Building Bonds at Camp George: Rabbi Wise’s Reflection
I have been involved with Camp George since 2007 when I first started as the Rabbi at Shaarei-Beth El in Oakville. Of course, I had heard about Camp George from other friends and colleagues, all raving about this new Reform Jewish summer camp near Parry Sound that had everything. I was so excited to get up there my first summer and was not disappointed. It was as beautiful as described; I still remember looking out over Maple Lake from the balcony outside the Chadar Ohel as the sun set. It had everything a great Jewish camp should have, happy singing campers running around, dedicated staff of all ages, excellent facilities and a stunning location. As a Rabbi I especially loved the beit tefillah nestled in the woods on the end of a cliff overlooking the lake with benches built right into the rock, providing the most idealistic place to pray and connect to God.
I was glad we had a few campers and staff up at George and heard from them what a great time they were having. But I knew we could do better. Right away I came back from my first week there determined to double our numbers at least. We began promoting camp through presentations from Director Jeff Rose or associate director Karen Kollins. I started bringing in camp songs into our religious school on Sunday mornings and camp tefillah tunes into our regular Shabbat morning services. I encouraged personally older teenagers to try it out as staff and worked on our youngest families to consider the wonders of camp for their children. I also pledged that I would be up there each summer to see what our SBE kids are up to and hang out with them at the ski dock, on canoes, at the pottery shed, and read bedtimes stories in their cabins. Our partnership with Camp grew and grew. We offered a special campership for every bar or bat mitzvah student, we got preschool kids to enroll in the new mini-mensch program and we encouraged giving donations to help camp expand its facilities, such as the new camper village, the pavilion, new ski boats and an updated sports complex hopefully ready for summer 2025. What has been most exciting is not just that we want to send kids to camp, its what the kids bring back to the synagogue. Our high school youth group has gotten stronger as the kids that go to camp form special bonds that last throughout the year. The youth bring their energy to song sessions and Israeli dancing on Simchat Torah. They loudly lead our weekly birkat hamazon camp style before our religious school dinners. Some of our students tutor Hebrew to younger leaners whom them met at camp and so we see friendships growing across the ages. Parents are jealous that their kids get to go to camp George and only wish the option was available for them when they were kids. Overall the connection between the synagogue and camp is stronger than ever. The wall outside our sanctuary is adored with 15 giant photos of our kids at camp with huge toothy grins, sunburned and mosquito bitten and thrilled to be at the best camp in Ontario.
Written by: Rabbi Stephen Wise
To learn more about Shaarei-Beth El in Oakville visit Shaarei-Beth El Congregation of Halton – Home
contact: rabbi.wise@sbe.ca
