Author: Charlie Sommers

Session 3, Day 2

The days at Ranch Camp start early, the mornings bright and full of energy. By 7:45, everyone is awake and ready to start the day, and gathered together in the commons for degel. The morning circle may be named for the raising of the flags, but is full of so much more. Besides both the American and Israeli national anthems, we sing the prayer “Modeh Ani” to welcome our souls back into our bodies, and “Shiga’on” to learn new Hebrew words every day.

After some rousing songs and a filling breakfast, the camp was bursting with the energy needed to start the day. The two older units – Metapsim and Toshavim – gathered in the commons to split up into their activity groups. Instead of spending all day with their cabins, the activity groups give campers the opportunity to branch out and make friends with kids in other cabins and units.

As the groups dispersed, shouts of joy and excited chatter could be heard all around camp. From the pool to teva, arts and crafts to mountain biking, ropes course to Israeli dancing, everyone was glad to finally get into the activities they’ve been looking forward to all year.

With everyone having so much fun, the time passed quickly, and lunch and Menucha came and went in the blink of an eye. Feeling refreshed, the camp gathered once again in the commons – not to break into activity groups, but to split up for chugs!

For many campers, chugs, or free activities, are the best parts of the day. Instead of following a schedule, they get to do the things that they are passionate and excited about. Usually, one of the chugs changes every day, while the other chug is a week-long activity. Today was slightly different, as the upcoming Shabbat would interrupt a week-long chug. Instead, we had two daily chugs, encouraging campers to explore the things that make camp exciting to them.

The day slowly began to wind down, the sun inching lower in the sky – but there was one last thing to do before bedtime: opening campfire.

The entire camp found seats on the logs around the campfire, the flame keeping the area bright as the sky grew dark. The bonds between campers, both new and old, were strengthened by the songs, stories, and s’mores that were shared. When the time came for everyone to go to bed, the campers walked away a little taller than they had come, fortified by the community they found themselves a part of. They fell asleep quickly, knowing they are in a place of belonging, and looking forward to seeing where their second family will take them.

Session 3, Day 1

It has been many weeks since the metal gate that marks the entrance to JCC Ranch Camp swung open for the first time, welcoming in the Session 1 campers to officially begin the summer. Today, that gate opened once more, bringing in the campers for Session 3 – the last group of campers for the year.

The day began bright and early, not yet at Ranch Camp but at the Denver Jewish Day School. The green field filled with campers, staff, and families as everyone began to arrive, checking their children in, meeting some of their counselors and cabin mates, and gathering in a circle to open the session. For the first time, many of the Session 3 kids were together in one place. The new community sang a few songs and heard a few words before bidding their parents a “see you later” and boarding the buses to Ranch Camp.

Excitement rose as the buses drew closer to the property, chatters of anticipation floating up and down the aisles as the houses and stores seen through the windows were replaced with barns and fields of horses and cows. Before they knew it, the kids were off the bus once again, descending the stairs and through a human-made tunnel as greetings and choruses of the JCC Welcome Song met their ears.

Once off the buses, each cabin met the few campers who were driven directly to camp, everyone finally together. Everyone took some time to move their belongings into their cabins, unpack, and get to know each other before gathering in the Chad for lunch.

The rest of the day was just as action-packed as the morning. As they traveled around the camp, cabins took the swim test, learned about the Mir’pa’a, tried on boots at the corral, and got their cabin photos taken. While these are all necessary for success at camp, the most important times were those between the scheduled stations. All over camp, campers could be found playing group games and getting to know each other, already forming the bonds that will stay with them for the rest of the session and beyond.

After such a full day, everyone was ready for dinner, the first-night meal a new tradition: spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread. Satisfied and happy, the camp gathered together in the commons once more for the day. This time, there were no introductions or explanations – instead, it was the beginning of the first of many evening programs!

Like the first nights of sessions 1 and 2, the program was Bombardier. As campers raced across campus to answer the trivia questions, they had many opportunities to strengthen the bonds they had made earlier in the day, working together to answer the questions and to solve the team-building exercises assigned to them by the “medics” after being tagged by a Bombardier.

As campers retired to their bunks for the first of many nights, a silence once again fell over the camp. Though it is impossible to predict the future, everyone went to bed with a feeling in their gut, a premonition about the session to come. It was a feeling of optimism and hope, of joy and community, of anticipation and excitement. It was the knowledge that this session is going to be one of the best yet.

