by Bobby Harris, Camp Director
We held our 10th annual Family Camp at Coleman over Labor Day weekend. More than 50 families and over 220 people participated—it was the largest Family Camp in the history of this program. Family Camp is usually the last time each summer when Lake Shalom is the destination for the boys and girls speeding off the aqua slide or splashing down after being blobbed 10 feet into the air. Soon we will remove the large water toys from the lake and prepare for our fall visitors to warm up around the campfire roasting marshmallows, singing their favorite camp songs. Moments like these bring our campers back to the many special memories from this past summer.
We truly did have a terrific summer 2018 season that included serving 848 campers from 16 states, 3 additional countries (Israel, Germany, Mexico) and 80 unique Reform congregations. In addition to our regular spirited song sessions, exhilarating ultimate frisbee games, challenging canoe and whitewater adventures, we offered new activities, including circus arts, podcasting, and ukulele lessons. We debuted the 6-week Machon Mitzvah Corps program in which staff-in-training served as assistant counselors for 2 weeks at Camp Best Friends (in Atlanta) for 2 weeks followed by a Machon experience living at Coleman during full 2nd session.
Many families have described the transformative impact that Coleman made on their child and their families. Here are just a couple:
“My son had an amazing first summer month away experience at Camp Coleman. He enjoyed each activity, had great counselors, made wonderful friends, looked forward to Shabbat, and came home with exciting stories to tell and fun songs to sing. My son is one of only two Jewish people in his elementary school, so being in a place where everyone is Jewish was a special experience for him. We as parents could not be happier.”
“This was her last summer as a camper due to her age. Coleman has been an incredible highlight in her life. The friendships and memories will last her a lifetime. So grateful to have been able to give her this experience. Camp Coleman Rocks!”
Once each session we gather the children of Coleman Alumni for a photo—and throngs of people flock to Sands Plaza to be part of it. It is heartwarming to see that, from generation to generation, Coleman continues to be a place that inspires our young people to connect to each other and the Jewish community.
Thank you for being a part of the Camp Coleman community.
1st and 2nd Session kids of alumni