in paying it forward – knowing that I’m sending a kid to camp or making some special programming possible.  Someone made camp possible for me and now I’m making it possible for someone else.  I think I may have even learned that Jewish value at camp…If you haven’t made a gift yet, do it online – click here to donate.

So at Herzl, we’re literally never too old to be campers and we can always be a part of the power and magic of Herzl.

Shabbat Shalom!

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Ayze Yofi, Ayze Yofi! Ya la la la la la la!

November 18, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Herzl, Beyond Webster, Letters from Staff, Where Are They Now.

By: Anna Simon

This week, I attended the 2011 Grinspoon Institute Annual Conference in Springfield, MA with our board president Sue Roether, president-elect Amy Friedman and Development Director Holly Guncheon. It was an incredible conference where we had the opportunity to network with many other camp staff and volunteers from around the country. Our sessions covered everything from alumni outreach and annual campaigns to social media and marketing. Throughout the conference, we discovered how the deep connection to Herzl Camp stretches far beyond what we would expect.

Larry Moses, Senior Philanthropic Advisor for the Wexner Foundation, cited Herzl Camp in his keynote address to over 400 camp professionals and lay leaders, as having fostered a love of Judaism and life long learning for Rabbi Elka Abrahamson, one of his mentors.

One of the sessions I attended was on the topic of Strategic Blogging and led by, Debra Askanase – who runs the award-winning blog www.communityorganizer20.com. Her presentation featured our own Herzl Camp blog as an example of successful use of guest writers. So, kudos to everyone who has joined us in our blogging efforts! And, thank you all for partnering with us!

When I travel, I end up playing “Jewish Geography” to see whom I may know in common with someone I meet. However, I think I may end up changing that game to “Herzl Geography” as it seems I run into a few Herzl Alumni everywhere I go. (Side note: When we were at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure with our family a few weeks ago, we were waiting in line for the Harry Potter ride and turned around to see someone wearing a Herzl sweatshirt…It was my son’s cabinmate from this past summer). Herzl Alumni Sarah (Raful) Whinston, Todd Zeff and Noah Allen were all in attendance at the conference. It was great to reconnect and reminisce with all of them! Just when I thought we found all of our Herzl connections…I walked out of my last session and a woman pulled me aside and told me her husband went to Herzl in the 1970s. Then, a woman who works for Ramah told Amy Friedman that her mother (who now lives in Israel) went to Herzl as well.

And, while all these folks have current connections to other Jewish camps, it’s very clear that they have a deep and meaningful connection to the magic of Herzl. Someone else pulled me aside to say that there was something about Herzl alumni that they couldn’t put their finger on. Something very powerful and very special that seemed to be unique in the camping world. Of course, upon hearing that, I could not have been more proud to be a part of Herzl Camp and all that we do. Incidentally, we also discovered later on that the blogging facilitator, Debra Askanase, too, has ties to Herzl Camp.

The last, but most exciting, thing I want to share is about the Grinspoon Awards. This year, Holly Guncheon was presented with the Outstanding Development Professional of the year award. This award is presented to a development professional who has made a significant impact on a Jewish overnight summer camp’s long-term vitality and sustainability through increased cultivation, solicitation and/or stewardship efforts. We are so proud of Holly and are thrilled that the Grinspoon Institute honored her with this award. It is well deserved!

Shabbat Shalom!

About the Grinspoon Institute:
The Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Its vision is to significantly enhance the long-term effectiveness of nonprofit overnight camps and other organizations that engage young people in meaningful Jewish cultural and educational experiences. The goal of the Grinspoon Institute is to guide these camps to become strategic and self-sustaining by providing coaching and consulting services along with technology assistance and a series of matching grant challenges. The Institute enhances its offerings with additional services such as conferences, professional training, webinars, the Create a Jewish Legacy Program, Technology Program and more.

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What a Difference a Decade (or Two) Makes

March 3, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under General Posts, Letters from Staff, Where Are They Now.

