Revo Willy Wonka!

    Hello, everyone!

My name is Becca Neckritz. I'm in Madatz (CITs) and I’ll be taking over the blog today to tell you about Revo, the special day that the Madatz (CITs) plan every session! During our revolutionary hours as leaders of machaneh (camp), the activities were all inspired by the 1971 movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”

     The Madatz “broke”, or revealed, Revo on Monday night. During tochnit erev (evening activity), the chanichimot (campers) performed menial tasks as ants in an anthill. After sorting rocks, marching in lines, and cutting paper, the kids followed our lead in a dramatic mutiny against the queen ant (a member of Mazkirut). At the climax of the revolt, Willy Wonka showed up to liberate the chanichimot from the ant’s oppressive regime! He and some Oompa Loompa friends, played by the Madatz (CITs) and Bogrimot (oldest campers) taught the chanichimot a song we wrote for Revo. The Madatz sent the kids to bed with an exciting promise: everyone who received a golden ticket on their pillow could enter Wonka’s factory in the morning!

Chanichimot watch a skit outside of the Chadar Ochel (dining hall)

    The next day, the whole camp awoke to a chocolate paradise! Everyone assembled around the torren (flagpole) to raise a candy flag with Charlie Bucket. Then, we walked down a road of colorful “peppermint trees” that were strung with mints and lollipops to the chadar ochel (dining hall).  We met up with Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike TV where we were welcomed by Willy Wonka himself. During the muffin breakfast, we watched “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” while decorating our muffins with homemade whipped cream and chocolate chips. After Aruchat Boker (breakfast), everyone enjoyed some Chofesh (free time) before a carnival.  At carnival, the chanichimot (campers) explored stations where they could learn Oompa Loompa dances, drink “cabbage water” with Charlie’s four grandparents, and get a special Revo 2016 silk-screen on a t-shirt.

    For lunch, the chanichimot entered Wonka’s television room to munch on pizza bagels, mozzarella sticks, and fruit.  Afterwards, the Madatz split them into three groups for a factory tour. The Amelimot and Chotrimot started off at the “Make Your Own Wonka Bar” station, where they worked together to mold personalized chocolate bars.  The Sayarimot and Tzophimot drank “Fizzy Lifting Drinks” (soda) and “floated” inside a huge trash bag dome filled with bubbles. The Bonimot went with Augustus Gloop to the “chocolate river” where they slid down a Slip ‘N Slide on the grass near the refet (barn).

Chanichimot with their "Fizzy Lifting Drinks"

    After cycling through the stations, we followed Veruca Salt to see the Golden Geese. The Geese, played by Bogrimot, sat on buckets filled with “Golden Eggs”, which turned out to be water balloons! The kids had a fun water fight and returned to their tzrifim (cabins) where they were greeted by the kibud (snack) truck that delivered warm cookies.  Chanichimot then split into shcavot (age groups) for “Charlie’s Evening Entertainment”. Each group choreographed a dance to a candy-themed song and performed their work for the rest of machaneh (camp), as well as a panel of character judges.

Water fight!

    After the concert, we had Chofesh (free time) and headed to the mirpeset (porch) of the chadar ochel (dining hall) for a skit. Violet Beauregarde started chewing Wonka’s three-course gum, and we entered a fancy restaurant to enjoy our own three course meal. We ate tomato soup, meatballs with asparagus, and blueberry cobbler while we watched as Violet turned violet and became a blueberry!

    In the evening, a “glass elevator” arrived to transport the kids through the woods to a huge pool party! On the way, the chanichimot sang the Revo song as loudly as they could and impressed the Madatz with their amazing ruach (spirit). At the pool, they drank virgin piña coladas, dove for weights in the pool, and danced to our candy-themed playlist! We all chanted “REVO! REVO!” and celebrated the end of an incredible day at Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.  

-Becca