Swinging on chairs in Malibu, cooking french toast on Fridays, and sharing our funniest life stories on hammocks are where my happiest summer memories are. The rush of serotonin and excitement as I make the drive up to camp JCA Shalom never goes away, even this being my seventh year at camp. The kibbutz program at my Jewish sleep away camp is the final “camper” program before becoming a CIT and counselor. The program is based around campers learning to cook their own breakfast and lunch as well as learning to set up the table and clean up after themselves. This summer was one that promoted self-growth and independence as well as furthering and strengthening the bonds with my best friends at camp. 

Something that really commemorated my kibbutz year was a day we called “french-toast Friday.” Every Friday for the four weeks we were there, we would all make french toast sticks for breakfast. The preparation, cutting, cooking, and cleaning of this meal and many others was something that taught us all how to work together as a group and make our bonds that much more resilient. 

Cooking our first two meals of the day apart from camp made the experiences we spent with the entirety of camp more special. Shabbat has always been my favorite time at camp. It's getting ready with all my best friends, picking the best white clothes to wear, and coming together with the entire camp to pray. It’s a beautiful image to see every single person in camp wearing all white and enjoying Shabbat together as a community. Shabbat is a day at camp that brings me immense gratitude for being able to return to such a magical place every summer. 

Our yearly overnight stay at the old Malibu campsite followed the pattern of making our group more tight-knit. Before our overnight stay at our old campsite in Malibu, we take an early morning hike that leads us from the Malibu campsite down to the beach. This hike takes around two to three hours and brings you closer to your group and the people you spend walking the hike with. As the hike ended and our group returned to the campsite, the one thing we all looked forward to when it became dark outside was Banana Point. Banana Point is a spot in the Malibu campsite that is more elevated and allows you a gorgeous view of the landscapes ahead and, at night, the stars above. Counselors told many tales about how Banana Point came to be as campers lay down and enjoyed the view and stories. The nostalgia from years before as a child hearing the same stories on the same spot never fails to come rushing back, leaving me with an inexplicable happiness every year. 

The Kibbutz program at my camp overall gave me memories that I can look back at fondly for a lifetime. The bonds with the people I hold closest to me grew strong, and I learned important life lessons as I spent the summer at the place that makes me the happiest.