By: Anna “Neener” Simon and Flip “Flip” Frisch
Ghostwriter: Stacy (Kaplan) Simon

Editor’s Note:  Anna Simon and Flip Frisch became friends in the mid-’80s when they discovered they were the only girls their age who actually wore their tie-dye shirts at home. If you don’t know the names of these legends of legends, you were either born in the 1960s or earlier, or the 1990s or later.  That, or you need to lay off the lem-lem.

Anna was a longtime camper, Ozo, Staff Member, Mama Ozo, Head Counselor (thrice, I believe), and as of recently, a full time staff member for Herzl.  Her last summer at camp was 1997, as Camp Director.  In short, there aren’t many people with a stronger tie to camp than Anna.

Flip was at camp for 19 summers.  From Amanutie Cutie, to her most prominent role as Song Director, nobody had a bigger impact on camp for the last quarter of its existence than Flip.  Her last summer was in 2002 as Teva Director.

When 20 and 30 somethings think of Camp, they invariably picture Flip on her guitar Friday Night.  If you ask Flip about her most memorable time at camp, she’ll tell you that it was when she was live-in for the best N’Divim Group in the history of camp (1993).

Stacy the ghostwriter was Mama Ozo for the finest Ozo Group in the history of camp.  She and her husband Jesse met at camp and have three future Chartreuse Buzzards.

This summer, along with Anna’s son Zach and Flip’s daughter Scout, they will both return to camp – Anna will be in charge of Community Relations, and Flip will serve as a Scholar-in-Residence. They hope to bunk together. If Anna requests Zach and Flip, Flip requests Anna and Scout, and Scout requests Flip and Zach, do you think they’ll end up in the same cabin?

When we compare their conversations from the last time these two worked at camp together to today, it might sound like this:

Anna then: “If we both bring up 4 white outfits for Shabbat, we can switch sometime during the summer and then we won’t ever have to wear the same thing twice.”

Anna now: “No one will notice if I wear the same outfit every Shabbat, right?

_______________

Anna then: “I’m tired, but I don’t want to go to sleep and miss anything.”

Flip then: “Can’t we just sleep when camp is over?”

Anna now: “I’m tired. Let’s go to sleep.”

Flip now: “Let’s just try to stay awake until 8 this time, okay?”

_______________

Flip then: “Marlene and Shelley are fun, but they’re so old! They’ve got to be at least, what, 30?

Flip now: “Hi, new Shelley.”

Anna now: “Hi, new Marlene.”

_______________

Flip then: “Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow, don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”

Flip now: “Go ahead and walk in front of me. I have no idea where this caravan is supposed to go.”

_______________

Anna now: “Hey, the new doctor is my old camper!”

_______________

Flip then: “Can I borrow your boom box to use during our flag song?”

Flip now: “Can I borrow Zach’s old high chair for Scout to use at camp?”

_______________

Anna then: “Cabin 9 is so great – it’s small and cozy, and just 88 steps from the Central Haks. You can sleep late and run to flag-raising just in time for Oh Canada.”

Anna now: “Whoa.”

_______________
Flip then: “I wonder if I should use Sun-In to make my hair look cool.”

Flip now: “I wonder if I should wash that grey right out of my hair.”

_______________

Anna then: “I hope there’s a cute boy in Amanut!”

Anna now: “Boy, it’s cute how Zach enjoys Amanut.”

_______________

Flip then: “Let’s swim the lake! Let’s see who can jump farther off the floating dock! Let’s try the new rock climbing wall and then ride our bikes around in the woods!”

Flip now: “Ow. My back.”

_______________

Anna then: “I cannot believe we get to spend another summer together at Camp! It’s the best place on the planet! Let’s sign up to sit together for Shabbat. And go star gazing! And eat grilled cheese and tomato soup! Oh, and just so you know, I’m going to go to great lengths to avoid taking the swim test.”

Flip then: “I know. And I don’t ever want to grow up and leave camp and have to get a real job.”

Anna now: “Some things never change.”

