During a summer season in pandemic times, many Jewish summer camps are closed for safety. While campers are stuck at home, would-be counselors are heartbroken to be away — or at the very least, reminiscing on summers-past. New Voices Magazine presents “Bunk Tales“, a series of short stories from college-age Jews who have recently been Jewish summer camp counselors. New stories will continue to be released throughout the end of August.
About “Bunk Tales: The Jewish Camp Counselor Stories” Project
Though camp is not in session this strange summer, reflection is always in season. The Jewish community talks a lot about how formative camp is for campers; but this summer, New Voices Magazine has collected stories from camp counselors, representing Jewish camps from across America and telling stories about their summers spent on staff. Now, as the summer of 2020 comes to a close, you can read the “Bunk Tales” collection of first-hand accounts, telling tales from those formative summers by the counselors behind the scenes.
For counselors and campers alike, the intergenerational youth work that happens at Jewish summer camps is meaningful and even life-changing. The role of Jewish Summer Camp Counselors (or “Madrechim”) is massive; in the short months of camp, counselors take on the role of mentor, caretaker, educator, entertainer, Jewish hero, bedtime story-teller, coach, politics-converser, medic, playmate, spiritual advisor, advocate, and more. There are as many kinds of campers and counselors as there are types of Jews, and even more stories to tell about what happens in those summer months in cabins and tents.
Some Bunk Tales have happy endings and tell funny stories; others tell of struggle or difficulty. Some of our authors describe describe how disability, gender, or non-traditional education paths have shaped their time at camp. These stories paint a wide range of Jewish experience from overnight camps across the United States. For every camp story told, there are hundreds left unwritten. Our Bunk Tales collection offers readers a small slice of American Jewish life shared by those who have spent summers on staff. Read the stories by clicking here.
