Compiled by Louis Levin
This month, Troika and I attended the American Camp Association’s national conference, a week-long gathering of thousands of camp professionals from around the country. We attended sessions on a wide variety of topics, covering camper social-emotional learning, alumni relations, strategic planning, DEI initiatives, and much more, all through the lens of summer camp.
One issue on everyone’s mind at the conference this year was staff recruitment – in particular, how we as summer camps can demonstrate the value of camp to potential applicants. During the conference, I attended one of my favorite types of sessions on this very topic: a research forum! Ok, don’t fall asleep just yet, I promise it gets good. The American Camp Association collects and conducts wide ranging research projects on the camp industry, and presents this research at the conference every year (you can view all the abstracts and posters presented here!). Now, the findings of this particular study on staff motivations weren’t necessarily groundbreaking to me. Staff work at camp because they value things like spending their summer outdoors, mentoring the next generation, and developing social and workplace skills, all things that we talk about with anyone who is considering working at camp. Still one real benefit of working at camp was presented in a way I hadn’t heard before.
The study showed that people come to camp to make meaningful friendships compared to the friendships they make at home. I mean, duh! Of course they do. We talk about the friendships you’ll make at camp constantly. But I’d never really thought about the friendships we make outside of camp. For most students, high school or college age, a lot of friendships are founded on convenience. Who makes up your friend group in high school? It’s all folks from your city or town, or even just your neighborhood. Who is the first friend you make in college? Your freshman year roommate. And then you make friends with the rest of the folks who live on your floor, and then maybe some people who are in the same intro to English literature lecture as you.
But, who makes up your friend group when you work at camp? Who is the first friend you meet? It’s another person who has committed to spending their summer changing the world at camp. In fact, that’s everyone you’ll meet on staff. A group of people who have traveled either five minutes from their home in Lake Nebagamon, or many days from their home across the country and the world, all for the same purpose. A group of people who looked at all their options for the summer, and just like you, decided that summer camp is the best option out there. A group of people who are giving themselves to something greater than themselves this summer.
Camp builds deep friendships because the people who you meet at camp weren’t just randomly assigned to the same dorm as you. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been going to camp for so long, or because at this point in my life, all my friends are camp friends. But it hadn’t really occurred to me that camp friendships are built on so much more than simply convenience, and that’s what helps make them so strong.
So… how’d my pitch do? Want to join staff and see who all your friends could be this summer? You can check out your potential friends here, and send me an email when you’re ready to sign up!
We have lots of news to share from the most recent road trip – if you have anything to share with the camp family, send me an email at [email protected]!
IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW… In DC, we’ve got some sports stars: Ari Held is competing in the 800m and mile races for his cross country team, and fellow runner Simon Kessler made it to Nike Regionals for his cross country team. Jonah Tone is a two season athlete in football and basketball — his brother Elliot Tone has one season up on him, participating in baseball as well. Alex Levin is playing baseball and flag football this winter, and Zach Daskal-Koss picked up ultimate frisbee this year — so did Ethan Mack, who’s also playing lots of piano. Ben Mack is keeping busy with soccer, robotics club, and particpating in Model UN. Nate Feldman is playing lots of baseball, as well as participating in quiz bowl – we’ll see what he knows on PBD this summer! Jorn White is rowing on an 8-man crew, as well as playing piano and guitar. Brothers Eli and Max Kauders are athletes as well as e-athletes, playing soccer and participating in a youth Roblox challenge. Older brother Henri Kauders is digging up scoops as a reporter for his school’s news broadcast. In Memphis, it’s sports all around: Max Strausburg is playing basketball and soccer, Grant Cowens is running track on top of soccer and basketball, Riley Kaminsky is shooting hoops and scoring goals playing basketball and soccer, and Eitan Kaminsky is, you guessed it, playing soccer! I guess that’s what you get when the two pro teams in the city are the Grizzlies and Memphis 901 FC! Out west in San Francisco Zach Ruwitch is honing his dancing skills on his school’s dance team, and his debate skills participating in mock trial. And in LA, Nate Rothman is a wide receiver on his football team, as well as playing basketball.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW…. Jack Kanterman (St. Louis/DC, 2011-’14, ’16) is a personal coach at Equinox gym. Max Steinbaum (St. Louis/DC, 2009-’14, ’16-’17, ’21) is attending law school at George Washington University. Stephen Barrows (DC, 1989-’95, ’97-’98) is working on climate issues with Crosswalk Labs. Graham Straus (Chicago/LA, 2007-’12, ’14-’16, ’19) is a 4th year PhD student in American Politics at UCLA. Steve Addison (LA, 1971-’75, ’77, ’79-’82, 2012) runs the Brotherhood, a service group at Congregation Kol Ami. Dylan Fox (St. Louis/LA 2012-’17, ’19) is a UCLA undergraduate studying cognitive science. Rose Lenehan (LA, 2007-’12, ’14-’15) is working on eviction defense through the LA Tenants Union. Ben Kersten (LA, 2003-’08, ’10-’12) is teaching 5th and 6th grade Sunday school. Andy Chukerman (LA, 1971-’74) is a professional musician, playing now with his jazz band. Harry Morof (Chicago/SF, 2008-’11, ’13) is working in public health advertisement for Duncan Channon. Max Lerner (Chicago/SF, 2006-’11, ’13) is an attorney with Wilson Sonsini, focused on energy and climate solutions.
Max and David together in Logger 6, 2004
IN THE BIBS AND DIAPERS DEPARTMENT… It’s a girl, Charlotte Parker Alpert, for Max Alpert (Memphis, 2003-’07, ’09-’12) and Hayley Alpert. Charlotte’s pediatrician is Max’s cabinmate, David Yanishevski! Speaking of David…
ENGAGEMENT CONGRATULATIONS GO TO… David Yanishevsky (Memphis, 2002-’07) and Regan Short, and to Max Goldsmith (Chicago/LA, 2008-’12, ’14, ’16) and Cami Zecker!
WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS GO TO… Jonny Gerstell (DC, 2005-’10, ’12-’15) and Elisabeth Davis (DC)
IN MEMORIAM – Shirley Armstrong (Oklahoma City, ’69-’70), former secretary for Nardie Stein, passed away on February 18th. You can view a tribute to Shirley here.