I often write about my love of all things summer camp, and how the friends I made during those camp years have affected my life. My camp friends have no hidden agendas or expectations, except that of my unwavering friendship. We have an incredible bond and they truly are, my best friends. Even today, Kacey (one of my oldest camp friends) and her husband Bram, co-parent with Tamar and me. Their kids get together with mine and alternate eating and sleeping at our respective homes on the weekends. It gives us a break, and the kids have become the best of friends – when they don’t hate each other J . Even the camp friends that I only see from time-time, always greet me with a big hug and minor small talk. We like to get right down to chatting about what matters; family, old friends and good times.
Over the last couple of years a few of my camp friends, who share an immense love of music, have asked me to audition for a charitable musical review that they annually perform. Every year I’ve turned them down. As much as I love my friends, I just couldn’t see myself dancing, singing and being a part of multiple choreographed shows. I really didn’t think it was for me.
But I was totally wrong.
the dancing queen
Years ago, for two hours on every Friday, I used to teach an eight-week cooking ‘cluster’ at my children’s school. These incredible ‘teaching clusters’ were facilitated by a parent, that was often part of the incredible parent group we have in our community. In addition to cooking, there were numerous other clusters: sewing, arts and physical fitness to name a few. The students loved learning in them and the parents loved facilitating them. I also loved seeing my kids at school, who were always proud of “Chef Dad”.
The clusters program made me fall in love with giving back to the community and the bigger theme of charity. So, two years ago when I was looking for more ways to get involved, I instantly thought of my camp friends and their yearly musical review that raises money for “Imagine a Cure for Leukemia”. So, I called my friend Dani (who’s also kind of family) and asked her to get me in touch with the producer, Neal.
I auditioned and made the cut. About a month later the casting was published, and to my relief I saw that I would be singing (versus dancing) in a few of the songs. I mean, why would anyone cast me in a dancing role?
But boy oh boy, was I wrong again.
I didn’t fully understand what I was in for, in the coming months. We rehearsed twice a week as a group and sometimes more often on our own. Especially the closer we got to opening night. I learned harmonies and how to dance. Yes. That’s right. I learned ‘choreo’ (short for choreography for all you non- dancers) 
and you know what?! I loved it! I loved it all! Especially dancing in one number that paid tribute to the Swedish musical band, ABBA. Every time we rehearsed it or performed it live, I had a permanent smile, from ear to ear.
I leapt outside my comfort zone, danced my ass off, and felt amazing! The icing on the cake? It was all for my friend Nara’s charity. But I learned something about myself too – I can totally dance baby!
camp unsung heroes
During the weekly rehearsals, I would marvel at how close the cast was with one another. Many of them had performed in multiple shows together, while I was a ‘newbie’. I saw it from the first second of the first rehearsal. They hugged each other hello, asked about their families and repeated the cycle with the next friend. And you could tell they really cared. The mutual respect and closeness was palpable. They were tight. Especially for a big group of thirty-five people. I had never seen anything like it; not since summer camp.
After months of rehearsing, we all made it to the stage, and I still remember singing the closing number to our last show. That’s when it hit me; I looked around and felt a connection with every single person on that stage. Even though I may not be ‘besties’ with them all, I respect them and we share an incredible, unique bond. The cast have not only become my friends, they’ve become the equivalent of camp friends.
On that day, Camp Unsung Heroes was born.
In the time since that show I’ve run into and spent time with, many of the cast members here, there and everywhere. When we see each other we hug, have real conversations, and remain genuinely interested in each others’ lives. We also get excited when we talk about the next show together.
In the two decades since saying good-bye to summer camp, I have finally found that ‘something else’ that offers the same bi-product; amazing relationships. I’m incredibly fortunate to have found a group of people that I feel connected to, you know, like my camp friends. It’s crazy to think that I could have enjoyed this experience and these people sooner, if I had only listened.
I’m glad I finally did.
I’m also glad they needed me to fill a few dancing roles. So, keep singing, eating and dancing in your own lives and don’t forget to invite your best friends to the party.
– Chef jw
