If you're having trouble viewing this email, you cansee it online.
In This Issue:
"She Didn't Talk About the Place First, She Talked About the People"
Celebrating Our First CRS Session of 2026!
Wider and Wider Our Circle Expands, Ring by Ring
GEJ Scholarship: Deadline is August 2nd!
TELE is Growing in Leaps and Bounds
Recent Campers Need Your Help to Reach Their Fundraising Goal
Cameron's Corner: Lil' Libby
In Memoriam
Upcoming Events
"She Didn't Talk About the Place First, She Talked About the People."
That's how one Camp Rising Sun mom described her daughter Danae's first day back home in Greece. She was talking almost nonstop, but not about the activities or the scenery, about the people. And about a community, in her daughter's words, where "everyone belonged, regardless of who they were or where they came from."
Danae's mother, Emi, wrote to share what that belonging actually looked like in practice. There was the moment a fellow camper gently helped Danae understand how differently ten dollars can be experienced depending on where you're from. There was the quiet realization that she'd been carrying opinions without ever noticing, until Camp taught her to see people instead of labels.
"I don't think that is a lesson that can be taught in a classroom; it is something that can only be experienced. As parents, we always hope that our children will come back from an experience like this with beautiful memories. Danae came back with something much greater than that. She came back more confident, more thoughtful and, I truly believe, a little wiser," Emi wrote.
That's the thing about Rising Sun summers: the moments that stay with campers longest are rarely the ones on the Camp schedule.
Read on for more from this summer's community — new friendships, personal growth, and the small moments that add up to something bigger.
Celebrating Our First Session of 2026!
That’s a wrap on our Girls and Non-Binary session! Over four weeks, campers built a close-knit community, stepped into new challenges, and formed friendships across cultures and continents. From beloved traditions like Nature Trip, Council, Variety Show, and Vigil Night to thoughtful conversations, cultural exchange, and even building a 20-foot bridge together, the session was filled with moments of courage, connection, collaboration, and joy.
Read the recap and explore photos from the session on our blog:
Every ring in a tree tells the story of another year of growth. As LAJF Executive Director Barry Fulton recently reflected, Camp Rising Sun has grown much the same way:
“Every summer is unique; every cohort leaves something behind; every generation continues to build on what the previous one started.”
As CRS grows toward its 100th year, the Ring by Ring campaign is an invitation for alumni, families, and friends to celebrate the years that have shaped our community.
Honor your CRS or TELE year with a gift inspired by your number. If you attended in 1987, your gift might become $19.87, $87, or $1,987; if it's been 30 years since you were a camper, you might give $30.
This year, every decade is growing its own ring. Which years can rally the most participation? Will the '90s out-participate the 2000s? Can the earliest generations of alumni out-rally the newest? We'll be sharing updates on which years are leading the way as the campaign goes on.
It's also a great excuse to reach out to your CRS and TELE friends, check in on how they're doing, and see if you can work together to represent your year.
The amount isn't what matters most. Your participation is. Each of us has a ring in this story, and together, we're helping it continue to grow.
GEJ Scholarship Applications Close This Sunday, August 2nd
The deadline to apply for the GEJ Scholarship for 2026-2027 is this weekend!
Alumni of Camp Rising Sun and The Ethical Leadership Experience (including staff members) are eligible to apply. Scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year will be awarded in August 2026 to students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university located in the United States.
Applications are due no later than this Sunday, August 2, 2026. Learn more about the opportunity on our website: lajf.org/gej-scholarship.
Click below to submit your application, based on level of study:
This year marked a significant period of growth for our virtual program, The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE).
An important milestone was the increased involvement of alumni in selecting and facilitating the program.
For example, the more than 600 TELE applications submitted, were reviewed by a Selection Committee made up entirely of TELE & CRS alumni, who brought their own experience of the program to selecting the next generation of participants.
This summer's sessions were delivered by a team of six facilitators and program staff with experience in education and leading social projects and community organizing - including both TELE and CRS alums.
One of TELE's greatest strengths is its cycle of leadership. We are seeing how alumni return not only as members of the Selection Committee, but also as facilitators and program staff, helping shape the experience for future participants and ensuring that young people remain at the heart of the program.
TELE 2026 By the Numbers:
600+ applications received from around the world
135 participants selected across three TELE cohorts & Second Year Program
35 countries and territories represented
3 TELE cohorts, with two cohorts running simultaneously for the first time
123 participant-led workshops which totaled 92+ hours of participant-led learning
12 Community Research & Storytelling Projects that took the form of documentaries, podcasts, blogs and social campaigns
10 expert-led Intensive Courses offered
Recent Campers Need Your Help to Reach Their Fundraising Goal
Recent campers — Luca, Jihyun, and Eva (left to right) — are once again calling on our community to help make the Camp journey possible for incoming and future campers. Drawing on their own experiences, they are raising funds to help remove financial barriers, including the cost of traveling to Camp.
