Bogrim Take Over

Most of Camp (machaneh) Galil woke up today believing that it would be a day like any other, however, the Bogrim (post-ninth graders) knew better. They've put hours into planning for their big event tonight (something that I've alluded to before), and it's finally here. Tonight is... Bozmon! At the end of this post, there will be a paragraph all about it written by a Bogeret, so I'll leave the explaining to her.

Some action on the basketball court today. 

Anyway, because most of machaneh did not know that Bozmon is tonight, they all went on with their days normally. We went to raise the flags together and went to breakfast and did chores (avodot) together. We put in extra effort today during avoda in anticipation for the ACA (American Camping Association) visit! The ACA comes every three years to make sure that machaneh is up to par, which it always is, but we like to show the inspectors just how great Galil is, which is why it's such an important day for us. After avoda ended, it was time to clean the cabins (nekayon tzrif). Afterwards, age group discussions (peulot) started. The Amelim (post-third and fourth graders) had a conversation about different forms of love and emotion. The Chotrim (post-fifth graders) went down to the pool for instructional swim. The Sayarim (post-sixth graders) talked about Zionism and how it relates to Judaism. The Tzophim (post-seventh graders) began planning for the play (oneg) that they will be putting on this Friday. The Bonim (post-eighth graders) were split in half today. Half of them were on the high ropes course, while the other half stayed back and watched a movie. The Bogrim spent their time making last minute decorations and plans for tonight. They took advantage of the art room (beit omanut) to paint more station signs and blow up balloons in secret. After peulot came to an end, machaneh transitioned into sports time. Because it was so hot today, some of the sports (like kickball and Iraeli dancing (rikud)) combined with others (like Just Dance or yoga) that were less active. Afterwards, we had free swim. Everyone was grateful for this time today because of how hot it was. Then, we all went down to the dining hall (chadar ochel) for lunch. By this time, the two ACA members who'd come to inspect machaneh had arrived, so they sat with us at lunch. When we sang our usual songs after the meal, we inserted the names of our inspectors into them for fun, and they seemed to enjoy it as much as we did.

Tzophot during last night's tochnit erev.

After lunch, we had rest time (menucha), and then electives (chugim). Today during chugim, everything was relatively relaxed, partially due to the heat and partially due to the knowledge that tonights tochnit erev will be very high energy. After chugim came more peulot. This time, the Amelim and Sayarim went down to the pool for instructional swim. The Chotrim spoke about Judaism at machaneh. The Tzophim continued planning for their oneg. The Bonim were back on ropes/ watching a movie. The Bogrim spent their time practicing for their frisbee tournament tomorrow. Right now, everyone is lowering the flags and preparing for dinner. After dinner, Bozmon will be revealed, and then the fun will really begin! Now, here is a little bit about what the night will entail, written by a Bogeret:

Chanichim relaxing during chugim.

In just a little while, the campers (chanichim) will find out that tonight is Bozmon! Our theme is "Prohibition," which at machaneh would mean the prohibition of candy, or kupa. Bozmon is a Bogrim tradition, which involves us planning a tochnit erev and basically running the camp for a few hours. We "kick out" all of the counselors (madrichim), although in reality they will be on site, just out of sight. It is really a privilege for us to be able to do this, and we've been looking forward to it for a while. We will break the theme after dinner, by having our head of camp (rosh) make a serious speech about how "angry he is at all of machaneh for their poor performance during the ACA day," which will result in him saying that he is taking away everybody's kupa.
Then, a Boger will stand up and argue with our rosh, telling all of the chanichim to fight back, and kick out all of the staff (tzevet) members. Afterwards, we will lead machaneh to the basketball court, where the kids will be decorating cookies as their "secret kupa." They will then learn a 1920s themed "Bozmon Prohibition" song, that will be their ticket into the "speak easy," which will be a 1920s themed party (messiba). At the messiba, there will be some stations such as a photo booth and "pin the feathers on the flapper." After eating cake and having fun for a while, we will put the kids to bed, and that will be all for Bozmon!