Meet Rabbi Frank, Meet the Camp

Yesterday we had an afternoon meeting with all faculty members and Rabbi Frank DeWoskin, Camp Director. It was unlike most Jewish professional meetings. We meet on the porch of Rabbi DeWoskin’s bunk in our shorts and flip-flops, snacked on Choco-Tacos and cold water while kids played on the field in front of us. Rabbi DeWoskin meets like this with each set of faculty at least once. As an employee of the URJ, he speaks to us about the state of the URJ camping program and answered questions about youth programs and Union stuff in general. As congregational rabbis, cantors, and educators, we give Frank direct feedback on how Jewish camping fits into our visions and programs at home, what we see at camp that “works,” and what could use some improvement. It is a great collegial exchange that produces constructive, forward moving ideas for all of us. I knew Frank as a student (he was two years ahead of me at HUC-JIR in Cincinnati) and I am very proud to see his success and be part of the vital role he plays in educating our children.

We reviewed the latest research about the impact of Jewish camping on the Jewish identity and practices of young people (see the book, “How Goodly are Thy Tents,” or the study, "Limud by the Lake," and the work of the Jewish Foundation for Camping). We talked about the financial and structural state of the camps (Kutz Camp in New York faces challenges, Camp Kalsman in Washington State is booming, Harlam is right on target). We also talked about the financial needs of our campers' families and the importance of scholarships like the JFC’s Campership program and the Jewish Federation of Washington’s Camp Scholarship program. This is our challenge: while camp is one of the most effective means for instilling strong, lasting, positive Jewish identity, it is also one of the most expensive. Camp Harlam has just hired an associate director who will take charge of future fundraising efforts, but the task is Herculean. Camp could use $3 million for facility improvements right now (bunk refurbishing, facility expansion and updating, regular wear and tear replacement)… not to mention scholarships. We talked a lot about Jewish identity, parenting, teaching, and creating a vitalized Jewish world. The bottom line is that Camp Harlam is in great shape and the Union’s camp programs are becoming more and more of a lynch pin in our vision for youth programming and education. I can not urge you strongly enough to come see this camp and send your kids here. The camp’s literature asks: what kind of Jewish children do we want to have? The camp’s program builds those children.

Later, I’ll post one of the great lessons from the meeting: it grew from the field before our eyes as we spoke. But now, we have a dinner out of camp with Rabbi DeWoskin and some other staff members to continue yesterday's conversation and thank the faculty as we approach the end of our tenure. New photos are posted on the album (click here or at right).