From Camper to Counselor

How summers at Crane Lake inspired Haiden Clarin’s return to camp as a counselor.

Apr. 29, 2026

Haiden Clarin’s camp story began on a tour of Crane Lake in 2017, a visit that would ultimately shape who she is today.

Now, after concluding her time as a camper as part of Olim ’24, Haiden is preparing for her first summer on staff. From her early memories of growing up surrounded by Crane Lake traditions to the lifelong friendships she’s formed, Haiden reflects on how camp shaped her into a confident leader and why she’s excited to return as a counselor.

Dear Crane Lake Community,

As early as I can remember, I was introduced to the idea of camp: tons of old CLC photos, several vintage CLC staff t-shirts, and many long and short stories that represented my parents’ 2002 CLC summer. There is a specific kind of adrenaline as I counted down the days to shipping and subsequently tracking my duffels’ journey to West Stockbridge. I was definitely destined to be a “camp kid. “

My journey as a camper started after a tour of camp. With open eyes and a high ponytail, I explored the fresh Berkshire air and found a sense of comfort in the place I had heard so much about: the views from the lake, gravel roads, the upper and lower fields. Teva, the old gymnastics pavilion and Chadar, plus the rows of bunks seemed to piece together a story I had been listening to my entire life. With my declaration, “Yes, this is it,” that I made when my two feet landed out of the rental car, before the actual tour, I was officially ready to begin my own camp story.

My official camper name tag marked my first summer as a CLC camper. Living in Gardenview with a top bunk by the window, I fluffed my pillows and re-tucked my blanket in order to climb down and join the other first year campers for an opening day grilled cheese lunch. My first summer was magical: when my parents asked me about my favorite activity, all I could talk about was the people I had met. I came home beaming about my new friends with their phone numbers and emails, of what were soon to be lifelong friends, written on my arm in Sharpie.

As the years went by, those Sharpie scribbles faded, but the bonds they represented only grew stronger. CLC became the environment where I felt like my best self. It gave me the confidence to laugh and excel from Reveille until lights out (sometimes even after too). I distinctly remember the moments where my friends and I had late night dance parties in our bunk, the times we “debriefed” our days on the porch until way too late, and of course the rainy day chronicles. To me, these are the moments I remember most. Whether I was stepping into new leadership opportunities or just sparking a conversation at Chug (a.k.a. cloudbusting or reading), I realized that the magic of CLC is built on the people. Getting to know everyone across camp – not just in my bunk – became something incredibly special to me.

Even during the winter months, I never really left. My phone was always a digital scrapbook of Crane Lake memories: photos of the iconic CLC sunset and Saturday freeplay memories took up my lockscreen. Whenever a camp song or a fight song played on my playlist, I’d blast the volume and immediately send a clip to my camp friends just to relive a feeling of butterflies on the second Saturday in July. There is something about the pride I feel in unapologetically singing those lyrics that always drew me back to the idea of camp. To this day, ‘Summertime Forever’ plays in my car as I drive to and from school.

The definitive turning point for me was my Olim summer. During the intensity of Color War, standing in front of the CLC community as one of the oldest campers, everything shifted. My heart has always understood CLC, but in that moment, I looked at the younger units across Crane Lake (and my sister Alix!) and took in their pure, growing love for this camp, bringing myself back to memories in their tiny Nitzanim shoes. I knew I wanted to be a part of protecting and shaping that experience of being an unapologetic Crane Laker.

This summer, I’m stepping into a counselor role to share the same love for CLC that shaped me into a confident leader, passing that passion on to a new generation of campers. And I cannot wait to start this journey with all of you!

With gratitude,
Haiden Clarin

Haiden will return to camp for her first summer on staff and 9th overall. We can’t wait to welcome her, and our entire community, back for another amazing summer!

Across the Pond to Crane Lake

How summers at camp shaped Lillie Freeman’s confidence, leadership, and sense of belonging.

Mar. 18, 2026

Dear Crane Lake Community,

To start, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Lillie Freeman, I’m 19 years old, and this summer will be my third year at Crane Lake. When I’m not working at camp, I am a student at the University of Salford in Manchester, studying Film Production.

My journey started all the way across the pond in England, at a camp hiring fair that more than 50 camps attended. I started working at camp in 2024 as a general counsellor when I had just turned 18 years old. I returned to camp in 2025 as a Ropes specialist and will be returning to do the same role in 2026!

When I arrived at camp, the instant welcome I received from the staff, and the effort they made to ensure everyone settled into camp life, created a pleasant and lovely introduction to the camp bubble. In that moment, I knew that Crane Lake was going to make this the best summer yet.

During staff training, the returning and domestic staff were eager to show the new staff their favourite places around camp, share camp traditions, and explain what makes camp so special to them. This gave me a great insight into what the summer at camp would be like. Seeing how much camp meant to them made me appreciate its impact and significance even more, and it inspired me to hopefully pass that same passion on to others and return next year to do the same.

The moment I knew I wanted to return to Crane Lake, was at the end of the first session when it was time to part ways with my campers. Seeing how each of my campers (shoutout Olim ’29!) have grown in confidence, from the very first day of camp to the last is incredibly rewarding. Watching them achieve goals they never thought possible, and to witness how proud they were of what they had accomplished, was something really special. That is what makes me want to return each year to a place that has truly become my home away from home.

Crane Lake has a community unlike any other place. Everyone is welcoming, inclusive, fun, and energetic. This sense of inclusivity makes the magic of camp an even greater experience. The traditions that camp offers, bring the entire community together, which feels special to be a part of.

One community moment that really stood out to me, was at the end of Colour War when the winners were announced. No matter which team won, everyone was cheering for each other, people were simply happy just to be there. Looking back, being part of the Crane Lake community, is an honour and a privilege that I will always cherish and be proud of.

