By Zack Zaban

I’ve come to the realization that I think about Herzl at random times…  very random times.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been working day and night to complete an intense group project for a journalism course here at UW-Madison.  This isn’t the type of project where a student can work on his or her time and then throw pages together with other group members. Instead, students need to meet at least once a week (towards the end of the semester, it was every day for at least 4 hours) to collaborate and create an integrated marketing campaign (in real people talk, this means an advertising/ PR campaign) for a real business.

Now you’re probably asking yourself- what does this college journalism project have to do with good old Herzl Camp? The answer is this: in both experiences, a successful outcome outweighed the stressful components that went into the project.

Much like my group project, being a staff member at Herzl Camp takes time and dedication. This drive towards success, however, often equates to staying up late into the night to plan programs that impact the lives of campers. If I or another co-staff that I worked with gained a dollar for every time that we were exhausted and burnt out from the immense responsibilities and dedication it takes to be a bunk staff, we would all be millionaires (and would obviously donate all the money to the capital campaign, which you can do at http://www.herzlcamp.org/donate_dear.html – sorry for the pitch, I couldn’t resist ).  [Editor's Note:  No apologies necessary, great plug!  But would we have to rename the waterfront Zaban Lake?]

All of the nights spent strategizing and planning programs, gallons of coffee consumed to stay energized and ruach filled, and cuts from flip-flops do not compare to the outcome of a great program that influences a camper’s experience at Herzl Camp. As a staff member for the last four summers, I pushed myself to the limits to see my campers grow and evolve into strong leaders through the programs that I planned for them. Now, as I follow them on Facebook and hear about their preparation for Israel trips, I am proud of my work and know that I made an impact on their Jewish identities.

Needless to say, my campaign pitch was a success. Similar to my Herzl staff experience, I pushed myself beyond my limits because I wanted to feel, taste and experience triumph. While my roommates went to bed, I stayed up until 4 a.m. [Editor's Note:  Remenscent of Ozo Play practices?] to perfect my Media Planning section and added additional components to my group project, such as an auxiliary Web site to the campaign book, to make my group members and me stand out from the other 27 students in the course.

After the campaign pitch, my professor came up to my group members and me to explain that our book (in addition other teams’ books) was one of the most professional books he has seen in over 10 years of teaching the course. The experience was amazing and working with this team literally changed the way that I view advertising agency.

The same feeling occurred, on a more extreme level, each and everytime I produced a great program for campers. Whether they were Tasters or Yachers, a smile or laugh showed me that my work paid off.

Now, for all past staff members who have transitioned into the “real world”, I have one question for you:  How has your work related to being a staff member at Herzl Camp?  [Editor's Note:  Great question, do tell!]

By Zack Zaban

As a camper, I grew up on the “wrong side of the river” – aka in a St. Paul suburb instead of Minneapolis. During my early years in Taste 1998 and Ha’Atid Aleph 99/’00, I always felt that I was disconnected from my Herzl friends once we left camp because, physically, I lived far away from them.

… Luckily, evolutions in technology have made connecting with Herzl junkies much easier. Being a college student cooped up at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I use Facebook, Twitter, and instant messaging to talk with my Herzl friends. Some of my conversations revolve solely around Herzl inside jokes and traditions. However, I’ve used social media to connect with past Herzl staff and alumni for job searching and help on school projects.

As a Journalism and Mass Communication major, I might use social media more than the average person. However, many Jewish individuals, both young and old, are connecting and learning about Herzl’s recent events through social media. Just look at the Herzl Camp Facebook account and you can see that numerous Jewish adults and teenagers – 2,090 to be exact- stay in the loop with the Herzl community.

So what’s changed between Ha’Atid 1999 and the upcoming summer of 2010? Herzl Camp has become a year round experience instead of a couple months experience. The conversations about ruach in the Chadar don’t end in early August. Instead, they live through emails, Facebook messages, and Skype videochats. I often talk with my B’Yachad campers through Facebook and try to provide wisdom/advice about high school- something that would have never occurred to me ten years ago.

