February 2019

In December, more than 400 people joined us for our Annual Camper Reunion at Stars & Strikes in Atlanta. We bowled, enjoyed pizza and desserts, had raffle prizes, and watched our musical reunion slideshow. Everyone received a reunion T-shirt and a delicious Barney Bar – our campers’ favorite treat! It was a blast seeing our camp families from all across the southeast!

Deddy Paz, Head Song Leader and Program Director

Since Summer 2000, Deddy has called CBM his summer home. He started as a song leader through the Summer Shlichim program before becoming head staff of Cultural and Performing Arts and now head song leader and program director. Along the way, he met Li-ron (who was a member of our Arts & Crafts staff), and they married in 2007. Deddy and Li-ron have four beautiful children, two who are CBM campers and two who can’t wait to be!

One of Deddy’s fondest memories at CBM is when he recorded a CD with his campers before Camp Barney had music studios. He says he “can still hear the kids’ smiles” as they recorded it. But his most powerful experience was during Summer 2018 when his 9-year-old son, Ilay, led the ‘Prayer for Israel’ in Hebrew. At that moment, Deddy was “in tears, realizing how CBM has not only changed me, but has also – and continues to – change my children’s lives.”

CBM has had a profound impact on Deddy’s Jewish identity. Before working at CBM, he came “from a completely secular background, taking 'Jewishness' for granted.” After experiencing Shabbat services at camp – and even leading them – his perception of what it means to be Jewish has changed completely, “only really becoming Jewish at CBM,” he says.

Even as a child and teenager involved in youth movement, growing up in a small village with a strong and loving community, and serving in the army, Deddy says that Camp Barney is what has shaped and influenced his life the most. Camp Barney has given him a family, a purpose, and a summer home that he calls “the best place in the world.”

Registration for Summer 2019 is OPEN and we’re counting down the days until first session! 

CBM Experience
Campers completing 1st-4th grades can get the perfect “taste” of CBM, spending four days and three nights at Camp. They spend Monday at MJCCA Day Camps to get to know their cabinmates. On Tuesday, they head to CBM and participate in tons of activities, go on a cookout, and even get canteen and mail! CBM Experience is designed and staffed by Camp Barney; registration is facilitated by MJCCA Day Camps – click here for info about available weeks and to register.

Info Sessions in Atlanta
Do you have friends who want to learn about the magic of CBM? We have info sessions Sun, March 10 and Sun, April 7 at 1:00 pm at our office at the MJCCA! Prospective families will enjoy a fun musical slideshow, meet the directors, and learn all about CBM for 2019. Tell your interested friends to bring the whole family – RSVP here!

Spring Open Houses
Join us Sun, May 5 and 12 from 1:00-4:00 pm for our Spring Open Houses! New and returning families will take a deluxe tour of camp, meet the directors and staff, enjoy camp activities like swimming and the Hurricane water slide, and taste our popular Milk Line Cookies. RSVP here!

Alumni and camp families are invited to join us for a great day of preparing and playing! At our 4th Annual Fix & Fun Day on Sun, May 5 from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm, you'll leave a lasting imprint on camp with family-friendly activities and then enjoy lunch and fun camp activities including swimming, the Hurricane water slide, and Wildlife Wonders. Bring the whole family!

RSVP required at campbarney.org/fixfun

Camp Barney Medintz has a rich tradition of alumni, families, and community supporters coming together to provide support for CBM to keep our program thriving, enabling us to impact thousands of Jewish lives each year.

Jewish camping is powerful and transformative. Generation after generation of Jewish children have been influenced and invigorated by their Jewish heritage and Jewish identity after spending their summer at Camp Barney Medintz. Jewish campers grow up to be connected to Jewish life and identify proudly within the Jewish community as adults.

9 out of 10 Camp Barney Medintz campers told us camp made a difference in their lives.

• 98% made a new friend or acquaintance
• 96% enhanced their identification with Jewish traditions, values, and ideas
• 97% learned or improved on a skill or activity
• 99% gained more independnce

Camp Barney Medintz relies on your generosity – and we ask that you invest in the future of the Jewish community by contributing today. 

Family Camp Weekend at Camp Barney Medintz
August 30 - September 2

Our 39th annual Family Camp Weekend will bring together new and returning families (and even a few grandparents!) for a weekend filled with exciting activities, delicious southern buffets, and great family fun. Spaces fill quickly, so look out for applications coming soon!

We’re so proud of our campers who were accepted into the inaugural cohort of JumpSpark’s Strong Women Fellowship. JumpSpark is Atlanta’s initiative for Jewish teen engagement, and this educational cohort provides teens in 9-12th grades with unparalleled access to strong women leaders, thinkers, and voices shaping the world we live in today, equipping them with valuable leadership skills and resume-building experience.

Mya Artzi – camper 2010-18
Samantha Fitch – camper 2010
Aidan Fladell – camper 2012-19
Marissa Goodman – camper 2012-19
Tamar Guggenheim – camper 2013-19
Maya Laufer – camper 2014-15
Emma Nowitz – camper 2013 -19
Lulu Rosenberg – camper 2011-19
Zoe Rosenberg – camper 2011-18
Zoe Siegel – camper 2012-now
Lexi Silberman – camper 2011-2018
Lily Stoumen – 2012-19

Do you have exciting news to share with your Camp Barney family? Did you recently get engaged or married? Have you recently had children? If so, we would love to know and share the wonderful news with your camp community. Please email us at alumni@campbarney.org.

Atlanta Alumni, save the dates for some fun upcoming events!