Session 2, Day 11

In the last few days, campers have been having the times of their lives, first at Maccabiah, then Israel Day, and then the Fourth of July. In the coming days, campers will get to experience the second Ranch Camp Shabbat of the session. All of these things are full of fun, new experiences, and opportunities to learn and grow. However, this left today as the only “normal” day left in Session 2.

After the last action-filled days, everyone was happy to settle back into routine. Campers split up into their tracks for one of the last times, with Outdoor Adventure ready to go mountain biking, field sports ready for some soccer scrimmages, and Arts and Culture ready to put the finishing touches on the musical.

Lunch and menucha came and went quickly, and soon kids were back with their cabin for their daily cabin activity. This is the time of day when the campers get a taste of what sessions 1 and 3 would be like, traveling with their cabin instead of their tracks and experiencing activities that are not encompassed by their specific interests. Cabins spread across camp to play some sports, do some Israeli dancing, try archery, sing songs in music, explore teva, and go on hikes.

As the camp gathered once again in the Chad for dinner, storm clouds began to roll over the property, something that’s fairly common here in the latter half of the summer. Luckily, everyone’s used to this, and the cancellation of the planned evening program was barely a ripple in the pond. It took no time at all for the camp to pull out a rainy day program – Ranch Camp Idol!

After dinner, each cabin had half an hour to prepare a dance to a song of their choice. Once the time was up, everyone flocked to the Mo to watch each group perform. Programs like these are always the most memorable, as the majority of the night is not designed by the staff, but by the campers themselves. It’s always a treat to get to see what the kids come up with, each cabin unique and entertaining.

As campers went to bed, the atmosphere of camp seemed to have changed. Camp is coming to an end, and there is a certain sadness associated with that – but there is also satisfaction of all they have been able to accomplish, at everything they have done to learn and grow, and happiness at knowing that they have gained a second home that will stay with them the rest of their lives.

Session 2, Day 10

There are many programs, loved by all, that are run almost every session – Maccabiah, Gold Rush, campfire. But there’s one special day that only happens once a summer: the Fourth of July. It may be too dry at camp to have fireworks, but they’re not missed among the myriad of other things that we do to celebrate.

The day started off normally enough, with campers splitting into their tracks after breakfast for a morning full of their favorite activities. But as soon as lunch rolled around, the festivities began, starting with a picnic lunch outside of the pool. With hamburgers, potato chips, pasta salad, watermelon, and red-white-and-blue jello, everyone ended the meal full and satisfied, full of energy and ready for a fun-filled afternoon. Luckily, they didn’t have to wait long, as the carnival began immediately after lunch!

The afternoon was packed with activity, as campers had most of the time between lunch and dinner to make the most out of the carnival. The kids jumped in the bouncy castle, played in a mud pit, and splashed around in the pool. Whenever they needed a break from the action, they took part in a mid-day snack of popcorn, cotton candy, and snow-cones.

An hour before dinner began, the carnival ended, and everyone made their way back to their cabins to rest and clean up. The day had been long and eventful, and many were grateful for the time. After a dinner of macaroni and cheese, the camp’s energy was up again, and everyone was ready for an active evening program.

This particular evening program is new to camp, and this was the first time it had been played. Excitement was in the air as everyone went back to their cabins to change into their team’s color (red, white, or blue), curious about the new program and enthusiastic to try it out.

And the program was… the Fourth-of-Dodgeball-Capture-the-July-Flag-Game-Party-Extravaganza! The name may be confusing, but the rules were not. In a three-way capture the flag competition, each color tried to grab the other team’s flags, each attached to a counselor who was running around and trying to evade the campers’ grasps. As players crossed their team’s boundary, they were targeted by dodgeballs from the other teams. Run fast enough, and they were safe – but if they got hit by a dodgeball, they were out, sentenced to time in “jail” until the next jailbreak.

The game was more than a success. As the sun began to set, clouds moved in, and a few stray raindrops fell over the field – but the kids were having too much fun to notice. By the time two games had been played, and it was time to go to bed, campers were exhausted with the effort they had expended, and rightfully proud of themselves at the teamwork that each group had displayed. Everyone fell asleep quickly, tuckered out and satisfied with the day’s events.

The Fourth of July is a day that is often full of tradition – and for many campers, especially those who are at camp for the first time, it can be difficult to adapt from their families’ traditions to ones that are unfamiliar. But the support that each camper receives from the Ranch Camp family makes this transition smooth, so much so that it is nearly unnoticeable. By the end of the day, each camper was glad to be at Ranch Camp, full of joy and excitement, and the knowledge that these traditions, and this community, are things that will be there for them for the rest of their lives.

