My Camp George Story: Summer 2012

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By: Caroline “Caz” Cleary, alumna

In 2012, I decided it would be fun to spend a summer abroad, working at a summer camp. I am from Durham, UK where camp doesn’t really exist in the same way. I got the call from my camp agency (NYQUEST) in my last semester at university to ask if I would mind being placed at a Jewish camp, being a non-Jew. I didn’t really give it two thoughts and said yes and then started to think ‘was this the best decision?’ Being from a small city in Northern England, my experience with Judaism was limited. On the call, I hadn’t really asked many questions and to be honest until we got on the bus I still wasn’t sure what kind of camp I was going to.

The first few days of staff week, I thought I would never understand all the ‘ch’s’ and ‘h’s’ of Hebrew. Luckily, I had a fellow Brit and some very helpful co’s who talked me through and probably thought “who is this girl?” I’d come from an intense school experience where I had grown up with my friends and my life was very comfortable. I was as close to my friends as everyone was to their friends at camp so I was very out of my comfort zone.

One thing that struck me was the Jewish culture. This was so apparent not just in the camp but on visitor’s days and after camp when everyone was so generous and welcoming when I visited Toronto. Although growing up I went to a Church school (not Hogwarts but similar), aside from Christmas I never feel like we had many cultural traditions. Growing up sitting in cold churches the services by the lake singing into the sunset are something I will never forget. This was one of my favourite parts of camp. The ways of learning Judaism and the approach were so interesting to me and I can’t help but think if more people got children passionate about religion at a young age how much more it would stick with them through life.

A summer at camp is an experience like no other and something a lot of my co staff took for granted as they had grown up not realizing how magical it was. Kind of like when you look back on school and miss the things you hated. I can’t even put into words how much I enjoyed it and wish every summer was spent on Maple Lake. Although I was a specialist I loved seeing the kids and then getting to know my co staff once they had gone to bed. I was very surprised how much a camper could grow in the space of a summer and seeing a kid really improve in confidence or growing their skills was so satisfying. Even in the two summers I was there, I saw some campers completely grow up. As a videography specialist, I think I had quite a unique perspective as I got to see all parts of camp on a daily basis. I got to see the kids on their first day prepping for the swim test, every campers favourite activity -water ski, singing by the camp fire and running around during Maccabiah.

Going back the next year for summer 2013 was a no brainer. My second year was even more special as I was made C.I.T. staff with some amazing people and our kids gave us a whole host of new challenges. I absolutely loved working with the older kids and really saw a different side to camp mostly because we didn’t have to go to bed and be quiet in cabins so early but instead experienced heart to hearts, amazing Shabbat walks and a bit more mischief.

In 2015, I took my parents back to camp for a quick visit when we were on holiday and I think they were baffled when I ran up to a group of about ten of my C.I.T.’s and we all screamed and hugged for about 10 minutes. It’s really hard to explain to anyone outside of camp how close you all are and the experiences you go through.

I could talk all day about camp but now I have to go back to my job sitting at a desk indoors. No more yoga on the beach, singing by the fire camping or rope courses for me. I genuinely made friends for life and although we are all over the world I stay in touch all the time.

There’s always a special place in my heart for Maple Lake and the people I’ve met there. ❤

 

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