A Letter to New Campers
Are you ready for the most incredible summer of your life? I am! I know that this summer will be filled with great memories, amazing new friends, and lots of singing. I know that for many first time campers you may be a bit nervous in the anticipation for opening day and possibly being away from home for the first time.
I want you to know that you are not alone in these feelings. I remember how I felt my first time as a Kallah camper. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure about what to expect. But all of these concerns quickly evaporated when I stepped off of the bus and was greeted by enthusiastic madrichim (counselors).
This summer is actually my first summer in eight years at OSRUI and some of those first summer jitters have returned. As someone who is currently considered the “new kid,” I want to reassure all of the new campers that this OSRUI 2016 will be the best summer yet because YOU will be here!
Opening Day is in twelve days, so here are twelve things that I want first time campers to look forward to this summer:
- Going tubing at the agam (lake)
- Making new friends
- Celebrating Shabbat with 400 of your fellow chanichim (campers), our tzevet (staff), and segel (faculty).
- Riding the waterslides at the breecha (pool)
- Eating french toast sticks
- Singing in the morning with your eidah (unit)
- Bonding with your tzrif (cabin)
- Speaking Ivrit (Hebrew) with your Israeli counselors
- Stargazing on the basketball court
- Fireworks on the Fourth of July
- Informal education experiences
- Face Paint Fridays (in Kallah)!!
Naomi is so excited to return to camp this summer as the Rosh Eidah of Kallah! Naomi first came to OSRUI in 2001 as a Kallah camper and then biked around Lake Michigan in 2008 on Tour La’Agam. Now Naomi is back and excited to return to Kallah and OSRUI, which have both always held a special place in her heart. As a native of Chicago, Naomi fell in love with Judaism through NFTY and many kallot at OSRUI. After serving as the President of the NFTY-Chicago Area Region in high school, Naomi lived in Israel for a year on the URJ’s gap year program, Shnat Netzer. Naomi graduated in May from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Jewish Studies and International Studies. Naomi is moving back to Chicago to begin her work at Temple Jeremiah in Northfield, IL as the Youth and Family Engagement Director.
As a Kallah camper you will experience all the fun of summer camp! Your days will be filled with swimming, sports (baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, and lots more!), electives (photography, dance, drama, visual arts, media, nature, and sports), worship, Hebrew, and a chance to express your own ideas.