Session 2, Day 10

Every day at Ranch Camp is a fantastic day, but there are some that stand out the most. These are the days when something special and out of the ordinary happens, like the water days we had earlier, or days like Maccabiah. Today was one of those days.

As they walked down to degel, campers could immediately tell that something was different – the air was permeated by excitement. The decorations adorning the stairs up to the Chad and the new arrangement of the tables further added to the mystery. Many had an inkling of what was happening, but no one knew for sure until Idan, one of the Israeli delegation, made the announcement: it’s Israel Day!

Israel shows up in many ways throughout camp, with the most notable being the Israeli delegation, along with many signs in Hebrew and an “Israel Trail” in the Outer 400. Though Israel is always a part of camp culture, this is never quite as evident as it is on Israel Day. Throughout the day, campers get to experience the culture of Israel without having to leave the comfort of camp, as Ranch Camp transforms to reflect the country so far away.

The day began at breakfast. The Chad was permeated with the delicious smell of eggs cooked in tomato sauce – a dish called shakshuka, a traditional Israeli breakfast food. This strain of exploration continued throughout the day, with a lunch of falafel and dinner of tahini chicken.

The morning activities commenced as usual, with campers splitting into their tracks to pursue their interests through the specially designed programs. But in the afternoon, Israel Day truly kicked off. Instead of the usual schedule (cabin activities and then a free choice activity), campers traveled with their cabins to different stations all around camp. Through fun games and activities, they learned how to make pita, some historical trivia, about different Israeli foods, and about the geography of the country.

After dinner, everyone went back to their cabins to prepare for the evening activity: an Israeli shuk, or market. Each cabin was ecstatic about creating their own product to sell. After half an hour, the camp gathered in the Chad again, everyone excited to set up their own creative booth. With chocolate balls, gel pen tattoos, caricatures, friendship bracelets, and paper-pet adoption, the campers were thrilled to spend the “money” they earned. Not only did everyone have a blast, but kids got the opportunity to manage money for themselves and see the results of their hard work.

There are many reasons that Israel Day stands out in the minds of many. The most significant is that it is a day full of meaning. There are not many places where it is possible for kids to learn about Israel in a truly neutral environment, without politics involved, and this is what we give them here at camp. We give them the opportunity to learn about the culture and the history of an amazing place, and to question and discover in an environment of tolerance, acceptance, and support.

Session 2, Day 9

In the minds of many campers, some of the most exciting times at camp are the evening programs. After dinner, the camp gathers together (sometimes in the commons, other times in the Mo or the Chad), one of the only times when the entire community participates in the same program. Many of the activities are active, like Bombardier, a combination of a trivia challenge and a tag game, and Ranch Camp-Opoly, a camp-wide scavenger hunt. Others are a little more laid back, like the Ranch Camp Wedding (a mock wedding with a cast of goofy characters) or the campfire.

Last night’s evening program was Kaleidoscope, a talent show that is open for every camper to participate in. Like every program at camp, Kaleidoscope is challenge by choice, so nobody was forced to participate. Those who did performed so because they were passionate about their talent and excited to share with others, and those who did not still had a blast watching their cabin mates and friends regale the crowd with skits, songs, gymnastics, yo-yo tricks, dances, and many other unique talents. With each new act, the diversity and depth of the community became evident. The staff may be here to help the campers learn and grow, but other kids do it just as well. Surrounded by peers from so many different backgrounds, kids become excited to learn about the world around them and try things they hadn’t been exposed to before.

The last act of the night was especially exciting. A skit composed only of staff, two people stood together on stage and began to sing. They were quickly upstaged by another pair, singing a different song. This happened two more times, until eight staff members were standing onstage, arguing about which musical is the best, before turning to the crowd and announcing the start of Maccabiah!

Maccabiah is a full-day, all camp color war. Though it happens every session, no two Maccabiahs are the same. This is because every session has a different theme. As displayed by the skit, this session’s theme is musicals, with the yellow team as Hamilton, green team as Wicked, red team as The Lion King, and blue team as Frozen.

