Dear Parents,
This past week, we - with the entire Jewish nation - observed the traditions and halachot associated with the period of the ‘Nine Days.’ This greater level of communal and personal mourning is in recognition of the many tragedies and hardships that befell the Jewish people. In camp, through formal learning and experiential events, our campers learned about this history and the resiliency of our nation — and how we, as individuals, can stand up to our own personal challenges and struggles.
This is perhaps one of our most crucial ‘Hineini Highlights’ of summer camp — the ability and opportunity for campers to build resiliency. Summer camp provides opportunities for campers to develop independence and self-reliance by being away from home and family for an extended period of time. They learn to navigate new environments, make decisions on their own, and solve problems independently, all of which contribute to building resilience.
Camp is also a space for campers can experience setbacks, failures, and disappointments in a supportive environment. Whether it's not making a sports team or struggling to complete a challenging activity, campers learn that...
Dear Parents,
When else do our children have an opportunity to connect with nature in a consistent and wholesome way that nurtures their holistic development? Where else can kids be fully present, enjoying the outdoors with friends? When our campers stepped off the bus on July 2nd and took that first breath of the fresh country air, you can almost here them say: “Hineini — I’m back, and ready to connect with the outdoors again.” And that is our fifth “Hineini Highlight” — being present with nature.
In the natural environment, kids learn cooperation, teamwork, and communication skills as they engage in group activities, sing around a campfire, or swing through a zip-line. These experiences help them develop empathy, leadership abilities, and conflict resolution skills. Nature stimulates creativity and imagination. Outdoor settings provide endless opportunities for exploration, discovery, and imaginative play.
This past week, our campers enjoyed trips across the East Coast - from white water rafting in Lake George to a tree-top ropes course in Virginia Beach. Providing these once-in-a-lifetime experiences both inside and outside of camp is almost irreplaceable — and we are lucky to...
Dear Parents,
The word Hineini appears 178 times in the Torah, almost always in the context of answering Hashem’s call. Sacrificing for our Yiddishkeit and Jewish values has been a consistent theme since the birth of our nation and has continued to this very day. The world is full of distractions — some necessary and others concerning — but summer camp offers the unique opportunity for children and staff to learn from role models in the most immersive and impressionable environment possible. This is perhaps our most important “Hineini Highlight”: Developing a love for Torah and the State of Israel.
This past week saw the most incredible set of fun, creative, and inspiring educational programming, with the weekly theme of “To Sacrifice: For our Homeland” woven through all of it. From Shiria 2024: “סיפור של ישראל” to the Girls Campus Production: “ליבי במזרח”, amazing volunteer work with the Israel Chesed Center and Boots for Israel, and capping off with the “Race for the Base” marathon and Yom Yisrael, our campers were not only learning about the gift of Israel — but living it. Of course, we...
Dear Parents,
Our second ‘Hineini Highlight’ will not focus on the camper experience but, rather, on those tasked to care for our campers: Camp staff. While camp is designed to inspire campers, some might argue that serving as a staff member at summer camp offers an even greater opportunity for transformative growth and maturation.
Let’s be honest — if summer camp would first pitched as a new idea now, in the year 2024, it would probably be met with a lot of skepticism: “You’re saying 16 -17 year old kids are going to be the ones caring, supervising, and in charge of our children? For seven weeks?!” Camp staff are thrown into the unique position of not only serving as caretakers, but are also expected to be role models, leaders, managers, and mentors. It is real responsibility, making real impact.
When I was in college, I would often get asked: ”Will you be in summer camp forever, or will you ever venture out and get a real job?" When asked this, I of course understood the intention of the question. But it is the irony of the...
For so many reasons and for so many decades, summer camp has been a powerful and impactful experience. What is most astonishing is that, as time progresses, summer camp has only become more and more important and pivotal to a child’s personal growth and development. This first ‘Hineini Highlight’ will focus on why.