Throughout my time at camp, I have grown as an individual and become more confident and outgoing than I was when I first arrived. Being at camp gives you so many skills that you can’t learn anywhere else. It has a way of pushing you out of your comfort zone, and encouraging you to try new things you never thought you would.

Camp also creates a safe space for everyone to be the best version of themselves, which it did for me. Experiencing this all summer long, completely changed and shaped who I am today. Camp has helped me become more independent, passionate, determined, and most importantly more confident in being myself.

With gratitude,
Lillie Freeman

Lillie will return to camp for her third summer on staff as part of our Ropes Team. We can’t wait to welcome her, and our entire community, back for another unforgettable summer!

From the Rec Hall to Boston’s Roadrunner

How summers at Crane Lake helped shape Danny Silverston’s path from camp songleader to keyboardist for Couch.

Feb. 27, 2026

Song sessions at camp can often feel like a sold-out concert, a comparison that rings especially true for Danny Silverston (Olim ’15), a Crane Lake Camp alum and keyboardist for the pop band Couch. Couch is a seven-piece band composed of musicians primarily from the greater Boston area.

Now, as Couch prepares to embark on the international leg of the tour for their debut album, Big Talk, Danny is bringing the same energy that once filled the Rec Hall to stages all around the world.

Earlier this month, we caught up with Danny to talk about how being in a band compares to being bunkmates, how songleading at services translates to performing at sold-out venues, and how his summers at Crane Lake helped shape his musical journey.

What is your camp story?

My connection to camp actually started with my sister, who went to Eisner. When I was old enough to go to camp, I chose Crane Lake. I liked the emphasis on building a bunk community and the focus on sports. I still remember Herb May leading my family’s tour. I started in Upper Nitz in 2010 and stayed through my second year on staff in 2019. I cherished my time as a camper. I came to camp focused on sports, especially tennis, but camp is also where my love of music took shape. I learned to play guitar at camp from my counselor, Jeff Schwartz. More than anything, camp gave me the people I felt most like-minded to and the most myself around. Going to Crane Lake was truly one of the best decisions of my life.

My time on staff may have been even more fun. I was a counselor for two summers with Lower and Upper Bonim – an awesome group of kids with tons of energy. During my second year, the Bonim Boys won Fight Song with a Spider-Man themed performance to “Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee. The songwriting I did back then helped build the skills I’d later use writing for Couch. Another highlight from that summer was leading Purple Hufflepuff to victory in Mini Macc. All in all, my time at Crane Lake as both camper and counselor was unforgettable.

What was your experience like as a songleader?

I was initially hired as both a general counselor and a songleader. I was lucky to be part of a team of excellent musicians, many of whom learned music first and songleading afterward. During services, I typically played the guitar and djembe drum. I vividly remember being in front of camp and picking out my best friends in the crowd, riling up their kids, getting them excited and engaged.

My last summer at camp is when we started the tradition of shouting “one more time,” “several more times,” and even “ten more times” during “Twisted Candle” at Havdalah services. There’s something powerful about leading music in a space where the whole community is fully present and invested.

What led to the creation and success of Couch?

I grew up surrounded by music. I started playing piano at a young age and got into jazz during high school. I met Zach, Couch’s guitarist and an Eisner alum, while songleading at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA. Most of Couch consists of friends from high school who loved playing music together.

I continued to play music in college where I developed as a musician and songwriter. After graduation, we all moved to Boston and started playing gigs, including a sold out run in 2021 that put us on the map. From there, promoters and agents started taking notice.

We just wrapped three-quarters of our 40-city international tour. It’s been incredible to see the connections we’ve made with fans turn into something people want to experience live. Our biggest show to date was a few months ago at Roadrunner in Boston, with 20+ Crane Lakers in attendance. I never imagined this would be my life and I’m tremendously grateful.

How has your camp experience benefited you professionally?

There are absolutely skills I learned as a Jewish songleader that translate directly to putting on a 90-minute set of pop music. In both, it’s important to keep people engaged, make them feel like part of the performance, and maintain momentum. Songleading at my synagogue taught me early on that a group of kindergarteners is the toughest audience. You have to prepare a program of music, talking points, and ways to actively involve them. I’ve been to plenty of concerts where the music is great, but the artist doesn’t know what to say between songs. That’s where the time spent leading services comes in. There was a moment in a previous Couch set where I led the crowd in a three-part harmony, and it felt deeply reminiscent of my time as a songleader.

A huge part of being in the music industry is just working with people. Whether it is collaborating with other artists or coordinating with venue reps, going to camp gave me a social sensibility I don’t take for granted. Several of us in Couch grew up going to summer camp. Being on tour in a band is surprisingly similar to being in a bunk: you know each other so well, they sometimes annoy you, and yet you love them.

What makes camp important?

For me, the most important thing about camp is the relationships that you make. The connection with my Crane Lake friends has had the biggest impact on me. We’re still in touch almost every day. They’ve been some of the most supportive people throughout my journey with Couch. It means so much having them in the audience cheering me on.

I also found the spirit of tradition and the ritual at Crane Lake deeply meaningful. This spirit of upholding camp traditions and shouldering that burden of history. There is this experience of going to camp that was so magical as kid. It’s important for kids in the future to have access to that same magical feeling.

Even after playing over 200 shows in my life, there is an atmosphere in the Rec Hall that is incomparable. The electricity. The intensity. You see that most during Color War. You learn so much while participating in it. It’s an incredible team effort and the pinnacle of the camp experience. Whether you’re running torch or co-writing the march for Blue Uprising, everyone contributes to something bigger than themselves.

Want to see Danny and the band perform live? Couch will return home to Massachusetts this summer for two nights at The Chicken Box in Nantucket on August 4-5.