Recently, YJ alumnus Gershon Baskin, Ph.D. was awarded the “Outstanding Peace Activist” award under the Luxembourg Peace Prize for his continuing efforts for peace in Israel-Palestine. We spoke with Gershon to find out about his current efforts below!

1. What YJ programs are you an alum of?

I joined YJ in 1970 when I was in 9^th grade. I joined the Smithtown Club in Long Island.  It was a new club that year and soon turned into the one of the largest clubs on Long Island despite the relatively small number of Jews in the area. I went to Camp Tel Yehudah for my first time that summer to what was then called regular. In 10^th grade I was elected to the Mazkirut of Long Island – we then adopted the name Gesher Shalom. In the summer of 1972 I went to Machon (Bet) and worked in the kitchen in order to stay in Camp. The following year I was elected Senior programmer on the mazkirut and went to MA in the summer and worked as assistant Dairy Cook.  The following year I was elected to be Mazkir Gesher Shalom. In Dec. 1973 we had national convention in Israel for the opening of Kibbutz Ketura. I worked in the kitchen the whole summer as Dairy cook I went on Year Course – section 2 in 1974-75.

After YC I worked as Dairy cook in alef.  I did my first year of University at Tulane in New Orleans and work with YJ down there.  The following year I moved back to NY to live together with our group from Year Course in a Bayit on the Upper West Side.  I was Senior Program Director for Long Island YJ.  I worked one summer as dairy cook in Sprout Lake – its first summer and my last summer in the States I was a merakez in Camp Judea Michigan (summer 1978). I made aliya in September 1978.

2. Tell us a bit about your career.

You can read it all in my bio:

Gershon is the Israel/Palestine Director of the Holy Land Bond (www.holylandbond.com) and the Middle East Director for International Communities Organization – Middle East (ICO) https://internationalcommunities.org/

He was the person responsible for the secret direct back channel between Israel and the Hamas that successfully negotiated the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilead Schalit.

From 2012 until 2020  served as Country Manager for Palestine in Gigawatt Global working to develop mid- and large-scale commercial solar energy projects Palestine.

From 1988 – 2011, he was the Israeli Co-Director and founder of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) – a joint Israeli-Palestinian public policy think- and “do”- tank located in Jerusalem.

During the Premiership of the late Yitzhak Rabin, he served as a special advisor on the Israeli- Palestinian peace process to a secret team of intelligence officers established by Mr. Rabin.

Since February 2005, he has a weekly column in the Jerusalem Post. His weekly column is also published in Arabic in the Palestinian daily newspaper AlQuds and in Hebrew on a news and opinion website D’Yoma.com.

He holds a Ph.D. in International Affairs from University of Greenwich. His dissertation was on Sovereignty and Territory in the Future of Jerusalem, parts of which were published as a book Jerusalem of Peace.

Baskin’s book In Pursuit of Peace in Israel and Palestine was published by Vanderbilt University Press.

3. Yasher Koach on this prestigious award! We would love to know more about your current activities in making peace in Israel.

Other than being a Jerusalem Post columnist since 2005, my weekly columns now appear in Arabic and Hebrew as well.  My work is through a British based Non-governmental Organization called International Communities Organization – ICO -which is accredited by the UN and works in conflict zones with frozen or failed peace processes.  I am running 3 secret back channels between some very important Israelis and Palestinians -preparing today for tomorrow. And through the impact investment fund we created under the name The Holy Land Bond to invest in housing for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, to create possibilities for Jewish Arab integrated housing in Israel’s mixed cities, and to support Jewish Arab joint tech ventures.

4. What if anything about Young Judaea may have led you to where you are today?

YJ taught me that moving to Israel was not a change of address, but a change of essence – our lives have to be meaningful in terms of making Israel a better place.

5. Do you have any advice for YJ teens today on how to get involved in peace activism in Israel?

Contact me.

 

 

 

An interview between Stu Stein and Gabriella Stein

Stu Stein was a chanich at CYJ Sprout Lake and Tel  Yehudah. He has been the Kitchen Manager at Tel Yehudah since the late 80’s.

Gabriella Stein is from Long Island and was a chanicha at CYJ Sprout Lake and Tel  Yehudah. She served as the Long Island/New York City Borgrim Programmer and is the current Chavurah Programmer on National Mazkirut.

