By: Heather Bordo, camp parent

My husband and I knew that at some point we wanted to send our daughter, Brianna, to Camp George. When I was young, I received a scholarship through Temple Har Zion to attend URJ Goldman Union Camp (GUCI) in Zionsville, Indiana and it was a wonderful experience. I still remember what an incredible feeling it was to be in a place where I knew I had something in common with every other person there – being Jewish – and so much wanted to be able to give Brianna that same experience.

When we found out that Brianna had been awarded the Arthur & Dvora Brown Scholarship for last summer through Temple Har Zion, my husband and I were thrilled. Brianna’s receipt of the scholarship was particularly meaningful for me, given my experience at GUCI, and the fact that I had attended camp with Samantha Brown (now Samantha Bacher), who, along with her family, established the scholarship fund.

We registered Brianna for two weeks at Camp George; since it was her first time at overnight camp, we felt that two weeks would be sufficient for her to try out camp (and for us to not have her at home!). Despite our concerns about her (or perhaps us!) adjusting, the “campaign” for her to stay for the full session began with the very first letter we received from her. Brianna loved the camp activities, the amazing staff, and the feeling of being part of both a cabin community – it was a sleepover with 11 friends every night of camp!! – and a broader camp/Jewish community. Brianna ended up staying for the full July session, and I had tears in my eyes on Visitor’s Day in observing that Brianna had truly “found her place” at Camp George.

We are so thankful to the family of Arthur & Dvora Brown for the incredible summer that they made possible for Brianna. We are equally thankful to all of those at Camp George, and who support Camp George – including Temple Har Zion – for reinforcing Brianna’s love for and pride in her Judaism in such an engaging, meaningful and memorable way. Brianna is very much looking forward to another incredible summer at Camp George!