The 10 Commitments
BY JONATHAN COHEN,THIRD-GENERATION PRESIDENT, THE COHEN CAMPS I’m often asked what makes the Cohen Camps “Jewish” and how we differentiate our camps from other Jewish camps. There is no simple, quick answer – it’s more than just being Kosher, observing Shabbat and reciting blessings before and after meals. We have a set of values that […]
Stay Golden CTN, and Shabbat Shalom
There is so much about camp that sticks with a person throughout the year and throughout their lives. Shabbat at camp is a time of reflection, community and spending time with friends in a slower-paced setting…nothing compares! We invited counselors from the past to write to camp about what camp means to them, and what […]
Where Magic Happens: Reflections on 13 Years of Summer Camp
At Camp Pembroke, the Bat Mitzvah tradition (for those who have spent 13 summers at Camp Pembroke) signifies the 13 year commitment to camp, to the campers, and to the role that Pembroke has played in their development into the women they have become. It accentuates that commitment and acknowledges the connection that these women […]
Nice is the Norm at Camp Tel Noar
We love asking current and past staff members about their experiences at camp to gain some insight and perspective on what makes Tel Noar so beloved. They tell amazing stories of lifelong friendships, memories about gamedays and Color War, and fun anecdotes about living in chugs (our connected-style bunks) and being a part of a […]
The New Parent Experience, Part II
This the second piece of a two part article published by Tevya parent and alum Julie Grasfield Weil, originally published in the Sharon Advocate in July and August of 2014, which details Julie’s experience sending her two sons to Tevya for the first time. Two Happy Campers Equals Two Happy Parents I’d like to say […]
The New Parent Experience, Part I
PART 1 OF 2by Tevya parent and alum Julie Grasfield Weil Originally published in the Sharon Advocate in July and August of 2014 The New Parent Experience Sending your child to overnight camp for the first time comes with many questions. Did I pack enough socks and underwear? Will they eat the camp food? If […]
New Camper, Now What?
Dear parents/guardians of first-time campers, We hope that you are excited for your child’s first summer at Camp Pembroke, Camp Tel Noar, or Camp Tevya! With camp getting closer, many families begin thinking about how they can best prepare their child for the overnight camp experience. We’ve developed this collection of recommendations as a discussion […]
Making your camp Mitzvah Project
BY BARBARA STEVENS,DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, THE COHEN CAMPS Every year, a few Cohen Campers do something I consider extraordinary: they invite friends and family to give to their camp’s Scholarship Fund. They do this in place of gifts for their bar or bat mitzvah, or for their birthday. Cohen Camps Alumni do it, too, […]
Our Jewish Values – Commitments #6 to #10 Explained
BY JONATHAN COHEN,THIRD-GENERATION PRESIDENT, THE COHEN CAMPS In articulating our Jewish purpose in the manner of our 10 Commitments we have created a language that helps focus and guide us through the rhythms of planning and running our camps. In my previous posts I explained in general the core values that make our camps – […]
Our Jewish Values – Commitments #1 to #5 Explained
BY JONATHAN COHEN,THIRD-GENERATION PRESIDENT, THE COHEN CAMPS We have always considered our camps (Pembroke, Tel Noar and Tevya) to be involved in the informal Jewish education business (shh, don’t tell the campers). This began with my grandparents, Eli and Bessie, who believed that Jewish education in all of its forms was an important means to […]