Opening Day!

All the work our staff (tzevet) and administration have put into for the past twelve months came together today. Today we welcomed 40 new campers (chanichim) and 140 returning chanichim. Here’s how the day was broken down: After the chanichim were situated and unpacked, they played some icebreakers with their counselors (madrichim), team-building activities and health screenings. The chanichim were then treated to our traditional first day grilled cheese lunch. 

We're so excited for another unforgettable summer!

Right when they arrived, the Sayarim (post 6th graders) began playing soccer

Excited for the first day!

Rachel with her chanichim

Galil Camp Committee Shabbat and Madatzim are Here

Shabbat is a very special time at camp (machaneh) -- it’s one of our favorite times of the week and it’s full of traditions. For our first Shabbat, we are excited to have the Galil Camp Committee join us. It’s a great way to meet the wonderful people who run machaneh behind the scenes. Of course, we also love recalling machaneh stories with the people who grew up at Galil and are now giving back to the community.

In other news, the junior counselors (madatzim) have arrived! They will be performing similar duties to the counselors (madrichim) at some points, but will also be being a part of a team-building and counselor training program. They will be experiencing similar training to that which our madrichim went through and learn how to plan programs and supervise.

Madatz 2013

(back) Marc, Cliel, Ashira, Tom, Gabbi, Danny, Ari, Sophie, Shai, Daniel, Ben

(front) Sharonie, Allie, Natalie, Ross

Shabbat shalom, can’t wait to see you on Sunday!

Meet Tzevet Galil 2013!

For the past week the staff (tzevet) has been preparing activities and attending training sessions and of course cleaning and making sure camp is beautiful for opening day! We’re still hard at work, but we wanted to take a minute to informally introduce ourselves. Tzevet loves spending time together, but we really can’t wait for the campers (chanichim) to arrive and meet us in person!

Meet Tzevet 2013!

Kvutzat Workshop 63

(back) Rebecca, Reba, Lauren, Naomi, Dan

(front) Toviah, Segev, Heather, Eva, Eliana

(not pictured) Jess, Rachael

Kvutzat Workshop 62

Joel, Eliana, Andrew, Thatcher, Jacob, Anya, David, Lia, Rachel, Colan, Matt

(not pictured) Rachel, Daniel, Doron

Kvutzat Workshop 61

Diana, Pauline, Jonathan, Jack, Emma, Rachelle

Kvutzat Workshop 60

(back) Jill, Jodi

(front) Pele, Daniel, Jordan, Rachael, Shira, Jonathan

Kvutzat Workshop 59

(back) Dan, Max, Mikey, Carla

(front) Sara, Molly, Shuli

(not pictured) Nathan

Kvutzat Workshop 58

Alyssa, Elie

Aliyah, David

Kvutzat Workshop 57

Mishlachat (Israeli Staff)

Yogev , Amir , Stav, Hadar, Noa, Oded Marck

Pre-Camp Preparation and Blood Drive

Ten days before the campers (chanichim) come for the summer, our staff (tzevet) comes to Galil to train and prepare. Over the past few days, members of tzevet have run many bonding activities (peulot) and educational seminars and are now planning lots of exciting events and activities. Of course preparation for camp also includes cleaning around camp and in the bunks (tzrifim) and ropes course training. 

This past Sunday, many of our counselors participated in the 1st ever blood drive at an overnight camp!

Here’s the breakdown of how the day went: After breakfast, the staff members split up and continued planning, while groups took turns going to the Red Cross blood donation-mobile. By the end of the day, over half of tzevet had volunteered and donated enough blood to save over 60 people!

During the rest of the week, tzevet will be hard at work training and planning fun and educational activities for the chanichim. We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!

Live from Ottsville...Meet Toviah Botwinik

Get to know the voice of Galil 2013, our Communications Specialist, Toviah Botwinik!  Toviah will spend this summer (his 8th at Galil) taking pictures and writing our daily blog post.  First we are turning the camera around on him...

Name: Toviah Botwinik

Hometown: Havertown, PA
Years at Galil: I was a camper from 2006 to 2011, then a counselor-in-training last summer.  This is my first year on staff!

How did you learn about Galil: I learned about Galil from my mother who went there as a child.  Growing up, camp was always something I learned forward to.

Favorite camp memory:  My favorite camp memory is working in the kitchen (mitbach) during special days.  There's something so exciting about cooking special food for the entire camp (machaneh)!

Favorite part of the camp schedule: Family time (mishpachot) on Friday afternoons.  Reflecting over the week with so many age groups (shkavot) is one of the most calming and pleasant experiences.

