Hey, Campers!
Now that you’re back from summer camp, you probably can’t stop thinking about how much fun it was! You know who else was crazy over camp when he was closer to your age? The great Billy Madison himself—that’s right Adam Sandler was once a summer camper too at a Union for Reform Judaism camp called Eisner Camp.
Located in Western Massachusetts, Adam spent his summer camp experience 
surrounded by the beautiful Berkshire Mountains, fun and instructive activities, as well as a community of camp friends. It obviously did him some good, spending time in a fresh, new, and natural environment where he was shown that he really could be anything he wanted to be.
So, he became everything he wanted to be. After his graduation from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1988, Adam went on to become a comedian, screenwriter, actor, film producer, entrepreneur, and musician. Alongside other greats like Chris Farley, Adam got a gig on Saturday Night Live (SNL). He rocked the comedy world and quickly showed the world that SNL was only the beginning.
Best known for his roles in hit comedies from the 90’s like ‘Billy Madison,’ ‘Happy Gilmore,’ ‘The Waterboy,’ ‘The Wedding Singer,’ and ‘Big Daddy,’ Adam’s gone on to perform more serious roles later in his career in films like ‘Punch-Drunk Love’ and ‘Reign Over Me’. Some other career highlights have been The Meyerowitz Stories in 2017, Uncut Gems in 2019, and Hustle in 2022. He did voice work for several characters in Eight Crazy Nights and kids probably know him best for being the voice of Dracula in the Hotel Transylvania movies.
Almost the eccentric candyman, Adam was strongly considered in the early 2000’s to resurrect the role of Willy Wonka (last seen as Gene Wilder) in Tim Burton’s 2005 ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Jim Carrey was also heavily considered before Johnny Depp took the role.
With success of such magnitude, you know summer camp had a hand in helping shape Mr. Sandler somewhere along the way. How can summer camp help shape you? As always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!
- John