The Kingswood News: Fall Edition

Dear Kingswood Families and Friends,

Fall has arrived at camp! The air is crisp, the leaves are bright, and though the cabins are quiet, our hearts are still full from an unforgettable summer. What a summer 2025 was! Memories of creativity (Museum Heist Banquet by the CITs!), adventure (Chalutzim’s sunrise hike in Acadia National Park!), and hilarity (those red-nosed clowns running around 2nd session!) remind us of life on Woods Pond. Ice cream meet-ups and reunions are coming just in time to bring back that spark of camp connection we’re already craving.

Before we jump into this fall edition of The Kingswood News, I want to pause and acknowledge the significance of this past week’s events in Israel — particularly the homecoming of the 20 living hostages. The emotions of the tearful family reunions brought me back to the safe room at my friend’s apartment in Tel Aviv where I sheltered with Elijah at the sound of the first siren the morning of October 7, 2023, as I was nearing the end of a decade living in Jerusalem. Israel is where Elijah was born 9 years ago, and where his brother and sister, Ruvi and Romy, still live, both serving in the IDF, Like so many, I found myself exhaling fully this week for the first time in two years.

With 85 Israeli campers and staff as part of our camp family this past summer (15% of Kingswood!), their stories and strength are woven into the fabric of our community. This week I was reminded of how deeply connected we all are, and how the spirit of resilience, empathy, and hope that we nurture at Kingswood feels more essential than ever. As we celebrate homecomings, we also feel the pain of loss and heartache, and the hard road of healing ahead, especially for those coming out of captivity.

As we hold that space, we’re excited to share stories of joy, connection, and growth from this past year at camp here in our quarterly newsletter. Click here to read on to celebrate the many successes of 2025, all made possible by the strength and spirit of this incredible Kingswood family.

With love,
Jodi