Favorite special day or trip: The annual camping trip (tiyul) is definitely one of my favorite out-of-camp trips.  Hiking with your age group really brings everyone together.

Favorite camp song: Singing in the Rain.

What are you excited about for Galil 2013: I am most excited to document the fun all of the campers (chanichim) experience daily and help keep the underlying technology at camp running smoothly.

What are your future plans: Next year I will spend the year in Israel on Workshop, Habonim Dror North America's gap year program.  After that I will be attending McGill University, most likely with a focus on Computer Science.  My lifelong goals include working as an artist/designer or director for video games or movies.

What experience will you bring to the role of Communications Specialist: Around the end of Middle School, my friends and I began and iPhone app development company and a technology-based YouTube channel which has gained over 10,000 subscribers in its lifetime.  In my Junior year of High School I began really liking writing of all kinds, specifically creative writing.  I also began experimenting in photography while learning filmmaking and editing.  Of all the subjects i photograph, I enjoy taking pictures of people and nature the most.

Fun Fact: I speak three languages fluently (including Yiddish and Hebrew) and I'm working on French!

Keep up with Toviah and Galil 2013 all summer at www.campgalil.org/galilblog or www.facebook.com/hdcampgalil.  You can also contact Toviah directly at campgalilblog@gmail.com. We can't wait to share our 67th summer with all of you!

Care Package 101

So you want to send a care package to someone special at camp this summer?  That's wonderful!  We highly encourage sending mail and packages!  Just a few things to keep in mind...  

1. You can show your love with more than food!  Instead, send games for your child to play with other kids (Madlibs, cards, puzzles, etc.), arts & crafts projects, or magazines.  Be creative with your care packages.  

2. Please keep in mind that we ask our campers to share snacks, games, etc. so please try to provide enough for everyone in your child's bunk. 

3. Galil is both a kosher and peanut-free camp.  Here are a few food items that fit both criteria: 

• Milk chocolate Hershey's bars and Hershey kisses 
• Jolly ranchers 
• Twizzlers 
• Teddy Grahams 
• Popcorn 
• Barnum animal crackers 
• Oreos 
• Chips ahoy 
• Most potato chips 
• Most brands of pretzels (not Snyder's) 
• Fig Newtons 
• Cheez Its 
• and many more! 

Learn to check for yourself!  Foods that are kosher will have a K or OU symbol on the packaging.  Please check the ingredients of any foods you are considering for peanuts and tree nuts in the ingredients.  Also, please make sure that the food was not processed in a facility that also handles peanuts and tree nuts.  Allergen information is usually available in bold at the bottom of the nutrition label.  

 

For example: This label shows that there are no peanuts in the food, but it was "manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts."  Please do not send items marked as such to Galil.   

 

4. To keep our peanut and tree-free campers feeling safe and comfortable, we ask that you do not send homemade goods.  It is best to send foods that our counselors are able to check for these allergens. 

 

 We do this because we have campers with severe nut allergies.  We thank you for your cooperation in this matter to help ensure that everyone at Galil has a fun, healthy, and safe summer!  

Laundry Lessons

It's time to talk laundry.  We appreciate the time and money you put into shopping and packing for camp.  We want your camper to return home at the end of his or her session happy, healthy, and with all of his or her belongings!

How can we work together to make that possible?

1. Make certain that EVERY item of clothing is marked with your child's full name.  We can guarantee you that there is more than one Maya, David, and even Sagi at Galil this summer.  No matter what your child's name is, please use both the first and last name when labeling clothing.

2. Use a permanent market.  Black Sharpie pens are usually the best.  You could alternately sew on labels or use one of these camp-approved companies:

Stuck on You: choose your color and design, then add your name to create personalized labels.
Name Dropper: a self-inking stamp that is custom made with your camper's name.

One exception: do not use a black marker on black clothing.  There are metallic and white permanent marker options or you can mark on the tag rather than the fabric.

3. Please don't hide your labels!  Print the name clearly on on the neck tag for t-shirts and sweatshirts.  For shorts, pants, swimsuits, and underwear, the back of the waistband usually works well.  Socks mark well near the toe; and blankets, pillow cases, and sleeping bags can be marked around the hem.

As indicated on the Galil packing list and parent handbook, all campers must bring a laundry bag with their first and last name clearly printed on it.  Laundry will be done once per week while at camp (except for Taste of Galil participants).  We are proud to partner with Westside Laundry, a company with 65 years of laundry experience.