Tiyul (Camping) in French Creek State Park

Hello again! Before we dive into the current excitement at Galil, I’d like to clarify some questions about the current names of the shcavot. We have three age groups this session The first is the 9-11 year olds, who are the Amelim and Chotrim (Am-Cho). They recently chose to be collectively called the “Cochavimot”, which means “stars”.

   The second shicvah is the 12 and 13 year olds, who are the Sayarim and Tzophim (Say-Tzo). Their chosen name is the “Melafefonimot”, which means “cucumbers”.

    The last shicvah is the 14 and 15 year olds, who are the Bonim and Bogrim. They like being called the “BoBo”. Although they are combined, the two ages will keep their traditional events. Bonim will plan Aliya Bet and the Bogrim will plan BoCoup. If you’re new to Galil, you’ll learn more about these two special activities later on in the session!

Now let’s get back to Ottsville. On Sunday morning, the kids brought their packed bags to the chedar ochel (dining room) and ate some breakfast before loading buses for tiyul, a camping trip. This year’s tyul was a little different than past years. We took the entire macheneh (camp) on tiyul at the same time! This meant lots of extra organization for our tiyul specialists, but Erica and Arik were up to the challenge.

     So off we went to French Creek State Park! After about an hour, our buses arrived at a huge campground, where each shicvah (age group) had their own area with tent space, a firepit, and picnic tables. We put up our tents, and then gathered sunscreen, hats, and sneakers in preparation for our outdoor adventures. The Cochavimot went peach picking in an orchard, while the Melafefonimot and BoBo went for an intense hike. We met back at camp in the evening. Once we got back, we started to chop vegetables for dinner and gather firewood. In a little while, we had chopped cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, and onions and were ready to eat it with rice, chili, and optional chicken.

    Following dinner, we gathered around our respective campfires and started “Medurah”. Medurah at camp is a huge bonfire with certain acts that are always represented by specific shcavot. For example, the Bogrim always do a comedy act called “Froggy and Gnu” and the Bonim give out the Bozo awards, which lovingly go to the people with the most embarrassing moments from the week. Medurah during the camping trip is special because kids of any age are welcome to try out these traditional acts, regardless of age. At the end of medurah, we roasted marshmellows and enjoyed s’mores before the kids headed to sleep. Madrichimot stayed awake in shifts, so there were always two of them awake at each campsite in case any chanichim (campers) woke up and needed something.

In the morning, we toasted bagels over the fire and ate them with cream cheese. The Cochavimot and Melafefonimot walked to a nearby lake to skip stones and relax on the beach. The BoBo headed out on another hike. We all met back at the campsite, loaded the buses, and headed back to camp.

   When we got back to Galil, chanichim (campers) showered and got to eat chicken nuggets and green beans for lunch. After that, they could choose between two options: a pool party or watching “Big Hero Six” in the moadon (recreation center). Then they’ll have free time to unpack their tiyul (camping) bags. Tochnit erev (evening activity) will be l‘shicva, or “by age group”.

It’s been a busy past few days, and we’re all happy to be back at Macheneh (Camp) Galil. See you tomorrow!

Muffins Galore and Shabbat Reflection

***From Friday, July 28

Shabbat at Galil is a time to think back on our week and to continue long-held traditions. On Fridays, we take a moment to remember our high points, our low points, the people who helped us, our mistakes, and our hopes for the future. Camp slows down and lets campers spend time with friends, relax, and be in the presence of the madrichim who love them.

Our Friday started off with MUFFINS! Our mitbach (kitchen) workers stay up late on Thursdays, baking homemade breakfast pastries. My personal favorites are the chocolate-chip muffins, but we also have lemon poppyseed muffins, blueberry muffins, corn muffins, and cinnamon swirl muffins. At my table, the Bogrot and I also munched on cantaloupe and cereal.

Ready for Shira!

Later in the day, the kids had their first Madatz pish of second session. Our Madatz (CITs) have almost all grown up in Habonim Dror, and now they get to be seen as leaders of machaneh. Each age group has around 5 Madatz who plan an activity for them each Friday.

After Madatz pish is Shira! The kids compete by singing with ruach (spirit) and the age group with the most enthusiasm gets to go first to get incredible homemade pizza. Pizza toppings included olives, onions, peppers, and spinach.

