By: Devra Wasser, camp parent and volunteer
My summer memories came from time spent with family and friends. I thought, that like most parents, perhaps, that my children would follow my footsteps, and share those similar memories to mine. Little did I know that one fateful summer weekend in 2000, that led to a two weekend stay in 2001, and then a week long commitment in 2002, and then continued in this same week long and two week long fashion for the next 13 years, that my children’s summer memories were designed, made and cemented at Camp George.
My husband was offered an opportunity to assist the camp doctor position that fateful weekend in 2000. Our two girls were 2 and 3-1/2. I was their counsellor, taking them to activities, while they witnessed other children playing, dancing, singing, laughing and engaging with nature. They were quite literally taking baby steps into life at camp. Camp George’s experience for our kids is not an easy answer when someone asks: What is Camp George like? Camp George is … well… contagious, infectious and spontaneous – if that’s even an answer.
The privilege of watching them participate with the other campers, first as day campers and sleeping with us in our cabin, and then being active campers in their own cabins, and further on to leading campers as counsellors, and now witnessing their skills guiding counsellors. It has been a remarkable road.
Camp George from the sidelines, was like nothing you can explain, but was astoundingly awesome to witness. We were so incredibly honoured to watch as young campers danced and sang, and laughed, and played, and gained confidence in themselves, all while learning how to be good people. They had the privileges we didn’t have, they had the access to their religious leaders; ask them questions not just about life, but about themselves. Learning about Jewish life by osmosis, in the atmosphere of a camp landscape is the best part of learning your sense of belonging to the greater Jewish community. Nothing like it compares or comes close.
Friday night Shabbat at Camp George was and will remain the highlight of every week at camp. To watch the older campers, dancing and singing with the younger campers, and teaching them the songs, and the coordinated dances, doesn’t happen from being programmed. The dancing and the singing was contagious, infectious and spontaneous – and to us, that is the essence and spirit of Camp George. Kids teaching kids to be good to each other; the underlying theme of being Jewish and doing Tikum Olam, was not just another program, it’s integrated into their day – hence into their life!
When it was the 13th year of Camp George, me and few other Camp George parents wanted to bring the spirit of George to the city for other parents and new families to try and bear witness to the magic and ruach that Camp George offers and provides.
We invited the camp community. It was resounding success. The campers with their friends off site from Maple Lake, showed to all of us, that Camp George is a unique community that is home to our children during their summers away from school, away from the city, and away from technical interferences (and away from us)… Friends, campers, parents, faculty, they all came in from out of town. It was like a real Shabbat at camp, the excitement and the anticipation, it was palpable from our kids and their friends, not to mention our committee. “What to wear?” that was a big question – but at the end of the day, this was intended to be “George’s Bar Mitzvah”, so we encouraged the guests to get dressed up.
Of course the 13th year in our children’s lives, and all of our lives is symbolic and worthy of celebration and a commemorative announcement in some form. Our community needed to hear the announcement, and Camp George was worthy of the commemoration. Like all of our children, Camp George was like our child – maybe not in a true life form, but certainly in spirit and passion – As parents we want to schlep nachas. As if we are saying, “come and see our child, Camp George, and all it has to offer, if just for this small taste tonight, but know that what it holds is a multitude of offerings, far beyond what is witnessed here at this Bar Mitzvah Celebration”. Just as you would any child, it’s future awaits, and it will continue to grow, foster, and envelope our community with more than we could possibly imagine. Camp George at 13 was truly on the cusp of adulthood, and now, entering it’s 20th year – its future continues to remain bright, strong, and hopeful.
Happy 20th Birthday CG – you’ve been good to our family!
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