_______________
Flip’s packing list then:
baby bottle for Kool-Aid
flashlight
baby oil
two-piece bathing suit
alarm clock
shorts I can wear on a bike
book of favorite poems and quotes

Flip’s packing list now:
baby bottle for actual baby
nightlight
SPF 30
skirted bathing suit
two year-old
shorts i can wear in a golfcart
goodnight moon

Editor’s Note: For those who read the blog who are lucky enough to be at camp this summer, make it a point to introduce yourselves to these old ladies.  I hope I’m going to that one!

Shabbat Shalom!

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FJC Surveys … the results are in!

February 27, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Herzl, Beyond Webster, Letters from Staff.

By Drea Lear

Ever wondered why you love your camp friends so much?  Ever wondered why you are paying for camp tuition when the kids could stay home and hang out with you all summer?  Ever asked yourself – What makes these people different than all other people?

Well here’s the answer.

The Foundation for Jewish Camp analyzed and tabulated the results from Jewish population studies from 26 communities.  The surveys measured Jewish identification and participation in Jewish life as an adult.  They examined the difference in responses between those who attended Jewish camp as children and those who did not.

Campers were more engaged and connected in every single category!

As adults, campers are:

• 55% more likely to feel very emotionally connected to Israel
• 21% more likely to feel that being Jewish is very important
• 37% more likely to light candles regularly for Shabbat
• 45% more likely to go to schul at least once a month
• 25% more likely to donate to a Jewish charity
• 30% more likely to donate to a Jewish federation
• 26% more likely to be a synagogue member

Last summer, 70,000 young people went to Jewish overnight camp in North America – 700 of them in Webster, Wisconsin.

Herzl Camp – making mensches since 1946…

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The New Kid on the Block

February 16, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under General Posts, Letters from Staff.

By Mike Neiman

That’s right.  That crazy popular beloved icon of the nineties is back.  Oh sure, it was a different era and the tune only fell on ears of an older generation   … but the comeback has begun, and already making another huge impact on a very familiar Block.

In the old days, this Kid was just a good old boy Hangin’ Tough.   Goofing around, enjoying the change in culture surrounding him, just waiting for a bright new star to break out.  And You Got it, The Right Stuff is what he had from the very beginning.  Only it didn’t stop there – every year the legend of this New Kid grew and grew.  As the mid 90s went on, his popularity developed alongside his age and maturity.  And so year after year, Step by Step, he made his way up the ranks.  From one hit to the next he moved up the charts, eventually ended this career at the very top.  And even though he was at the pinnacle of his career (and where so many others had dreamed of saying they got to do), if you asked him, he’d say “This One’s For the Children”.

And then into the shadows he departed.  The time to move on had come.

But once you’re a star, its hard to stay away.  So after a short hiatus, he thought to himself, “Let’s Try it Again.”  Only this time, it’s not for another Magic Summer Tour.  No, now it is about more than just the Summertime.  It is time to Face the Music from here on out – today, Tonight, tomorrow … this Kid is back in full swing and ready for the world to hear what he has to say once again!

Please join me in welcoming the much-anticipated comeback of the New Kid on the Block back to the spotlight and stage.  Ladies and Gentlemen, forget about Donnie, Danny, Jordan, Joey, and Jonathan…

Well, ok, Danny.  But not that Danny.

In the most celebrated move of his career to date, Mr. Ruach is back and better than ever.  It is my pleasure to introduce back to you the newest member of the Herzl Board of Directors and the new Herzl Alumni Blog Manager … Mr. Danny Soshnik!

Please Don’t Go Girl.

Shabbat Shalom!

Editor’s Note: Let’s give Mike Neiman a hearty Yasher Koach for making this blog what it is  — a reliably interesting, fun place for alumni to relive their Herzl twice a week.  Big shoes to fill here.  Please feel free to let me know what you’d like to see out of the blog at soshnik@gmail.com.

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A Director’s Look Back at 2010

February 7, 2011 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Staff.

