How Bauercrest Got My Son Into College

One Sunday afternoon, when my son Max was four or five years old, we were sitting in front of the TV in our den during a Pats game when suddenly he jumped up and screamed, “FLEAFLICKER!!!” I looked up, startled, then smiled and went back to what I was doing: not watching the Pats game. Until the announcer yelled, “FLEAFLICKER!!!” Wait… that’s a thing? My sweet little boy isn’t just making up adorably strange-sounding words? OMG. My sweet little boy is a GENIUS!

As it turns out, there are other criteria that must be met before one is deemed an actual genius. What Max is, amongst other things, is a kid who just really loves sports. While he’s always been involved in team sports, his true passion lies in watching and talking about them. He’s fascinated by all the nuances and strategies, both on the field and behind the scenes. Max is seldom the best player on the field… even by Jewish overnight camp standards… but he is undeniably his best self when he’s part of a team. He thrives on the brotherhood, camaraderie and sense of purpose this environment provides. Which is precisely why Bauercrest has been such a perfect fit for him.

Despite his “Neither Genius Nor Superstar Athlete” status, Max was just accepted into his top college choice, and is one step closer to fulfilling his dream of becoming a sports broadcaster. Thank you, Bauercrest. Because while he did work hard and had an amazing college counselor, Micah and I maintain that this extraordinary opportunity would not exist for our son had he not taken advantage of all the extraordinary opportunities he’s had at camp.

Bauercrest is where Max learned to live away from home. It’s where he learned to eat salad. It’s where he learned that thunderstorms aren’t nearly as scary when you’re all huddled together in the bunk, listening to your counselor telling silly stories. Bauercrest is where I overheard someone from Max’s opposing Color War team whisper, “Careful… Pollack’s got a SNIPE!” just moments before Senior A Hockey, and just months before that same Pollack was cut from his high school team. Bauercrest is where Max was trained to ref games and certified as a lifeguard, which led to his first two “real jobs” and a free membership at Lifetime. Bauercrest sent Max on his first trip to Israel, where the already deep-rooted connections to his camp friends and Jewish identity were irrevocably cemented.

With Max’s permission, I’m sharing his college essay so you can hear in his own words what camp means to him. That he chose to highlight his experiences on the Hillside as a way to show college admissions officers who he is and what he has to offer says more about the power of Bauercrest than I ever could. Thanks all the same for letting this proud Camp Mom try.

With much love,
Stacy