Taste of Galil and Bonim Tiyul

Today was another exciting day at Galil as we welcomed our friends from Taste of Galil and the Bonim (post-8th graders) left on their camping trip (tiyul). Taste of Galil is a special four day program for post-2nd graders to experience life at Galil. Each day is filled with fun activities, team-building and art projects to give the campers in the program (Nitzanim) a concentrated taste of Galil. Today they made t-shirts in the Beit Omanut and played games with toys in the pool. Using the skills they learned trailblazing during Aliya Bet, the Bonim left for their tiyul, where they will be hiking in the woods, setting up camp, cooking their own dinner and rock climbing.

The rest of camp was also having a great time today: During instructional swim, the Amelim (post-3rd and 4th graders) swam laps with kick-boards and learned about building communities using rocks at the creek. The Chotrim (post-5th graders) learned about social movements in Israel. The Sayarim (post-6th graders) learned about revolutionaries and social activism in history in a mini-museum. The Tzophim (post-7th graders) had a Yom Kvutsa (bonding day) today, where they spent the day team-building, talking about they community they wanted to create, and learning more about each other. The Bonim discussed their roles as leaders at camp and in their communities at home before leaving for tiyul. The Bogrim (post-9th graders) worked on planning activities for younger chanichim. The Madatzim (junior counselors) finished the first half of their work project, and set up tree benches around machaneh!

Yom Israel!

After having safely arrived in Israel after an exciting Aliyah Bet simulation, everyone woke up this morning to a playlist of modern Israeli music, before being huddled onto the moadon (clubhouse) decorated as an El Al airplane. After a brief airplane ride complete with complementary pretzel bags and flight stewards, the campers (chanichim) were greeted by their counselors (madrichim) welcoming them to Yom Israel, our day dedicated to celebrating Israel! Breakfast was shakshuka, eggs poached with tomato sauce, peppers, and onions, and bread with chocolate spread. Afterwards, chanichim were split up by work group and played a game of find the cow, where groups raced to find a cardboard cow. Next, chanichim split up for an age-group activity, where they learned about Theodore Herzl and the vast geography of Israel. Later, everyone toured around Israel and learned a little bit about many key subjects like the Technion, the Bedouins, the Israeli Defense Force, the Dead Sea, and Kibbutzim.

After a delicious pita and falafel lunch we had some much needed some rest time; everyone then went to their usual speciality groups (kishronot), with a special Israel-themed twist. Next, everyone jumped in the pool for a fun dance party with both classic and modern Israeli music and then had "chocolate moss" and tea as a snack (kibud). After a tasty treat, everyone split up into special interest groups (chugim), with themes geared towards Israel education. Chanichim had choices such as learning about Habonim Dror programs, Israeli culture such as music, commercials, and food. We finished off the day with a nice shish kabob and hot dog dinner, and a carnival simulating the Israeli tent protests with fun activities such as playing backgammon (shesh besh), making shirts, and learning flash mob dances.

Check back tomorrow for another fun day full of great activities!

Aliyah Bet and Instructional Swim

Today everyone woke up ready for a new day at camp after a pleasant Kupa Trip yesterday. This morning during work groups (avoda), the Madatzim (junior counselors) began the main layer of painting on their project this summer: an eleven foot mural! During the age group activities (peulat shichva) today, the Amelim (post-3rd and 4th graders) made their own flavored cheese! The Chotrim (post-5th graders) learned about Jewish identity and had a discussion about what it means in their lives. The Sayarim (post-6th graders) worked on their breaststroke in instructional swim today, then had a great time playing with the pool toys during free swim. The Tzophim (post-7th graders) went on the high ropes course and worked together to tackle the challenging events and go on the zipline. They also had a paint fight before after talking about the responsibility that superheroes have. The Bonim (post-8th graders) had a team building activity where they worked together to lead each other blindfolded to a tasty treat. The Bogrim (post-9th graders) planned activities for each other and learned about youth leadership in Israel.

Amelim cleaning up after making flavored cheese!