By Anne Hope

At Herzl Camp, at the close of 2010, we are assessing our accomplishments and planning for improvements in 2011.  The last year brought many blessings and accomplishments for Herzl:

• We served 719 camper, 28 Ozrim (counselors-in-training) and 120 summer staff.
• We provided scholarships to 21% of our campers, giving $70,000 to those who would not otherwise be able to afford to attend camp.  Though we have kept our tuition lower than most Jewish camps, at $800 per week, it is still a major expense for most families.
• We launched anew our Israeli camper program, bringing 6 Israeli teens to our 5-week Kadimah program.  Not every family can afford a trip to Israel so we brought Israel to camp!  Eighty percent of Jews under 30 feel little or no connection to Israel.  At Herzl Camp, we created this experiential Zionism program to make Israel meaningful to our campers.
• We won a national award for our use of technology to engage campers, alumni and supporters with camp year-round.  Imagine that!  Herzl Camp – a leader in technology…pretty ironic for a traditional camp that bans cell phones, the internet, and computers of all kinds!  But then, you are reading our blog so you already knew about cyber-Herzl!
• We rebuilt approximately half of camp – 15 cabins, a new showerhouse/bathroom, expanded our mercaz and created an accessible waterfront.  We are diligently working to raise the funds to complete the construction this winter – we’ll build 10 more cabins, a new Ozo and Staff Moadon, and are hoping to raise enough to add an indoor gym for heavy-dew days.  We are just $1 million from our $6.7 million goal so we are hopeful that we can complete construction without incurring any long-term debt.
• We ended our fiscal year with a small budget surplus of $50,000 and for the first time in modern memory, did not need to access a line of credit at any time during the fiscal year.  Herzl Camp’s financial health is a testament to our staff and board’s prudent management and to the commitment that friends like you have made to ensuring camp’s long-term success.

We are proud of 2010’s accomplishments.  However, the accomplishments that matter most are not as easy to quantify.  How do we account for the self-confidence we built or the independence we created How do we capture the value of a young person discovering the meaning of Judaism or the power of community for the first time?   We can’t measure that impact but we know it is real because we see it in our campers and staff every day.

If you are reading our blog, you must have your own story of the power of camp.  Today’s campers experience that power throughout the year as they connect with each other across the miles through vehicles like social media and unlimited texting.  To show the power of camp today, we’re sharing snippets of camper essays about camp, which were submitted as part of our Ozo application process.

“Camp taught me to live and share with others, to lead, and most importantly, Herzl has taught me the power of acting as a community.”

“Herzl is more than a summer camp for me.  It is my greatest source of Jewish culture and has helped me develop an unwavering sense of Jewish pride.  It is part of my identity and it has shaped who I am as a Jew and a person.”

“Camp gave me the opportunity to explore all the different aspects of Judaism in ways I could understand and relate to.  Whether it was playing jeopardy games about Jewish celebrities, having intense discussions over Jewish ethics or making up funny tunes for Adon Olam, Herzl changed the way I viewed Judaism by making it fun.”

“Herzl is a beautiful place where friends are family, and family is everywhere.  Camp is home.”

Whether you read our blog, share camp stories with future campers, make donations to our building fund or provide a day of camp to a kid in need through our scholarship fund, or volunteer to stuff envelope or direct traffic on bus days, Herzl Camp could not success without your support.  Thank you for making 2010 an amazing year for Camp!

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Why Do You Work at Herzl Camp?

October 22, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Staff.

By Avi Baron

So as my first and introductory Blog post on the Herzl Camp Alumni blog, I’ve decided to tell my Herzl Camp story, answering the question I get asked most, “Why do you work at Herzl Camp?” or more often the case and more specific, “Why do you still work at Herzl?”

I started my Herzl Days as a Ha’Atid camper in 2001, for the reason most 11-year-olds do things; because my parents told me I was going. After being very… displeased, shall we say, from the two week overnight at a different camp two years prior, I was not looking forward to my upcoming three week stay at Herzl Camp. But nonetheless, with a closed mind, and a mother-packed bag, I sat silent on an inside seat the two long hours up to Machaneh.

Congregating with the rest of the new arrivals in the Ulam, I quickly learned that I was not in a cabin with the cool people I had thought to be my good friends, but instead was put in a cabin with nobody I knew. I managed to be bunked with a strange and goofy boy who seemed to know a lot more about this place and about life in general.