Yummy Pizza for Lunch! 

During Hyde Park, the Galil chanichim got the opportunity to voice their opinions about things at camp that they would like to change. A member of mazkirut, who are the leaders of camp, sits next to “The Rock”, the place where kids speak, and writes down all suggestions for serious consideration. After speaking, they grabbed some water ice and ran off to either swim, play our sport of the week, or check their weekly tzrif (cabin) cleanliness score.

Eventually, we reconvened and split up into mishpachot (families). Every chanichol (camper) at Galil is adopted into a “family”, where they discuss the Torah portion of the week and also share their feelings about their week. The classic mishpacha activity is “Roses and Thorns”, where we share a “rose” (great part of our week) and a “thorn” (challenging part of our week). Mishpachot are a great place for chanichim to bond with kids from other schavot (age groups) and to spend time with different madrichim (counselors).

The mishpachot (families) then head to lower the flags and watch Kabbalat, where the Cochavim (formerly the Am-Cho, aka the 9-11 year olds) performed an English song, a Hebrew song, and an Israeli dance. We all joined in song, and then headed to the chader ochel (dining hall) where we feasted upon baked chicken, potatoes, cauliflower, challah, and matzah ball soup.

Leading Kabbalat Shabbat

Following dinner was the weekly oneg, a skit that pokes fun at the madrichim (counselors). It’s a big honor to be featured in the oneg and madrichim joke about bribing their kids to write them in. We create signs and nametags so that everyone can tell which counselors the kids are playing. The Melafafonimot performed their satirical play tonight and were very successful in their Spongebob-themed show.

Kids streamed out of the refet (barn) where the oneg is performed, and went straight to rikkud (Isareli dancing).  We danced to songs like “Mayim”, “Od Lo Ahavti Dai”, and “Hafinali”. At the end of rikkud, the winners of the covereted Golden Broom were announced: The Cochavimot! The madatz took their respective kids back to the tzrifim (cabins) and sang them bedtime songs until they fell asleep.

Tomorrow, we will start the day with Madatz Peula, where the CITs lead a big activity for all of camp. Then we have Chugim Ritzanim,  where counselors lead educational workshops. Kids can chooses between the likes of “Analyzing Hamilton Lyrics”, “Bar Mitzvah Prep is Fun”, “Learning the Card Game Euchre”, and “Feminism and Isareli Culture”. They will also have musicale (our traditional talent show) and will celebrate havdallah. The night ends with medurah, which is a huge bonfire and comedy show. We can’t wait for the ice cream sundaes that we get to eat tomorrow! See you soon, parents and friends of Galil.

Day Two- Ivrit Shimushit and Sports

Today was our first “normal” day of second session, but there was nothing average about it. We woke up in our tzrifim (cabins) at 8, and made our way to the toren (flagpole) by 8:30.  After we raised the Israeli flag, the American flag, and the flag of Habonim Dror, we all sat on the grass to watch Ivrit Shimushit. Every morning, madrichim (counselors) perform a funny skit that teaches a Hebrew word. There is a central theme all throughout the session, and Ivrit Shumushit is like a TV show where we watch characters develop while learning a new language. This session’s Ivrit Shimushit will follow a young Galilnik camper named Moshe, who has two magical Jewish godparents who help him out. The Hebrew word of today was “cochavim”. Do you know what that means? Comment below if you do!

Zman Meyuchad

Today’s breakfast was a camp favorite: quiche! We had optional vegetables on the buffet, along with strawberries, cantaloupe, cereal, and oatmeal.  At the end of breakfast, we split into avodah (working) groups. Galil is a Labor Zionist camp, and avodah time helps us emphasize the labor aspect. Avodah choices include sweeping the moadon (rec hall), organizing art supplies in the Beit Omanut (art center), clearing filters down by the pool, and finding sticks for our famous Saturday night bonfire called Medurah. 

Pish Alef

A unique fact about Galil is that all the educational content is written by our own staff! Every madrichol (counseler) who works with kids spends a lot of time writing original peulot (lessons) that include games, discussions, puzzles, and often costumes.  During peula shichvah (age group activity), or pish, madrichimot get the chance to run their planned activities with their kids. During Pish Aleph, Am-Cho lestarted learning their songs for Kabbalat Shabbat. On Friday night, they will perform an English song, and Hebrew song, and a dance for the whole machaneh. Say-Tzo had a discussion on community, and talked about how to collaborate as a group. Bo-Bo made sugar cookies and talked about how they could influence Galil culture as the oldest kids in camp.  

