A few years back someone wrote a hysterical blog post called "the running of the jews".
It was an amusing and sadly, real, view of what visiting day is like at jewish overnight camps.
Back in the day (yes, I'm totally and officially old) we remained in our bunks until the whistle blew.
And not a moment before.
We were not allowed to roam free throughout the camp while our parents lined the road (not passing the imaginary barrier) in anticipation of
the whistle.
Flashback to Bunk 11(age 11) and Donna Summer was blaring on the radio.
Pre- whistle.
My friend S and I totally remember what happened next...
Toot toot..ahh..beep beep
Donna Summer blew the whistle and a bunch of 11 year olds started to run.
DO NOT PASS GO- THIS WAS NOT THE OFFICIAL WHISTLE.
We waited like caged animals, staring out of the grid screen door seeing if we could catch a glimpse of a parent.
The real whistle would blow and 250+ kids would go running out from their bunks.
Parents lined each side of the camp pathway searching for their child.
Children were running for their lives searching for their parents.
Some actually wanted to see their parents.
Some just wanted the non kosher food that they were carrying along with loads of candy, baked goods and soda.
I'm also almost certain Chinese Food may have been consumed.
(A no on amongst the Jewish Camp Visiting Day Golden Rules)
Fast forward to 2018.
Visiting day begins at 1030AM.
Parents arrive when they feel like it.
This is because there is no lining of the road.
We park.
We then search the entire camp for our child.
They roam free through the camp (which is not massive yet impossible still to find your kid)
There are cars coming and going because it also is the same day (and time) that the first month session campers are leaving.
There are no herds of campers charging at their parents.
Hugs are exchanged of course. Bags are explored and then
Then
A screen appears.
And we lost visiting day.
No screens back in the 1980's so visiting day was actually..
well
a day you visited with your family.
We visit now.
But after they check their 1100 instagram posts that they've missed.
And catch up with the 250 group text exchange that still went on even though they were away.
And after they post, comment and read through twitter.
Then we visit.
After candy is consumed.
After we "help" organize their crap and take back what they haven't used in the first 3.5 weeks.
Now you're allowed outside of camp on visiting day.
You could really even go home for the afternoon if you lived close enough.
There's something I actually dont love about this new phenomenon but it has its advantages
(like a trip to the local ice cream hang out and a much needed outing to Target or Walmart because how could they go another 3.5 weeks without more gum)
I am 6 days away from the updated version of the running of the jews and although I cannot wait to see youngest, it's lost it's butterfly feeling anticipation of seeing the happy faces running towards the grown ups like a herd of buffalos.
I just may accidentally forget the "screen"
It was an amusing and sadly, real, view of what visiting day is like at jewish overnight camps.
Back in the day (yes, I'm totally and officially old) we remained in our bunks until the whistle blew.
And not a moment before.
We were not allowed to roam free throughout the camp while our parents lined the road (not passing the imaginary barrier) in anticipation of
the whistle.
Flashback to Bunk 11(age 11) and Donna Summer was blaring on the radio.
Pre- whistle.
My friend S and I totally remember what happened next...
Toot toot..ahh..beep beep
Donna Summer blew the whistle and a bunch of 11 year olds started to run.
DO NOT PASS GO- THIS WAS NOT THE OFFICIAL WHISTLE.
We waited like caged animals, staring out of the grid screen door seeing if we could catch a glimpse of a parent.
The real whistle would blow and 250+ kids would go running out from their bunks.
Parents lined each side of the camp pathway searching for their child.
Children were running for their lives searching for their parents.
Some actually wanted to see their parents.
Some just wanted the non kosher food that they were carrying along with loads of candy, baked goods and soda.
I'm also almost certain Chinese Food may have been consumed.
(A no on amongst the Jewish Camp Visiting Day Golden Rules)
Fast forward to 2018.
Visiting day begins at 1030AM.
Parents arrive when they feel like it.
This is because there is no lining of the road.
We park.
We then search the entire camp for our child.
They roam free through the camp (which is not massive yet impossible still to find your kid)
There are cars coming and going because it also is the same day (and time) that the first month session campers are leaving.
There are no herds of campers charging at their parents.
Hugs are exchanged of course. Bags are explored and then
Then
A screen appears.
And we lost visiting day.
No screens back in the 1980's so visiting day was actually..
well
a day you visited with your family.
We visit now.
But after they check their 1100 instagram posts that they've missed.
And catch up with the 250 group text exchange that still went on even though they were away.
And after they post, comment and read through twitter.
Then we visit.
After candy is consumed.
After we "help" organize their crap and take back what they haven't used in the first 3.5 weeks.
Now you're allowed outside of camp on visiting day.
You could really even go home for the afternoon if you lived close enough.
There's something I actually dont love about this new phenomenon but it has its advantages
(like a trip to the local ice cream hang out and a much needed outing to Target or Walmart because how could they go another 3.5 weeks without more gum)
I am 6 days away from the updated version of the running of the jews and although I cannot wait to see youngest, it's lost it's butterfly feeling anticipation of seeing the happy faces running towards the grown ups like a herd of buffalos.
I just may accidentally forget the "screen"
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