Bonim getting ready for Aliyah Bet

Tonight, the Bonim (post-8th graders) will lead a camp-wide adventure to Israel! Once a summer, they run a special evening program called Aliyah Bet (loosely based on the historical event). Campers (chanichim) are taken from their bunks (tsrifim) and travel together around camp (machaneh) and the surrounding woods to simulate the mass immigration of Jews from Europe to Israel during the 1930s and '40s. By the end of this evening program, the chanichim make their way to the parking lot decorated as Israel, where they are fed hot chocolate and have a dance party. Just another way that we incorporate Judaism and education into our fun activities.

Tzophot after a paint fight

Amelim during instructional swim

Keep checking back with the blog and have a wonderful day!

Kupa Trip

After a restful Shabbat, the day ended with a pleasant variety of performances during Musicale and a big bonfire (medura). Today everyone woke up to the news that today is Kupa Trip! Once per session, everyone goes on an adventurous trip outside of camp (machaneh). This session we went on a series of adventure. In the morning, we headed towards Kutztown to visit the Crystal Cave, home of a large cavern with stalactites and stalagmite rock formations. After hiking through the cave and learning about its geological properties, we reconvened for a lunch; a sandwich buffet.

After Crystal Caves, everyone got on their buses again and headed to our next location- Skateaway Roller Rink! As campers (chanichim) walked, they ate a quick snack and proceeded to the main area for a rollerblading dance party! Everyone played party games like limbo and Coke + Pepsi, and rocked to some classic jams.

After a fun skate party, we stopped for dinner at an Italian restaurant, and then headed back to camp (machaneh) for a relaxing movie evening. Tomorrow we will return to normal programming; keep checking back on the blog!

A Very Musical Machaneh

After a long week of new activities and new friends, we are all excited to relax for Shabbat. After some extra time to work and clean, we had activities run by our madatzim (counselors-in-training). We learned about respect, community, equality, and Israel. After our activities, we all dressed up silly to learn new songs. We spend a majority of day, from waking up to bedtime, singing. We wake up to music that Mazkirut (Leadership Team) plays for us, we sing songs after meals, and sometimes enjoy a spontaneous dance party! After each tochnit erev (evening program) we stand in a circle and sing a "goodnight song" to each other.









Another musical tradition, specific to Shabbat, is our Kabbalat Shabbat experience. Each week, a different schiva (age group) gets the chance to perform for the rest of machaneh (camp) as a way to welcome Shabbat. They will spend all week practicing an English song, a Hebrew song, and an Israeli folk dance. This week the Bogrim (post-9th grade) are our musical talents for the night, performing Beyonce's "I was Here", the rikkud (Israeli folk dance) "Cha Cha", and they have translated a song from the Disney hit "Tangled" into Hebrew. We are looking forward to the performance! After we enjoy our matzoh ball soup and homemade challah, we we see the Tzophim (post-7th grade) oneg, a play that parodies a movie to poke fun at camp culture and characters. As a Friday night treat, we will close the night with rikkud with everyone and some tasty watermelon.

Working the land and working together

Yesterday we split into work groups (avodah), skill-building workshops (kishronot), and fun interest groups (chugim). Working at Camp is a concept that seems foreign to many, but to us it is just another part of the day. By working our land, we learn to take responsibility over spaces we use every day and take ownership over our community. We work in the kitchen to set up and clean up for breakfast, harvest our organic garden and walk the sheep, pick up the camp's trash, clean the bathrooms, clean public spaces, prepare for the Saturday night bonfire, or clear the woods for new trails. These various jobs need to happen at camp and we are happy to do them together. By cleaning the bathroom, a job that typically would happen by a maintenance staff, those campers are able to empower their friends to keep the space clean. Similarly, a camper who works in the garden can identify vegetables and herbs that are used in our meals.

                            

 

The Amelim (post-3rd and 4th graders) separated by gender to bond by the boys and the girls. The Chotrim (post-5th graders) had instructional swim, and even got some time for pool games! The Sayarim (post-6th graders) played various team-building games to get to know each other. The Tzophim (post-7th graders) had discussions about how to use their candy to exemplify trust and respect to each other. The Bonim (post-8th graders) began to prepare for Aliyah Bet (a simulation of the clandestine immigration of Jews to Israel before statehood.  The Bonim test out their leadership and educational skills by running this activity for the camp) by dressing up and discussing traditional Judaism. The Bogrim (post-9th graders) learned about sustainability by touring the garden and even making their own cheese.  Yum!

