We’ve been going to Greene Family Camp since 1st grade, and now we’re heading into 8th—basically, we’re camp veterans at this point. Every summer is a new adventure, and through it all, we’ve stuck together like sunscreen and bug spray. This year we celebrated our B’nai Mitzvah together (not at camp, but still awesome), and it just made us realize how much camp has been part of our story. Even cooler? Our parents met at Greene way back when and are still friends, so clearly, camp magic runs in the family.
We hang out a little during the year—mostly at Sunday school or when our families do stuff together—but camp is where our friendship really leveled up. There’s just something about Greene that makes everything better: late-night cabin talks, campfire songs, and goofy camp traditions that somehow never get old. It’s like our own little world where we can be totally ourselves.
One of our favorite (and craziest) memories happened two summers ago during a huge storm. It was raining like crazy, thunder shaking the walls, and we had to shelter in place for what felt like forever (okay, it was four hours, but still). At first, it was kind of the worst—no outdoor games, no lake, just stuck. But then it turned into one of the best days ever. We played cards, told stories, made up games, and just let our imaginations go wild. Who knew being stuck inside could be that much fun?
That day actually gave us the idea for our b’nei mitzvah project: Shelter-in-Place Kits. We thought, if we had fun with just a few cards and our brains, why not help other kids do the same? So we collected games, puzzles, and fun stuff that can help pass the time when you’re stuck indoors—whether it’s a storm, unsafe weather, or just any random day—and made kits. It’s like a little bit of camp in a box.
Looking back, camp has given us more than just fun summers—it’s given us a place where we’ve grown, learned, and built a friendship that means the world to us. It’s taught us how to handle the unexpected, how to be creative, and how to support each other through anything. Whether we’re out in the sunshine, playing in the lake, or stuck inside during a storm, Greene Family Camp always reminds us that with the right people around, even the toughest moments can turn into the best memories.
Shabbat Shalom,
Dylan Kamin and Cooper Greenberg