Our Camper of the Week is none other than Bari Margolis, who is receiving the SCOPE Leadership Award at the 2025 SCOPE Benefit in NYC on April 9th. The SCOPE Leadership Award recognizes a member of either the SCOPE Associate Board or Junior Leadership Council who demonstrates a strong commitment to improving the lives of children by awareness and fundraising in their efforts to provide access to overnight summer camp opportunities for children of low-income families and/or under-resourced communities through their support of SCOPE. Bari is being recognized with the 2025 SCOPE Leadership Award for her steadfast commitment to expanding access to summer camp experiences for all children. As Chair of the SCOPE Associate Board, Bari has inspired a new generation of leaders to be part of SCOPE’s mission, fostering growth and engagement within the organization. Her passion, vision, volunteerism, and tireless advocacy have helped ensure that SCOPE continues to open doors of opportunity for countless children nationwide. This is her story.
By: Bari Margolis
On a warm summer day in June 2005, I boarded a coach bus to Camp Blue Ridge in Wayne County, PA, with my twin sister by my side. Little did I know, this would be the first day of the rest of my life.
My first summer away from home wasn’t exactly the picture-perfect experience I had imagined. There were phone calls home from the head counselor, a strep throat diagnosis, and the unfortunate reputation of being the “problem camper” in my bunk. But outside of the bunk, I thrived—jumping in the lake, playing sports, singing, and cheering. There was simply nothing better. Camp quickly became my second home, a place where I could explore who I was, build resilience, and gain confidence in a way that wouldn’t have been possible anywhere else.
Determined to turn things around, I entered my second summer with a fresh start in a new bunk. This was where I found my fit, and over the next six summers, my reputation evolved from “problem camper” to an all-around camper. I earned numerous “B” awards (Camper of the Week), led my age group’s sing, and eventually was chosen as the Upper Senior Chief of the 2011 Blue Journey. This experience not only helped shape the person I am today but also led to a historic moment—leading one half of the camp while my twin sister led the other, making us the first siblings to compete against each other in Camp Blue Ridge Color War history. This leadership opportunity helped me discover my voice, my passion for bringing people together, and my ability to inspire those around me.
Then came the summer of 2012, a surprising detour in my camp routine. Instead of heading straight back to my happy place, I found myself unpacking at Cornell University for a four-week college course. My parents had always emphasized the importance of both sleepaway camp and academic summer programs before college, believing they were key to a successful transition. So, we struck a deal: if I completed the Cornell Summer Program, I could return to camp for the second half of the summer—and every summer for the rest of my life. Little did they know how seriously I would take that agreement.
Six years later, as a college graduate, I was introduced to Camp Westmont and received the job offer of a lifetime. Just 25 minutes down the road from my childhood summer home, Camp Westmont was new to me at the time, but now, seven years later, I can’t imagine a life without it.
Today, as an Assistant Director at Westmont, I handle everything from staffing to programming to trips, camper management, and more. While camp is no longer just sunshine and rainbows like it was when I was a camper, I now have the privilege of creating that magic for every child who walks through Westmont’s gates. I live for the moments when I watch a camper thrive after months of conversations with them and their parents, when I tour a prospective family knowing they’re about to make the best decision for their child, or when I help orchestrate a Color War break that campers will tell their own kids about someday. These are the moments that make camp truly irreplaceable.
Through my leadership role, I have gained an even deeper understanding of the profound impact summer camp has on a child’s growth. Camp fosters independence, resilience, and social-emotional development in ways that traditional education cannot. It provides a unique space for kids to unplug, connect face-to-face, and develop lifelong skills in teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. I have seen firsthand how children transform over the course of a summer—how the shy, homesick camper turns into the confident Color War captain, how friendships formed at camp last a lifetime, and how the sense of community created within camp walls extends far beyond the summer months.
Camp is more than just a summer experience—it’s a foundation for life. I get to play a role in providing an environment where children build confidence, gain independence, forge lifelong friendships, and create memories that shape who they are. I get to shine a spotlight on every camper, making them feel special and ensuring they feel a true sense of belonging.
On April 9th, the spotlight I so proudly shine on others will be turned onto me as I receive the 2025 SCOPE Leadership Award. This honor is incredibly meaningful to me because SCOPE’s mission aligns so deeply with my own beliefs about the power of camp. SCOPE provides children from underserved communities with the opportunity to experience the magic of summer camp, and I am proud to play a role in making that possible. Through my time at Westmont, I’ve become an active member of the SCOPE Associate Board, serving as the Events Chair and now the Associate Board Chair. I’ve had the honor of helping transform our fundraising efforts—from an event that raised $7,000 to one that now brings in $28,000. I’ve helped launch new initiatives like Pickleball4SCOPE, and this fiscal year, we’ve raised over $65,000 to give even more campers their own moment in the spotlight.
To me, receiving the SCOPE Leadership Award is not just a personal achievement—it’s a celebration of the countless individuals who believe, like I do, that every child deserves the chance to experience the life-changing power of camp. It is a testament to the impact we can have when we come together to provide opportunities for the next generation of campers.
Twenty summers later, I can wholeheartedly say that camp has shaped me into the leader I am today. It has taught me how to stand up for what I believe in, given me confidence in every aspect of my life, helped me build lifelong friendships, and opened doors I never imagined possible. Camp isn’t just a place; it’s a part of me—and I am forever grateful for the journey it has taken me on.
Note from the editor:
Congratulations Bari! The Summer 365 Team is so proud of all of your accomplishments and how much you do to shine that camp magic on all around you. We can’t wait to watch you on April 9th receiving the 2025 SCOPE Leadership Award.
We are also proud to support SCOPE through our GIVE SUM Initiative. GIVE SUM is our passion in action – a special scholarship fund for families who would otherwise not be able to afford to send their children to camp. For every child that we help place in one of our recommended camps or programs, we will donate a portion of each commission we receive into GIVE SUM.