Questions for Dad: 

1. What year were you in Young Judaea/what was your participation like?

I started in camp in 1979 as an offie at Sprout Lake.  I then got to TY in 1985 (got my name on the Beit Am wall as a “meemer” as I believe you call them now). I went on Year Course in 1989-90 and I’ve worked on and off again (more on than off) at TY over the past 30 summers.

2. Were you on Maz?

Yes

3. What kept you in young Judaea?

YJ was my home, it was where my friends were it was where I went to have fun.  YJ was a lot different when I was growing up than it is now.  There was less competition from outside interests.  They didn’t really exist.  Instead, we had weekly club meetings and regular conventions and we able to spend more time with each other than the kids today can.

4. Did anyone before you do YJ?

Not in our family.  My mom was in Hadassah and that’s how we learned about it.

5. Why did you choose to send your kids to YJ and not another, bigger Jewish youth org?

That’s easy.  I never really left Young Judaea.  Gabriella was “walking” around TY before she could even walk.

6. How has YJ changed throughout the years and how do you feel about the changes?

YJ has evolved with the times.  The things YJ chooses to focus on has changed with the changes we see in society.  It focuses on the issues that matter to the teens that make up the membership.  That’s always been true about YJ.  What I’ve always loved about YJ and camp, TY, Sprout, Texas, it’s that we reinvent the place each summer.  Each person that comes to camp brings with them their own likes and dislikes and talents and plans and together we all the campers, the staff, the head staff, we all reinvent the place and no summer is ever the same as the summer before or after.  That’s pretty special.

 

Questions for child:

1. What is your experience in Young Judaea (junior camps, maz, etc.)?

My experience in Young Judaea began in 2013 when I started my first summer as a camper. From that summer on, I was hooked. I have been going back every year since. I even joined a few sessions of TY-fi! Last year I was on the LINYC regional mazkirut and this year I am on the National Mazkirut, and I am so grateful to have had both opportunities. Through Young Judaea I met my closest friends, connected myself to my Jewish identity, and strengthened my leadership skills.

2. What connection do you feel to YJ? Is it a strong connection?

To say that I have a strong connection to YJ would be an understatement. YJ is a huge part of my life. I couldn’t imagine myself not being connected to this organization. 

3. YJ has gotten smaller since your dad was in YJ, what made you stay? 

I think the fact that this smaller organization is the one I grew up with has something to do with it. Until I learned what YJ used to be like, this was just the norm for me. The main reason I continued to come back was because, as cheesy as it sounds, it became a home for me. As each summer came, there was never a “hey Gabriella, do you want to go back to camp next summer?” conversation. I stayed for the people, the environment, and because I would have cried for days if I wasn’t able to return (needless to say, the Covid summer was a rough one in the Stein house.)

4. How has YJ changed during your years? 

During my time serving on Maz and being involved in Year Round, I would say YJ has stayed fairly consistent. Most events we had a fair number in attendance. This year is where I am really starting to see things change, maybe it is just the shift in perspective from a younger camper to an older camper and now staff.

5. Do you plan on sending your kids to YJ?

Is that even a question??? Without a doubt yes. If my future husband doesn’t wish to send the kids to camp he will be the one getting sent away. And it wouldn’t be to a summer camp.

6. Favorite YJ memory?

One of my favorite stories and memories from my time in YJ is my firefly story. My friends know this story like the backs of their hands because of how often I reference it. This story takes place in my second or third year at Sprout Lake. Our counselors had arranged for us to “sneak out” one night (it was like 8pm), and they sent us out in shifts. We snuck quickly and quietly to the grass behind the BK (Beit Knesset). I don’t think I had ever felt so sneaky, and I don’t think I will ever feel that sneaky again. Our counselors told us we were there to catch fireflies. So we had fun quietly trying to catch as many of the little creatures as we could. If you have recently been to Sprout, you know that all throughout the day there are Gators driving around camp. At night, that is no exception. So, every few minutes a Gator would roll by and our counselors would quietly yell “GATOR! DOWN!” and all of us would drop to the floor. Now looking back, I don’t know why I didn’t assume all 40 of us were invisible to eye of the Gator’s driver, but that’s camp magic for you! After some firefly-catching-fun we were told to sneak back to the bunks. We crept home and made it back safely (PHEW!) As each of us were getting back into our beds one of the upper staff members charged into our bunk. We were scolded. Humiliated. I swear girls cried. Once we were at our most emotionally vulnerable, after being ripped apart for our mistake by a scary man who was probably at least 2 and half times our size, in walked HB. “Just kidding! We brought Oreos!” Everytime I tell that story it makes me want to smile. I found my home that night.