The day began bright and early. In order to get in a volleyball game before breakfast, the captains of each Maccabiah team ran around to both villages at seven in the morning, shouting, banging on doors, and even riding horses to rouse the camp and give the day an energetic start. The four-way volleyball game raised everybody’s spirits and instilled excitement in all – the camp was buzzing with energy by the time everyone ascended the stairs for breakfast.

It was a hot day, with the temperature reaching over 90 and the sun beaming down. Heat can be draining, but it wasn’t today, as everyone was distracted by the activities (and, of course, spent time in the shade and made sure to stay hydrated). First, the four teams split up to create banners, songs, chants, and skits to present to the others. After, campers split up into units (Chalutzim, Metapsim, and Toshavim) to compete in trivia, gaga, and BBS (a combination of baseball, basketball, and soccer). As the temperature began to rise, the activities before lunch were a little more laid back, with each team decorating a cake for dessert later and dressing up a counselor as a character from their musical.

To give the kids a break from all of the high energy, lunch was a silent meal, with points deducted for talking, and Menucha was extended by half an hour. By the afternoon, it had cooled down slightly and everyone had energy stored up for the most quintessential of the Maccabiah programs: the Maccapeel.

Campers were eager to sign up for spots in the camp-wide relay race. From running up from the front gate to solving riddles, there was something for everyone, athletic or not. The race ended with everyone at Niven Field, each team working together to transfer as much water as they could from one bucket to another using only a sponge. Afterwards, everyone celebrated the completion of the last activity with a friendly color war. Everyone threw colorful chalk powder up into the air in joy, each person coated with varying hues as the color fell upon them.

After such a long day, everyone was looking forward to a relaxed evening program. Washed clean of color powder and face paint, bundled up in warm clothes, the camp gathered at the campfire to watch The Greatest Showman before bed.

Maccabiah may be a competition between the four color teams – but at the end of the day, it’s not about the competition at all. Maccabiah is about trying new things, stepping outside your comfort zone, making friends with people in different units and cabins, and being creative. But most importantly, Maccabiah is about the Ranch Camp community, and about fostering a community that encourages each other, respects each other, and lifts each other up.

Session 2, Day 5

It was another hot day here at Ranch Camp. Though the energy here is always high, the heat can be exhausting, so to give everyone a reprieve, this morning was a late wake-up. This was especially exciting for the Metapsim unit, who had camped out the night before. Instead of meeting for degel at 7:45, breakfast began at 8:30, giving everyone the extra hour of rest that they needed.

Instead of the cabin time that is usually had after breakfast, campers went from the Chad (or dining hall) directly to their tracks. The outdoor adventure track walked down to the ropes course while the sports track took the trek to the sports field, and the arts and culture track went to the Mo to work on the musical.

Like yesterday, the temperature was extreme, and by the afternoon everyone was worn out from all the fun had in the morning. After another extended Menucha, the camp dispersed to more water activities. The pool and slip n’ slide were still open, but some more beat-the-heat had been added as well. On the sports field, campers engaged in a friendly water balloon fight or tried out a water balloon catapult before a game of water kickball began. Instead of the regular bases, players had to jump into kiddie pools before being deemed safe from being tagged.

By the time dinner rolled around, everyone was rejuvenated, recovered from the heat, and ready for the evening program. The activity was Ranch Camp-Opoly, new to camp last year, and one that the kids instantly loved. Each cabin was given a map of Ranch Camp turned into a Monopoly board, and tasked with a scavenger hunt. They were looking not for objects but for people, staff members hidden in various locations around the campus, each with a different Monopoly piece. Cabins got points for each piece collected, and prizes for each group of three pieces that all belonged to the same category. Once they had earned three, they brought their pieces to exchange for the prizes: cookies, pretzels, M&Ms, and fruit roll-ups, depending on which pieces they had.

The day was long, and by the time the sun set, everyone was ready for bed. The entire camp slept soundly, tuckered out but satisfied, proud of everything they had done that day – the activities they tried for the first time, the friends they are making, and the knowledge that each new day at camp will bring opportunities for the same.

Session 2, Day 4

In the past, outside factors were the only things that influenced a family’s decision of what session of Ranch Camp they want to send their child to. When did school start, when did it end? Did they have a vacation to plan, a family event to attend? They chose the session based on their schedule – every session was the same anyway.

But last year, that all changed – and the change continued this year. Instead of three identical sessions, each session of Ranch Camp is a little bit different. Now, families have more guidance in choosing which session to attend. They might choose the first session, two weeks of classic Ranch Camp action, or maybe third session, which is longer than the others, and gives campers the opportunity to experience even more activities and programs. Of the three sessions, perhaps the most unique is session two.

