“We are here for a reason, every day, every season, and it’s time for us to shine.” These words come from Shine (Mind, Body, and Soul), one of our Coleman theme songs which campers are taught the first day of each session. While these words are sung to mark the beginning of another summer at camp, they ring true throughout the year and are even more meaningful today as our camp community, our home communities and the global community are faced with a pandemic health emergency.

Our year-round staff are working harder than ever as they are planning for our 58th amazing summer in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. At the same time, and in partnership with many of our gifted and talented seasonal staff, they have created Coleman Community Chofesh! to provide virtual programming for current, past and future campers alike as we await the ‘all clear’ and have the ability to return to our regularly scheduled programming.

As our staff makes plans for summer 2020, so does our Coleman camp committee. The purpose of our committee is to provide the professional team with support from lay leadership to meet the camps’ and the URJ’s goals and mission. We serve as an advisory group helping to identify key strategies and approaches to strengthen congregational & community relationships, promote camper and staff recruitment, maintain and improve our facilities, foster ongoing relationships with our alumni, and help our development team to raise funding for capital, programming, and scholarship. There is much to look forward to including the groundbreaking for our new performing arts center, this summer’s 1970’s alumni reunion, and planning for the Coleman 60th celebration!

Thank you to everyone in the entire Coleman community for your on-going love and support of our Summer home and its incredible staff. As we sing at the end of Shine, “We’re one Kehilla Kedosha ‘cause I’ve got me and you know I’ve gotcha, too!” It is my honor and privilege to be a part of this holy community and to serve as your camp chair.
Wishing you and your families continued good health in the days, months and years ahead.

Todd Gordon
Camp Committee Chair