Get Plugged into Special Day

Yom Meyuchad - Special Day happens once or twice a summer.  It's complete with a fun and interesting theme, costumes, skits, and even special food.

This morning, we awoke to a robotic voice on the ram kol (loudspeaker) telling us to go to the "recharging station" (chadar ochel - dining hall) where we all learned that today was Special Day - Plugged In!

The Special Day characters performing a skit

In the morning, the chanichim participated in an iPhone Carnival, where they enjoyed activities based on popular apps and games. They played Fruit Ninja, Tweeted, and played Sporcle, Candy Crush and Tetris.

The carnival stations

Before lunch, Segev, a madrich, declared his love for Siri, the voice of iPhone's operating system. Blinded by his love for Siri, Segev followed her into a computer, and brought the rest of machaneh with him. While in the computer, the chanichim helped it function by doing fun activities inspired by common computer problems, like repairing water damage, speeding up the internet, and fighting harmful viruses.

A chanich dressed as The Sims computer game

Segev and machaneh started to see the negative side of Siri now. She tried to control everything, even the madrichim. The chanichim had to save the madrichim from Siri using paint as an antidote, but first they had to find the paint by going on a scavenger hunt. After a fun paint fight, everyone showered and then had dinner. Dinner was an assortment of foods from all over the world. 

Siri was becoming weaker and more confused and so the chanichim were able to chase her out of machaneh. In celebration of our victory over technology, we all went to a pool party.

Every year, Special Day's theme has an underlying educational component. This year's theme reflected the fun of technology, as well as the negative impact it can have on one's life.

"Lego" to the Movies

This morning, machaneh went to see the Lego Movie. The Lego Movie is an animated movie with Lego pieces for characters, objects and scenery. The movie is about individuality and embracing what makes you unique. We laughed, cheered and popped popcorn as we sat in a private auditorium. 

Chotrim and Bogrim on the way to the movies

This afternoon, the radio chug finished preparing a broadcast for Friday morning. The show will include music and interviews. Chanichim interviewed various people at machaneh including our Techni (Technical Director), Shula. 

Radio working on their broadcast

At the same time, the music chug worked on singing the song "Let Her Go" by the band Passenger. Brendan and Ari led it, going through the song line by line and talking about the different pitches and the musical bridge. Once the chug members were confident in the verses, they analyzed the lyrics. The chanichim gave their own interpretations of the metaphoric language and asked questions about confusing phrases. The music chug will be recorded performing "Let Her Go" as part of Friday morning's broadcast.

Brendan and Ari teaching the lyrics

Chotrim singing along

Tonight, the tochint erev (nighttime activity) theme is exploring Zionism through the human body. The chanichim will be split up by shikvah and going around to stations that focus on different body parts in connection to Israel. They will be exploring graffiti in Tel Aviv (hands), drinking tea in Bedouin tents (stomach), having a Mizrahi music dance party (ears), playing trivia games (brain), going through an obstacle course (legs), and talking about their personal connection to Israel (heart). This will prepare everyone for Yom Israel (Israel Day), a day second session where the chanichim "travel" to Israel. 

Mifgash! Mifgash! Mifgash!

Yesterday, campers from Habonim Dror Machaneh Moshava came from Maryland for a mifgash (meeting) between the Tzophim, Bonim and Bogrim. The shkavot are meeting because they are a part of the same national kvutzah (age group). Next year when the Bogrim have the option of going on MBI (Machaneh Bonim b'Israel, Habonim Dror's summer Israel program), they will meet their entire national kvutzah from all 7 Habonim Dror machanot in North America. Yesterday and today the Tzophim, Bonim, and Bogrim spent silly and serious time with their Moshava counterparts.  

The educational theme of this year's Mifgash is social justice. This topic was decided by the rekazei chinuch (educational directors) from both machanot, Pele (Galil) and Lily (Mosh). The shkavot talked about the significance in coming together, and what they can do as a group to fight for social justice. This subject was also chosen because it directly correlates with this summer's overarching theme of youth empowerment; although we are young, we have the ability to make a difference. 

Bogrot hanging out

The Amelim's day began with the announcement that today is "Yom Amelim." This morning started with swimming and then water sports to help alleviate the summer heat. Galil's inflatable slip n' slide was also brought out for the first time this summer. Tonight, the Amelim will be hosting a talent show. They were all given time this afternoon to prepare and will be ready to share any and all hidden talents.

Amelim on the slip n' slide 

The Chotrim and Sayarim came back from tiyul at Hickory Run State Park this afternoon. While away, they went on a 3 hour hike on a shady trail. During the hike they played games, did a silent meditative walk, and stopped at a waterfall. At the end of the hike, they reached a lake, where they finished off the afternoon swimming and building sandcastles. This morning, they went to play at Hickory Run's boulder field, which is known nationwide.

