Today was a first: I wore sunscreen and shorts to a business meeting.
This morning, my colleague Tracey and I went to the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds on Long Island as part of a project we’re doing on behalf of UJA-Federation. Our task is to help summer day camps rethink how they articulate the Jewish enrichment opportunities they offer. The challenge is their campers come from all different backgrounds; some of them have no Jewish affiliation at all. As this New York Times article points out, the camp marketplace is more competitive than ever.
During our visit, we were able to experience all the engaging activities that make kids come back to camp year after year. My favorite was the Teva Learning Center, where kids have an opportunity to learn about and develop a respect for our natural environment. There’s even an organic farming section that enables campers to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor. While not overtly religious, the Teva experience is very much grounded in Jewish values of ecological wisdom.
Now that we’ve spent a day of fun at camp, the real work begins. In our much less exciting — albeit air conditioned — offices.