This is the day
Come what may
I’ll still be saying this is the day.
I’ve got a feeling before the day ends,
I’ll learn a new song and make a new friend.
This is the day
Come what may
I’ll still be saying this is the day.
Yesterday’s gone,
So why the sorrow
And why worry about tomorrow?
This is the day
Come what may
I’ll still be saying this is the day.
At Camp Alonim, we sing this song at opening circle each session. Generations of Alonimers can recite the words and jump into the melody at the drop of a hat. It’s a fun song, but it’s also more than that – it speaks to our goals at camp: how we want every kid to learn and grow; we want every kid to be themselves; and we want every kid to be able to live in the moment and take in all that camp has to offer.
Over the years Alonim has become the home away from home for thousands of campers, staff, and now generations of families. Every summer, new and returning campers come to camp, learn new songs, dance new dances, delve into the arts, develop new skills, and make lifelong friends. At the same time, we encourage campers to grow out of their comfort zone, we strive to ensure that we provide campers a safe and welcoming place.
In order for kids to succeed at camp, they need to not only feel physically safe, but also feel socially and emotionally safe.
This Summer, with the help of the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) and their Yedid Nefesh (beloved soul) grant, we were able to improve on the care and safety that we already provide by adding a mental health professional to our staff. This Community Care Specialist helped us to ensure that Mental, Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Health (MESSH) was a top priority this summer.
Dealing with social and emotional challenges is nothing new for Camp Alonim or for any summer camp for that matter – things come up when kids live 24/7 with peers and away from parents. The needs of campers and staff were particularly acute this year after 17+ months of disruption and loss caused by COVID-19. There is always homesickness, anxiety, social conflicts, and stress, but this year brought so much more.
The addition of a Community Care Specialist allowed us to support a wider circle of campers, including some who, in the past, might have struggled engaging in the camp experience. It gave us the chance to work with parents, campers, and staff to put together plans for success both before and during camp. It also gave staff a regular resource for when they needed help supporting their campers’ mental health as well as their own, better enabling them to enjoy camp, be present, and have the Alonim summer that they all needed.
The Community Care Specialist provided the services and capabilities to manage the more significant mental health issues that arose at camp, in a way that allowed campers and staff to stay safe in their home away from home.
With FJC’s assistance, we were able to invest in, and start integrating mental health resources within the camp structure. For instance, we upgraded our yoga chug and added MP3 players for all the bunks which were preloaded with calming music, guided meditation and, of course, Israeli dance music. We scheduled MESSH bunk activities in which campers were able to create a variety of calming sensory items for their own self-care. Staff too, had weekly “Alo for the Soul” sessions to take a break, enjoy some fresh treats, check-in and engage in their own self-care.
We know that there is always more work to do. But this year we were able to start building the foundation for another important aspect of camp. And we know that with the help of the Yedid Nefesh grant we can help more campers “learn a new song and make a new friend.”
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back next summer, see campers walking down Peppertree Lane, and join in a rousing chorus that reminds us that “this is the day” when another fantastic, life-changing camp experience begins anew.