Earlier this summer, the B’Yachad staff decided to embrace technology to its fullest. We created a memory-packet Web site instead of creating a traditional packet. By using this new technology, we created connections that simply would not have existed on paper, such as videos of the summer, a chat-room, and community service links. Being the first group to create a memory packet online, we faced a few bumps along the road to development. However, the final product helped the B’Yachad campers relive their summer any time of the year, whether it was a hard day at school, a long night of USY or BBYO play practice, or simply yearning to be back at camp.

Finally, Herzl has the Alumni Blog. Looking at the wide range of social media outlets, I personally believe that the Alumni Blog is the most influential and powerful medium that Herzl provides to past campers and staff members. If you look at the blog’s content, you’ll see that individuals across the country (and even in Israel) connect back to Herzl long after they roamed the grounds in Webster. That’s the power and impact of social media – creating conversation and bonds that don’t exist through other media. Being on the “blog” team, I’ve reconnected to some of my past staff members, including one who was my counselor back in Ha’Atid Aleph 1999.

For those readers who want to get involved with Herzl’s social media platforms, I have advice: don’t be afraid to share your voice. You don’t need to be on a committee or write a blog post to have an active role in Herzl’s online presence. Instead, just comment on a Facebook post, reTweet a message, or write a response on the Alumni Blog. Your contributions may take a few minutes to write and post, but they will have a beneficial impact on the Herzl community.

In a recent newsletter to our staff, we asked “What is your favorite place at camp? And what makes it so special?  As to be expected their answers varied tremendously, but each with their own passion and sincere dedication to our Dear Old Herzl!  So for all you Alumni, grab a cup of tea (tea is for staff only), send a kid to get the mail and Chanut, and settle down to read these letters from recent staff during your own personal Minucha:

“I really don’t have a favorite place at camp, but I have a cabin that has a lot of memories for me.  Double cabin #5.  That was my first cabin as a camper, that was my first cabin as an Ozo and my sister’s last cabin as a camper before she died.  So basically that physical cabin has a lot of monumental memories for me.  Except that cabin doesn’t exist as of right now.  But camp for me is not about the places.  It’s about the people and where memories with those people take place.” – Paulette Crohn

“My favorite part of camp is the Ozo Mo.  For so long I anticipated what it would look like and I couldn’t wait until I could finally see it.  It may not have been what I was expecting, but it turned out to be just what we needed.  We had so many amazing memories in there as not only Ozrim, but also as friends.  It will always be a place special in our hearts!” – Molly Yarosh, Ozo 2009

“I knew the answer right when I read the question.  TevaLand.  I can’t even find the right words to describe this place.  Most people just think it is a piece of land that is infested with very large spiders, baby mice, and millions of ticks.  Although this may be true, there is so much more to it.  It is the place to look at stars, find yourself and really appreciate Herzl Camp nature for what it is.  This piece of land has given me so much and made me a better person today.” – Sara Waller

“One word: waterfront.  My response may be somewhat cliché, but the waterfront is a place where I developed throughout my years at camp.  Back as a Ha’atid camper, I was subjected to swimming lessons because of my “blue swimmer” status.  Flash forward a few years and I worked my way through the water to become LGT certified during my B’yachad year.  As an Ozo and Madrich, I loved to teach waterfront chugim and always found a way to relax on the water.  Plus, I developed some serious skills when I had to drag the lake (not fun, but a moment to learn).  To sum it all up, I would have to say the waterfront is the Herzl location where I grew as a person.” – Zack Zaban

“While I am a big fan of the Mercaz, my favorite place is at the picnic tables.  Right after you hear you are in your tzrif you head out to grab a cookie at the picnic tables and that is only the beginning.  Whether its for a Thursday cookout with your Tzrif or for B’yachad avodah to learn how to use an electric drill (or which Tzrif you’ll end up painting) or the location where you lead your first chug, or, of course, Friday lunches and singing your program’s song…it’s a place where we’re always doing something exciting (and together).  It’s special because they’ve always been right in front of the Ulam, every one of my summers at Herzl and I know there will always be a spot for Shabbos introductions for many Fridays to come!” – Marissa Arnold

“My favorite place at Herzl Camp is the Ozo Mo.  Yes, it is gross and it smells but the Ozrim are such a vital piece of Herzl Camp and so many of the memories and great things that we created came out of the Mo.  There is also a deep history of the Mo because many ozrim just like us spent their summers in it and it is truly a special place.” – Adam Stillman

