It’s all about love.
With the first full day of Camp UP preparation in the books, the entire staff is eagerly awaiting the arrival of campers on Monday. But UP staff new and returning can’t wait for Camp UP to start throughout the year, no matter what their roles might be.
Today’s media:
Photo Gallery – 6/21/14
Video – 6/21/14
Assistant coach Anna Glass, returning to camp for her second year, has been looking forward to camp all year. She reflects on returning in 2014 and on her new role as a coach:
I have been thinking about camp ever since I landed back in the United States last year, and now it has finally come again! However, this year I am returning as an assistant coach, which implies more responsibilities I am excited and honored to embrace. This summer is special because no matter how many times coaches and CITs and campers have been to UP, it’s a new camp for everyone in a way because of our new location. No matter if it’s your first or fifth year, we’re all trying to find ways to make K’far Silver our new UP home, despite getting lost walking all around campus. I can’t wait for the kids to come and really get this thing started.
Yonatan Ben Haim, a second-year CIT, is also excited for camp to begin. He reflects on his upcoming camp week in light of his experience representing Ultimate Peace in the 2014 Peace Tour in the USA:
For the first time in many years, I am really excited for camp because in April I participated in the USA Peace Tour and got to meet tons of amazing people. I have been waiting to see them again at camp since the tour. Participating in the Peace Tour has given me faith in the cause of UP and in our ability of fulfilling it. My friendship with the other CITs has gotten stronger, too. For the first time last month, I went to visit a friend I had made through UP. It was so much fun that I came again a few weeks later (we went horseback riding!). UP has given me opportunities like this to make friends, and that is what I want to pass on to the campers at camp. My goal for Camp UP 2014 is to help the kids to form this kind of friendship, and I am really up to the challenge to do it.
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Whether a “lifer” at camp or a first year staff, a CIT or senior counselor, we all treasure the time we have with our campers. The time spent preparing for their arrival allows us time to think about what we do, how we do it, and why UP is a worthwhile endeavor on many levels.