I don’t remember the last summer when I didn’t go to camp. For around five years, my older brother and I bounced from camp to camp. In 2017, he spent a month at a sleepaway camp through our local JCC, far away from our family. When he returned, he couldn’t stop talking about the new friends, skills, and memories he had made. At that moment, I knew I had to follow in his footsteps and start my own camp journey.
The following summer, I spent two weeks at a place that would soon become a second home to me: Camp Seneca Lake. Since that summer, I’ve returned every year. Behind the fun boat rides, or late-night card games, I’ve found that camp holds a deeper meaning. It’s not just about laughs and memories—it’s about identity.
Over the years, camp has helped me stay true to my Jewish heritage in a time when many young people are distancing themselves from their faith. Although I didn’t grow up in a very religious family, camp has shown me the beauty and depth of Judaism in ways I never expected. In a world where expressing religious pride can sometimes feel embarrassing or out of place, camp has taught me to embrace my Judaism and hold onto my identity with pride.
Reflecting on these experiences, I’ve come to realize that people return to camp year after year not just for the friendships and fun, but to find themselves. Camp offers a unique space to rediscover who you are amidst the chaos and confusion of everyday life, and for me, that has been an invaluable gift.
The summer of 2023 marked my final year as a camper. This summer was different from all the others. We no longer lived in cabins; we had bike trips and triathlons, and we were the oldest campers in camp. Over the course of two months filled with rain, raccoons in tents, and late-night tears over the fast-approaching end of a chapter, I realized that camp wouldn’t just end with one gray morning. I knew I had to return and pass on the beautiful experience of camp and Jewish identity to the next generation of camp enthusiasts.
Image Source: https://campsenecalake.org/camper-experience/jewish-life/
