The Kingswood News: Winter Edition
Dear families and friends,
There’s a moment every winter when camp starts to feel real again. For me it’s right now, as I’m preparing for our Staff Week Planning Retreat this weekend, taking a break Sunday for the Camp Reunion in Boston! For parents, Camp Forms are now on your To Do List, and we can all feel that familiar shift from dreaming about summer to getting ready for it. This moment always fills me with a mix of excitement, gratitude, and a little awe at how quickly another Kingswood summer is coming into focus.
As we head into 2026, I want you to know that we’re listening closely—to what campers and parents tell us about what makes Kingswood feel like their place. Some of what’s new is already set in motion: our Tsofim girls will be getting bathroom upgrades in the Duplex cabins, the Bogrim and Chaluztim girls’ bunks on Lower Tier will be outfitted with new wooden bunk beds (like G3 and Olim last summer), and fans (like we added to the Dining Hall last summer) will be added to the Old Rec. The improvements we’ve made each year to our bunks and bathrooms reflect our ongoing commitment to comfort and care in daily camp life, balanced with our goal to maintain our identity as rustic and authentic. More 2026 improvements are underway, and we’ll be sharing updates and news as we move toward summer.
When campers go to fill out their Note to My Counselor they’ll also notice a few changes that speak to who we are at our core. First, campers can now pre-register for a watersports elective period—waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, or zupboarding—to guarantee at least one 5-day elective cycle to learn. Second, campers can opt in ahead of time if they want to play on a Kingswood team for an InterCamp sports game, and our staff will seek them out at the start of the session. These changes came directly from feedback, and they reflect something we believe deeply: activities matter at Kingswood, and are a major source of confidence-building at camp. We’re not a “just hang out” camp. We’re a place where kids build skills, push themselves, commit to each other, and feel the pride that comes from showing up and participating fully, tapping into their passions and discovering their own path.
Thank you for being part of our community. As 2026 begins to take shape, we’re feeling energized and excited for what’s ahead. To read more about what’s happening at camp and the stories that are shaping our year, we invite you to explore our latest newsletter click here to read on.
Peace, love & camp,
Jodi
