Where does magic come from? When we see magic performed we know it’s some type of trick. Bunnies don't just appear from hats and a person can’t vanish magically. If we don’t know where the magic part is from, we have been successfully dazzled and the magician achieved their job correctly.

Perlman is no magician, but it is magical. After spending almost three weeks there, I can see where the magic comes from. Why it's special, why hundreds of teens go there every year, why they take pictures with a tree full of lights, or are so excited to go to a lake.

It’s partially due to the place: it’s pretty amazing, has a stunning location and a lot of history. The feeling of when you arrive at Rose Hill Road is like no other. You know something pretty cool is about to happen but you just don’t know how or when. I loved being on BBYO’s side of Perlman (fun fact there are two Perlman camps and they both share a dining hall).

Although all of this I believe it’s magic is the people. Is the Madrichim who support teens every step of the way, the JE team that make every moment meaningful, it’s the blueprint leaders who try to better BBYO, it’s everybody in the office who makes sure camp runs smoothly. It’s them and the teens that make up what makes Perlman so special. 

Perlman would be a pretty cool place to be no matter the time of year, but during summer there seems to be some special. Something magical.