Campers. Families. Community.

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2 Campers. Families. Community. I met with a number of our agency s founders this past year and their reaction to our agency s upcoming 30th anniversary next year was consistent. They all just shake their heads and smile. What a story, one said. What a special story! Flash back 30+ years ago, when numerous strategic meetings, significant collaboration, and major fundraising between the Baltimore and Washington DC Jewish communities took place. Capital Camps was born, and the camp opened its doors for the first time in 1988, playing host to 202 campers. This summer we ll welcome approximately 1,000 campers for another exhilarating summer of fun, exploration, friendships, and memories. Welcome to the Summer of 2017! The impact of Jewish camp is both immediate and compelling campers return home connected to a community and friends that will last a lifetime. THERE S NO PLACE LIKE CAMP Children with pivotal Jewish camp experiences are more likely to become adults who value their Jewish heritage, support Jewish causes, and take on leadership roles in their communities. The research is similar for counselors - their exposure to the myriad of challenges and opportunities they face on a daily basis serves them well into their adult years: communication, problem-solving, multitasking, public speaking, resilience, etc. At Capital Camps, we re proud of our ability to provide financial assistance to those families who need support. We re also proud of our Atzma im program, which welcomes and nurtures children and adults of all abilities. And we re proud of the environment we create each summer - an environment that supports our campers and staff in being their best selves. 1ST CLASS RETREATING Our beautiful retreat facility hosted approximately 10,000 participants this past year, as part of 125 retreats! Youth groups, congregations, schools, corporate teams, local and national Jewish organizations are just some of the groups that have used our 1st-class retreat center and beautiful outdoor facilities to hold transformative overnight retreats. Our agency certainly does have a special story to tell. On behalf of our professional staff and a grateful Board of Directors, including outgoing Chair, Fred Heyman, and incoming Chair, Miriam Smolen, thank you for being part of our special community - a community that values Jewish camping, Jewish identity building, and a strong, vibrant Jewish future. Sincerely, Jonah Geller, CEO

3 How Well Do You Know Our Camp Director? While Adam Broms recently began his 7th year at Capital Camps, this is his first summer as Camp Director. TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAMP EXPERIENCE AS A CHILD/ YOUNG ADULT. I went to two camps as a child: Herzl Camp and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. I liked to participate in all activities at camp - sports, art, aquatics, and more. I found that I could try new things with friends who would support me. Sometimes, I succeeded - other times, I failed. But I always felt supported. As a staff member, I worked with the special needs program for three summers - two summers as a counselor and one in an Asst. Village Leader role. Finally, I was the Village Leader for rising 8th graders. WHEN DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO BE A CAMP DIRECTOR? In truth, I didn t always know that this was my path. After a few years working for Hillel International, I was excited about inspiring young Jews to be Jewish, but to do so with a diversity of experience. At Capital Camps, we present a variety of experiences and encourage our campers and staff to select the path which is most appropriate for them. This appealed to me. I have a business background, but I spent a lot of my early career as an educator on the side (both in formal classroom and experiential settings). To combine my business training with my experience as an educator seemed like a natural fit for a camp job. WHAT S ALL THIS SPRINKLES STUFF ABOUT? Ah yes, Sprinkles. There is a lot of power in a name. In my position, I wear many hats. Sometimes, I need to be serious, making thoughtful and calculated decisions which have significant impact on our camp community. Other times, I need and want to have fun with our campers and staff. My nickname affords me the opportunity to do both. When I m out on camp with our community, I m Sprinkles - the one who dances during song session, throws a Frisbee during chug and cracks bad jokes during SING. When I m in the office, I m Adam, working hard behind the scenes to ensure we have an amazing experience every day of the summer. Our sense of family is unmatched. The bonds that are formed between campers, staff members, and alumni are incredible. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT CAPITAL CAMPS? When I first came to Capital Camps seven years ago, I could tell immediately how important community is to this place. Though we have a relatively short history (coming up on 30 years), there is a wealth of experience and love for the people that make Capital Camps so special. I am grateful to be a part of a family and community that has welcomed Carrie and me so warmly. IS BEING A CAMP DIRECTOR HARD? Hard, but rewarding. There are so many details that go into ensuring a successful, fun, and most importantly, safe summer. We pride ourselves on paying attention to those details, and I am part of a phenomenal team - both year-round and summer - that supports that mission. Despite how challenging it can be, it is so rewarding - to see the growth of individuals as they progress through their camp career is quite remarkable. HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF IT WAS A GOOD SUMMER? We don t just want good, we want great! We re always striving to have amazing summers. We gather a tremendous amount of feedback at the end of each summer - from campers, staff members, parents, and even lay leaders. In addition to the written evaluations, we also have numerous conversations to learn what went well and what we can improve for the coming year. Our focus this summer is on Family and Fun. We are successful if people feel a strong sense of family and tell us what made camp incredibly fun!

