Opening Day 2016

This morning our chanichimot (campers) and their parents arrived for another fun summer at Machaneh (Camp) Galil. Based on the amount of smiles and hugs we’ve seen today, there have been plenty of friends reunited and new relationships already being formed.

A Bonimot girl arrives with her parents. 

As everyone settled into their tzrifim (cabins), all of the chanichimot (campers) started to get to know each other. We had some beautiful, sunny weather today so they played games outside like frisbee and basketball, or stayed in the shade of their tzrifim to play card games with their new bunkmates!

Some chanichimot explore their new treehouse. 

For lunch, the whole of machaneh, including madrichimot (counselors), madatzimot (CITs), and chanichimot, gathered for our delicious first-day tradition of grilled cheese, tomato soup, and a salad bar with everything from fresh cucumbers to chickpeas. It was a nice first to the many great meals that the tzevet mitbach (kitchen staff) has planned for the summer. While we ate, some of the Tzophimot (campers entering 8th grade) told Carli about all the exciting events that they’re looking forward to this session, like Revolution when the Madatzimot plan a day of activities.

Some younger chanichimot arrive with their family.

After we ate, everyone stood up and sang Galil cheers. When we were done singing, Lia, our Rosh Machaneh (head of camp) stood in the front of the room and announced what the afternoon schedule would look like both in Hebrew and English.

This afternoon the chanichimot (campers) are spending more time in their age groups, going over the rules and continuing to get to know each other. They’re also rotating around machaneh (camp) for introductions to different places like the gan (garden), or the Beit Omanut (arts and crafts building). They’ll also go to the Marp (short for Mirpa’ah, or infirmary) to meet the nurse, Chris. Afterwards, they’ll have the first session of shira (singing) and hitkansut erev (flag lowering) of the session before heading to a popular dinner of chicken nuggets, french fries, and salad bar.

After dinner the chanichimot will have some chofesh (free time) and then they will choose which activities they will be doing throughout the session, including their avodah (work/chore group), sport, zman meyuchad (specialist time) and chugim (interest groups or clubs).

Stay tuned for tomorrow, which will be the first full day of machaneh (camp) for what is going to be an absolutely amazing summer!

- Abby and Carli

The Bonimot in the Beit Omanut