In their own words:
“For many CRS campers, scholarships helped us to enjoy this life-changing experience. Donating even a small amount means helping to ensure deserving applicants have the opportunity to experience the magic of Camp, like we did.
Travel costs are also one of the biggest barriers for admitted campers, especially those traveling internationally. By fundraising, we hope to cover travel expenses to remove that barrier for young people who are excited to take part in this incredible program.”
There is something especially meaningful about seeing some of the youngest members of our alumni community step forward to make Camp possible for those coming after them.
For alumni who once had their own journey to Camp made possible by the generosity of this community, this is an opportunity to carry that support forward, connecting generations of Rising Sun alumni across years and across borders.
June was a very special month in Cameron’s Corner. During summer staff training, Cameron and the team devoted their project time to giving the beloved Lil’ Libby a well-earned refresh. This swing, built by campers back in 2011, has long served as the go-to spot for meetings, quiet reflection, and plenty of joyful chaos.
Lil' Libby takes her name from someone even more cherished. Named in tribute to Libby Mascia not long before her passing in 2012, the swing honors a woman remembered fondly as a warm and radiant presence who, during her 65 years of service to Camp Rising Sun, brought generations of CRS campers peace, joy, and comfort with her unwavering presence. Libby and her husband, Mandy (CRS ‘36-’38, ‘40-’44), poured themselves into supporting Camp with devotion and fervor. Libby was first brought on as Camp cook in 1945, and went on to remain deeply involved as a leader — serving on the LAJF Board, the Members Advisory Council, and eventually as a Director Emerita. Libby also played a key role in bringing the girls' camp to life. Through their shared commitment to CRS, Libby and Mandy were instrumental in ensuring that Camp Rising Sun remains a unique and powerful experience for all of its participants.
Upon her passing, Seth Frank (CRS ‘48, ‘49) remembered Libby as “a long, loyal and staunch supporter of Camp Rising Sun and more – a member of its inner family.” It is more than fitting that Libby’s namesake has also become a treasured member of the CRS inner family. And now, with Cameron’s and the summer staff’s help, Lil’ Libby will remain a vital part of Camp life for many more years to come.
In Memoriam 🌅
This corner of our newsletter serves as a place to celebrate the lives of our alumni and friends of LAJF who have passed. We will reflect on their impact, share memories, and acknowledge the lasting light they brought to our community.
The warmth of their legacy will continue to shine brightly in the lives they touched. You are welcome to reach out to us by emailing alumni@lajf.org with any questions.
Dr. David Botstein | CRS Alum ('58-'59)
David Botstein, Princeton’s Anthony B. Evnin ’62 Professor of Genomics, Emeritus, and an emeritus professor of molecular biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, passed away on February 27, 2026.
Botstein taught at Princeton for 12 years, transferring to emeritus status in February 2015. He was one of the leaders of the Human Genome Project, and he was one of the initial winners of the Breakthrough Prize, a $3 million award honoring the key insights that make the human genome map possible. He came to Princeton in July 2003 to lead the University’s new genomics institute, and he helped recruit many of its now renowned faculty members.
“Beyond his pioneering contributions to the Human Genome Project and DNA microarrays, David’s enduring legacy remains the generations of scientists he inspired through his commitment to intellectual rigor and the integrated science and Quantitative and Computational Biology (QCB) curricula.” - Coleen Murphy, director of LSI and Princeton’s James A. Elkins Jr. Professor in the Life Sciences
He is survived by his wife, Renée; his brother, Leon; his sister, Eva; his children, Ruth and Sam; and two grandchildren.
Career & Community Connections: Climate, Environment, and Sustainability Wednesday, September 16 | 9:00–10:30am or 6:30–8:00pm ET | Virtual Register Here
Connect with fellow CRS & TELE alumni working in — or curious about — careers in climate, environment, and sustainability. Whether you’re exploring your path, early in your journey, or bringing years of experience, join us for a relaxed, virtual gathering featuring small-group conversations and light facilitation.
As always, these Zoom sessions are designed to be flexible — drop in for a few minutes, stay for the full time, or anything in between.
This is part of our monthly Career & Community Connections series:
—October 21: Law, Justice & Human Rights —November 18: Healthcare & Public Health
We hope you’ll join one (or both!) sessions to meet peers, exchange insights, and build cross-generational connections across the LAJF, CRS, and TELE communities.
.png)
