By: Michelle Fremont, first session camper care director and camp parent
Back in 2013 I was given an incredible opportunity to be a part of Camp George as the Program Director for Mini Mensch. Our eldest daughter Sierra had attended Camp George for two years prior to this, starting as a young camper in Lehavot, and she absolutely loved it. As a parent, my experiences with Camp George had been the exciting stories we heard when Sierra came home from camp, and the Visitor’s Day experience we had when we’d go up to see her. Through this, I came to have such a good feeling about Camp George. When I learned that I would have the chance to work up at camp, and be part of the camp culture for 4 days, I was thrilled!
Mini Mensch in its first year, was a huge success! Prior to the program’s onset, I remember discussing what we wanted our campers to gain during their mini mensch experience. We quickly realized that we couldn’t possibly fit it all into one weekend as Camp George has so much to offer, but we were going to try really hard to give our youngest campers, the best taste of George they could have during their short stay. Camp George is such a special place, and we wanted our mini menschers to experience this.
On the very first day of Mini Mensch, in anticipation of our camper’s arrival, we had welcome signs ready, and staff and campers ready to great our campers as their mini mensch bus pulled up to camp and parked ‘at the top of the hill’. I remember feeling so excited to see each of the smiling and adorable campers that came off the bus. In typical Camp George style, as the mini mensch campers stepped off the bus, they were greeted by all, with smiles, hugs, cheers and high fives, from everyone that was waiting to greet them. This is still fresh in my memory because of how proud it made me feel to be part of a community that is so engaging and welcoming.
The counselors who were working directly with the mini mensch campers were so thrilled to be chosen as part of this special team of staff. They did an incredible job making sure that their mini menschers were so well taken care of. From the obvious expectations of making sure that all campers had applied their sunscreen, and that water bottles were being used and refilled to the other important tasks of encouraging their campers to TRY EVERYTHING and get involved! The counselors were so amazing at making the campers feel comfortable and safe, but also making the experience such fun!
The mini menschers experienced a variety of exciting activities that camp has to offer, from the land sports like basketball, tennis and our amazing ropes course, to the waterfront activities where they could canoe, sail and swim. They participated in cabin themed as well as unit themed events, and of course, were able to spend a beautiful Shabbat evening with us. Shabbat at Camp George is an experience I wish everyone could have. Our mini menschers were part of this beautiful event as we had services at the Beit T’fillah, outside overlooking Maple Lake, surrounded by nature, and of course our friends. After services, we went into the Chadar for a delicious (and it really is!) Shabbat dinner, (fresh just-baked challah made onsite in our kitchen) that was proceeded by music, dancing and of course, a fun evening activity.
As well as helping to coordinate the mini mensch weekend, I was thrilled to bring our son Jesse up to camp, and to have him participate in the program. Jesse got a ‘taste of George’ during the mini mensch weekend, and got to experience the thrill of being at overnight camp, in an amazing environment. He made friends, sat around a campfire roasting hot dogs, canoed, sailed, swam, did pottery, listened to stories in the cabin from his counselors, participated in a beautiful Shabbat experience, slept in a bunk bed, AND went home with amazing experiences and memories. It was such a successful experience that two years later when our third child Miley was in Grade 1, she too attended the mini mensch program at Camp George.
All in all, as a parent of a camper, and as the former program director of Mini Mensch, I was able to watch the campers, and my own children, participate in this incredible experience. The Mini Mensch program brought our youngest campers together, to enjoy an incredible fun-filled weekend, as independent people, away from home and at a sleepover camp – and for most of them this was their first experience of sleepover camp. I witnessed the joy on their faces as they participated in activities, made new friends, and learned to be a little bit more independent – all in one weekend! It was an amazing experience for the Mini Mensch campers, and I am thrilled that my own children were also able to have a taste of Camp George this way. As a result – we now have three children who go to camp each year, and count down the days until they get to go back to spend the summer weeks up on Maple Lake!
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