4 Every Gift Counts The only gift too small is no gift at all. More support of the Annual Campaign means more resources to fulfill the Capital Camps mission and make a difference in the lives of all campers. Gifts to the Annual Campaign help support a number of Agency initiatives, including, but not limited to: FINANCIAL AID INCLUSION JEWISH IDENTITY BUILDING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ISRAEL PROGRAMMING But most importantly, making a donation gives campers the values that last a lifetime: independence, grit, resilience, and a sense of belonging to the Jewish community. CAPITALCAMPS.ORG/DONATE Camp by the Numbers This summer, we will... What s Going on at Camp this Summer Campers will have a blast with our newly expanded ropes course, new lake toys and fishing equipment. The nature enthusiast will enjoy bird watching in serene settings, and we ll rock out during Shabbat singing & dancing, and SING! We ll play even more 9-Square in the Air and enjoy Z man Kef! And of course, we ll make lots of friends and create a million amazing memories! Welcome approximately 1,000 campers through our gates. Provide 125 campers with financial assistance. Travel 6,824 miles outside of camp in order to hike, canoe, swim, volunteer, learn, and grow! Light 148 candles to welcome Shabbat. Consume 10,500 grilled cheese sandwiches and 380 gallons of tomato soup (our favorite meal!)

5 Role Models that Last Forever Our counselors serve as exemplary role models, positively enhancing the lives of children forever. Our commitment to future Jewish leadership remains at the forefront of what we do. We provide counselors with skills that will forever set them apart in their personal and professional lives, as well as Jewish values that inspire them to make a difference in the future of the Jewish community. This summer, we will welcome nearly 100 CITs and LITs, who will learn the ins and outs of running a successful camp, setting the stage for their future roles as camp staff. Our CITs practice Jewish values that will enhance their connection to the camp. This summer, they will travel to South Carolina to work with Nechama: Jewish Response to Disaster, and rebuild sites that were destroyed during a hurricane. And we ll learn a ton about leadership during CCI (Capital Camps Institute for Leadership and Learning) - a nationally-recognized leadership development program for emerging senior leadership created by Capital Camps. While at camp, my counselor once told me, You don t need a cape to be a Leader. That conversation changed my approach to life, it brought me more selfconfidence, and made me believe more in myself, reminding me that you do not need a label to show people what amazing things you can do. Izzy, Past Camper, Current 3rd-year Staffer Our Connection to Israel We explore Israel through engaging programming, living in cabins named for Israeli cities, mountains and kibbutzim, singing HaTikvah (Israel s national anthem), learning a Hebrew word of the day, and engaging in an allcamp Maccabiah. Our connection to Israel doesn t stop there. Every summer we host Israeli campers and staff. Our Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) campers will arrive in mid- July, and a second set of Israeli campers through Camp USA will join us for our 2nd session. We also have nearly 20 Israeli counselors and program area specialists throughout camp. It amazed me that a Yemenite Israeli, a Northwestern University student and a 10-year-old camper living together in a cabin in the Catoctin Mountains could feel like a family. We were bound together by a common identity, history and language. Josh, Past Camper, Past Counselor