Chotrim and Sayarim at a waterfall

Sayarot hanging out on the grass

Sayarot and Chotrot swimming at the lake 

We had a great two days and are glad that now all of machaneh is back together again!

Goodbye Two-Weekers! We'll Miss You!

Last night we continued with our weekly tradition of musikow ("open mic night") and medurah (bonfire). We first have musikow   where individuals or small groups of chanichim and madrichim perform original or covers of songs. After musicale comes havdallah where we end Shabbat and welcome in the new week. After havdallah we all go down to the medurah pit and watch short skits perfomed by campers and staff making jokes about the past week of machaneh. 

A chanich singing at musikow

Chanichim performing at midurah

This morning, with a heavy heart we said good-bye to our two-weekers. We hope they have fun memories to share, a complete knowledge of Galil terminology, and a desire to come back for another summer!

Amelot being silly

Tonight is ZAP!!! ZAP is a race/obstacle course from one side to the other of machaneh in the dark. Chanichim dress in all black with face paint while madrichim circle machaneh with flashlights trying to catch them in their light.  When they are "caught, the madrichim say the infamous phrase "ZAP go back!" Tomorrow the few victors be wearing their green "X's" as a badge on honor.

Meet the Specialists: Tiyul Edition

Shalom all! Diana Siegel here, one of Galil’s tiyul (hiking) and ropes specialists for the summer. I’m working with Joel Rice and Brendan Pell to make sure everyone has great tiyulum and positive experiences on the high and low ropes courses.

Most recently, the Bogrim went on the high ropes course. Galil has a great set-up in our woods made up of three elements, a giant’s ladder, and a zipline. The three elements start off with an incline log that leads to the “catwalk” (a solid log at horizontal level) and finishes up with the “heebie jeebies” where one has to balance on a single wire with a couple of ropes and a harness as their aid when in the air. A couple of the Bogrim climbed up the giant’s ladder in record time (less than 2 minutes!), while many traversed onto the elements, and even more flew down the zipline with screams and shouts.

When the tiyul specialists are not on the ropes courses, we are busy planning, mapping, and scouting out challenging yet fun hikes. So far we have taken the Bogrim out to Pine Furnace State Park in Southwestern Pennsylvania for two days of hiking, swimming, and kayaking, while the Amelim spent their tiyul within Galil’s very own beautiful forestry. Both tiyulum were filled with laughs and fun, but most importantly, s’mores!

We cannot wait to take the next group of campers to one of Pennsylvania’s most stunning natural pockets. Joel and I had a great time scouting out the location and look forward to sharing its incredibles sights with the chanichim!

Diana and Joel

Week Two Comes to an End

Last night, we celebrated the Fourth of July -- a day early! We had sparklers and small fireworks on the basketball court as the chanichim watched from the nearby frisbee field. We would ordinarily do this on Independence Day itself, but we did not want it to conflict with Shabbat tonight. It definitely lit up our night!

Chanichim with their sparklers

Fireworks from last night

This week, the Madatz were assigned to the schavot with which they will be working this session. The Madatz are counselors in training. They ran their first peula for their own chanichim this morning. Running peulot for their chanichim gives them the opportunity to practice for when they become madrichim in the future. They also plan and execute peulot on Fridays and Saturdays on their own, with the madrichim on standby as extra hands when needed. 

Madatz doing a peula with the Chotrim

Tonight the Amelim will be performing the Oneg Shabbat. The Oneg is a parody skit about machaneh, full of inside jokes that everyone finds hilarious. Often, the plot is loosely based on a popular movie with people at machaneh as the characters. We can't wait to see how the young ones do on stage tonight! 

Amelim at hitkansut (flag raising)

Repairing the World: Rain or Shine

Today, the Amelim through Tzophim participated in two tikkun olam (repairing the world) projects. Tikkun olam is a value that is central to Judaism and Habonim Dror.

Today, the Amelim and Chotrim went to volunteer with an organization called Repair the World. There, they worked with Cradles to Crayons and made encouraging cards for children going to school this year. The cards will be accompanied by packages of school supplies that Galil donated. Without this project, these students might not have school supplies. While there, the younger chanichim talked about the Philadelphia school system and its shortage of resources. They also learned about an organization called Playworks, which helps understaffed schools provide recess programming for their students.

Amelim and Chotrim making cards

The Tzophim and Sayarim went to Urban Tree Connection today. They worked at a community garden in Philadelphia where they weeded, composted, and spread wood chips throughout the garden. While there, they talked about the importance of greenery in an urban environment, as well as the necessity for affordable produce in low-income areas. 

Tzophim and Sayarim spreading wood chips 

Meanwhile, at machaneh, the Bonim had "Yom Bonim" (a themed day exclusively for the Bonim). The theme of their day was superheroes, with the underlying idea of fighting personal injustices. They have all made shirts to resemble the heroes they wanted to embody. Throughout the day they did superhero training and exercises. When asked the Bonim about their day, they said it was "super."

Bonim as superheroes