The Lakeside Return

Every parent of a camper knows the exact moment. Your child returns home from a summer by the lake, sun-worn and tired, but something deep down has shifted. They appear a little surer of themselves, more independent, and beautifully anchored in who they are.

If you grew up on the East Coast, sending your kids to a Jewish sleepaway camp is practically a rite of passage- a culturally embedded summer default. On the West Coast, however, it is rarely an automatic choice. It requires an intentional decision by parents who recognize a profound daily reality: in our regular Pacific Northwest neighborhoods and public school systems, Jewish children are often a distinct minority in their classrooms, on their soccer teams, and within their social circles.

Stepping onto the shores of Devil’s Lake means stepping entirely outside of that everyday bubble. It means entering a special sanctuary where their cultural background isn’t something they have to explain, justify, or compromise; it is simply the air they breathe.

The Science of Camp: Identity and Belonging

For a child, this immersive environment balances an incredible sense of general belonging with an accessible, joyful connection to Judaism. At camp, culture and tradition are never confined to a dry textbook or a formal classroom setting. 

Instead, Judaism is a vibrant, lived experience. It is woven naturally into the fabric of daily fun, through the shared warmth of Friday night Shabbat services, singing Hebrew songs at the top of their lungs, and learning alongside vibrant Israeli staff who bring global traditions directly into our cabins. When tradition is tied directly to laughter, acceptance, and peer relationships, connecting with Judaism becomes completely natural and a permanent source of personal pride.

Building Character, One Small Choice at a Time  

Of course, that steady internal confidence doesn’t just appear on Day One; campers build it slowly, one small choice at a time. Camp creates these moments because it pulls kids away from rigid school schedules, non-stop screens, and everyday social pressures, giving them the unscripted room to figure out who they are on their own terms.

Picture a camper standing at the bottom of the climbing wall, certain there is no way she can make it to the top. Twenty minutes later, she is ringing the bell at the peak while her entire cabin cheers her on down below. 

Camp intentionally asks more of children than home usually does. Every day, they navigate real-world challenges and build life skills:

• They learn to keep track of their own things and gear throughout the week.
• They work out a cabin disagreement directly without an adult immediately stepping in.
• They navigate that first wave of homesickness with a supportive counselor by their side instead of a parent.

Campers take these brave, character-building chances because they feel completely safe. When children are surrounded by counselors and peers who genuinely care about them, they find the courage to stretch their limits.

Real Impact from the BB Camp Family

This combination of personal growth and deep acceptance yields tangible results that parents notice the moment their kids step off the bus. In a recent camper satisfaction survey, our families shared the direct impact of the BB Camp experience:

• 91% of families reported that camp gave their child a strong sense of belonging.
• 74% shared that camp successfully helped increase their child’s independence.
• 82% noted that camp provided deeply meaningful new friendships.

Sometimes, the transformation is a profound relief for the entire family. One parent shared that her son had previously struggled with intense homesickness and anxiety at a completely different sleepaway camp. At BB Camp, the experience was entirely different:

“He adored his counselors at BB Camp… He did not feel that way at all at the other camp. It was a miracle!”

Another parent beautifully summarized how deeply these roots grow:

“Every year, he grows so much as a person. He comes home knowing who he is more deeply, with stronger roots in Judaism. I love the sparkle in his eyes when he talks about it.”

An Anchor For Life

As the summer sessions get underway and the lake fills with laughter, we are reminded that what young people learn doesn’t stay at camp. The resilience to push through a difficult moment, the knack for making new friends, and the capacity to pull their own weight in a group all travel home with them.

Parents notice the immediate ripple effects during the school year—their children come home braver about trying new things, more at ease in a room full of strangers, and ready to step into new leadership roles.

But the true magic of BB Camp is that it isn’t just a fun few weeks of summer vacation. It is a foundational ecosystem where children grow into a fuller, more authentic version of who they already are. 

Long after the summer ends and they grow into adulthood, kids remember exactly how camp made them feel about themselves. The steady belief in their own capabilities, paired with a deep knowledge of who they are and where they come from, becomes a permanent anchor they carry forward for life.

Written by Kathleen Voboril Kahl

Kathleen Voboril Kahl is a BB Camp parent and member of the BB360 Board of Directors and Marketing Committee. She is passionate about creating more opportunities for connection, belonging, and Jewish joy across the BB360 community.