After spending most of the day watching Gadol presentations, packing, and cleaning the cabins, all of camp filed into the gym for an autograph party this afternoon. Campers milled around the room looking for their friends to have their autograph books signed and saying their goodbyes early. Following the autograph party, we had breakfast for dinner, a camp favorite. The evening would not be complete without a rousing final song session, with more ruach than ever.

As the entire camp watched this session’s slideshow and video, we were overwhelmed at the amount of happy memories flashing on the screen. It was a very bittersweet evening as we are torn between the excitement of going home to our normal lives and the sadness of leaving GFC behind until next summer. The closing ceremony was held in the Beit K’nesset where we heard readings from some of the unit heads, sang songs, and watched the sun set. Many held back their tears as Loui Dobin talked about camp memories and taking them home. We thought back on our summer and our favorite moments as Jonathan Dobin beautifully sang “In My Life” by the Beatles. We left the closing ceremony by walking under tallitot held up by the unit heads. As we came out the other side of the tunnel of tallitot, a beautiful fire sign was lit, reading “Stars In the Sky – GFC.” Each unit then went to separate locations to do their own closing programs by unit. Most counselors also planned special activities for their bunks to do before going to sleep. What a great way to end a wonderful summer!

 

         I’ve been coming to this camp since I was six years old, since my main mission in life was mostly candy and coloring books. Since then, I’ve spent over a year of my life at this exact place with basically the same activities and pretty much the same people.  Anyone who’s never spent a summer at Greene Family Camp is sure to think that I’m out of my mind.  How could I possibly spend practically every summer of my life in the brutal humidity of Bruceville, Texas when I could be sleeping late, lying by the beach or eating food that is the color you expect it to be? 
       There’s gotta be some explanation as to why we keep coming back.  There’s gotta be some rhyme or reason as to why hundreds of Jewish kids and adults line up at the gates of GFC every single summer still willing to be convinced that there isn’t Maccabiah this summer or that anyone riding in a golf cart is the luckiest person in the world.
       For some reason, it doesn’t seem to matter if you’re six or twenty-six; there’s an irreplaceable feeling of community and acceptance in this place that, year after year, never seems to falter.  If you would ask me why I’m still here, the answer is simple.  The memories that I make here are the ones that have shaped almost every aspect of my life for the better.  I know coming here that I’m going to laugh a lot or I’m going to excel at a sport that I never even considered playing.  What I don’t know every summer is how much more connected to Judaism I’m going to feel or how easily I’ve learned to count on someone whom I didn’t even know before I got here.  This is one of the few places I’ve ever been that stays the same but changes me.
       Because of this, I’ve come to know that if you spend a couple weeks out of the year at this camp, you’re going to make a connection or learn something about yourself that you wouldn’t be able to anywhere else.  The fact that this is an undeniable reoccurring theme, no matter how many years you’ve spent here, makes a journey at GFC one worth taking. 

Their focus has been about the future and looking ahead, both in the camp world and the “real world.” Since Avodahs are going into their senior year in high school, they are looking into what their next step will be after college. To help them with the next phase of life, camp brought in a college counselor. Heath Einstein, Associate Director of College Counseling at The Hockaday School, came in to meet with each Avodah individually. Additionally, camp brought an essay-writing specialist, Julia Bonnheim, to help the Avodahs with their college essays. Those who already had drafts of essays were able to get them proofed and evaluated for content. Others just needed help brainstorming what topics they should write about. Both of these individuals really got them thinking about their progress with the application process.

As for the camp world, we did an Avodah Shadowing program, nick named “Avo-shadow.” Each Avodah chose 2 people from a list of Administrative staff members that they were interested in shadowing. They were able to shadow anyone from Loui, the Director, to a unit head, waterfront director, or the head of the ropes course. The shadowing program was very successful. Many of the pairs chose to dress alike or make t-shirts in honor of the occasion. The shadows were invited to spend the entire day with their Admin member, including meetings and meals. Lewis, Loui’s shadow, even got to join him for the health inspection of camp! All in all, the Avodah program has really been a success this summer. They have learned a lot and had many new experiences.

It was another hot day in Bruceville! With temperatures of 104 degrees yesterday, free swim was definitely a popular activity. During free swim Kibbutz had free reign of the Samson Sports center. Many of them worked out in the fitness room, played games in the game room, played basketball in the gym, or just chilled out and enjoyed the air conditioning. Our last few days of camp are jam-packed with fun activities. Spectacular Day was just a start. Yesterday was Erev Yisrael, today is the All Camp Talent Show, and tomorrow is Closing Day! I just cannot believe that this summer is already coming to an end, can you?

Following dinner yesterday we had an Israeli themed song session. Then camp split up into their units and moved to the Activity Center. However, it was not just any walk from the Dining Hall to the other side of camp; there was entertainment on the way! There were Israeli themed street theater skits. As campers walked, they got to watch a person grow up. One side of the road was someone growing up in Israel, and the other side of the road was someone growing up in America. They highlighted the different phases of life along the way. For example, at 18 years old on one side of the road was a person going off to college, and on the other side was a person going off to the army. 6 months later was finals, and army training. At the end of the road was GFC, where we all come together. There were more performances in the Theater when the campers arrived there. Campers then rotated through the activity center by unit to visit themed rooms. The rooms ranged from a room with photographs on the wall to see what different places in Israel look like, to a room where one could experience Israeli music. 

After the younger campers went to bed, Melachim and Kibbutz stayed up to watch an Israeli movie. We all learned a lot about Israeli culture and had a blast trying new things!