By Jennifer Cohen
July 5th 2012
It is hard to believe the first session of the 2012 camp season is quickly coming to an end. It seems like just yesterday the campers were arriving, unpacking their clothing, getting settled in their bunks, selecting their options, and learning their way around camp.
It has been an amazing four weeks here at Blue Star. Old friends were reunited and new friendships were formed. Campers had the opportunity to participate in options ranging from waterfront, tennis, archery and basketball. They competed against their opponent in Color War, sang songs and performed in the Zimriah show. They went on overnight camp outs and out of town trips, and some even went zip lining and white water rafting. Now, campers are getting ready to pack up their belonging and their memories and head back home.
As the first session of camp is coming to an end, campers have a range of emotions. While most of them are excited to see their family and friends, everyone is sad to be leaving the place that they have called home these last few weeks.
This morning was the annual Friendship Circle program. The entire camp gathered in the HeRo for one last time. Jason welcomed the campers. “Today is a sad day because it is the last day here but this has been a wonderful opportunity to make friends and special memories,” he said before he thanked everyone for a wonderful summer.
Campers shared their original thoughts on how they felt about their time at camp and their feelings on going home tomorrow. Everyone expressed their sadness over leaving but shared how happy they are to have been here and have the experiences they had.
Carly Stevens and Jonathan Furman were selected as the “Ultimate Teen” and were presented with Blue Star Camps T-shirts.
Campers sang songs including the emotional Hallelujah which made some campers cry even harder.
The camp recited a Traveler’s Prayer and a video slide show was played, showing pictures from the last four weeks and Teen Village led the camp in singing “You Are My Friend”, a song that is only sung at Blue Star during the Friendship Circle event.
Tears flowed from almost everyone’s eyes. There were hugs and circles of friends holding each other, comforting those who were especially distraught.
Griffin Jacobs was in Juniors this year. This was his second year at camp. He is both happy and sad to go home. “I’m happy I get to go home because I will get to play with my video games and stuff but I’m sad to leave camp too,” said Griffin. His favorite part of camp was athletics, especially dodge ball and Griffin wants to come back next summer.
Myles Krachman lives in Tyler, Texas. He was also in Juniors during his first summer at Blue Star. He is sad to go home. “I have to leave this camp and I don’t want to leave.” Myles specially enjoyed Color War. “It was just so fun,” he said. “I want to come back next year.”
Brittany Blum is from Asheville, North Carolina. She was in Pioneer Girls 3 and this was her fifth summer at Blue Star. “I’m sad to be leaving. I will miss my camp friends,” said Brittany. The best part of camp for her was seeing all of her old camp friends and meeting new friends.
Senior Girl Rachel Nelkin said she was really sad to leave her friends. “We have to wait a whole year to see them again.” When asked what the best part of camp was, Rachel said, “The boys,” with a smile.
Lindsey Fields has been in Pioneer Girl 3. She will be going back to Memphis. Lindsey had a great time at camp and is sad to leave. “I’m sad to go. I will miss my friends,” said Lindsey. “The best part was seeing my old camp friends and making new friends this summer.” Lindsey especially enjoyed Color War. “I was on the Red team and we lost but I don’t really care. It was still fun. I’m going to miss being at camp.”
Jamie Kurzer lives in Miami. This was her first summer at Blue Star. She was in Juniors. Jamie has mixed emotions about leaving camp. “I’m happy I will get to see my parents but I will be sad to be away from camp because I like it here,” said Jamie. Her favorite part of camp was evening programs because she liked going to the lake, the delta and paint tag.
Dylan Heller was in Pioneer Girls 1 this summer. This was her first time at Blue Star and she is feeling both sad and happy to be going back home to Miami. “I’m sad because I’m going to miss my friends here but I’m also happy because I will get to see my family.”
Shoshanna Halperin was in Pioneer Girls 2 this summer. This is her second year at camp. She will be going home to Boynton Beach, Florida. “I’m sad because I don’t want to leave my friends,” said Shoshanna. She enjoyed taking tennis, archery, nature and web news this summer and she especially liked Color War. “I want to come back next year for sure,” she said.
“I’m really sad. I wish camp could go on forever,” said Senior Allison Schwartz from Boca Raton, Florida. “I’m going to miss seeing my friends. Of course I will be back next summer.”
Noah Stein from Miami Beach was also especially emotional about saying goodbye. “I’m sad,” he said, unable to get any more words out.
Senior Girl Breezie Edelson from Davie, Florida, shared her thoughts on the end of camp. “The moment when you realize you have a special connection with someone, if it’s your first or last year or you live near or far, you know in your heart you will always have that special connection with you wherever you go. And wherever you may go in your life, you will always know that Blue Star Camps is your forever home.”