6 Atzma im/inclusion From inception, Capital Camps has had an abiding commitment to the concept of camp for all.; We offer an array of support designed to provide a meaningful immersive Jewish Camp experience for children with a range of abilities. All campers live in traditional cabins and are part of our caring and inclusive community. We are proud that we are one of the few Jewish overnight camps to offer a full array of support for campers with and without disabilities. Campers receive support based on their need for support, not based solely on disability. We provide additional daily living and social/emotional support for campers with medical conditions, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, learning disabilities, speech/ language disabilities, Tourette syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and mental health issues. All new campers participate in pre-camp screening prior to enrollment to establish expectations that are appropriate for each individual camper. The benefit of our Atzma im program is that it reflects the society in which we want to live a society that includes everyone, and in our case, with an atmosphere which fosters and promotes Jewish values. Lisa Handelman, Capital Camps Inclusion Coordinator Aliza is a 15-year-old girl who has spent five summers at Capital Camps. Aliza s best friend, Lily, is a camper in the Atzma im program at camp, who lives in a bunk with the rest of the girls in her age group. Aliza and Lily do everything together, from riding the zipline to hanging out in the bunk. The girls close friendship is just one example of why inclusion programming at Capital Camps is so special. For my kids, camp is with them for 11 months out of the year...and their favorite place to be for 1 month. It is part of them...we believe Capital Camps is central to forming our kids lifelong Jewish identity, we can t imagine not sending them each year and we are grateful for the financial aid that makes that possible. Anonymous Camp Parent Your tax-deductible gift to our Annual Campaign helps fund these programs and more your participation truly makes a difference. Thank You to all of our incredible donors!

7 Alumni Spotlight Ben Klinger Ben Klinger attended Capital Camps from He is now a member of our Board and lives in Bethesda, MD. WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO ATTEND CAPITAL CAMPS AS A CHILD? My parents were looking for a kosher Jewish camp for my brothers and me. My mother heard about a new camp starting and a couple weeks later Steve Makoff was at our house talking about his vision. HOW MANY SUMMERS DID YOU ATTEND? I spent 6 years as a camper, 1 as a CIT, and 3 as a counselor. WHAT DID YOU GAIN FROM YOUR TIME SPENT AT CAMP? As a child, the schools I attended did not have a large Jewish population. Attending Capital Camps taught me that it was ok to be Jewish in a world where I often felt like I was different. Judaism struggles to maintain its identity. WHY DO YOU MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE AGENCY? My father and my best friend were both the recipients of scholarships, which allowed them to experience camp. Now that I have the financial ability to give that same gift to others, I believe it is my responsibility to do so. WHY ARE YOU SENDING YOUR KIDS TO CAPITAL CAMPS? My hope is that my children will have the same positive experience that I had and that camp will not only provide them lifelong friendships, but also interpersonal skills and leadership skills that will help them as adults. FONDEST CAMP MEMORY? My fondest camp memory every summer was always the final night, mostly because of the emotion that I felt when the summer came to an end. FAVORITE CAMP MEAL? Grilled cheese and tomato soup. WHY DID YOU JOIN THE BOARD? I joined the Board because Capital Camps had a tremendous impact on my childhood and I believe my time there as a staff member gave me skills that continue to benefit me in business today. It s important that organizations like this continue to thrive as Join for us Alumni Shabbat: July 28th (Welcoming all alumni back to camp to enjoy Shabbat together!) Are you interested in joining the Capital Camps board or a committee? Jonah Geller, CEO, at jonah@campandretreat.org for more information.

8 Camp All Year Round Camp isn t just for kids! Capital Camps offers retreats throughout the year, making it possible for everyone to experience the magic that happens here. Bring your family to sit around a campfire together, make s mores, fly on the zip-line, play in the art room and on the sports fields, and so much more. Come to learn, to have fun, and to share meaningful moments. COME JOIN US! Young Family Playdate: July 9 (Enjoy a day at camp with the whole family! For kids ages 4-7.) Alumni Shabbat: July 28 (Welcoming all alumni back to camp to enjoy Shabbat together!) For more information contact Natalie Walden, Development Associate, at natalie@campandretreat.org. SUMMER FAMILY CAMP August 18 - August 20 Registration is open! Before the chaos of the school year sets in, join with other camp families to swim, play and celebrate Shabbat. Enjoy quality time together, make new friends and new memories. MOTHER-DAUGHTER WEEKEND Fall 2017 Spend focused, quality time together. Experience a Shabbat that is restful and rejuvenating, and that enables you to reconnect with one another in memorable ways. NEW YEAR S FAMILY CAMP December 29, January 1, 2018 Registration opens in September Welcome 2018 Capital Camps style! Join us for our 4th annual New Year s Family Camp. Bring your family, along with grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Play and learn together, and create wonderful family memories. Host your next program at Capital Retreat Center Our all-inclusive, innovative, fullservice facility is perfect for any sized group or event, including: Leadership Meetings Team-Building Activities Corporate Retreats Life Cycle Events For more information on hosting a retreat, visit capitalretreat.org Rockville Pike, Suite 407, Rockville, MD capitalcamps.org