By Samara Kohn, Tel Yehudah 2021, Gesher 2022, Served on LINYC Maz and National Maz.

It was Friday and I was in Jerusalem with over 120 Jewish American teens. Everyone was dressed up in their nicest Shabbat attire. Girls in dresses, boys in button-down shirts. We had just wrapped up my favorite service of the week, Kabbalat Shabbat and it was finally time for dinner. We all sat down, did the blessing over the bread and wine, and devoured our third piece of schnitzel for that day. In the middle of our meal, the French group that was staying at our hostel sat down for their meal as well.

When my group finished eating, we started Friday night Shira. We were singing and dancing and screaming songs in Hebrew and English at the top of our lungs. The French group, who didn’t speak any English, got up and started screaming the same songs we were singing with the same tunes, but in French. They tried to be louder but could not compare to our group of Americans. Suddenly a boy from Young Judaea starts screaming the American national anthem and everyone joins in. The French then begin to scream their national anthem. When the two groups finished, the room went silent and in unison, both started to sing the Hatikvah. I stood there in awe while chanting my country’s national anthem.

The pride I felt at that moment was indescribable. Being a Jew had never felt that good. Two groups from entirely different continents gathered in our homeland with two key similarities: our pride in Israel and our love and devotion to Judaism. The satisfaction I felt to have the privilege to experience this really made me love being a Jew so much more. On the holiest night of the week, in the holiest city in the world, I began to see Judaism from a different light. Being a Jew isn’t just about gathering for prayer or following the mitzvot, being a Jew is about being a part of a community that you can find all around the world. Whether this community is in France, Israel, or on your college campus, all Jews are connected. Wherever I go I wear my Magen David (Star of David) around my neck. I refuse to wear any other piece of jewelry because when they see that star around my neck, Jews around me know they have a community right next to them.

In Honor of Israel’s 75th Birthday, we are featuring Young Judaea alum who have made Israel their home!

 

On February 26, 2023 70 Judaeans gathered together for Political Climate in Israel: A Conversation with Rabbi Adam Drucker, to virtually to discuss recent political events in Israel.

It was inspiring to see so many Judaeans gathered virtually together, continuing our movement’s legacy of learning and respectfully engaging in difficult conversations.

View a recording of the webinar below or click here to view on YouTube

During the webinar, Rabbi Drucker shared a supplemental presentation to further understand how Israel’s governmental system works:

Click here to view the presentation

As we are all following the unfolding events in Israel with much concern and solidarity, we feel that we can no longer sit on the sidelines as observers but that we must fully and unequivocally voice our concern and articulate our position in alignment with Young Judaea’s core values. 

Israel is our place, and now, more than ever, our Israeli chaverim must hear that we are standing along side them in solidarity and mutual concern.  

An interview with Mirele Goldsmith, founding member of the Jewish Earth Alliance

 

Tell is a bit about your background professionally and personally, including what Young Judaea programs you are an alumnus of?

I’m originally from Brookline, MA and joined Young Judaea as a freshman in high school. The region had decided to start a club in Brookline and I was recruited with a few other people to help. I went to Tel Yehudah for the Machon, and went to Israel on the Machon L’Madrichei Chutz La’Aretz (Year Course 1978). I also worked for hamagshimim.

I received my MSW in social work and spent a year doing field work in Tel Aviv. I’ve worked for a number of Jewish organizations including Hillel.

What inspired you to get involved in environmental causes?

In 1997 I went to Yosemite National Park for a wedding, and we went on the most popular day hike Vernal Falls. At the top of the mountain I saw something that changed my life: a solar compositing toilet. I found it to be a very interesting technology. There was a whole sign explaining how it worked and because of that toilet, I got involved in environmental issues.

