Shabbat: 7-4-25

Dear Kingswood Families,

One of the most beautiful things about Kingswood is that 15-year-old campers think it’s cool to hang out with 8-year-olds. I know, you may be thinking, “My 15 year old? No way.” But it’s real, it happens here every day, and the 8-year-olds walk around camp feeling like rock stars, with older kids high-fiving them, knowing their names.

It happens naturally at a camp our size, with 250 campers here at one time (we’re full this session!), but we also work really hard to create that sense of family. One of my favorite ways we do it was launched this week with the introduction of our Big/Little Program.
A beloved Kingswood tradition, for Big/Little our oldest and youngest camper units are paired together for the summer. They meet up for hangouts, meals, and special programs, but what’s really happening is something deeper. We’re creating a culture where older campers take care of younger ones, and where that responsibility becomes a source of pride, not a chore.

It’s easy to find teen spaces that revolve entirely around teens. Where the world is built for them, around them, and often ends with them. But that kind of bubble can sometimes breed entitlement, competition, and a sense of disconnection from the larger community. What’s so special at Kingswood is that our oldest campers aren’t placed on a pedestal, they’re given a purpose. They know younger kids are watching, learning, and feeling seen because of them. Something shifts for them in that moment.

It teaches empathy. Accountability. Awareness. It starts to chip away at the myth that leadership is about popularity or attention, and replaces it with a new definition – that real leadership means showing up for someone else, and that they like the feeling of being looked up to.
For the younger campers, the impact is just as powerful. They feel noticed. Safe. Important. Braiding challah together yesterday in the Dining Hall or preparing Shabbat together this week weren’t just fun moments, they’re memories of big kids they’ll remember until they’re in Chalutzim themselves.

Our Counselors-in-Training (CITs) were in Chalutzim just last summer. Tonight, half of them will move into Olim and Tsofim cabins for their first five-day shadowing rotation, stepping into their new roles in the bunks. They’re so excited for the experience, and what makes it even more special is that many already know their campers from being their Big/Little buddies last year. With over half of our staff having grown up at Kingswood themselves, I’m lucky to witness this full-circle moment every summer. But seeing the spark ignite through the Big/Little program never gets old. It’s a powerful reminder of what makes camp so special – our oldest campers don’t just grow older, they grow into responsibility, care, and leadership.

That spirit of connection and responsibility, of older campers stepping up and younger campers feeling held, is woven into everything we do at Kingswood. Tonight, as the sun sets on the 4th of July, that same spirit will guide us into Shabbat.

In honor of the 4th of July, our Shabbat theme is Freedom – a value that feels deeply meaningful at this moment. At breakfast today, I shared a story about my Bat Mitzvah in the 1980s. I told the campers about my Russian “twin”—a Jewish girl in the Soviet Union who couldn’t have a Bat Mitzvah of her own because it wasn’t safe to be openly Jewish. I became a Bat Mitzvah for both of us, in her honor. It was one of my first understandings of what freedom really means, and how easily we can take it for granted.

So tonight, as Chalutzim leads us in Shabbat with their Olim buddies by their side, we’re not just celebrating Jewish tradition or American independence, we’re celebrating the freedom that comes from being part of a community like Kingswood that celebrates individuals and that lifts one another up. A place where even the youngest voices matter, and the oldest take pride in guiding them.

Wishing you a Shabbat full of meaning, connection, and gratitude—for the freedoms we hold, and the community we build together.

Happy 4th of July,
Jodi

Updates & Reminders:

Letter Writing Days
We’re three letter-writing days into the session, and our campers are all in! Many have been asking for extra time to finish their letters—and we love seeing how thoughtful and invested they are in writing home. To support this, we’re moving our daily email upload time from 3:00 PM ET to 5:00 PM ET.

2-Weeker Return
On Tuesday, July 8, we’ll be saying goodbye to our 2-week campers. It’s crazy how fast the session has gone! Portland campers will arrive at Congregation Bet Ha’am at 10:30 am, and campers returning to the Boston area will arrive to JCDS in Watertown at 12 pm. If your child has requested to extend, and you indicated it was an option with your summer plans, we’ve already reached out to you to make that plan.

Swim Lessons
This summer, at the request of the kids, we’ve made swim lessons optional for Olim campers, and we’ve offered swim lessons to the other units too. Now, campers can be in the water even more! In addition to a daily unit free swim period and regular swimming electives like junior lifeguarding, diving, and snorkeling, campers can also opt into swim lessons to advance their skills and strokes. We’ve heard from a few campers that they may have been signed up accidentally – if you hear that from your camper, just let us know, and we’ll switch them to a different elective. Thanks!