“My favorite place at Herzl Camp is the dirt road.  I know that sounds stupid and my answer might sound cliché but it’s true.  I can’t think of a place that I like more than another, so the dirt road connects me to all of camp.  It takes me to my favorite place to eat, the Chadar, my favorite cabin, Bet, etc.  The dirt road also leads me off the beaten path, providing me with dirty feet, forcing me to stop at the water pump which I swear is piped directly from the Arctic Ocean.  Most importantly the road gives me memories.  I don’t know what camp would be like without all of the camp dressing in white on Friday evenings walking around the dirt track in a caravan.” – Noah Eisemann

“My favorite spot at Herzl would probably be the brand new Ozo ’09 Shabbat Shed.  Over this past summer I spent a lot of time coming up with the idea, building it, designing it, and painting it. I made many memories with Ozos Emily Silber, Matty Kaplan, Hannah Berc, and Andrew Lifson.  My old skills were put to the test and I gained new skills as well.  The Shabbat shed is now a part of the new Herzl and will be there for many years to come and I was part of that which a fabulous felling.  I now feel like a part of camp.” – Marissa Gedis

“My favorite place at Herzl Camp is the Ulam.  It’s where I’ve participated the most, some of my most vivid memories take place.  I was in Pinocchio in Ha’atid Bet 2003, I was in West Side Story in Kadima 2006, and then of course the Ozo play.  It’s the place where I spent much of my time both as a camper and on the “other side”.  It makes me happy to recollect.” - Ilan Gordon

“This took some thought as I am a big time Herzl lover…but…I would have to say the small spot in the Chadar where hundreds of Herzl girls have stood, arms intertwined, lighting the Shabbat candles every Friday night.  Those few square feet of linoleum are walked on and overlooked all week long, and then seemingly transformed for a sacred and peaceful few short moments.” – Zoe Stern

“My favorite part is Strawberry fields.  It is an often unknown part of camp where the woods open up to a huge field with beautiful flowers all around with a random, big tree smack dab in the middle.  We spent a lot of time where when we were in Teva Trek and it’s awesome.” – Josh Klane

“My favorite place in camp is “One tree” or “the septic field”.  One tree is one of the more exclusive parts of camp where a large number of people have not gone, or spent time.  The huge open field only contains one tree in the middle.  This mysterious tree is a great way to start or continue Herzl traditions (ex. You can call it the Herzl tree, attach a deep meaning to it for the campers, or simply just star gaze in the field).  As, said before it is exclusive since not a lot of people go there, this makes it that much more precious and important.  Overall, One tree is an amazing part of camp which might be overlooked. It is a great place to take campers to for L.O. or a chug.” – Josh Savitt

“My favorite spot at camp would have to be the weight lifting area. I spent many chugim there and had so many great memories, it always seems to brings back a good time.  But really any place at camp is my favorite because you are at camp so what could be better!” – Hannah Berc

“My favorite spot at Herzl Camp is Tzrif Alef and Bet and the shmir site outside of it.  When I reflect back to Ozo Summer, which was my favorite summer at Herzl Camp, the main thing I remember is first session when we were living in our Ozo cabins.  At night during first session is when I feel our ozo group first bonded.  We had many funny experiences together that united us.  In the girls cabin, we talked, laughed, and joked around and it made us come together.  It strengthened our bonds and our trust with one another.  Once we moved out of the Ozo cabins, we didn’t see eachother as much, but our memories were still there.  Those nights were some of the best times I have ever had, especially because it was with the 2009 Ozrim.” – Jamie Bonk

“My favorite place at camp is Teva Land.  The reason I love Teva Land is because Teva summer gave me a new insight to life and to camp.  As an Ozo this summer it was comforting for me to be able to go back into the woods and re-live my previous year.  I learned many things my Teva summer and I will never ever forget it!” – Elisa Edelstein

“I love the Mercaz!  It gives me a sense of peace and you can go there when you need a few minutes away at camp.  There’s beauty, incredible stars at night and always fresh air (which there is not in my other favorite/safe place in camp).  Also, I feel so connected to Judaism when I’m at the Mercaz because that’s where a lot of my Jewish learning began.” – Tracy Altman

What about you?  What’s your favorite place at camp??