Northland-B’nai Brith hosts first at-camp reunion

For the first time in its history, Camp Northland-B’nai Brith is holding an at-camp reunion.

The burning of the NBB is a tradition performed the last night of camp each session at Camp Northland-B’nai Brith. 

Northland has been located on Haliburton’s Moose Lake for some 68 years. This year, as the Jewish Camp Council approaches its 100th anniversary, the camp has decided that meeting in Toronto isn’t enough for its alumni.

“The reunion is all about memories,” said David Berger, the president of the board of directors of the Jewish Camp Council of Toronto. “It’s more nostalgic. People can say, ‘This is where it was, look at what’s changed.’ They can reminisce.”

The reunion will be held Sept. 7, on the camp’s 750 acres. While it’s a one-day event, guests can choose to come the night before and sleep over.

 The reunion committee has been planning the event since last fall.

“The response has been good. There’s a lot of interest and excitement,” said Frank Tizel, chair of the reunion committee.

Ellen Nash, the executive director of the Jewish Camp Council of Toronto and the camp director, is expecting former campers and staff from the 1950s.

“A lot of people say they really want to come back,” she said. “Anybody who was ever [at Northland] can come.”

This year will be Nash’s last as camp director, which is one of the reasons the camp isn’t waiting until 2010 to hold the reunion.

“We had to do it now,” Berger said. “Ellen’s leaving, and we’ve had requests.”

Like many alumni, former camper Mark Alexander, 37, hasn’t seen the camp in years.

“I was 13 to15 [when I went to camp.] I really just want to see the place. I want to see the lake, go out on the dock. [Camp] is a whole other world,” he said.

The last two reunions, one in 1990 the other in 2000, were held in Toronto. While Berger is anticipating a successful event, he realizes that fewer people may come.

“In 1990, we had a big event at the Sheridan with well over 1,000 people. The next [reunion] was a Sunday lunch. It was [also] a huge success. This one is different logistically. The community is in the GTA and the camp is 21/2 hours north of here,” Berger said.

Still, as the Jewish Camp Council prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2009, Berger is hopeful.

“We have a rich history of people attending. This year, [we’re doing] something different,” he said. “I think the most important thing is to reconnect. We want to continue to reach out to the community through another 100 years.”

 Since Northland is a sleepover camp, many campers forge lifelong relationships.

“My wife and I met at camp,” Berger said. “I live on a street that’s a block long and there are three longtime marriages from Camp Northland. It’s an intense environment. Much deeper friendships [form] at camp.”

While the upcoming reunion will have programs such as canoeing and swimming, its main purpose will be to allow alumni to see each other again.

“Programming is less important,” Berger said. “When we first started [having reunions], we thought we needed programming, but some people never even left the lobby. They saw people they knew – they were too busy talking to pay attention,” he said.

The reunion will end with the traditional burning of a wooden Northland-B’nai Brith sculpture.

“It’s quite touching,” Tizel said.