Hey CG!

Today we’re continuing our ongoing blog series with our summer 2018 leadership staff, or as we call them Hanhallah. Each blog will feature 20 questions in honour of our upcoming 20th summer. Read on below for our interview with Barak Unit Head Melanie Wasser.

Question #1: What are you most excited about for your role at camp?

Melanie: “I’m most excited to work with Barak in a new capacity. While I’ve worked as a counselor and AUH (assistant unit head) before, I’m excited to see it from a whole new perspective. Also, I have a lot of new and exciting ideas to bring to the unit this year that I can’t wait to start.”

Question #2: What’s your life motto, or philosophy you live by? 

Melanie: “If you’re not weird you’re boring.”

Question #3: All time best camp memory?

Melanie: “Going on my Barak canoe trip in 2011!”

Question #4: What are your favorite hobbies?

Melanie: “I love photography and sewing. Anything creative!!”

Question #5: If you could live in a book, TV Show or movie, what would it be?

Melanie: “Gilmore Girls #Starshollow”

Question #6: What animal best represents you and why?

Melanie: “Otter!! Because they’re super social animals and I love working with and being around other people!”

Question #7: What camp staff inspired you the most? How did they inspire you?

Melanie: “My older Barak counselors. They helped me grow as a person and develop a lot of self-confidence. Also, they are who inspired me to become a Barak counselor in order to provide that same experience and mentorship for a new generation of Barak campers.”

Question #8: What’s your favorite Jewish holiday and why?

Melanie: “I love Passover!! Growing up, I would look forward to spending the seders with my cousins, and seeing family members that I hadn’t seen in a while!”

Question #9: Have you ever had a nickname?

Melanie: “What is it? Melephant – I have a really good long term memory!”

Question #10: If you could invite a famous person to dinner, who would you choose and why?

Melanie: “Lin-Manuel Miranda!! First of all… he wrote Hamilton which is pretty cool! But also his level of creativity and willingness to take risks is something that inspires me to pursue my creative passions.”

Question #11: Do you have a pet? If not, what sort of pet would you like?

Melanie: “I have a dog named Lucy! She’s part Poodle and part Bouvier (Flandoodle)!”

Question #12: What outdoor activities do you like to do?

Melanie: “Hiking, Biking, Swimming, Sailing and Skiing (snow and water).”

Question #13: What is something you love doing? Why?

Melanie: “I love listening to musicals!! No matter if I’m happy, stressed, on the bus or just making dinner, listening to a good Broadway soundtrack never fails to put a smile on my face!”

Question #14: What is a hidden talent you have?

Melanie: “I love to impressions of TV and movie characters!! Bert from Mary Poppins and Stitch are my personal favourites!!” 

Question #15: What makes a good camp friend?

Melanie: “Someone who is supportive and accepting.”

Question #16: What is your favourite camp tradition?

Melanie: “Havdallah.”

Question #17: What is your proudest camp moment?

Melanie: “Fostering friendships for my campers.”

Question #18: What’s on your bucket list this year?

Melanie: “Go to a drive-in movie!!”

Question #19: What are some small things that make your day better?

Melanie: “Hearing from a friend that I haven’t spoken to in a while.”

Question #20: What changed your way of thinking forever?

Melanie: “I had the opportunity to be a leader for incoming first year students at my university this past September. During which, I worked in a team with 12 other amazing student leaders. This experience truly showed me the benefit of working in a team, and how to support those around me, both in terms of the students, as well as my teammates. After this experience, I have consciously tried to show support toward people in my life, whether they are friends that I see every day, or people I haven’t seen in a while. As well, I have tried to foster this idea of a team mentality in everything I’ve done since this experience, having seen first hand the benefit that working in a team can have.”