PART I
Camp is in my soul…
My parents, Mark and Fran, were married for six years when they took the job working at Camp Akiba in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania in the summer of 1976. Working at a camp was ideal for them because my father was a school teacher with the summer off. They would pack up my sister Amy and I , close down the house, and head off to camp for the summer.
I was five years old that first summer, my sister was one year old. The routine I mentioned above went that way every summer for the next 14 years. Needless to say, I grew up at Camp Akiba.
Anyone who went to Camp Akiba will remember the sign that hung above the main road.
How true this sign would prove to be…
I remember camp being filled with love and friendship. I remember Cory, the first kid I met that summer when I was 5, we became fast friends, and it stayed that way all through out those fourteen summers. Back then we told each other in camp that we would always be there for each other, and to this day, we still are.
My father’s job at camp was Assistant Director. Through out the year he would head up different divisions. As a young kid, I recall the senior boy division adoring him. Being that he was also a musician, my father would organize a camp band that would perform together through out the summer at different all-camp events. For example, once a week there would be a broadway musical performed by campers,(think “Hair”, “Annie”, or “Cats”) and the camp band would play as the entire camp would file in to the rec-hall. I thought this was the coolest thing that I had ever seen in my young life…and it was.
Before I had even seen the camp band perform, I can remember the first time I heard them, or rather I should say, felt them perform. I was sitting down by the lake, just hanging out with a couple of other 10 year olds, when I heard the sound of drums. It was deep and primal, like it hit me in the chest or gut. I had to follow the sound. I left my bunk mates and started walking up the hill towards the rec-hall. As I got closer, I could now hear clearly what was going on, my Dad was rehearsing the camp band. I had seen this before, but it never had this impact, I never felt this feeling. I had to get as close to the sound as I could. I continued in to the rec-hall and sat down right next to the drummer, and that was it…I knew what I wanted to do. What happened to me that day was experiencing what I refer to as “the call of the drum”. To this day, whenever I hear a drum being played, I am drawn to the vibration.
Sure enough, within a few years time, I was the new drummer in the camp band! This was a result of the long-time drummer and my hero, Scott Rubin, attending college during the summer. This was a formative time for me, and it was a landmark on my Path To Rhythm, and it also gave me somewhat of a Rock Star status in camp…
pictured below: Me on drums, and that is my Dad rockin’ the Mickey Mouse t-shirt.
The years went by, and the summers spent at camp were the best in my life. My parents stopped working at camp the summer before I went to college, and I was off pursuing a career in music. Through out my adult years I stayed in touch with camp friends and what had become known as “camp family”. My camp family was always there for me, these were friends of my parents who also worked at camp, and in essence helped to raise me and earned the title “Uncle” or “Aunt”.
Part II
The official Camp Akiba reunion was held in 2004.
I was living in NYC at the time, and the idea of going back to the original camp grounds in the Pocono Mountains for a weekend was appealing to me. I had mixed feelings about attending the reunion, mostly just nerves and a little fear, but deep down I was ecstatic to be going back to camp. I had a pretty good feeling about this.
Sure enough, when I arrived at camp and saw that welcoming sign (the one mentioned above), I felt that familiar feeling of love and acceptance. It was truly a gift to be able to reconnect with old friends. I felt happy to be able to answer the frequently asked question, “Do you still play the drums?”, with a big smiling “YES“.
I was enjoying myself and I was amazed to see so many people and even meet new people that had been to camp before my time, or even after my time. You see, the reunion was open to anyone who had ever attended Camp Akiba, and there was over 500 people who turned out that day. That is why this next part gets good.
Out of all of those 500 people, I met some one who would change my life.
Tara and I first said hello while we were in line for the bathroom. We recognized each other, we attended camp at the same time, and we were casual friends back in the day. I saw Tara again that same night and sat with her at the campfire. The campfire moments with Tara were timeless and magical.
Apparently Tara felt the magic too. We spent some time together the next day outside of the dining hall, and we exchanged phone numbers. We kept in touch after the reunion. A friendship led to a romance. We dated for three years. And then…
Being the romantic that I am, I surprised Tara by taking her on a trip back to visit Camp Akiba, and there, all alone, in front of the beautiful lake that we were both so familiar with, I proposed to her. And she said yes.
The rest is history, we were married on July 3, 2008. And we were supported with love from family and friends. Many of my Camp Aunt and Uncles were there, and that kid I met when I was 5 the first summer at camp? He sat as our witness and signed our marriage documents. And I can’t forget to mention that me and my Dad jammed with the band and rocked the house!
True love found at summer camp.
20 comments… add one
brien April 2, 2009, 9:43 am
great story. truly a full-circle type of life-event. glad that you have found both of your true loves so early in life.
brien
Adam April 3, 2009, 8:54 am
@brien…Thanks! Me too.
storch May 24, 2009, 1:48 pm
awesome….awesome…..awesome…love you both so much and and so happy that I was able to share so much of your story.
SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!!!!
Amy May 26, 2009, 9:06 am
I love this story… and the site is so friendly and warm. It makes ME want to go back to camp, sit around a campfire and DRUM!
Jillian July 21, 2009, 1:56 pm
Tara and I talked yesterday and she told me about this site. I am so excited for you and wish you all the best in this venture. I LOVE the camp story. We were all so lucky to have had the opportunity to have Akiba in our lives. Miss you guys. Sending lots of love.
aunt frani and uncle irwin August 31, 2010, 11:33 am
You and the rest of the campers and staff are what made being at camp special. I enjoyed reading your blog and watching the drum circles that you run.
Matt C December 29, 2010, 4:47 pm
Just thought I’d google what now is a memory of when I was 19 and had never been away from home let alone on a plane to another country and found your blog. I t brought back memories of a fantastic summer back in 1997 as a counsellor. And the sign did hold true, I have friends from that summer at akiba that I am still close to today. Anyone else reading this work that year?
Best Regards for 2011 to you all.
Love Matt from the U.K
Adam December 29, 2010, 7:47 pm
Thanks for the comment Matt. I am glad to hear from a fellow Akiba person! That sign is classic, that is the reason I put that picture up.
laura cohen January 17, 2011, 11:45 am
Adam- For some reason, my Dad just forwarded this to me. Prob did not even know how well I knew the person who wrote it. Funny. I love that story and did hear that you got married after the reunion. LOVE that! I hope you are well. Gosh, as my kids get to be sleepaway age, I hope and pray we find another Akiba for them! Love ya, Laura Kramer Cohen
Gandhi "Jim" Newman April 5, 2011, 1:37 am
Adam,
Yes, you were a “ROCK STAR” and I really appreciate the way you played back then. I recently hooked up with Stephen “Ox” Levine on facebook, and could not believe that on a random search, your story of camp came up. Congratulations on the marriage as well. JN
Erica September 5, 2011, 6:06 pm
I have always remembered Camp Akiba. I went with my class before summer started and school let out. It usually was in may that we went. I always loved going there and the camp staff were so friendly. I especially loved fishing at the lake. I have not been there since I went on to high school.
JEN SODOWICH KOTLER October 5, 2011, 7:09 am
Hi Adam!
So I google Camp Akiba because I think about camp ALL the time and found your blog…. It was great to read and what a fabulous story you and Tara share. No camp event would be complete without The Akibite Band starting out with was it ” “Get Ready”–The Temptations?? Thank you for the gift of music and my BEST and lots of love to you, Aunt Fran, Aunt Lois and the rest of the Akiba gang!! When are YOU going to reopen Camp Akiba??? xoxox Jenny Sodowich
Adam Issadore October 5, 2011, 9:31 am
Hi Jenny!
Thank you for your kind words.
I will work on reopening Akiba!!!!
Marc March 16, 2012, 10:34 pm
Hi Adam,
I don’t know if you remember me. I was the Theater director at Camp Akiba back in 1986. You and your father would jam at all my shows. You were great. I bet you are much more amazing today. I was the guy from AZ. I’m so happy to hear that you hooked up with someone from camp. When did Camp Akiba close down? How are your parents doing? I know where most of the staff went after 1986. It was unfortunate for what happened after Mr. Gordon past away. I never met him, but I heard he was a great man. I wish you the best in your marriage and the best in your music career. I hope you end up opening Camp Akiba. It was a great camp and the best kept secret up in the mountains. Be well, Marc Adelman
Adam Issadore March 17, 2012, 11:40 am
Marc,
I remember you and all of the great shows that you put together! Look out for an Akiba Reunion in September 2012!
justin taub March 16, 2013, 10:37 am
open up akiba again! do it!
Gary Zlotnick July 6, 2014, 6:08 pm
Loved ur story. I was a camper from 1965-1971, and a counselor in 1977. I miss Camp Akiba a lot. Wish I could go back in time. I was so happy then. We never know what lies ahead of us. I have many happy memories of camp. Gary Zlotnick
Missy Jaron Schilling July 24, 2014, 7:23 pm
So I think about camp Akiba a lot and
Get very depressed that camp isn’t open for
My children to attend.
Amazing that my 2 girls now go to camp and
All I wanted to show them is camp Akiba!
Adam your blog is amazing, you and your
Parents were a big part of camp! Loved all
The memories . So please someone reopen
Camp Akiba!!
Rich Dunn May 12, 2015, 2:00 pm
Adam,
Great story. I remember you very much and Izzy, your father and your mom were always so kind to everyone. I hope they are doing well now. I was the one from Murray State with the southern accent. Played baseball at Murray and refereed most of the basketball games. I was there 81 till 87. I would love to come to one of the reunions. I am glad you opened this blog and shared your story. Miss Akiba and the memories.
Norman Lepoff July 4, 2015, 7:37 am
Beautiful story and photos. I was a camper there from the late 50’s to mid 60’s.