Jewish summer camps have faced and continue to face issues surrounding girls' poor body image, eating disorders, and most recently, cutting. The Foundation for Jewish Camp, in response to these serious problems in our camps, has compiled a resource guide for camp directors to assist in training camp counselors in these areas. Additionally, camps may be facing the same issues with their counseling staff.

Included in the guide are handouts with relevant information for camp staff, suggestions for enhancing self-esteem and self-image programs, a suggested staff training, Jewish values and simple activities to run in the bunk, and additional resources for continued learning. This year, FJC will be offering a select number of training days throughout the country and via conference call. More specific information will be available in the coming months.

Beyond Miriam has already helped to educate camp counselors as they navigate caring for and working with Jewish girls. Our mission is not to teach them that they are responsible for fixing these problems, but that proactively they can do much to improve a young girl's body image, through role modeling and programming. Counselors, through these materials, know that they are supported by the professional camp staff when they have a concern. In the words of Pirkei Avot (2:16), Lo Alecha Hamlacha Ligmor - It is not your duty to complete the task. Neither are you free to desist from it.

The Beyond Miriam Guide is available on www.jewishcamp.org/beyondmiriam.