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Connections in Israel

Connections in Israel

on May 10, 2012

URJ Camp Harlam Director Aaron Selkow “really likes Israel”, to be sure. But as he explained to a group of 20-something Israelis that were about to embark on a momentous journey to the United States to join the North American Jewish camp culture, it was for a very specific reason. It was because of them.

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How’s Your Purple?

How’s Your Purple?

on May 4, 2012

Before we had left, our colleagues tossed us bits and pieces of what to expect: “Just wait until you have to drag someone out of a ‘burning’ building!” and “Oooh, you’ll get to walk through fire!” As intriguing as those things sounded, no one really could have prepared me for what became an eye-opening, thought-provoking, and unforgettable journey.

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How I Brought My Staff Training to the Streets of New York

on April 25, 2012

Andrew Paull, Youth Programs Coordinator at Larchmont Temple in Larchmont, New York talks about a recent experience where the skills he acquired during his summers as a URJ Camp staff member came in handy.

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How Do We Connect, Inspire, and Engage Kids: What We’ve Learned From Camp

on December 12, 2011

Counting the days until the URJ’s Biennial convention outside of Washington DC became that much more exciting after a planning session with some colleagues. Gathering together by telephone from all across the US, we – three camp directors, three rabbis, and one talented URJ specialist – put our heads together to plan a Biennial session on the “magic of camp.”

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Why the World Needs Summer Camp: An Essay to Parents

on November 9, 2011

It is not easy for parents to make the decision to send their child away into the waiting arms of strangers who promise to take care of them — people who promise to show them the wonders of nature, fun, new skills, and friendships. As a parent of two children, even I struggle with the idea, and I have been around summer camps my entire life.

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The Full Circle of the Olim Fellowship

on November 7, 2011

The Olim Program brings together staff members from four URJ Camps (Coleman, Eisner, Crane Lake and Harlam) for three weekend-long kallot (retreats) at each summer camp. This two-year program at our respective summer camps allows us to become leaders in the camp community and strengthen our skills as staff members. This commitment also provides useful feedback and suggestions from a staff member perspective.

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Opinion: Skip The Internship, Go To Camp

on October 24, 2011

I have discovered the perfect summer job. In this job, I am part of an organization that gives me duties that are critical to its long- and short-term success. Supervisors give me responsibilities such as interacting directly with customers on a daily basis, and they fully integrate me into the professional hierarchy. To top it all off, I am learning legitimate skills that will help me develop professionally when I move into the workforce.

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Camp Heroes Support Gift of Life

Camp Heroes Support Gift of Life

on October 12, 2011

What does a hero look like today? What does it take to be a hero? This summer, five of the URJ Camps partnered with the Gift of Life Foundation to host Bone Marrow Registry Drives, in an effort to “find heroes” who match those in need of a bone marrow transplant.

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Writing Camp Jobs on a Resume

Writing Camp Jobs on a Resume

on September 8, 2011

Anyone who includes a camp job on a resume begins a fight. Thanks, in part, to movies like Meatballs, Friday the 13th, and Wet Hot American Summer, camp counselors must struggle against a pop-culture image of camp that includes food fights, panty raids, and crazed killers. Yes, I know, the last time someone actually flew underwear up a flagpole was 1965, but most employers don’t know that.

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