The mornings of second session begin in the same way that all others do. Campers wake up and get dressed, then come with their cabin to Degel, the morning circle. Breakfast is at eight, and then there’s some cabin time for campers to clean their cabins, do unit activities, and get ready for the day.

This is where things are different. In the other sessions, campers travel around in their bunks and activity groups to activities all around camp. But in second session, campers go from their cabins directly to the commons, where they split up into their tracks!

The track system is fairly new to camp, first implemented last year, and the main thing that draws kids to second session. With the exception of Chalutzim (the youngest unit), who are still getting to know camp, many of the older kids know exactly what part of camp they like and which parts they don’t. Some want to spend their time mountain biking and climbing ropes, while others opt for less active pursuits, like theatre or arts and crafts.

There are four different track options available to campers: outdoor adventure, sports, arts and culture, and beginner horsemanship. The Equestrian Program is also offered this session, as it is first and third. It doesn’t take long for campers to split up into their groups, as each was excited and enthused about the track they had chosen. Some went to the sports field, others to the ropes course, some to the corral, and others to the art room.

On a usual day, campers would have an hour of Menucha (or rest hour) after lunch before joining back with their cabin groups to do one cabin activity, and then one chug (or free choice activity.) But today wasn’t a usual day, as temperatures began to break 100 degrees. To give everyone a reprieve from the heat, Menucha was half an hour longer than usual. Then, in a successful attempt to beat the heat, regular activities were replaced with a homemade slip n’ slide and a pool party! Campers had a blast as they slid down the slip n’ slide and splashed around in the pool, the incredible temperature having no effect on their morale.

The fantastic day was topped off with a brand-new evening program, created by the LITs, or Leaders in Training. They are one year younger than SITs, and are preparing for their SIT year. The program they created was an overwhelming success, as cabins worked as teams to compete in a variety of “game shows,” from a Food Network competition to Family Feud and Jeopardy.

Things at camp don’t always go as planned. Sometimes things happen that are out of anyone’s control, such as an incredible heat wave. But that never puts a damper on the good time that every camper is bound to have every day. In this environment of community and encouragement, a sudden change in schedule isn’t so scary – and sometimes, the “rainy day” (or in this case, “sunny day”) activities end up even better than what was planned. Without the heat, campers wouldn’t have gotten to spend an hour on a huge, homemade slip n’ slide – and without the quick and creative community at Ranch Camp, the summer here wouldn’t be nearly as exciting.

 

Session 2, Day 1

Of the many traditions that those at Ranch Camp hold dear, perhaps the most cherished are the songs that we sing. From team chants during Maccabiah (or color war) to the prayers during Shabbat, it’s not unusual to hear the entire camp come alive with song.

In fact, one very important song was the first thing many campers heard as they descended from the buses this morning, feeling the Ranch Camp sand under their sneakers for the first time as the words hit their ears: “We welcome you to JCC, we’re mighty glad you’re here! We’ll send the air reverberating with a mighty cheer! We’ll sing you in, we’ll sing you out, we’ll raise a mighty shout! Hail, hail, the gang’s all here, and welcome to JCC!”

The song was more than fitting, as “welcome” was the first thing on everyone’s minds as the camp began to fill with the hustle and bustle of campers arriving for Session 2. Whether they arrive by bus or car, first time campers or returners, children or parents, it’s natural to be nervous. Those coming for the first time don’t yet know what to expect, and many returners worry that this year won’t be as good as the year before. But it didn’t take long for these concerns to be put to rest as each family was individually greeted by a staff member, ready and excited to show them around, help move their luggage to their cabin, and make sure they’re comfortable before joining the rest of the campers.

After everyone was situated, parents had said their last goodbyes, and campers were well on their way to being unpacked, the camp gathered in the Chad to officially open Session 2. Looking around, it was immediately obvious that this session is larger in number than the first, with many more campers than last session. Though the large group gathered may have seemed chaotic at first, those familiar with Ranch Camp recognized the abounding energy as excitement and joy at being in such an amazing place.

After lunch, cabins moved around the camp to different stations – the pool, the corral, and the Mir Pa’ah (or infirmary). At each, they learned the ropes of camp, the safety precautions of different activities, and how to take care of themselves to make sure they’re having a good time. Like this day first session, the weather was chilly, campers and staff alike bundled up in jackets and hats as they stood in the wind. But luckily there was not much lightning or rain, so we were still free to complete the orientation, and nobody let the inclement weather get in the way of their enthusiasm. Cabins adapted quickly, taking time to complete indoor bonding activities, unpack their belongings, and decorate their cabins to make them feel like home.

