A Wonderful Day at Machaneh!

This morning everyone woke up refreshed from the July 4th festivities. Although it rained while we slept, the sun was up and shining for today’s excitement. Today, the Chotrimot (campers entering 6th grade) headed off for tiyul (camping trip) after avodah (work groups)! They’ll be camping out overnight in Fort Washington State Park and return tomorrow to tell us all about their experiences. For many of the chanichimot (campers), this is their first overnight hiking trip, as the Amelimot (campers entering 4th or 5th grade) typically camp out in the woods on machaneh (camp) property.

The Chotrimot on their tiyul (camping trip)

For everyone else, the day is running with a regular schedule. It’s nice to fall back into the usual routine after Shabbat and Independence Day! During Ivrit Shimushit (Useful Hebrew) after Hitkansut Boker (morning flag raising), our word of the day was af (nose). Then we headed to breakfast of oatmeal and cereal with plenty of fruits and toppings before avodah (work groups) and nikayon tzrif (cabin cleaning time).

During pish alef (Peulat Schichva, age group activity), the Amelimot headed down to the creek before heading over to instructional swim and the Sayarimot went to instructional swim first before had some Zman Tzrif (Cabin Time). The Tzophimot went to the Moadon (clubhouse) for a peula (activity) about feminism while the Bonimot discussed themes of power and privilege from the movie they watched yesterday. The Bogrimot began to plan Bozman (Bogrim night). Bozman is a special night once a summer when the oldest camper group leads a tochnit erev (evening activity) for the rest of machaneh (camp). It’s always a big surprise and full of fun! The Madatz headed to the gan (garden) to help build trellises for beans to grow!

The Amelimot during their Pish at the creek

After sports and rachatza (wash up time), we headed to a delicious potato bar, complete with toppings such as cheese, hummus, and guacamole. During menucha (free time), I saw plenty of chanichimot in the Beit Omanut (arts and crafts building), reading their mail, and playing frisbee outside.

During pish bet (the second age group activity), the Amelimot talked about respecting each other by making ice cream sundaes while the Sayarimot worked on their oneg (a funny play about camp written and performed by a different age group each week on Shabbat) for Friday night! The older chanichimot (campers) had some more serious discussions, as the Tzophimot continued to talk about power structures while the Bonimot talked about racial justice in America. The Bogrimot continued to plan Bozman, which will be coming up sometime this session!

Everyone continued working on their projects for Zman Meyuchad (Specialist Time) before heading to free swim and snack. In Chugim (clubs), all of the chanichimot had tons of fun with the things their madrichimot planned for them. For example, Chug Hydration made slushies!

Tonight for dinner, there’s going to be roasted chicken and Indian-style curry. There’s also amazing tochnit erev (evening activity) planned. See you tomorrow!

-Carli