Free Swim

After Pish (age group activity), we have Zman Meyuchad (special time), where specialists like me get to plan things for kids. In my Zman Meyuchad today, I supplied props and costumes for the Bo-Bo’s epic photoshoot. You can check out the finished photos on CampInTouch!

Later in the day, we have sports! I walked around during this time, taking poctures of kids playing, swimming, and dancing. First I visited Dance, where some kids were learning Israeli dance and practicing cartwheels. In Basketball, I saw our Rosh (head of camp) helping a kid score the winning shot. Down by the pool, people were splashing and jumping in the deep end.  After sports is free swim, so kids have time to go swimming, to continue their sports games, or to go rest.

Instructional Swim for Am/Cho

After dinner, we had a special Tochnit Erev (evening activity). Tonight was “Meet the Madrichim (counselors) Night”, and the kids had to complete various challenges to win facts about Galil’s madrichim. After completing challenges in art, music, dance, martial arts, and sports, the kids went to the basketball court, where we sang “Rad Hayom” (the Galil lullaby) and all went off to sleep. 

Laila tov!

Opening Day!

Dear parents, grandparents, and friends who love their Galil chanichim (campers):

Hello and welcome to Second Session 2017! Our next few weeks will include camping trips, revolutions, ice cream sundaes, spontaneous dance parties, learning about Judaism, playing tetherball, and a whole lot of fun AND educational activities. My name is Becca Neckritz, and I’ll be your friend and guide for the next three weeks. I’m the communications specialist at Galil this session, and this is my 9th summer in Ottsville! In the outside world, I’m about to move into the Honors dorm at Temple University, where I’ll be majoring in psychology and theatre. In our Galil world, I take pictures of your kids and write a blog entry every day. Get ready for this session, because it’s about to be a wild ride.

Becca

Meet the madrichim (counselors) on tzevet Am-Cho! They work with the 9 to 11 year old campers. Julia lived in Israel until she was 4, and she’ll be there all next year with a Habonim Dror gap year program called Workshop. Miriam is related to Dar Williams and Maor is a madricha (counselor) in Israel for Russian kids who made aliya. Eve has an albino frog named Oggle. Alex’s cousin is Albert Einstein! Adam was voted high school class president every year of high school. Benj was born in the same hospital on almost the same day as Miranda, a counselor who is working with the 14-15 year olds.

Julia, Miriam, Maor, Eve, Alex, Adam and Benj

Tzevet (staff) Say-Tzo is pretty cool, too. They work with the 12 and 13 year olds. Adam BW loves actual chocolate, but not chocolate ice cream. Gabi has been vegetarian her whole life. Rachel still has a baby tooth. Benny was on Disney Channel when he was a kid! Dani is from California, where she worked at Habonim Dror Macheneh (camp) Gilboa, Habonim Dror. Mira lived in Switzerland for a year!

Adam, Gabi, Rachel, Benny, Dani and Mira

The BoBo (combined Bonim and Bogrim) madrichim (counselors) are amazing, and they get to be with the 14 and 15 year olds. Adam B can put both his feet behind his head, and Miranda can play the nose flute. Jenna sings like and angel. Yaneev has a birthmark in the shape of a Hebrew letter. Samson is in yeshiva and is learning to be a rabbi. Maya writes for a Jewish feminist archive online and Tal is obsessed with her cat.

Adam, Miranda, Jenna, Yaneev, Samson, Maya and Tal

Mitbach (kitchen staff) spends most of their time making our food, but outside of camp, they have
varied interest and fun facts. Zandra is Beyonce’s 3 rd cousin, once removed. Rachel B has 4 siblings and camp and Eliza has lived on three continents. Jenna can make her tongue into a backwards “S” and Guy can crack his elbows. Ilana is going to culinary school in Tokyo, where she lives. Sarah wore only tie-die for an entire year and Dan is a citizen of the US, Israel, and Great Britain!

Zandra, Eliza, Jenna, Guy, Ilana, and Dan

Meet the mazkirut (leaders) of machaneh (camp): Arik is from Israel; Segev can play the bongos; Naomi enjoys napping in nature; Sarah’s spirit animal is the owl, and Arielle was 6 weeks away from being born a Canadian.

