With the sun setting tonight on our 27th Shabbat at camp, we have been given some time to reflect on our time at GFC and what going to camp means to us. We’re thrilled to share pieces of our camp journey with y’all this Shabbat. Our parents met at Greene way back when, and are still friends, so clearly, camp magic runs in the family. Every time we come to camp, it’s a new experience that we’re so grateful for.
We’d like to share a bit about some of our favorite counselors, as we’ve been learning this summer what it means to be a role model for campers at GFC in the Avodah program.
And now for a trip down memory lane (or Smith Lane)…
We met 10 years ago when we were 7, in Bonim 1A – cabin B2 Gamla Goblins, with Ryan Hance as our counselor. He told us he was Batman and we believed him. He introduced Moon Balls (a classic camp sport) to us, forever revolutionizing camp free time games for us. Then there was Fred Traylor, the epitome of a camp counselor at Greene – the perfect balance of sporty and nerdy. He knew how to have a good time with his young campers and we remember his impact on us to this day. Then there was Gabe Kopit, master R.A.I.D. planner, who took us out on the best Recreational Activity In Darkness we ever had, tracking down the “Mean Green Monster” and having to cure him in a 1.5-hour manhunt. Then we had Eli Chudnow and Josh Bierman, who taught us the basics of economics with the “Bierman Bucks” you earned from being a good camper. This came full circle for us this summer because Josh’s mom, Risa, is our Avodah unit head. L’dor v’dor right there!
Then there was our COVID year…we made a heroic return with Aaron Tawil in our Melachim year, with tons of COVID-19 tests and reminders that masks are not “chin diapers.” In our S’ganim year, we had Joe Friedman and Gal Shalom Ben-Abu, and they impressively knew how to counsel us rising freshmen, from endless spikeball games to scheming revenge pranks on other units; they were the best. Then there was Kibbutz, the year of shenanigans, where we also learned some of the best life lessons while cooking, cleaning, and working together as a unit, which brought us all closer together for the better.
And that brings us to today, our Avodah year. We now get to create this same type of camp magic for the next generation of GFC campers, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you to our wonderful Avodah counselors Elliot, Sawyer, India, and Helen for an unforgettable Avodah year; it was truly everything we thought it would be and more.
From capturing camp memories with our disposable film cameras & GoPros, we have an extensive gallery of moments to look back on and reflect on our many great years at Greene, with the best memories being the moments we spent together at this place we call our second home.
Shabbat Shalom,
Brandon Sorkin and Caleb Johnson