After that I moved to New York and got involved with various environmental organizations and eventually went back to school to get my PHD in Environmental Psychology at City University of New York. My research was related to NYC water issues and making the water system more sustainable.  I started to get involved in grassroots activism to ban fracking in New York State.

At the time the Jewish environmental world was growing and I became involved with COEJL and Hazon and was part of the Jewish organization of the People’s Climate March in 2014.

It was at this time that became more interested in advocacy. Everything we were doing, it all depends on policy and what kind of policies are passed. When I was with Hazon’s Jewish Greening Fellowship they developed a group buying program for solar rooftop systems for Jewish Agencies and New York City had recently passed a law about community solar. We couldn’t have done this without that law.

How did the Jewish Earth Alliance get started?

After relocating to the D.C. area from New York, I found some like-minded people to start the Jewish Earth Alliance – a grassroots, all-volunteer network that calls on congress for climate action.  We try to make it easy for Jewish communities around the country to lobby the federal government and administration for climate solutions.

We recently had a webinar to prepare activists for the new congress and had 300 people attend! This event is leading up to a Tu BiShvat virtual lobby day we are organizing.

 

How did Young Judaea lead you to where you are today?

I always tell everyone that my start as an organizer came from Young Judaea. I give a lot of credit to Young Judaea for my ability to be an organizer and to lead.

Young Judaea was the first time in my life when I found friends who cared about what I cared about. We did things with each other and you build relationships through experiences. I mean, going to Israel for a year, back in those days you didn’t call home. Your friends were everything.

I do attribute a bit of my interest in the environment to Young Judaea. I was not an outdoorsy person before I went to Israel, going to Israel we spent a lot of time outside, hiking and those things, learning about geology and the agriculture of Israel. Looking back on it, it did influence me.

Why are you specifically a Jewish climate activist?

3 reasons

1. I was raised as a Jew and my beliefs and values come from Judaism, and I feel like I need to act on them. It’s not enough to just talk about protecting the earth. A lot of our holidays connect to nature and appreciation and awe for creation. We need to act on those values.

2. A lot of our holidays and rituals relate to nature and that makes it really meaningful for people to learn about environment and take action in the context of Jewish tradition. Lobbying on Tu BiShvat is something people can relate to.

3. We just need everyone. There is a slogan in the climate movement, “to change everything we need everyone” and, we need the Jews too. It’s much easier to organize people in groups and communities than to do it one by one.

What can young people do today to get involved in environmental causes and climate activism?

There are many ways that you can get involved but the main thing is to find a place where you feel comfortable and feel like you can make a difference. My work with Jewish Earth Alliance is about activating citizens, we are citizen lobbyists. You don’t have to be paid to be involved and make a difference.

Be Courageous. Another thing we learned from Young Judaea. Our motto was ‘Ani ve’ata neshaneh et haolam’, you and I will change the world. I wasn’t that courageous when I was younger, but over time I realized I can be. Fortunately in both America and Israel we can speak up, we can make  a difference, we should take advantage of that.

There are so many things we can do as citizens that seem very intimidating, but the main thing is to find like-minded people, join a group, and get involved. Because it’ all about how we can change the world together.

As told by Teddy Fischer, YJ Alum

I started working with Member of Knesset, and former Judaean Alon Tal, because I was looking for a sense of purpose.

That’s not to say my life isn’t full – in fact, my life is packed full of meaning. I have an amazing wife and two precocious small children. I have a very meaningful and full-time job as an engineer helping bring Israel its first underground light rail. However, I felt that something was missing.

What was missing? When I made Aliyah more than 10 years ago, I served in the Air Force as a lone soldier. Every morning when I put on my uniform, I felt a sense of purpose and service. Even when doing menial tasks like guard duty, I felt that I was there for a greater purpose.

That sense of purpose was there when I was active in Young Judaea – as a high schooler, camper, teen leader, camp counselor and youth advisor. I was part of a group of like-minded people who were making a difference. One of the things I always loved about Young Judaea is that it is a movement and not just another youth group. A movement implies moving towards a goal. A movement is something dynamic and constantly changing. A movement has a purpose.

