By Jordan Davidson, 2026 Rosh Hagigah

Camp Saratoga, Swig, and Newman has been a home for many campers for the past 79 years, and it has been my home for the past 14. Many people have come to camp and experienced how magical a place it can be. When I’m at camp, I look around and see history and the legacy the campers who came before me left and the impact they made. Heading into this summer, I knew that I wanted this incredible group of Hagigah campers to be a part of Newman history and legacy, and also to understand how it took many generations of people to make camp what it is today.

We spent our summer in Hagigah learning about camp’s history, the work that Hagigah campers of years past put into making the session what it is now, and taking the time to figure out how they wanted to leave their mark and be remembered at camp.

One of our first programs that my wonderful staff led was a hike to Har Nof, one of the many lookout spots at camp. There, they shared how when they were in Rishcabia they blazed the trail all of our campers walked on and that the older sibling of one of my staff had made the mosaic at their feet. We shared how we got to this place and how the work that campers before now have remained a new part of camp history. In a circle at Har Nof, they wrote letters to their future selves, which they received on the last day of camp, and we went around and shared why we chose to be in Hagigah.

Hagigah is a session that many campers look up to because they’re some of the oldest at camp. Many of my campers shared that they had been waiting for the summer that they got to be in Hagigah, and now they were excited to be the role models and the campers that younger kids could look up to. We started the summer with the intention of being a positive part of Camp Newman’s legacy and moved forward from there.

We spent time learning about the art that has stood the test of time at camp and the artists who dedicated their summers to creating those pieces with Hagigah campers of years past. We were fortunate enough to be taught by one of those original artists. When thinking of permanent art at camp and what we wanted to leave behind, we looked at past mosaics and murals around camp. It was interesting to see that the majority of artwork at camp were newer and depicted camp memories post-fire. Only 2 murals survived the fire: a panel from the old Hagigah building and a faux house made by Hevrah. The mosaics on the way to the pool from CIT classes of years past were the only pieces to stand the test of time. 

We took the time to see how camp has grown around these pieces, highlighting their beauty and making sure we don’t forget the past as we move forward. Inspiration for the artwork made by the Hagigah campers stemmed from all around us at Newman, and I am so proud of what they were able to create. The Peachy Levy Festival was a beautiful culmination of all their hard work. It was a true expression of their camp journey filled with joy, laughter, meaningful connections, and a few inside jokes.

The campers were able to share camp magic with their families and friends and hopefully inspire the younger campers to want to stay and grow with Camp Newman so they could truly be part of what makes Hagigah magical. When I asked my campers what their greatest takeaway was from the summer, they all shared the connections and relationships they built. We were connected with each other, with the history of camp, and built stronger connections with ourselves.

This was my 14th summer at camp, my 6th summer on staff, and my 6th summer in Hagigah. I feel so privileged that I’ve been able to grow with Hagigah and see my campers grow at camp. Because of camp, I was able to be a Hagigah camper who grew to be a Hagigah staff member who then became the Hagigah Rosh whose staff were my Hagigah campers. I am so proud to be part of camp legacy and see my campers grow into counselors who get to inspire the next generation.

Watch the 2026 Hagigah Festival Here.