This morning we awoke to dark skies and lots of rain…but now the sun is shining and camp smells of fresh cut grass as well occasional glimpses of deer wandering out in the forest.  Right now we are welcoming over two hundred musicians and singers arriving from all around the United States as well as many people coming in from Great Britain, Israel, Canada and beyond.  They will share their talent and music until next Sunday with incredible faculty who are helping them build their repertoire in English, Hebrew, some in Russian, a bissel Yiddish, Arabic, Spanish and even more.  It will be wonderful exciting days.  Many of these participants will spread out to summer camps throughout and others will return to congregations, community centers, and groups of all kinds.

No sooner will we conclude Hava Nashira and these amazingly gifted music and songleaders will return to their summer homes but we will then welcome our Unit Heads for a week of orientation.  We will work hard with them to teach them all they need to know about their summer assignments.  They will learn about supporting campers, helping their staff, working with faculty, reviewing their Torah teaching material and so much more about just plain fun!!

Camp itself will be cleaned with new program materials coming in every day.  Faculty will arrive and spend lots of time with counselors and specialists looking at new program ideas.  Counselors will talk with each other and recount all of the great ideas that they remember from when they were young campers themselves.  We will review health forms, daily schedules, safety procedures and all of the many things that we need to keep in great form to prepare for campers both young and experienced.

And then on June 20^th, we will all join together on the Lorge Bitan and put our arms around each other as we begin another fabulous season here at URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute!!!