I first met Alon Tal in Israel a few years ago through a friend from Year Course before he became the first Young Judaean to serve in the Knesset. When the opportunity arose to work with him, I knew it was something I had to do.

In my time with Alon, I have taken on coordination, outreach, and constituent services for English speakers in Israel and around the world. This includes, progressive (Conservative, Reform) Jews, olim in Israel, environmentalists from around the world and anyone who cares about Israel-Diaspora relations.

We have started an English language newsletter, launched a website, and initiated a series of Zoom talks – all in the interest of being open and transparent and trying to create a dialogue with these groups we seek to represent and speak for in Israel.

Though I did not know Alon well prior to working with him, we instantly hit it off. Part of that, was our shared background as American olim in Israel with a similar past – of which Young Judaea is a big part. Though we are separated by a generation, and though we both ‘graduated’ from the movement a long time ago, many of both of our friends and colleagues to this day are people from Young Judaea. Maybe it’s because we kept in touch with our YJ friends, or maybe they were a network for both of us when we made Aliyah, or maybe because so many former Judaeans are leaders in Jewish and environmental movements in the US and in Israel, but barely a day goes by that Alon, or I aren’t in touch with a former Judaean.

For me, that purpose I was looking for is a feeling of selflessness. It is doing something for a greater good, purely for the sake of doing something you believe in (and not for a paycheck or even personal fulfillment or advancement).

Working with Alon Tal I have found that same sense of purpose that I felt as a Young Judaean, fighting together with another Judaean who has risen high, for causes I believe in: the environment, progressive Judaism, Zionism, improved Israel-Diaspora relations, and maybe even peace.

 

By Betsy Diamant-Cohen

Belonging to Young Judaea was instrumental in giving me the tools I use every day.  

In Jr. High School, each organization gave a little pitch for membership, and I chose to join Young Judaea. After two years in Tsofim, I joined Bogrim.  My good friend Joe Pomper told me that the nearby town of Westport, Connecticut was going to be starting a YJ club for Tsofim and were looking for a madricha and asked if I would take the job. Without stopping to think about the fact that I was only one year older than the kids I would be leading, I agreed.  For two years, I met regularly with our Senior Advisor, Judy Targan, to plan out the programs. Since I couldn’t yet drive, I’d take the Sunday morning train to Westport and a woman from Hadassah would transport me to whichever child’s home was hosting the meeting that day.  Through leading the club, I learned techniques for getting people’s attention such as pausing and speaking more softly rather than trying to shout loudly, and clapping to a rhyme and starting a song which brought people together and directed their attention without needing to say a word.

Becoming more active in the movement in high school meant programming on a local level. Israeli folk-dancing and singing Hebrew songs were all part of the club’s weekly meetings; we had over 70 members in the Stamford Club!  I learned how to teach songs and dances and how to speak in front of a crowd without self-consciousness.

These skills came in handy when I was elected National President / Mazkira in 1974, and was given the incredible opportunity of field-tripping regions across the US.  Concepts of peer leadership as expressed eloquently by Elana Paru in her article about supervision, the creed “enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm,” the desire to make the world a better place, and the belief that everyone’s contribution – no matter how small – makes a difference, became part of my soul. 

After attending Year Course in 1975-76, I edited the Hamagshimim journal for a year or two and led YJ clubs in the Boston Area while studying at Brandeis. I studied library science and began work as a children’s librarian. In 1986, I made Aliyah, and shortly after I arrived in Israel I began working at the Youth Wing of the Israel Museum as their English Language librarian where I offered weekly preschool story times in English through a volunteer organization called JELLY (Jerusalem English Language Libraries for Youth).

In 1988 my son was born and I attended a music class with Canadian music educator, Barbara Cass-Beggs. Her class, “Your Baby Needs Music” was so wonderful that I continued to study with Barbara until I became a certified instructor using her “Listen, Like, Learn” approach.  Since story time at the Museum was for 3-5 year-olds, I combined what I had learned from Barbara with what I already knew about sharing books with young children, and developed a 30 minute program called “Mother Goose on the Loose” (MGOL) for parents with babies from birth to age 3.  MGOL programs ran weekly in the Young Wing library up until I moved back to the US in 1998.

