By Lisa David

On Thursday, the New York Times ran a fascinating article titled Are the Kids All Right? Ask the Camp Directors.   The piece talked about the unique opportunity camps had this summer to both heal some of the wounds of the last year, and to preview the year to come, as we tested the resilience and fortitude our campers have built and sadly may need again as they depart this safe haven. The intensity of this environment is powerful, and while prior to the summer we prepared ourselves in case it exacerbated existing mental, social, and emotional health challenges, as we near the end of our summer in Kunkletown I can confidently say that, here at Harlam, the kids are alright.

Many may think of camp as mainly fun and games. It certainly contains these things, and is also so much more. It’s a big playground, with a big safety net built in, that allows kids opportunities to take risks, knowing they have the guidance and support of peers and staff there to assist them. The risks they take may be simple and straightforward: climbing the tower, trying a new food from the salad bar, completing their first stream hike. They may also be much, much more complex: leaving loved ones for the first time in 18+ months, starting out in a new place knowing no one and establishing an entirely new social group, managing mental health challenges in an environment that affords less privacy or time to decompress. Each of these provides an opportunity for growth and learning, even when they struggle. And this year, these opportunities were priceless and, we hope, have equipped them with skills, perspective, relationships, confidence and knowledge that will serve them well once they depart.

What an honor to see so many kids try (and fail and try again) and succeed here. This week I watched the Green team remain as the leading team through most of Maccabiah, only to end in last place after the Zimriah, which provided an opportunity for kids to learn about humility, grace, and good sportsmanship. Seeing green team campers and staff authentically congratulate their friends on the winning team was beautiful, as they managed to endure a loss yet remain happy for their friends. Each week at Harlam one camper is selected as their Unit’s Director for the Day, and are honored as a camper who models compassion, kindness, and embodies our camp values. While this honor is well deserved, we know that not every camper can be selected, and yet each week when I announce the camper that has been selected, others are as or more excited to cheer on their friend, celebrating their best qualities and the honor they rightly receive. I’ve observed, as the session ends, that campers who started week one crying frequently because they missed home have found comfort and strength both inside of themselves and in new relationships that help them feel safe here.

All of this is to say that these experiences have deeply impacted your kids, for good. While you, and they, may be fearful of the complicated and complex challenges that may lie ahead for them outside our gates, know that they are leaving here having tested their existing reserves of courage, built them up, and thrived.

While not every camper was transformed entirely, all of them are leaving here changed in some manner. Translating the intensity and impact of their experiences here to others outside of this “bubble” may be challenging, but we want you, too, to understand and feel a part of our extended family. Having experienced a session here, your campers may be returning home with:

• Stories: So many stories about people you don’t know and words you might not have heard before, like Siyum L’Yom (Closing of the Day ritual) or S’morning Camp Harlam (our daily opening all-camp program) or Rak Dan (Israeli dancing on Friday nights) or Canteen (a new addition where campers get treats!). A great way to learn more about camp is to let your camper give you a tour through the photos we took all summer.
• Silence: It’s typical for kids to still be processing their own experience. We’ve put together some prompts for discussion, but your camper may need some time to catch up on sleep, arrange their own thoughts, and then be able to share what they experienced.
• Coughs and Sniffles: We are proud to have an amazing medical team, and while we successfully kept COVID out of camp, many of our immune systems are coming out of a year-long hibernation. Sometimes the combination of close living quarters, long days, and less sleep means they are leaving camp with some “camp crud”.
• Dirt (and maybe someone else’s underwear!): Our campers seem to be determined to take a little bit of camp home with them! While we do our best to assist them with packing their belongings, we know that the wear and tear of a few weeks of living with others may mean items are a bit messier than you left them. If you are missing items, please check out our Facebook Lost and Found Group where we will post found items, and/or submit this form to report missing items.
• Maturity and Responsibility: Your camper has spent the last 3.5 weeks learning to clean up after themselves, eat communal meals, solve problems, and generally pitch in to get a job done. Give your child a chance to show off by stepping back a bit and letting them sort out their own laundry, help get dinner on the table, and manage conflict with their siblings.
• New Relationships: Being a part of this immersive experience creates bonds like none other. As we like to say, Harlam is where “friends become family.” Your children will have made new friends and may have struggled at times to connect with others. All of these are valuable opportunities for learning, and we hope the positive relationships they created can be sustained beyond their time at camp.
• Jewish Ritual and Wisdom: Harlam is an immersive Jewish experience, where kids live Jewishly 24/7. Our hope is that the lessons learned, the vocabulary, and the middot (character traits) built here are brought home and shared. We encourage our kids to continue the camp traditions that are meaningful to them once they return home, so ask your child about the songs they sing or the blessings they may have learned.

Harlam is a safe place for exploration, a place that offers lots of opportunities, where success is celebrated, and failure can also be celebrated as a chance to learn. It is a family, and I thank your family for joining ours. I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow and watching as you reunite with your children. Thank you for sharing them with us, and for allowing us to grow with them as well.

Lisa David is serving in her fifth summer as Camp Harlam’s Director after 18 years as a professional in the field of Jewish Camping. She is a former Harlam camper and staff member, and a proud parent of 3 Harlam campers.