Fall 2021 | Volume 14, No. 1
Words for the Wise By Rachel Felber, Director, Camp Wise I have always felt lucky and blessed to experience and be a part of the Camp Wise culture, which is so rich in history and tradition. My 19 summers here are just a small slice of our 115 years of Camp Wise magic and memories. Over the last few months I have been trying to quantify just how much time I have spent at the Home of Happiness. I have determined that I have celebrated around 150 Shabbatot at camp, sitting under the canopy of trees in the Camp Wise Chapel (and for those rainy days, in the covered gym or chadar), at least 300 times. I have had at least 35 first days where more than 175 busloads of excited campers have rushed off the bus and under the arm bridge of eager camp staff ready to meet and embrace their campers. As the Camp Director, I have celebrated milestone moments where we have handed out more than 100 ten-year crazy creeks, 250 seven-year shirts, and 325 five-year bags. I have watched more than 750 first-time campers and 300 first-time staff experience the rumbling of the chadar at dinner on the first night of camp each session; and I have sung at least 150 songs through tears while looking out at our camp community on CW Night.
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camp wise news | fall 2021
Within those 150 Shabbatot, one of my most favorite and time-honored traditions at Camp is the opportunity to either read a favorite passage from our siddur (prayer book) at Shabbat services or to share our own words through a creative writing. Though it’s not Shabbat when I’ll be sharing this, I’d like to do just a little bit of both. Each week during the summer we read several Shel Silverstein poems (I have even shared some here in the past!), and one of the most coveted readings we have is “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” For our younger campers, this is probably just another silly thing we do at camp. However, whoever reads it, understands that the path they are following was walked by previous campers and staff that have made an indelible mark on their time at the Home of Happiness. By the time campers reach their Solel summer, they often share this idea with their buddies in Chalutzim, another rite of passage. And, as we go through our years at camp we come to understand that Camp Wise is where the sidewalk ends. Camp Wise is before the street begins, and in between is where the magic happens. The sidewalk ends, and we are able to open our hearts to a special space where we can become our true selves – the best versions of ourselves. Camp Wise creates a space that fosters growth and self-exploration. Unlike
real sidewalks, where we can see beginnings and endings, the freedom we find at Camp Wise teaches us to take the idea of this place wherever we go. The end of the sidewalk is part of us during the months when we are not at camp, and follows us into adulthood, and it is here where we can see value in the space where the sidewalk ends. We do not have to be physically at camp to find this magic in our lives because Camp Wise becomes a part of who we are. This is, by definition, the Camp Wise Magic. I will carry the edge of the sidewalk and the Camp Wise Magic with me wherever I go. Continued on page 5
Table of Contents Summer Program Highlights..........2 Staff Scholarship Honorees.............3 Shana Says......................................4 Winter Programs.............................5 Impact Report..............................6-7 Chanukah Activities........................8 Milestones.......................................9 Milestone Summers......................10 Donors...........................................11 Thank You Volunteers...................11