The Kingswood News: Spring Edition
Dear Kingswood families and friends,
If your house is anything like mine right now, there’s a quiet (or not so quiet) shift happening. Gloves and boots have been put away, spring sports have begun, and camp has started to feel… close. We’re just about two months out from Session I!
For our camp team, the pace has picked up in all the best ways. We’ve been taking care of details like booking campsite locations, ordering supplies, and setting menus. We’ve been connecting with families and staff on the road (shout out to ‘26 Chalutzim supervisor Katie skipping around the park pavilion for her birthday at Sunday’s Florida Family Picnic!). We’ve been meeting with the Leadership Team about ways to make Summer 2026 our best yet — with the most creative programs (yes, there will be Color War both sessions!), the most connected and supportive experience in the bunks, and the most fun electives.
On top of that is all the work that’s been happening out at camp. With the snow melted and the ice no longer frozen (see the picture of us snowmobiling in March on Woods Pond!) our facilities crew is somehow finding 30 hours in every day, or so it seems. Read below for updates on some of the projects underway.
At the same time, we’re holding the weight of what’s happening in Israel close to our hearts. Many in our community are directly connected, and all of us are feeling the heaviness of the moment in different ways. In the midst of that uncertainty, I was deeply relieved this week to hear from our staffing partners in Israel that the Visa appointments for staff are opening and flights are resuming from some carriers. It’s starting to look like our Israeli campers and staff will be able to join us this summer (fingers crossed), and for that I am incredibly grateful.
This moment, the ramping up, is both the most stressful and the most exciting. You have to be a real adrenaline junkie to be a camp director in 2026. Just Jet Blue changing the Florida chaperoned flight three times already is enough to lose sleep, but add to that the daily hiccups of staff canceling because of job offers and fears of coming to America, a bed order that’s not going to make it in time (sorry lower tier girls!), and turning back on water to find frozen, burst pipes, and you can see what I mean. But the flip side of that is the anticipation. The excitement. The black and white puzzle we work on all year coming into color as we put the final touches on this summer’s staff team.
Some highlights from this Spring edition of The Kingswood News include a look at what’s ahead for Summer 2026 and an introduction to Jennie, our new Director of Food Service (who’s not new to Kingswood!). I encourage you to mark your calendars with all of the important camp dates you’ll find below. Read on for more!
Peace, love & camp,
Jodi