By the time dinner was over, the worst of the clouds had passed. As the sun began to peek out of hiding, the camp gathered together one last time for the day, taking a seat on the hill in the commons to hear about the night’s evening program: Bombardier!

Campers had a blast as they ran all over camp with their cabins, evading the Bombardiers while dashing to stations to answer trivia questions. The game went on an hour, and after it was finished, the kids were exhausted. As they washed up for bed and bid their new cabin mates goodnight, another feeling edged through the exhaustion – a feeling that is hard to explain, but one very familiar to those at Ranch Camp. It’s a feeling of happiness and satisfaction, of excitement and enthusiasm, of community and belonging. It’s the feeling of being at camp.

Session 1, Day 14

Ranch Camp woke up on Wednesday morning to a bright sky and a cool wind, the sounds of birds in the trees acting as a natural alarm. It was the beginning of a perfect day – and the last full day of Session 1.

Throughout the day, campers took advantage of ample cabin time to pack their bags and trunks and make sure that they still had all of the belongings they came with – but for most, packing was not the first thing on their minds. It might have been the last day, but at Ranch Camp, that doesn’t mean it’s a boring day as well. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

In the morning, campers completed their last activities, each with a special twist to end the session on a high note. Many campers got the opportunity to complete elements on the high ropes course that they hadn’t done yet, and on the archery range kids shot at water balloons to literally end the session with a bang. At chugs in the afternoon, campers had even more time to give everything a shot, as they split into teams for soccer, learned how to make friendship bracelets, or got in the pool one last time.

The activities were not the only exciting parts of the day. Instead of sitting in the Chad for lunch, we had a picnic in the commons, campers able to sit with the friends they had made all over camp. After everyone had eaten their fill of hamburgers and potato chips, we gathered under the porch of the Chad to take an all-camp picture. Unbeknownst to everyone, the EQ (or equestrian program) was hiding in wait on the porch, and moments before the camera clicked, they rushed forward to throw colored powder over the whole camp! The kids were excited by this colorful surprise, and it didn’t take long for a full-on color war to ensue. The next all-camp picture was much more interesting the first, with everyone coated in powder and grinning from ear to ear.

Lunch was not the only meal with a surprise in store – dinner was Hard Rock, a program usually run by the SITs. Named after Hard Rock Café, each session is a different theme, with staff dressing up and putting on a show before a dinner of pizza. This session’s theme was Spongebob. The Chad was decorated as Bikini Bottom, the setting of the popular cartoon, and staff members dressed up as different characters and acted out classic moments from the show.

After dinner, everyone went back to their cabins to change into warm clothes before gathering again at the campfire. This was the second campfire of the session, and was vastly different from the first. While both were full of energy, the energy this time was quieter, something that connected each person to the next, not necessarily seen but definitely felt. Everyone sat on the logs around the fire, arms around each other as the air filled with song, not yet goodbye but the beginning of closure.

The campfire ended, and the camp once again split up into their units – Chalutzim, Metapsim, and Toshavim. Together, each united created their own plaque, an old Ranch Camp tradition that had fallen out of practice many years ago. Now the tradition has returned, with even more meaning – each of the three plaques will go up in each unit’s respective area, with the names of each member of the unit adorning them. This is the first session in which the units were implemented, and the first group of campers to be members of those units. Though they may be leaving Ranch Camp for now, their names will remain, the first in a long line of a new tradition.

In the morning, after a last breakfast of cinnamon rolls, the Session 1 Ranch Camp family gathered in the commons one last time. Arms around each other, swaying back and forth to the music, we sang the songs that are most meaningful to many – “Lean on Me,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” and “Olam Chesed.” Looking around the circle, the meaning of the songs became apparent. Though the kids may be leaving camp for now, the community and support that Ranch Camp gives them will stay with them throughout the school year. It’s something that they will always have to lean on, and something that they will always be able to look forward to.

After the closing circle, campers dispersed quickly, some loading buses while others met their parents. Many were tears were shed from campers and staff alike, hesitant to leave the amazing people they have gotten to know over the last two weeks. But there was a bit of happiness too, as everyone knew – this is not goodbye, it’s just “see you later.”