Home Away From Home

Everyone do that GUCI Rumble!!!  Whether you know the chant or not, you should know this: GUCI, for many Jewish youth (and adults!) is our ‘home away from home.’  I had the opportunity to spend the last week of Kallah Aleph (Session 1) at GUCI.  As I arrived, with Danielle, a first-time day-camper in Camp K’ton at GUCI, asked why our door had a “Welcome Home Tina” sign on it, this wasn’t our house!  I told her it was GUCI’s slogan, that the camp hopes we feel at home here.  In the past, the slogan has felt very kitchy.  This year it felt different.  During the first two weeks of the session, Temple Israel sent two first-time overnight campers.  Every picture we saw, these kids were smiling and coming out of their shell in ways I haven’t seen in Dayton.  As I checked in with our 4-week campers and the numerous Temple-community members on staff, the theme of this place being ‘home’ came to life.

I have said for years that Jewish camp, specifically GUCI, but also 6 Points’ specialty camps, are amazing places.  Youth make new friends, learn new skills, share funny stories, share stories of mishaps that turned hilarious (which often involve a rainy day), and more.  In fact, at the Must’s home for shiva, I heard memories from long ago of overnight camping among Elenor and her friends – still good friends, even now.  The spark that lit up on their faces telling of camp reminded me how much camp truly becomes a core part of life that sticks with you through adulthood, for those who attend.

During first session, we had roughly a dozen Temple Israel community members at GUCI.  On Tuesday, Kallah Bet began – I believe we will have roughly 18 community members at GUCI during the session.  For perspective, that includes 66% of enrolled religious school students who are old enough to attend.  I can’t say for certain that’s the highest of the congregations GUCI serves, but it is something we should be really proud of as a congregation.  I am extremely grateful for our three campership funds that help make this program possible for our youth.

While at camp, I asked some of our members what makes GUCI special for them, here’s what they said:

Lily (Catherine) Embury (STEM specialist): Camp is a great chance for us to connect as a community and strengthen our ties to K’lal Yisrael (the collective of the people of Israel) before returning home, where for many,  they do not have as many Jewish youth in their activities.

Khalil Knick (Avodah, work-study campers): Camp lets kids grow in their own Jewish identities away from home and they can find their own connections to Judaism.

Rebecca Blumer (Kitchen Leadership & former counselor): Coming to camp is important because you’ll make great friends, be part of a bigger Jewish community, and have experiences you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Danielle Sobo (first-time day-camper): Camp is amazing because you meet new friends and get to try new things and everyone is Jewish.

Camp’s educational theme this summer is Jewish Holidays.  During first session campers learned about Shavuot and celebrated as a community during the first week of camp, then continued with Chanukkah, Tu Bishvat, and the High Holidays.  We hope they are leaving with a stronger sense of why these holidays are important, how we celebrate them, and then, when they occur throughout the year, feel a stronger connection to camp and the Jewish people.

While not all of us are at camp, we too can consider how our actions connect us to the Jewish people, Jewish time, and Jewish life – and be sure to ask our campers about their experience!