By Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik, URJ Camp Newman Faculty and Rabbi at Temple Ahavat Shalom
For the past two weeks I have been part of the faculty at URJ Camp Newman, which affords me a unique perspective: I get to see what happens at camp as both a rabbi and a parent.
As one of the many camp rabbis I have the opportunity to work with campers as they explore their Judaism. During cabin time with the 7th and 8th graders I gave campers a chance to “Ask the Rabbi”; sometimes it’s easier to talk to a rabbi when you are sitting on the ground together.
The campers wanted to know about God and faith and what happens when you die… and they also wanted to know what Judaism says about science and evolution. I turned their questions back to them, and found they frequently responded with stories that started with the words “my rabbi says.”
It is always a joy to work with kids who are excited to learn something new, and it’s a rabbinic thrill when they are even more excited to share what they know with friends. I was amazed at the depth of their Jewish knowledge and how quickly they connected something they learned at their home synagogue to what we were doing at camp. As a rabbi I am privileged to see just how much Judaism is a part of the campers’ lives.
I am also the mom of three daughters who have been coming to Camp Newman for 11 years — and being a mom at camp, I see things that parents don’t always want to see: kids wearing the same t-shirt three days in a row, clear evidence that nobody combs their hair after the pool, and just how many towels are in the lost and found. But I also see what you might not see on the camp photos or blogs: kids hugging a friend who is feeling down, the huge smiles on their faces (genuine smiles, not the ones for the camera), campers running to greet a friend, or a small group sitting together talking about life.
The photos can’t show every camper; they may be too busy having fun to write home — but they are having fun. They are learning new things from friends, going outside their comfort zones, and gaining an independence that they can only get when you are not watching them. I have seen campers dealing with homesickness or navigating friendship drama, with the support of their friends and counselors. These life lessons about how they can solve their own problems or turn to others for support can last far beyond camp.
Kids say over and over that they are different at camp, that they are the best version of themselves and that they can be who they are without being judged. This combination of exploring their Jewish identity and developing independence is what makes the camp experience transformative; campers have a chance to be a part of Jewish community that they help create, and it’s why they want to keep coming back every summer. This is part of why your child seems more mature and more sure of themselves after camp. It’s why it seems they have grown so much in only a few weeks. Because they have.