Ariel, Sarah, Naomi, Segev and Arielle

These amazing people are Briana and Blake, who are the Beit Omanut (art) specialists. Briana can lick her elbow and Blake’s left foot is 3 sizes larger than his right foot.

Blake

This is Hannah, who runs the Gan, or garden. Her fun fact is that she only drinks lukewarm water.

Hannah

Meet Tom! He’s the kambatz, which means he’s in charge of the schedule and the logistics of camp. Tom still has no muscles in his fingers.

Tom

Taylor works as melavah, or the camper care coordinator. She really enjoys learning languages.

Taylor

These cool people are Arik and Erica. Arik can play 13 instruments and Erica can eat more spaghetti than anyone you know.

Afik and Erica

Allie is our amazing lifeguard, and our groundskeeper, Jeff, actually told her parents on Visitor’s Day that she is “The best employee this camp has ever seen.” Allie is also a Brazilian citizen!

Allie 

Ella (not pictured) is our driver, and she enjoys meeting people in retail situations. She is a great gal who writes amazing original raps about thresher sharks!

Intersession

On Sunday, we said goodbye to the First Session campers. We had a great Messiba (party) the night before where we danced, watched the slideshow, and said our goodbyes. We can't wait to see everyone back for Summer 2018!

Over Intersession, the Madatz planned an amazing program around Halloween. We went trick-or-treating, got monster tattoos, and even visited a Haunted House! There was also a slip-n-slide, rice krispy treats and oreo truffles. On Monday morning, for breakfast, everyone ate "Restaurant-style" which meant campers were able to order custom breakfasts!

We also had a number of special treats too! There was an Ice Cream Cart from Sweet Pea on Sunday with many delicious flavors. Yesterday, we went Roller Skating and to the Movies where we saw Wonder Woman.

Today, we welcome our new friends for Second Session and we cannot wait to start our second half of the summer.

Last Shabbot

Hello again!

Today was the last Friday of first session! That means it was also the last shabbot of first session!

Our chanichimot (campers) were acutely aware that this would be the last shabbot for many of their friends this summer at machaneh (camp) Galil. Therefor they put extra effort into making sure this shabbot was extra meaningful-putting more ruach (spirit) into shira (song singing/learning time), taking extra time to appreciate one another, and putting extra effort into welcoming shabbot.

As always, shabbot followed a special schedule today with extended avodah (work time) and nikayon tzrif (bunk cleaning time) along with the once a week Madatz pish (Madatz run activity). This week the madatz ran their pish about the ken which are the year round activities. They started with a game discussing influence by placing a variety of pictures of various celebrities in order of amount of influence.

The rest of the day was spent welcoming shabbot by singing songs and playing games.

We then had kabbalat shabbot which was lead by the Bogrimot this week along with our songs to welcome in shabbot. We also had an oneg (funny skit) written by the Chotrimot. We ended the night with rikud (Israeli dancing) and the Madatz put their kids to bed!

Well, see you all again for the last time on Sunday!
-Miriam

Repairing the World!

Hello again!
Today we had tikun olam (repairing the world).  Our chanichimot (campers) spent today learning and experiencing ways to change the world.

The younger shcavot (age groups) -Amelimot, Chotrimot, and Sayarimot- spent their pish aleph (first age group activity) talking about anti-semitism and Islamophobia. They then had a pool party, lunch, and a break. They then spent time doing rotations at three stations: painting stones to be sent to a Philly area synagogue and cemetery, writing letters to recently vandalized mosques, and painting individualized wooden boards that would be put together by kvustah (age groups) to make mosaics about social justice.

The older shcavot-Bogrimot, Bonimot, and Tzophimot- had a slightly different day. They visited Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia and had lunch there. They then got to work fixing the cemetery. They did this because Mount Carmel was one of the cemeteries that got vandalized this past year. The cemetery was also in general disrepair. The chanichimot (campers) made maps of grave locations, cleared ivy off of graves, and cleaned dirty graves. This experience was important and meaningful as it got our chanichimot to take responsibility on a place that is an important part of Jewish communal life.

That's all for today! See you all tomorrow on the final shabbot of machaneh!
-Miriam