Shalom from Karmi'el!

The day came to move to Karmi'el.  We packed our things and soon arrived at our new home.  We settled in, made lunch, and began learning about Kaveret (the second half of Workshop where we live in cities doing social justice work) and our role in the community here.  We met our guides and the British participants from Habonim Dror UK who we'll be working with.  The British kvutzah lives in Akko, about twenty minutes away from our house in Karmi'el.  We interact with the British group a lot through seminars like our Rabin Seminar in November.  However, we also do other activities like the Habonim History Seminars separately.
I am teaching at the Deshanim School, a vocational school for high school students who dropped out or were expelled from their previous schools.  We will be teaching values and other useful topics while simultaneously tutoring the students in English.  Other Workshoppers are working with at-risk youth at a boarding school and at youth movement-run schools.

I will work there three days per work plus one day with my kvutzah (group) and one day of learning organized by our counselors and program leaders.  Soon, we will be beginning our Poland prep seminars.  We leave in just over a month on February 10th!

Have a great month,
Ari Tzvi Carroll 

Madatz 2013

Last summer's Madatz group serving
ice cream on Saturday night.

Applications for Madatz 2013 are now open!

This summer, Galil will be hosting its 22nd group of Madatz.  Madatz is the Hebrew acronym for madrichim tzi'irim or junior counselors.  We are proud to offer this leadership training program to our campers who have finished the 11th grade.  Madatz participants will learn how to be counselors at Galil while having a fun, challenging, and exciting summer with their kvutzah (age group).

Applications are available online here.  They must be completed and returned with one reference form by Friday, February 1st.

If you have any questions, please contact Ilana Goldfus, Assistant Director at registrar@campgalil.org or (609) 558-1395.

Wrapping Up Boneh: A Workshop Update

Hello from Israel!  Living on Kibbutz Ein Dor forBoneh (portion of Workshop living and working on a kibbutz) has been really fun.  My work (avodah) is to help out in the kindergarten with the 4-5 year old children.  I found out that one of the kids' father is from Habonim Dror Mexico and worked at Galil in 1994 and 1995!  Wow!  He and I spent a night reminiscing about old Galil, the cabins, the counselors, and more.

We are currently in the middle of our Habonim History Seminar where we are talking to and hearing the stories of Habonim Dror immigrants (olim) to Israel.  
In just over a week, Boneh will sadly be over and we will be moving to our Kaveret (literally a bee hive, a portion of Workshop living in a city and performing community work) houses.  My group (kvutzah) will be in Karmi'el, while the other team will live in Rishon L'Tzion.

Even though we are only three months into Workshop, I can easily say that I have grown in so many ways.  I can't wait to see what comes from the remainder of the year!


Arise and actualize (aleh v'hagshem),
Ari Tzvi Carroll 

Rosh Galil 2013

Camp Galil is proud to announce our Rosh Galil (Youth Director) for Summer 2013!  Drum roll please....

Introducing: Mikey Silbermann!

Mikey may be a familiar face for many Galilnikim, new and old alike.  He is a second generation Galil camper who also followed in the footsteps of his older sisters, Jacki (Madatz 2002) and Dara (Madatz 2004).  Mikey began at Galil in Amelim 1999.  He was in Madatz 2008, went to Israel on Workshop 59, and has worked at Galil for the past three summers, including as our Technical Director in 2012.  He also served as the a co-leader for Galil's year-round programming in 2011-2012.  Mikey is a student at Temple University and an avid fan of The West Wing.

Questions?  Want to get to know Mikey better?  E-mail him at rosh@campgalil.org.

#GivingTuesday

It's that time of year again...

Time to buy the turkey (or tofurkey).
Time to stock up on presents.
Time to pull your menorah off the dusty shelf.
Time to give.

Enhance your holiday experience by joining the first-ever Giving Tuesday on November 27, 2012.  First, give thanks on Thursday, get great deals on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, then give back to your community on Tuesday.  What a week!

Camp Galil is proud to be partnering with this innovative, philanthropic cause.  We hope that you will join us and support Camp Galil's Scholarship Fund on Giving Tuesday, November 27th.  

The values lived and learned each and every summer at Camp Galil are critical. It is a place where young people learn to use their voices, to become leaders, to feel connected to Judaism and to make lifelong friendships. Every child deserves that opportunity. 

Camp Galil has remained committed to providing an unforgettable overnight summer camp experience for Jewish youth. Part of how we are able to do that is through the generosity of our camping family! 


We are counting on you to support our 2012-2013 Annual Appeal so that no one misses out on the magic of camp for lack of funds. 

Every $75 donated to our Scholarship Fund will help us subsidize one day of Camp Galil for a deserving child. 

Together we know that our community of friends, family, alumni, and supporters will once again ensure a life-changing Camp Galil experience for many children.

Tax-deductible donations can be made here.  More information and updates will be posted on our Facebook page and Twitter page.  To learn more about Giving Tuesday, please visit their website.

Food for Thought

Our Camp Galil ropes and tiyul specialist Karmi Oxman is teaching a program once per month for  Jewish Community High School of Gratz College starting Monday October 15th at Adath Jeshurun synagogue in Elkins Park!  It is a Service Learning Program where they cook meals for people that cannot prepare their own.  To join Karmi for this wonderful opportunity check out Gratz's website: http://gratz.edu/jchs  

October at a Glance

Happy October!  Happy Sukkot!  So many great things are happening this month -- we hope that you will join us to celebrate the Fall at Galil and during our year-round activities.  Also, don't forget to register for camp by Monday, October 15th to receive your registration discount:

Fall Open House
Sunday, October 7th 3pm-5pm
Please join us for our annual Fall Open House!  Your visit will include a guided tour of our campsite, a question & answer session with our professional staff, and activities for campers of all ages.  Please contact Ilana Goldfus, Assistant Director to RSVP or with any questions or concerns.

Buildings and Grounds Committee Meeting
Sunday, October 7th 11am
Galil's volunteer Buildings and Grounds Committee will be holding their first meeting of the 2012-2013 year.  They will walk through the campsite, review feedback from the summer, and makes plans for the future of Camp Galil.  Anyone interested is welcome to join!

Marketing Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 9th 7pm
Any parents, alumni, or friends with marketing or outreach experience are welcome to join Galil's volunteer Marketing Committee this year!  Please let us your expertise to help Galil grow and flourish into the future.

Main Line Sukkot Potluck
Friday, October 12th 6:30pm
All Galil campers living in the Main Line are invited to a Shabbat potluck at the Gottesman home.  Please RSVP to shaliach@campgalil.org for the address and what dairy dish you will bring to share!

Bogrim Ken Event
Friday, October 12th
Our post-Bogrim (current 10th grade campers) are invited to a special Shabbat activity together.

Bonim Ken Event
Saturday, October 13th
A special activity will be ran for our post-Bonim (current 9th grade campers).

Cheltenham Shabbat Dinner
Friday, October 19th
Please join Galil families from the Cheltenham-area for a Shabbat potluck dinner.  Details are TBA, but if you would be interested in hosting, please contact Oded at shaliach@campgalil.org.

Tzofim Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, October 20th
Our post-Tzofim (current 8th grade campers) will be participating in a fun scavenger hunt together.