The Joy of Being a Ramah Boston Counselor by Rhonda Parker

For our madrichim (counselors), kayitz (summer) 2023 is proving to be a summer filled with joy and gratitude. One especially enthusiastic madricha (counselor) is Isabel Lewinstein, who started her Ramah journey as a young Kochavim camper at Camp Ramah New England in 2015. For Isabel, working at Ramah Boston provides an experience where she “is consistently happy all day, every day.”

Isabel works in Anafim, the edah (unit) for campers entering first grade. She helps these campers change for swim, sits with them for t’fillot, and checks in with them throughout the day. In addition, Isabel teaches swim lessons to older campers and helps with the Omanut chugim (art electives). 

At first, some of the very young children in Anafim were very quiet and reserved. Now, just a few weeks later, they are climbing all over her and are running around and consistently playing with other campers. As Maya, one of the campers, commented: “I like swimming with Isabel. I like getting wet!”

Isabel commented that she is gratified that she can play “even a small role in their social and emotional development.” She is amazed to watch her campers “grow up right before my eyes!” 

A woman with a backpack sits on grass, holding papers and talking to a group of young children who are seated in a circle outdoors, listening and holding papers. Three children sit at a round outdoor table, smiling and playing Uno. A Hedbanz game box sits in the foreground. Two water bottles and a notebook are also on the table. A brick building and trees are in the background. Four children and a young adult sit on a sidewalk next to colorful chalk writing that says Shabbat Shalom! From Coloring Chug. The children are smiling, and one is making a peace sign. A group of young children wearing green gather outdoors around a small table on the grass, engaging in drawing and writing activities. One child sits on the ground, while others stand or kneel, holding papers and markers. Six young girls and a smiling adult sit and stand on grass outdoors near a fence. The adult sketches on a board while the children, dressed in green and pink, pose cheerfully, one holding a tray with artwork. It appears to be a summer camp.






Categories: Boston Day Camp, Chugim, Instructional Swim, Staff Highlights
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