The Kingswood News – Fall 2026 Edition
Dear Kingswood Families and Friends,
I’m writing from the beach in Aruba, where I’ll be spending the next 10 months reading and relaxing. Just kidding! Despite how often I’m asked what I do the rest of the year when camp isn’t in session, our team is already deep into planning for 2027. We spent September catching our breath and reflecting on 2026, and now, with camp already more than three-quarters full for next summer, we’re on the road meeting interested families, connecting with returners, and planning a 114th season that will outdo #113!
Staff applications opened this month, and the ’27 team is already coming together. Let’s all wish a big mazel tov to our first two staff interviewees: Zac Meyer, who’s coming off the boats to return as a Unit Head, and Della Gorvine, who will step up from Zohar Assistant Unit Head to become Zohar’s Unit Head! (Annette will continue overseeing Zohar as our queen of all things scheduling.)
While we’re already looking toward next summer, this fall issue of The Kingswood News pauses to look back and celebrate some of the highlights and successes of 2026. When the summer starts with a horse being born on Day 2 (and named Melvin by a Session 1 camper vote), you know it’s going to be legendary!
There’s no question Camp Kingswood has had a pretty busy last few years. When I bought Kingswood from the JCC in December, 2020, in the middle of COVID, all I knew was that I didn’t want it to be sold to a developer, and I thought it was the most gorgeous waterfront I had seen at any Jewish camp in the country. I could have never predicted the path we’ve taken, but I couldn’t be more proud of where we are today. I love that I continue to receive calls from interested families saying, “How did we never hear of you? You’re exactly what we’re looking for.” It’s exactly how we like it, but it won’t last for a lot longer, as we can see from the limited spaces remaining for next summer.
This year we may have added new bathrooms in the girls’ Tsofim cabins, a Music Recording Studio, and even air-conditioned the Dining Hall (What?! Read more below), but the heart and personality of Kingswood has remained the same, rooted in our core values of courage, responsibility, spirit, and community. In “We’re Cool, Not Fancy,” read about how we carefully consider the cultural impact of every change we make to camp, whether programmatic or physical.
To appreciate how Kingswood has grown while staying true to who we are, watch our new L’Dor V’Dor video, you may have seen last week on social media, created by counselor Elodi Ouzan and narrated by a special guest (campers, can you guess the voice?). It’s part of a video series we’ll release over the next few months, with each video highlighting a different aspect of why Jewish overnight camp in 2026 should be considered a need, not a want. I know I may be a little biased calling camp a need, but I believe it so much that I’ve chosen camp for my life’s work. The friendships, confidence, and sense of belonging children find here are anything but optional.
To look back on Summer 2026 and celebrate what makes Kingswood so special, read on for more!
With love,
Jodi
