During our Week 3 at Camp Airy – Summer 2025, the middah of the week has been JOY. Joy is a pretty plentiful thing at camp. It’s easy to see joy in the big moments – winning a trip to CandyLand on the Wheel of Birthdays elicits BIG smiles. We hear the roar of laughter from campers when they watch bunkmates perform in a lineup segment of “Airy’s Got Talent.”

Another kind of joy comes in smaller moments. Although more subtle, the feeling and impact are no less meaningful. Passing a deep water test after coming up short the summer before … being able to drive a go-kart after being just a passenger in the past … mastering a guitar chord … getting a fire started while on an Outdoors adventure… having the cookies turn out just right at CulinAiry. These personal accomplishments and milestones are to be celebrated.

At camp, there is joy on both ends of the “Mensch on a Bench” process. When you submit a nomination, you recognize joy in a person. You are compelled to shout out that someone is being awesome. That’s a great feeling.

And then when a name is called as a “Mensch on a Bench” recipient, you see the expression of joy on their face – a mixture of surprise and pride. It is my honor to present the bracelet and certificate right before the honorees take their seat on the mensch bench.

For those of you who may be new to camp and this blog, during Saturday morning Shabbat services we take time to recognize nominated campers and staff who demonstrated the middah of the week. Those “mensches” (good, selfless people) are awarded certificates, a bracelet naming the value in English and Hebrew, and a photo opportunity together with the Mensch mascot doll.

Some of those images accompany this blog post. Congratulations to these JOY mensches!

This Shabbat is the last one we have as a camp community before campers head home next Friday morning. As we pivot into camp’s fourth week and a jam-packed calendar which includes Outdoor Day, Camper in Training Day, Chicken Palooza, the Airy musical “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” and Olympics, I know for certain that there are more moments of JOY to be created and experienced.

Please keep following what’s going on up at camp through our wide array of information – emailed updates from Unit Leaders and Division Heads, Facebook and Instagram posts, daily posted photos, and our microbursts via your Campanion app.

Shavuah Tov – have a good week,
Marty