So the first 10 days of my Herzl life were spent being silent and respectful, a small child who kept to himself. Yet each day I would write letters home to my parents, letters that would force them to call Steve Mintz (the Herzl Camp Director at the time) and question what they could possibly be doing to me at this camp that seemed so terrible to their son. I am told that my spelling of ‘constipated’ and ‘diarrhea’ was flawless when detailing what the ‘horrendous’ camp food did to my gastrointestinal tract. Ending every mailing home with the simple and elegant, “When will you come pick me up?” I cannot begin to imagine, now, how my parents were holding up, or worse, my then 13-year-old sister who was stuck at home with them having to listen to their worrying and constant phone calls to Steve.

Then something changed, it wasn’t a gradual change, as most are, but instead a very distinct one. The day for our cabins’ Teva [Director's Note: Excursion!], overnight in the woods, had arrived – and just as everyone was leaving, I finally broke down into tears. Bawling my eyes out as the rest of my cabin trotted off to fun games, one of my counselors, Marcus Magy, stayed behind with me. We sat on the concrete steps of Tzrif 4 and talked for what seemed like hours but was most likely only 30 minutes about my troubles at camp, and why I thought I wasn’t having fun. Marcus retorted that I was actually having a lot of fun, saying that I’ve made new friends, enjoyed my chugim, learned new skills, and even enjoyed the food. It wasn’t until he had pointed out everything I had done that I really noticed, that I fully realized what I had accomplished at this camp in a mere few days.

We walked to Ozo Park after I had decided I was ready to continue with camp, and we played catch (with a disc of course) until the three cabins of the teva excursion came to the part in the challenge course right at the edge of the park. That night began my true love for Herzl Camp. Fore it wasn’t until that night I truly understood how much a 120 acres in western Wisconsin can do for a shy 11-year-old kid.

Our mission statement is true, for if not for Herzl, I would still be a shy kid who rarely leaves his comfort zone, I would have become a Linux loving, socially inept nerd who depends on his mother for everything. Herzl has taught me simple tasks from how to correctly wipe down a table to big concepts like creating lasting friendships. But most importantly, Herzl has enabled me to embody what I am – that it is okay to be unique and even a little crazy, instead of fitting the mold of the rest of the world. I can proudly say that I am actually writing this on a computer running Linux Mint OS, that am well known as a geek and I love it. Being in the wonderful community formed by Herzl has allowed me to embrace my unique attributes, it has empowered me to become a strong member of my community, even as I continue to grow through my Herzl experiences.

As it turns out, that goofy bunk mate was Michael Kane,  my inseparable best friend, and the catalyst for my returning to Herzl as staff. Herzl has brought me this friendship and many more in the ongoing cycle of camp life. I love watching the Herzl community self perpetuate as so many wonderful campers come back as part of the staff to give Herzl what it deserves by being fantastic counselors for new campers with a bright future.

So whether you love or hate sports, enjoy swimming or drama, riding bikes or writing songs, you will be welcomed at Machaneh Herzl and learn to express who you are in the best possible way.

And just a side note for parents of hesitant campers, if the letters suddenly stop, that’s a good sign. It means your child is having too much fun to remember to complain about camp.  [Director's Note:  Here here!] Shabbat Shalom!

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It Feels the Same

July 8, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Staff.

By Amy Cytron

At the age of 4, I spent 8 hours in a car with my parents and 2 brothers to drive to a place called Herzl Camp, so that this small town Jewish family could send their oldest (11) to a Jewish camp for the summer.  My mom specifically knew how important it was to ensure that we had more Judaism than what our small town could provide, and she was hoping a “Good Jewish Camp” could do this.  We have a picture of me at this age sitting on the top bunk in cabin 7 while my brother looked around.

Herzl became the place where I grew up.  I spent 6 camper summers, 6 ozo and staff summers and I have continued to try and give back to Herzl what it gave to me for those 12 years by serving on the board.  After 20+ years, I still have not come close!  So, why I am I telling you all this?  Well I am very involved with the new building and capital campaign, and although I knew we had to “change” camp to ensure its longevity for future generations, but I didn’t know that my psyche was pulling me back (as many of us are feeling).  I had many, many opportunities to go up to camp during the building phases and for some reason I just had an excuse not to go; family, work, just not convenient, etc.