Kishronot (Talent Groups)

This morning, everyone woke up feeling excited for the first day of second session. At Galil, we have different schedules for different days; here is the breakdown of the normal day: In the morning, after everyone wakes up, they make their way to the flagpole (toren) for role call and a skit introducing the useful Hebrew word of the day (ivrit shimushit). Next, after going to breakfast, campers (chanichim) split up into work groups to help clean and keep camp (machaneh) beautiful. After this, campers split up again by age group (shichva) for the first age group activity (peulat shichva aleph). Before lunch, chanichim go to dedicated sports time, and play their favorite sports.

After lunch, chanichim have some rest time, and then go to a second age group activity run by their counselors (madrichim). Following the afternoon peulat shichva, chanichim go to their chosen kishronot (talent groups). Everyone then has a chance to cool off in the pool during free swim and eat a snack. During the block that follows, chanichim go to the electives (chugim) they chose. Before dinner, we have a time to learn songs and chants and flag raising. Everyone then makes their way to the dining hall (chadar ochel). In the evening, everyone congregates for evening programming, and then heads off to bed.

Kishronot are talent groups in which chanichim get a chance to learn new skills or build on their strengths. This session, we have some of the kishronot:
Mitbach (cooking) - here chanichim will learn some valuable baking and cooking skills and make treats for their friends.
Radio - in the radio kisharon, chanichim have a chance to experiment with radio equipment and DJing for the camp radio station.
Beit-Omanut (art room) - in this kisharon, everyone can learn how to use different art tools creatively and even learn how to work with clay.
Improv - in improv, chanichim work to improve their improvisational technique and play games to expand their creative horizons.
Guitar - working off of last session's music kisharon, this kisharon works to cater to all different levels of guitar-playing.

Start of Second Session!

After a very relaxing intersession day yesterday including a nice afternoon watching Monsters University, everyone woke up excited to meet their new friends and reconnect with old ones. After breakfast, campers split up to clean and move to their new cabins (tsrifim). Campers and their counselors (madrichim) made welcome posters for their incoming friends. Once they were done cleaning, campers could do supervised activities like board games or art projects.

In the afternoon, following the 2nd session campers began arriving and meeting their friends and madrichim. Once everyone had arrived, everyone was split up by age group (shichva) for icebreakers and a tour of camp (machaneh). Afterwards, everyone congregated at the dining hall (chadar ohel) to eat mac and cheese for dinner. Next, following some free time (chofesh), campers were presented with skits about afternoon electives (chugim). Before bedtime, each camper signed up for morning work groups, special skill groups (kishronot), and afternoon electives.

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End First Session and Intersession

After an exciting last night of first session, everyone woke up this morning refreshed and ready for the last day of first session. After breakfast, campers (chanichim) had time to do last minute packing and cleaning. After everything was ready, there was dedicated time to say goodbye to friends and exchange contact information over the year. Though some chanichim were sad to part with their friends, they rested assure knowing that they could see their friends during yearly Galil events (ken events) or events they planned for themselves. After a tasty leftover lunch, camp (machaneh) officially transitioned into Intersession. Between the sessions, we invite experience staff from previous year and the Madatz (junior counselors) to plan one and a half days of programming for chanichim, while the regular staff (tzevet) works hard on planning for the chanichim second session.

Here is what happened during the first half-day of intersession:

After lunch, the Madatzim took over, and introduced a machaneh-wide game of Elimination, where chanichim must confront each other and whisper a secret phrase to eliminate them from the game. If anyone hears the phrase being uttered, they must block the elimination.

In the afternoon, there was some free time and then free swim, where chanichim could cool off in the beautiful weather today. Afterwards, everyone made their way to the flagpole (toren) for snack time (kibud) and then to special interest groups (chugim) led by the Madatzim. There were many choices from sports like basketball and Ultimate Frisbee to chugim about improv skills or creativity with duct tape.

Tonight we're going to bed early!  We need to rest up before our 2nd Session friends arrive!

