LAB Spring Break Camp

My name is Shira Muroff, and I’m the Director of Programs for the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL). Throughout the past seven years, I’ve been a volunteer or presenter at our Literacy Achievement Bonanza, and this year I’m so excited to be one of the directors! 

I love LAB because I have been a lifelong reader and have always loved going to (and working at) camp. LAB gives me the opportunity to combine those two passions and spend a week practicing reading and public speaking with students in such an enthusiastic camp environment. There’s nothing better than being able to start the day talking to a camper about a book that meant so much to me when I was their age, and then end the day cheering “Hey Burrito!” with 60 other people. 

As an organization based in Jackson, the ISJL created LAB as part of a larger effort to engage with our local community. During its inception in 2017, there was an identified need in the community to reinforce literacy skills, as well as provide programming during spring break. We’ve continued to partner with different local organizations and adapt the program as the years have gone along. We were so excited to start partnering with Operation Shoestring in 2023. Together we’re able to reinforce literacy skills while students are out of school, while also creating programming that builds students’ love for and lifelong connection to literacy.