In today's digital age, where screens and devices continue to dominate our children's attention, providing them with a true and wholesome break from technology has a most profound impact. In camp, children have the opportunity to engage in meaningful face-to-face, synchronous interactions with their peers and staff, allowing them to build deep relationships and crucial social skills. When children are not constantly entertained by screens, they have the chance to tap into their creativity and imagination in ways not possible at home — while reducing feelings of anxiety and isolation, often associated with excessive device use. Disconnecting allows them to be fully present — to reach their full potentials.
I’ve been communicating on this topic for nearly a decade now and we at Camp Morasha are proud to have been one of the first camps...
Dear Parents,
Hineinu — we are here! Our campers and staff have begun the magical and meaningful journey of summer camp. We've never experienced such a positive start to a season. The excitement that was beaming from our camper’s faces as they stepped off the bus was contagious. We feel humbled and privileged to be part of creating this world that allows children to grow, play, sing, dance, and forge lifelong friendships with peers and staff -- device free! We can’t thank you enough for partnering with us as we kick off our Morasha 2024 season.
As we’ve shared, the educational theme of this summer is Hineini: To Serve. To Sacrifice. To Step Up. This theme of ‘Hineini’ is multifaceted: It will study, celebrate, and memorialize those who have stood up to protect, defend, support, and fight for our Jewish values and Jewish homeland throughout our people’s history. At the same time, we will also reflect inwardly and learn how we can live these values of commitment, courage, presence, and passion.
While these topics will be the educational focus in camp, I look forward to using my
It's hard to formulate a message that accurately reflects our emotions as we enter this final Shabbat of Summer 2023. The past seven weeks, we’ve witnessed your children grow, learn, and love camp. These weekly emails communicated some elements that make camp such a powerful environment for campers — but the list can go on.
We still have three full days and I look forward to sharing a broader post-summer message the week after next. But, for now, I just want to say thank you to all our Morasha families. I recognize that there are many incredible overnight camp options. Please know that we appreciate you entrusting your children with us and for choosing Camp Morasha as your educational partner. It is our sincere hope that our campers board the camp buses more inspired, confident, independent, skilled, and passionate about their Judaism.
To cap off our home-building metaphors — Let’s keep building together. The inspiration and growth should not and does not have to end on Tuesday. As we enter our seventh decade of Camp Morasha, we are more motivated than ever to think...
Summer camp is like a window that opens up a world of possibilities and allows children to see beyond their everyday lives. Just as a window provides a view to the outside, camp offers a unique perspective and an opportunity for children to explore new horizons, broaden their understanding, and embrace new experiences.
Similarly, windows offer glimpses into the outdoors. Camp exposes children to the wonders of nature -- whether it's exploring forests, swimming in lakes, or gazing at starry skies. In 2023, this may be the most obvious benefit of summer camp — but has increasingly become one of the most important aspects of this experience: Unplugging campers of all devices so that they can fully immerse themselves in -- and connect with -- their environment.
As a parent myself, I don't believe I need to elaborate on this. It's a daily struggle in my own household to balance the strong desire to have my children off devices while using them as a crutch as Rachel and I need to simply 'get stuff done.' I recognize that this only gets exponentially more complicated as children grow older...
The walls of a house act as a physical and metaphorical boundary that separates the family (and, in our case, camp community) from the outside world. Within these walls, campers and staff come together to form a tight-knit community, where shared experiences, values, and traditions create a sense of unity. The walls of camp not only protect and provide a place for creativity and independence, but also foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie among campers and staff alike. This is our value of Achdut -- and the ability to sing together, play together, and live together is so incredibly special.
At the same time, the walls of a house provide structure and support, just like the people in our lives. Our parents, family, friends, and community provide us with the support we need to get through tough times and celebrate our successes. On this level, we are so unbelievably appreciative of the partnership between camp and parents. This collaboration between summer camp and parents is crucial in building a solid framework for a child's development and to set them on a path to thrive in both their...