Campfires and Color Wars

Mark Young joins the podcast to share stories of growing up at Camp Wise and how the lessons he learned there contributed to his current work helping organizations respond to crises. Plus we talk songleading and remember the days when we had no idea what was going on the world outside of camp. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Writer and author Lana Schwartz joins the podcast to share stories of summer camp including winning a very important beet-eating contest, a not-well-thought-out insane asylum prank on a cabin of 7-year olds, and the perfection that is the movie Wet Hot American Summer. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Hilarious comedian Pamela Schuller joins us for a brand-new episode to talk about her time at summer camp and how much things have changed over the years to make camp more inclusive for campers with different needs. She shares an incredible story of getting kidnapped by her unit, how she got her start as a comedian as a camper, and shares a brand new camp game that is (isn't) sweeping the nation!...

Florida Congressman Ted Deutch joins to talk about his time growing up at Ramah Poconos and the impact that had on him and his approach to politics. We talk about evening programs that impacted our worldview, the key to spending time with someone before it's time to go back to your cabins, and why raids in hindsight weren't as "spontaneous" as they seemed. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Advocate and pioneer Rabbi Denise Eger joins the podcast to discuss the transformation of camp for the LGBTQ community and her memories of growing up at Jacobs Camp in the summer heat of Mississippi. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Sara Beth Berman, aka SBB, noted Jewish Geography Zoom Racing celeb, joins the podcast this week to talk summer camps, and more specifically her experiences at a multitude of them! It's possible she's worked at more camps than any previous guest, or at least we're going to make that claim without doing any research to back it up. We talk about Letter Lotto, hiding staff romances from campers, and...

This week we are joined by Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz, owners of Gefilteria and the creators of the Great Big Jewish Food Fest, to talk food, tradition, and camp! Come for the discussion of which camp foods are the best, stay for the breakdown of how to make bank as a camp entrepreneur and the value of befriending the counselors. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Jim LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham are the directors of Crip Camp, an incredible documentary streaming on Netflix about Camp Jened, a remarkable summer camp in the 1970s that proved to be a breeding ground for several of the leaders of the movement to gain rights and equal treatment under the law for Americans with disabilities. Join us as Jim and Nicole recount their experience making the film as we...

Jamie Beth Cohen and Sam Schindler are a camp couple - that is to say, they both went to camp growing up, but had vastly different experiences. How has that shaped their view of summer camp, and what does it mean for their kids and where they go some day? Don't waste a minute, take a listen and find out!

Indigo Girls have been a staple of summer camp since bursting onto the scene in the mid-80s. Why is that? We break down how the iconic musical duo became so ingrained in the experience of camp for so many girls (and some boys) and why they still have such a deep connection with their fans all these years later. Don't waste a minute, stay safe and take a listen!

Author Iris Krasnow joins to discuss her new memoir "Camp Girls" and how her time at Camp Agawak created lasting friendships that continue to this day. Plus we discuss the allure of the horse stables, taking the train to camp as a young child, and much much more. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

We're all trying to make the best of it during quarantine. With Expedition Nai, Roey Kruvi and Abby Eisen are part of the team that has put together the world's largest virtual Color Wars competition, where participants around the globe can win prizes, find community, and try to have some fun even in these difficult times. Plus we discuss Sadie Hawkins camp dances, flash mobs, and the thrill of sp...

Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish. It's a true statement, and it's also an incredibly popular summer camp song. In our latest episode we dive into the creation of the ubiquitous ditty with its author, longtime songleader and songwriter Rabbi Larry Milder, who walks us through how the song game together and shares his own camp journey along the way. Don't waste a minute, stay safe and...

If we ever needed to transport ourselves to our happy places, that time is now. Tamar Anitai joins the podcast to talk about her experiences at Kutz Camp, the joys of going to camp exclusively for teenagers, and we talk (of course) about the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on us all. Join us to try to escape at least for a little bit - and stick around for a musical surprise at the very...

With all the talk of camp nostalgia, what's it like to be on staff at camp today? Ben Lieberman, who is currently a staff member at Camp Gilboa in Big Bear, California, joins to dish on modern camping, what's changed and what's the same from our childhoods, and more. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

It's Valentine's Day, which means love is in the air, and we're back for the fourth straight year with delightful tales of camp love. Join us as we talk with couples Janet and Adam Guy and Mimi and Marc Yoskowitz about how their relationships connect to their summer camp experiences. It may be cold outside, but this episode will warm your heart! Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

We all miss our days of yesteryear at summer camp. But what if...you could go back? Like right now? That's what Trybal Gatherings is all about, and Carine Warsawski joins to discuss the camp experiences she is creating for adults as well as share her own amazing stories from growing up at Camp Eisner in the Berkshires. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

President of the American Camp Association Tom Rosenberg has had a long and varied career in camping, and he joins to share some of his favorite memories while shedding light on why camping today is more important than ever. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!

Jacobs Camp has been around for 50 years, and we bookend the camp's existence by sitting down with Macy B and Anna B, the camp's founding and current directors, to talk about their experiences at camp and the wonderful 50th reunion weekend held recently in New Orleans.

Songleaders are the ultimate camp rock stars, so what must it be like to go from camp to being an actual rock star? We talk to Guster's Ryan Miller, who spent a decade at Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas, before going on to front one of the more popular touring bands of the last 25 years. Join us as we discuss the thrill of being a Color War leader, awkward first kisses, and what Guster son...

Everyone loves summer camp, right? Apparently not! Writer Mac Schwerin joins to discuss his recent article for Vox entitled "The Case Against Summer Camp" so we can debate the merits of his piece and see if we can't convince him to change his mind. Did we succeed? Take a listen and find out!

Dave Cutler spent many summers at Ramah Palmer in Massachusetts, and made many amazing memories during his time there. Perhaps his greatest moment, however, was helping Palmer break a 10-year basketball losing streak to their archnemesis, Ramah Berkshires. We dive into the details of this David-vs-Goliath story, plus we discuss taking our children to camp for the first time, and he shares perhaps...

Geraldine DeRuiter - that's James Beard nominee Geraldine DeRuiter - had a camp experience that seems ripped from the pages of a coming-of-age teen romance novel. Full of betrayal, revenge, and an almost-too-good-to-be-true happy ending, you'll definitely want to listen to this one. Don't waste a minute and check it out!

Jess McKenna is a hilarious comedian and the co-host of Off Book: The Improvised Musical, a podcast that would be right at home as an activity at summer camp. But before she got into showbiz she was a long-time camper and staff member at Camp Bravo, a theater camp in Northridge, CA. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and discuss the differences between month-long and week-long camp, mafia,...

For the third straight year, we dive into summer lovin' on Valentine's Day with a camp couple feature. Artie and Jen Lieb, who met each other and fell in love at Camp Coleman in Cleveland, GA, chat about their origin story, what it's like to go to camp for the first time as a staff member, and reminisce on Artie's domination of camp sports as well. Don't waste a minute, take a listen!