Finally, in May there was an opportunity to go up with a group of women, many like me, who also spent many summers at camp.  There were no more excuses to be had. I decided that I had to break through these fears and see camp before the summer.  I was very nervous, worried that camp would not look like my camp that I know and love.  I knew what cabins looked like from the first drawings, I knew the map in my sleep, I knew all the paint colors etc, etc.  Once we were on the grounds, my heart was racing as the group of 10 of us rounded the corner at the rock wall of the Beit Chai to have our first view of new cabins.  I was in the back and I heard ooos and aaahs.  As I made my way up to the clearing, I couldn’t understand what everyone was looking at.  I was looking at all the same cabins they were looking at and in my head it was the double cabins-2, 3  and 4,5 and 6, 7.  Then my mind finally woke up and I realized I was looking at the “NEW” cabins.  1, 2, 3, 4, etc.  My fears were put to rest, my eyes swelled up and my heart beat calmed to a normal level.

MY HERZL was still the one I remember.  The look, the feeling and the overall camp hadn’t changed.  If I closed my eyes I was still that 4 year old, sitting in these exact cabins on the top bunk.

You too have the opportunity to see your camp, so please join me on Visitor’s Day on Sunday, July 11th from 2pm-5:00pm (Real time) and see what I saw in May!

Your camp, is the same camp, just a little newer and fresher but still the same Machenah Herzl!

Love,
Amy Cytron  (Feldman)
76-81 camper 84 Ozo, 85-89 staff, Board member and Past President

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Chanut gets a healthy makeover? … YUM!

April 11, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Staff.

By Anne Hope

My kids think I have the most awesome job in the world.  I am a hero in their world…the Director of Herzl Camp is their mom. What could be better?

Well, I found out the other day…

We had just returned from out of town.  We were hungry and there was nothing in the house.  We walked down the block to YUM!  You know, the yummiest bakery in the upper Midwest, the freshest salads, most delicious soups, and I have never even tasted the roasted chicken dinner which is supposed to be out of this world.  For my family, dinner or lunch at YUM! is really just an excuse to eat the cupcakes, bars, cakes, cookies, and all the goodies that really give YUM! its name.

So, how does this relate to my job?  On Wednesday night as I made my daughters (ages 7 & 11) wash their hands in the back of YUM! I noticed the owner’s two teens sitting in the back room eating dinner.  Knowing them from camp, I asked if their mom always brought home the good stuff?  I was told she cooks dinner most every night, but yes, the Yummy sweets make it home quite a bit.  My daughters’ could hardly speak…they were star struck that YUM! was actually owned by a human and by a human that had children and that the goodies could be had on a daily basis.

I was feeling jealous; I always have the coolest job in the room!  Come on guys, I’m the director of Camp – don’t wish your mom owned YUM!  My job is still cool!  To that, Ruthie, my 11 year old replied, “If you hadn’t taken the candy away from chanut, I wouldn’t care that you didn’t own YUM!”

For our faithful blog readers who have not been to camp lately, I got rid of candy from chanut last summer.  Yes, it’s true:  no melty (or icy depending on your camp era) Snickers as you fall asleep at minucha.

Instead of candy, chanut choices include:  dried fruit, such as Asian Pear Crisps, Fuji Apple Crisps, Organic Chocolate chip cookies, Nut free chocolate or vanilla covered granola cluster bars, fruit leather, and organic cheese crisps.  Chanut no longer sells sugary juices but a choice of PowerAde Zero or bottled water.  This year I would like to add fresh fruit and popcorn.

I would love to hear from you, our readers… Shocking?  Good?  What are your thoughts?  Am I a bad mom and bad camp director for cleaning out the junk food from chanut or am I adding to the health and wellness of a generation in great need of better nutrition? Let me know, in the meantime, maybe YUM! can cater a special day or two in chanut this summer.

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What is Your Favorite Place at Camp?

February 7, 2010 by Herzl Camp Admin, under Letters from Staff.

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