I’ve always felt overnight camp was, well, quaint. Although I’ve been an overnight camper on many occasions (and frankly never cared for it very much), I remain baffled by the principles behind it.
It breaks all the rules of natural society, defies timely progression, enhances emotion, contradicts the home environment and completely changes you.
Essentially, summer camp snatches you out of your lifestyle, isolates you and throws you into a fast-paced, indulgent and alien culture. And to top it off, you’re presented with several random strangers to experience it with.
Then it ends, abruptly, and you’re left overwhelmed. What kind of people would put themselves through this voluntarily and enjoy it?
My B’nai B’rith Youth Organization brothers and sisters would, and did. Last summer a total of about 11 kids from Wisconsin Region attended BBYO summer programs (not including International Convention) and flourished.
They returned to local BBYO activities this fall vibrant and enthusiastic, with a newfound appreciation for the organization and their religion.
The BBYO programs they attended generally emphasize Judaism, leadership, and strategies to improve local BBYO efforts.
The programs include Kallah, focusing on the Jewish identity; Kesher L’Yisrael, emphasizing the teen’s connection to Israel; CLTC, a leadership program dedicated to the chapter (each BBYO region is divided into individual chapters); and ILTC (International Leadership Training Conference), a follow-up of CLTC, highlighting leadership in Judaism and BBYO.
Not a BBYO program, the March of the Living draws many BBYO members. The March is an expedition in Poland, where participants trek from Auschwitz to Birkenau and culminate their journey with several days in Israel.
Spiritual growth
“People who were complete strangers left the best of friends,” says Sarah Corris, assistant regional director of Wisconsin Region and leadership staff at CLTC.
Amanda Stahl, sophomore at Nicolet High School, had similar feelings: “Going to CLTC really made me understand that there are kids all around the world that are just like me.”
Andrea Winter, sophomore at Nicolet High School, said, “Spending that amount of time [there], without the distraction of other friends, family, homework or responsibilities, created an atmosphere of intense emotions, camaraderie, learning and memories to last a lifetime.”
What’s fascinating is that all that intensity happens in such a short period of time.
“The three weeks kind of presented a time crunch — we became closer faster because we knew we didn’t have much time with each other,” said Danya Strait about Kallah, senior at Nicolet High School.
Sarah Corris added, “As one of my AZAs (Aleph Zadik Aleph — a title given to the boys of BBYO) in my chapter said, ‘Each day was equivalent to a month in real time.’”
Based on what I’ve observed, one of the programs’ most powerful and effective qualities is its ability to make Judaism relevant to adolescents.
“Coming out of Kallah West, I’m much more in touch with my religion. I’ve discovered many of my own beliefs, as well as become confused about many more beliefs,” Danya said.
Gerad Bandos, junior at Nicolet High School, who attended several programs, said that he felt transformed by his participation in the March of the Living. “I feel like it changed me spiritually, opened my eyes to ‘the other side of the world,’ and educated me on topics I thought I knew a lot about.”
Many said that summer programs helped them mature. Samantha Bass said, “Coming into this experience, I was a quiet, shy girl. After ILTC, I still am a quiet, shy girl. What is the change? ILTC has taught me that it is okay to be a quiet leader.… ILTC gave me the best start to school I’ve ever had. I was confident and determined as I walked through those halls.”
Jen Friedman, the regional director of Wisconsin Region and director of ILTC, sums it up: “It’s really not that they had the best experience of their life, it’s that they shared an experience that cannot be explained and that they will never get back. It’s that they stepped out of their everyday lives to be a part of something more, something larger, something spiritual.”
Gerad put his experience into a universal perspective; that it should be shared, “And the most important [thing] I do during the school year is that I work to get others to attend the programs the next summer.”
Kiera Wiatrak is a student intern at The Chronicle.
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