By Haley Admur

For a few weeks at the beginning of the summer, I lived down in the Chavurah village all by myself. I occasionally saw a fox or a bunny, but for the most part, it was pretty solitary. After a long two years of hibernating, the pagoda was filled with wasps and the fire pit was sporting some waist-high weeds. It was peaceful and quiet, but it wasn’t camp. After a little while, the Chavurah staff moved into the village with me. As a team, we started preparing the space for our campers to arrive. We pulled up the weeds, we swept the Beit Noar, and we did our best to tape up some of the holes in the bunks. We were our own little community down in the village, but it wasn’t camp. Finally, opening day came, and our little village came alive. It almost felt as though the village, like all of us, had been alone for far too long, and was so excited to be with its friends again. Throughout the summer the village has experienced many emotions with the unit of Chavurah. We’ve been silly, serious, somber, stupid, and sweet, but never since those first few weeks has the village been lonely. 

You’ve all heard the saying: camp isn’t about the place, it’s about the people. That’s true, but I think, oftentimes, we interpret it incorrectly. Many times we hear this saying and we think about our friends and bunkmates who have made our summers so special here. That’s lovely, but I challenge all of you to think of yourselves. Camp isn’t about the place, it’s about the people, and it’s about the person. It’s about the person you are when you arrive, the person you get to be while you’re here, and the person you are when you leave. Camp is special because you’re a part of it, and the village is special because every Chavurah camper and staff member is a part of it. It’s not a place, it’s a people, and it’s you. 

Very soon, we’ll continue in our service with the closing song. On the surface, this song seems very sad. The lyrics speak of leaving behind the things you love and moving on from the things you know, but I don’t think that’s what the song is about. To me, it’s about growing, and learning to take the special parts of your past with you. Moving on does not mean forgetting, and growing up does not mean things are ending.

To Chavurah – I know this may feel like the end of something, but this feeling will always come with you. Your experiences at Camp Harlam will always come with you. No matter where you find yourself or what you’re doing, you’ll take this summer, and all the summers, with you. I’m so proud of the people you are and the people you will become, and I can’t wait to see you again.

Haley Amdur is the Chavurah Unit Head this summer. She formerly served as Head Song Leader at Camp Harlam as well as the Jewish Life Assistant. This is her 12th summer at camp.