As we begin the 21st summer of Beam Camp camper enrollment and big project selection, it is impossible for me not to reflect on the central role that intentional and unintentional challenges play in Beam Center’s approach to cultivating environments for educational and developmental growth.

This month’s installment of our community spotlight features one of our current interns at Beam Center, Anelise. She attended Beam Camp for four years and has been interning with us for the last two years, where she helps around the center and is also working on an independent project.

This month’s installment of our Community Spotlight series features a long-time Beam Camper, Carlos Baez. Carlos went to Beam Camp in New Hampshire at the age of 13 and continued going for the next 5 years, he then transitioned from the role of camper to camp staff/counselor.

This month’s installment of our Community Spotlight series features a long time Beam Camper and counselor, Sylvie Freedman. Sylvie is a lifelong Brooklyn resident and artist.

This month’s installment of Beam’s Community Spotlight series features Sebastian. Sebastian is a sophomore at The Dalton High School and dreams of creating a video game one day after he is done with school. He is interested in creating things whether through art, engineering, or other mediums.

This month’s installment of Beam’s Staff Spotlight series features our Beam Camp’s co-Director, Dondo Zakheim. Dondo has worked at Beam Center, Beam Camp’s umbrella organization, for 7 years during which they facilitated past summer day camp programs, in-school projects, and more.

This month’s installment of our community spotlight features Kieran, former Beam Camper and Staff Assistant. Kieran is currently a sophomore at Tufts University studying biochemistry and studio art. In addition to his studies, Kieran has two part time jobs - one of which is at the university’s theatre, where he designs and creates set pieces for the student shows.

This month’s installment of Beam’s Staff Spotlight series features our Project Director, Mitchell Dose. Managing our Project Production enterprise, Mitchell collaborates with artists, Beam staff, youth staff, and youth participants to build large projects across Beam’s programming sites, both in NYC and at Beam Camp in New Hampshire. Mitchell trains participants in the Project Production enterprise, called Fellows, in all aspects of project development and helps fold an artist’s vision into an experience for youth and staff.

We're excited to announce that we have selected our 2023-2024 Beam Project New Hampshire: Welcome Beacon, to be built at Beam Camp during summer 2023. As part of our Big Projects initiative, Beam Center builds large-scale public artworks through collaborations with youth. These projects are displayed across three locations: Beam Camp City on Governors Island, in a local NYC community, and - in the case of this project - Beam Camp in Strafford, NH.

This month's installment of our Community Spotlight series features May. May is a longtime Beam Camper and a high school senior at Friends Select in Philadelphia, PA. May is preparing to attend college during Spring 2023 and says that she is interested in studying environmental science, engineering, and design.

Beam Camp is about halfway over, and the big project is coming along, so there’s no better time to introduce you to the team that prototyped this summer’s Beam Camp big project. Meet the Spring 2022 Fellows cohort!

There’s no better way to close out the month of May than with a very special Community Spotlight feature. We’re pleased to honor Mrs. Shirley Kahn, the mother of our Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board, Danny Kahn, in advance of her 100th birthday in June. We had the pleasure of speaking with Shirley about her life and her own unique connection to summer camp.

Announcing the Beam Camp’s Co-Directors (+ a few sneak peeks at summer 2022)…

The January 2022 installment of our Community Spotlight series features former Beam Camper, Deborah. Deborah is a high school senior at STAR Early College and will attend Duke University in the fall. Deborah plans to pursue the pre-med track and wants to become a Trauma Surgeon; her interest in medicine started after she joined the NYU Grossman School of Medicine STEP program.