During a job interview at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, I asked if I could present Mother Goose on the Loose programs.  The interviewer told me that recently published brain research showed that the architecture of the brain is built in the first few years of life, and that early experiences are important for influencing a child’s successful future. Not only could I do MGOL programs, but I was encouraged to start doing them as soon as possible. The need was great since programming for children under age three in the public library world at that time was rare and library directors were anxious to offer programs that parents wanted. Most librarians did not know what to do when directors told them to start programming for infants and toddlers; library literature on programming for babies was scant, and Google was not fully developed so searching online was not an obvious option.

Since MGOL was a time-tested program, I presented at a local library conference and wrote an article about it in a national library journal. Library systems from around the country began asking me to come out and train their children’s librarians. Each of my workshops started with the story of Mother Goose on the Loose’s origins, explaining that MGOL originated from the Youth Wing of the Israel Museum with a 30-minute weekly nursery rhyme program for an audience of Jews, Muslims, Christians, people of the Bahai faith, and others. Because we were all singing together and clapping for each other’s children, a magical sense of community was formed. To this day, the same sense of community grows wherever MGOL is offered.

Because of my time in Young Judaea, I was comfortable presenting about MGOL to large crowds, telling stories, explaining how to teach songs, and using enthusiasm to breed enthusiasm.

So my workshops went smoothly and Mother Goose on the Loose spread. (I also loved being able to talk about Israel and present it in a positive light – especially when I was in areas where people had not met any Jews in person before.) MGOL won a national award in 2002, I won an award because of MGOL in 2004 and a publisher asked me to write a book about it. Eventually, MGOL became so popular that I left my salaried job at the public library and formed Mother Goose on the Loose, LLC.  I now earn my living by providing trainings, workshops, webinars, and online classes. I often present at conferences and occasionally give keynotes. I’ve had 9 books published (how-to manuals for librarians.)

I credit Young Judaea for giving me the courage to tackle new situations and meet new people with confidence, to share my ideas with others and to listen carefully when they are sharing their ideas with me.

Because of the respect given to the ideas of others, fruitful partnerships have enabled MGOL to expand and be adapted for use in hospitals, laundromats, WIC centers, prisons, homeless shelters, elementary schools, synagogues, churches, and more. Now that I’ve had have plenty of time to learn about the research behind early childhood development, I do believe that giving children a strong start in the early years can set up the framework for their success. I am grateful that Mother Goose on the Loose has been able to have a positive impact on so many people, and I am grateful to Young Judaea for giving me the exact tools needed to bring Mother Goose on the Loose this far.

Last month, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) named me as the recipient of their 2022 Distinguished Service Award. This is a huge honor; ALSC is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and  enhancement of library service to children. Although I did not become a Jewish Professional, I am certainly have used all of my Young Judaea skills to help make the world a better place.

By Elana Paru

With tremendous gratitude for my active involvement in Young Judaea many years ago, I wanted to share this piece I wrote for the Wexner Foundation about why Supervision Matters so much in the workplace.  My experiences as a madricha at CYJ Sprout Lake and as a merakezet at CYJ Texas over 30 years ago helped shape my professional path.  Young Judaea taught me the importance of using my leadership skills and authority to invest in others.  Thanks to my family and extraordinary YJ role models, madrichim, and friends, I have devoted my career to treating people with compassion, integrity, and respect and leading with kindness and transparency. 

https://www.wexnerfoundation.org/supervision-matters/

After working as a professional in Jewish organizations for over 26 years, I have rarely come across an organization that has created and upheld a healthy and clearly defined culture of and standards for professional supervision across the entire staff and workplace.

Why is that?

The main reason is that supervision is commonly understood as one person with greater authority making sure that someone else has completed specific assignments and projects efficiently and in a timely manner. While this is certainly one important role that supervisors play, the process of supervision is so much more than task management and operations. Supervision is about developing a professional, collaborative relationship in which both parties share responsibility and feel accountable to one another as they both strive to meet the goals of their organization. Supervision is a skill and a craft – one’s title, salary, and professional portfolio do not automatically or universally make someone an effective supervisor.

