When the last day of camp approaches, campers and counselors lament over the fact that summer vacation is only two short months long. Phone numbers and email addresses are exchanged as everyone promises to keep in touch.

Fast forward just a few weeks into the school year and unfortunately the reality of different schools, different neighborhoods and different friends sets in. Many camp friends lose touch from summer to summer even though they would love, in theory, to stay in touch. Once camp starts up again, friendships often return to where they left off the year before, but it is a shame that they are often not reinforced during the year. It allows for some friendships to fall apart and others to remain stagnant in the future.

The bond between counselors is just as important because a unified staff can make the difference between a good or great summer. Working closely every day in summer camp conditions helps counselors forge a connection with one another in a different way than other friendships are formed. The intensity of sharing the summer experience is truly unique.

The roles of the Head Counselors, Counselors, and Junior Counselors, are all different, but all share the ultimate goal, providing an unforgettable camp experience for the campers. As the Head Counselors of Camp 613, we had the privilege to help foster friendships for the campers and the counselors. The last day of camp was one of true heartfelt emotion as friends said goodbye and started the countdown to next summer.

This past Shabbos, the Camp 613 girls staff reunited in Bergenfield, NJ for a Counselor Shabbaton. We were thrilled to welcome them into our homes to share Shabbos with our families. Our children were excited to invite them to our Shabbos tables and relate Divrei Torah. The girls joined us for Friday night dinner, Shabbos lunch, and Seudah Shlishit. We enjoyed delicious food, beautiful Zemiros, and enlightening conversations. For us, Shabbos was a reminder of how fortunate we are to have such a mature group of young ladies work for us in the summer as role models for our own children and our campers. For the counselors, it was an opportunity to spend quality time together, taking time from their busy school schedules and reuniting with old friends.

Although the counselors range from 9th through 12^th grades and come from five different high schools, the achdus that ensued was remarkable. Their joy to celebrate Shabbos together was evident from the laughter and smiles on their faces. They reminisced, caught up, and took off right where they left off. Two counselors from different schools and different communities will be attending seminary in Israel next year and over Shabbos decided that if they go to the same school (which they hope to) they will room together. This camp friendship, as well as many others, has the potential of becoming something even greater.

These types of reunions are incredibly helpful in fostering and strengthening camp friendships throughout the year. We can all take a lesson from this Shabbaton. Play dates do not only have to stem from the children in your child’s immediate class. Encourage your child to stay in touch with camp friends – via email, the phone and even (gasp!) snail mail. Invite someone from a different school who your child connected with over the summer so that when the next summer rolls around, they are even closer than they were this year. As Shabbos came to an end, the one resounding question that we heard was, “When can we do this again?” It was a beautiful end to a beautiful Shabbos.

By Tova Knecht and Tamar Sheffey, Camp 613