Solelniks at Camp George

by Rabbi Audrey Pollack, August 22, 2016

Shalom Solelniks!

This month I had the wonderful pleasure of spending a week as faculty at our Canadian URJ Reform Camp George. During Camp George’s Chai Anniversary summer – 18 years – our congregation was represented by a great group of young Solelniks up at camp, both first and second session. By the time I arrived, camp was already in the midst of second session and summer was in full swing – full of long sunny days, full of new and old friendships being cemented during late nights in cabins and on canoe trips, bonding over shared activities and interests, and lots of time to reflect, refresh and renew amidst the trees in the outdoor Beit Tefillah (sanctuary), and on the shores and in the water on Maple Lake.

Solelniks at Camp George
Magen David

Camp is where lifelong friendships are made, where you can try new things, and learn new skills, with the support and guidance of our camp staff. I am always amazed by and grateful for our youth leaders. Our energetic teen and twenty-something counselors take on new responsibilities and leadership to bring our URJ camps to new heights of ruach (spirit). The young campers look up to them and many will go on to become the next generation of our camp staff because of the way they were supported and nurtured by their counselors. Many of our camp staff will become the future leaders of our Canadian Reform Jewish community.

Being on faculty at camp is a special privilege – many of my friends tell me that they wish they could go back to camp again. During my summers on faculty I have the opportunity to teach what I am passionate about, and hopefully inspire our young people to look at the world through Jewish eyes in new and different ways. I also make new friends and have fun collaborating with rabbinic, cantorial and educator colleagues to bring creative informal programs for our campers. So while the sun has set on this summer at Camp George, we’re already looking forward to next year.

L’shalom,
Rabbi Audrey S. Pollack

To find out more about Camp George http://campgeorge.org/

Kids in grade 3, 4, and 5 can try it out at A Taste of Camp George Overnight, September 24-25. http://campgeorge.org/year-round/

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