So what does it take to be an effective supervisor? Among other things, supervisors should articulate expectations, goals, available resources, and provide direction and guidance to direct reports, who then apply knowledge, skills, and competency to complete the work. The most productive supervisory relationships are built on trust, confidentiality, support, constructive feedback, respect, safety, and self-care. Effective supervision is critical for employee retention, career advancement, productivity, and positive morale at work.

Interestingly, the most valuable supervision training I ever received took place years before I officially launched my career and accepted my first full-time job. The most rewarding culture of supervision I have been a part of was when I worked as a camp counselor and unit head for several summers during high school and college. As a part of staff orientation, I was asked to think about who I wanted to be as a camp counselor and how I wanted to “show up” for my campers. I had to make sure that my campers were fulfilling their responsibilities like making their beds, participating in activities, washing their hair, writing letters home, being respectful of others, and keeping track of their belongings. I had to find ways to hold them accountable for their actions and at the same time I had to let them be independent and express themselves authentically.

Just as professional supervisors engage with their direct reports, I was expected to get to know my campers by listening to them, caring about their well-being, helping them feel a sense of belonging, and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. I focused on their interests, strengths, challenges, fears, accomplishments, goals, and interactions. When campers were asked to do something that was out of their comfort zone or made them feel insecure, I would guide them to try new things, ask for help, and believe in themselves. I felt responsible for making sure that my campers understood that putting forth their best effort was expected even though they would still make mistakes, let people down, and feel disappointed sometimes. My job was not to make things easier or more difficult for my campers, but rather to help them approach whatever they confronted with an open mind, fresh perspective, and a strong sense of self.

My role as a camp counselor was not only to help my campers effectively contribute to the camp community, but I was also positioned to serve as their advocate. I introduced them to new people beyond our bunk and age group, I recommended them for special opportunities at camp, and I supported them whenever I could. Just like a supervisor, there were challenging times when after multiple attempts to help a camper thrive and fit in and adhere to camp policies, I had to work with the camper’s parents and other staff to accept the fact that our camp was not the right fit for that child at that time. Being responsible for other people is challenging no matter where you work. But as I have learned, it can also be the most rewarding aspect of one’s job.

There is no doubt that effective supervision requires a lot of time at the start. However, designing a plan to thoughtfully supervise staff is crucial for the employee to succeed and is a direct reflection of the supervisor and the organization as a whole. Setting up direct reports for success from the outset most often results in a huge return on investment.

Over the last several years I have trained clergy, senior executives, and managers on how to be effective supervisors. I have also had the good fortune of training direct reports on how to maximize supervision experiences, how to establish strong relationships with supervisors, and how to navigate difficult conversations. Supervisees are often surprised to learn that they are empowered to drive the process to ensure an optimal supervision experience.

In addition to these distinct responsibilities of supervisors and supervisees, there are a number of joint responsibilities in supervisory relationships, including celebrating successes, identifying growth opportunities, documenting accomplishments, and sharing important information with one another. It is critical for supervisors and direct reports to establish guidelines for clear and open communication and to be strategic about how and when to share constructive feedback with one another.

In the current climate of remote work as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is even more important for supervisors and direct reports to be transparent, direct, and communicative with one another. The absence of regular in-person interactions and hands-on supervision can be more challenging for everyone. It is particularly important for direct reports to be proactive in seeking information, understanding and managing expectations, and checking in with supervisors to ensure alignment. Both direct reports and supervisors should be careful not to act on assumptions, but rather on facts and truths. This may require more frequent and intentional communication than usual because there are no casual opportunities to run into someone’s office to get a quick reaction to something or an answer to a question. Over the past two years, I have seen many supervisory relationships shift in positive ways by creating a safe space for employees to honestly share how they are feeling and to be encouraged to take care of themselves. The more an employee feels seen, heard, and cared for by one’s supervisor and organization as a whole, the more likely that employee is to maximize value, performance, and overall impact at work.

What I learned at camp over 30 years ago continues to shape my thinking around supervisory relationships. It is no surprise that many of my friends and colleagues were once my counselors, camp directors, bunkmates, and campers. Supervision is not just a task but rather an opportunity to invest in someone’s growth and professional journey while ensuring that the work is getting done and organizational goals are being met. I am committed to helping organizations understand the value and impact of effective supervision and to embed it as a central component of their workplace culture. When this happens well, everyone involved is primed to be a happy camper.