Being at camp in the non-summer months always fills my soul and gives me a boost to get to summertime. This past weekend, that boost came in the form of Family Camp and Teen Extravaganza. We welcomed 30 families and 37 teens to camp for a weekend of fun, meeting new friends, and immersing in our special Jewish space.
Families enjoyed activities together: they created Shabbat kits with a challah cover, kiddush cup, and candle sticks; sped down the zip line or swung on our giant swing; took a nature scavenger hunt; played gaga; took a camp tour; and more. We sang with our artist in residence Alan Goodis. Campers had their own age-appropriate programming with our fantastic counselors. The Family Camp Variety Show featured our 3rd-5th graders singing a song they wrote with Alan, individual talents, and a parent joke-off. We had smores around the campfire after we sang campfire songs and ended the evening with Havdallah (Jewish ritual separating Shabbat from the rest of the week). Families went home happy, having found new friends, and made connections that will hopefully continue at home.
Our teens had a packed weekend filled with getting to know each other, Shabbat morning services at our Beit Knesset (outdoor chapel), a camp-wide scavenger hunt, laser tag, a silent disco, and more, all planned our NFTY-TOR (NFTY Texas-Oklahoma Region) board.
Many of you may know that this year, we celebrate our 50th summer. Connecting at camp during the year at events like Family Camp, Teen Extravaganza, and our upcoming Spring Camp (for 1st-7th graders) and Mitzvah Weekend (exclusively for adults 21+) on March 21-23, 2025, makes me even more excited for what’s in store all summer long and at our GFC50 Celebration on July 12, open to everyone who is now, has been, or will be part of our GFC family.
I hope to see many of you at our upcoming events in March, camp this summer, and our GFC50 Celebration.
Families and teens who were with us at camp last weekend – it was wonderful to be with you! Thank you for infusing our year-round activities with joy and meaning.
Shabbat shalom,
Erin