Fun on a Hot Day and End of First Session

This morning everyone woke up to the news of the hot weather, but were excited for special programming today! After an extended work period and cleaning time for Shabbat preparation, everyone moved to the pool for a dance party and sing-along to camp songs. After washing off, the campers (chanichim) headed to fun water activities like the slip-and-slide or wading in the creek. Afterwards, everyone came to the dining hall (chadar ohel) to eat our traditional outdoor pizza lunch. The sport of the week (mischak hashavua) was ultimate Frisbee, but chanichim also had the option of going on the slip-and-slide again. The afternoon was reserved for washing up and preparing for Shabbat. By sunset, the weather had cooled down, in time for a traditional Shabbat meal.

Tomorrow will be the last full day of first session at Galil. After a two hour sleep in, everyone will start off the day with special interest groups (chugim) lead by the Bogrim (post-9th graders). During the ample free time (chofesh) throughout the day, chanichim who are leaving on Sunday will have the chance to pack and clean. The evening, however, is special; after dinner and a traditional farewell to Shabbat (havdala), we will have an extended bonfire and Musicale where one can perform or sing. Finally, we have a dance party with treats provided by our kitchen staff (tzevet mitbach).

Check back on the blog on Sunday, and have a good and peaceful weekend!

Special Day

Last night after Bo-Zman the campers (chanichim) were surprised on the basketball court by a flash mob dance by the counselors (madrichim) and junior counselors (madatzim) to "Grease is the Word" to kick off this session's special day! This morning, the chanichim awoke after a sleep-in and went to a special flag-raising (role call) with a performance of "Summer Nights" to kick off their exciting day. For breakfast, everyone ate hash browns, milkshakes, and pancakes at "The Frosty Palace," Galil's dining hall turned diner. After breakfast, the chanichim went to beauty school, where they got hair wraps or gelled their hair, or got their nails painted. At the baseball diamond, a few of the madatzim and madrichim preformed "Grease Lightning," before having a camp (machaneh)-wide paint fight. After some time to wash up, everyone returned to eat a school cafeteria-style lunch.



After lunch, everyone dressed up and came to the pavilion for a party accompanied by a live band (run by madrichim) playing and singing classics from the 50's. At the party, there was classic party games such as bobbing for apples and pin the tail on the donkey. After the party, everyone headed to the pool to cool off and had some time to relax before the obstacle course. Everyone really enjoyed the thrill of racing through different stations like capture the flag and pie-ing madrichim to the face. We washed up and went to the dining hall (chadar ohel) for a barbecue dinner. Finally, we had a carnival with cotton candy, sno-cones, skee-ball, tilt-a-whirl.

Very Hot Day and Bo-Zman

This morning everyone left their cabins (tzrifim) with full water bottles in anticipation of the hot weather today. During the age-group activities today, the Amelim (post-3rd and 4th graders) practiced their Hebrew song and Israeli dance for their kabalat shabbat on Friday night and had a water fight. The Chotrim (post-5th graders) had a very fun protest and team-building activity. The Sayarim (post-6th graders) had a fun time skipping rocks and wading in the creek. Half of the Tzophim (post-7th graders) tackled the high ropes course today. The Bonim (post-8th graders) and Bogrim (post-9th graders) got ready for their big night tonight. During sports, we had games and stations that fit the weather: some chanichim opted to go to a water fight in the Frisbee field, while others preferred to read or write letters. After lunch, some chanichim learned Israeli dances (rikud) in the pool, or cooled off and swam laps.

Israeli dancing (rikud) in the pool

This evening, the Bogrim, helped by the Bonim will run a special evening activity (tochit erev) called Bo-Zman (Bogrim Time). Once per session, the Bogrim, the eldest campers (chanichim) have a chance to run programming by themselves. As our oldest chanichim, the Bogrim have the experience to plan and run an activity. Bo-Zman is also a fun time for younger kids- see younger chanichim, as they can see their older role models in a leadership position. At Galil we empower youth to take responsibility and lead, and Bo-Zman is a great first taste of leadership.

The Chotrim learning how to work together

The Bogrim before their Bo Zman