Camp Coleman is THANKFUL for our Summer 2026 Host Families:
This Thankful Thursday, we are especially grateful for the incredible families who opened their homes and their hearts to Camp Coleman staff this summer.
A day off at camp is a chance for our staff to step away from the daily rhythm of camp, recharge, and experience a little bit of life beyond our gates. Thanks to our wonderful host families, our staff had the opportunity to do just that—and so much more.
For our international staff in particular, these opportunities were incredibly meaningful. Our international team members are thousands of miles from their own families in Israel, Wales, Mexico, Australia, or Scotland, to name a few, and being welcomed into a home, sharing a meal around a family table, or simply having a place to relax gave them a feeling of warmth and belonging. They also got to experience something truly special: the feeling of being part of our BIG Coleman family, which extends far beyond 201 Camp Coleman Drive.
A special shout-out to Sharon and Peter Gelbwaks, who have taken host family hospitality to an extraordinary level. Over the past three years, they have welcomed seven groups of Camp Coleman staff—more than 100 young people in total! Their incredible commitment has become a true gift to our summer team, and we are so grateful for the countless ways they continue to show up for Camp Coleman.
What makes our host family program so meaningful is that the gift goes both ways. Our staff get to experience the generosity and warmth of the Coleman community, while our host families get to know the extraordinary young people who give so much of themselves to our campers each summer. And because this experience has become such a meaningful part of our summer, we’ll be continuing it again next year! If you’re interested in opening your home to our amazing staff in Summer 2027, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to our Program Director, Sarah Saltzman, at SCotler@urj.org, to learn more.
To every family who welcomed a staff member this summer: Thank You. Thank you for opening your doors, sharing your time, and helping our staff feel cared for, appreciated, and connected.
Camp Coleman is deeply thankful for you and for the many ways you help make our community so special.