A Reflection on Summer J Camp 2022 from Camp Director Aliza Glatter
How do you make a great camp? You start with a space — ideally one with open fields, a pool, and shady areas for hot days. If you’re lucky, you might even get a gaga pit, garden, and a lake for boating. Add in some supplies: a sound system to blast “Old St. Helen” and “Kakdilah”; 5,000 Otter Pops, and materials for art, messy science, sport, and drama.
Next, we have the heart and soul of J Camp: our staff. These 106 counselors, specialists, and coordinators taught campers everything from dance moves to conflict resolution. They planned trips to the zoo and impromptu talent shows, and created a welcoming and fun-filled environment. Special thank you to Assistant Director Liam Geisser for his creativity, flexibility, passion, and of course, for sharing his music!
The final piece of a great camp is FUN! Nearly 1,180 kids called J Camp home this summer. We brought back camp transportation, X Camp, and field trips for the first time since 2019. J Camp enjoyed its first Yom Encanto (Encanto Day), where we celebrated Colombian culture through the lens of Disney’s “Encanto.” Our campers participated in service projects, making pet toys for PAWS animal shelter, gardening at Oxbow Farm, and raising over $1,500 for microloans through Kiva. And we loved wrapping up every week together at camp Shabbat.
You can relive some of these highlights through the video below and our weekly camp photo galleries!
I am so thankful for the village of people who supported us this summer. Thank you to our maintenance staff (Vandy, Lone, Ra, Khoum, Choy, and Sien), who cleaned up accidents, slime, and more with a smile. Thank you to Keith for keeping our community secure and carline running smoothly. Thank you to our aquatics team for making the pool a fun and safe learning environment. Thank you to rest of the J staff and community who guided us, supported us, and accepted us as we took over the building.
I hope to see many of you at programs this year — and in (about) 294 days for Summer J Camp 2023!
Aliza Glatter,
J Camp Director
