We are so excited to get our 66th summer under way! Important things are already happening at camp in preparation. Our four new Israeli counselors (shlichim) arrived on Sunday. On Monday counselors arrived at Galil for high and low ropes course training. Wednesday the rest of our counselors (madrichim) will descend upon Ottsville for staff training and planning.
Please check back often for updates all summer long! Our communications specialist, Shira Scott, will introduce herself within the week. After camp begins she will update our blog daily to share what our campers are doing with you. All blog posts are also published on our Facebook page. Shira will also take and post pictures every day on Bunk1 -- don't forget to activate your account!
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Can you believe we are only one month away from June? We are beyond excited for Galil's 66th summer to begin! However, before Opening Day we still have a few more important events for campers, new families, and friends of Galil.
Happy almost Passover! We wish everyone a wonderful, matzah-filled week with family and friends! Once the holiday ends, we have lots of activities for the community including a special discussion about Israel's Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron) by Galil's own Israeli ambassador, Oded. Find out more and we hope to see you there!
Happy Purim! We hope to see lots of costumed campers at our Purim Carnival this Sunday, March 11th 2:30-4:00pm at Germantown Jewish Center. Questions? Contact our Eizor leaders at eizor@campgalil.org. Until then enjoy this recipe for easy and delicious hamentashen!
Happy March, happy Purim, and happy 114 days until camp starts! Don't let the cold (or lack thereof) get you down -- we're busy celebrating Purim and Passover this month plus providing lots of opportunities to share your love of Galil with those around you!
It's that time of year again...time to meet this summer's mazkirut (youth directors)!
The cold is finally reaching the East Coast, but we're thinking ahead to the warm summer days at Galil. Lots of things happening this month, but especially lots of opportunities to share camp with your friends, family, synagogue, neighborhood, and community. Don't forget about our amazing referral bonuses for current camp families and for campers looking ahead to MBI and Workshop. Keep warm and we hope to see you at a camp fair or eizor event this month!
Happy 2012! We are so excited to be only 173 days away from the beginning of camp -- and to have so many amazing events to offer our campers, parents, alumni, and friends this month. From rikud (dancing) to tikkun olam (healing the world) projects, it almost feels like we're back at camp already!
Wishing everyone an illuminating Hanukkah! We had a great time celebrating with our campers last weekend at our annual Hanukkah weekend -- thanks to everyone who joined us!
Many of you may know Kali from her time at Galil (she started as a camper in 2000, making this her 13th summer with Galil!) or as Co-Rosh Galil 2011. For old and new friends alike, here are five amazing things you should know about Kali! 
Happy December, everyone! Before you spin the dreidel or start frying up latkes, check out these amazing events happening this month in the Galil community. Have a wonderful Hanukkah and we hope to see you soon! 
Happy week of Thanksgiving! While this is not a Jewish holiday, it's still nice to spend time with loved ones and appreciate all of the wonderful things in life. We at Camp Galil are thankful for you! Whether you are a current camper, an alum, a relative of a camper or just a good friend, we are so grateful for the part you played in creating 65 unforgettable years of Jewish camping. We're looking forward to another 65 life-changing summers!
What's in store for the Galil community this month? Find out below! Events are also posted on our community calendar and our Facebook page. Check back often for updates and new opportunities. We hope to see you soon!
Other than the items that you would send your child to any sleepover with (clothes, toothbrush, etc.), we have compiled a list of things to consider when packing for Fall Seminar! If you haven't registered yet, please click here. Anyone who signs up after Sunday, September 18th will have to pay a $25 late fee so don't wait to register!
You've heard your children talking about it since camp ended: Fall Seminar! With only eight more days until the return to Galil, we want to answer your questions about our semi-annual reunion weekend.
For the past two years, the Galil community has been lucky to have Ronit Cohen join us as our Shlicha (Israel Emissary). She has been an integral part of the Galil experience by sharing what she loves about Israel and forging relationships that will last a lifetime with our campers. Any one who has been at Galil for the past two years will tell you that Ronit is a wonderful friend and an inspirational leader.
What's in store in the Galil community this month? We have something for our campers, parents, alumni, and prospective families! Events are posted on our community calendar and our Facebook page. Check back often for updates and new opportunities! We hope to see you soon!
We need your help! 
What made Ari our greatest fan? His tireless enthusiasm and clear love for Galil shined through in every post or "like" he gave to a status or photo. Thanks again, Ari! 
Thank you! What a summer we had! From journeying through space and the return of Maccabiah (sports games against our sister camps) to laser tag and doing tikkun olam (healing the world) with the Urban Tree Connection, we loved every single moment of it. Todah rabah (thank you) for being a part of making our 65th summer so incredible. 
As the Shlicha I’m responsible for the Israel and Hebrew programs at camp. Every two years a new Shaliach comes to Galil with a new energy and passion. One of my big passions is photography and so this session I had the pleasure to run Chug Tzilum (photography club). The chanichim (campers) learned basic photography guidelines, how to operate their cameras, and completed numerous projects. Today was our final project in which we used long exposures in a dark room. The outcome was pretty cool as you can see in the picture!
Every summer we welcome four summer shlichim (also known as mishlachat, or Israeli delegation), who join our tzevet (staff) and work as madrichim (counselors) for the different schavot (age groups). Together with the mishlachat, I ran a daily sadna (workshop) about Israel for our campers. Today we took the Amelim and Chotrim (campers going into 4th, 5th, and 6th grades) for a "tour" around Israel. We stopped at Be’er Sheva to make yummy pita on the tabun (a metal oven above fire).
Today was another exciting day at machaneh (camp) as three shcavot (age groups) went on trips into the outside world. The Bonim (campers going into 9th grade) and Chotrim (campers going into 6th grade) went on their tikkun olam (healing the world) trip. Like the other age groups, they worked at the Urban Tree Connection. They weeded the communal gardens in order to benefit the residents of Philadelphia. Though they came back pretty tired, most wore smiles and admitted they had a lot of fun working!
Tomorrow promises to be more solemn as it is the Jewish fast day of Tisha B'Av. The fast starts at 8:08 pm tonight and after dinner the tochnit erev (evening activity) will be serious chugim (electives) that deal with the observance of the fast. The normal schedule tomorrow will be changed to include learning about the Holocaust via the graphic novel, Maus, and creating life-sized murals depicting the five catastrophes we mourn on Tisha B'Av. 
Tomorrow machaneh will be a quiet place since the Chotrim (campers going into 6th grade) and Bonim (campers going into 9th grade) away doing their tikkun olam (healing the world) project at the Urban Tree Connection and the Tzofim (campers going into 8th grade) going on tiyul (nature hike). 
We just finished a lovely Shabbat -- the second to last one of Galil 2011! We're off to medurah (bonfire) complete with dancing and comedic skits by our campers followed by everyone's favorite part of the week: ice cream sundae bar! 
Since we still value the goals of Reach Out and Read, we have decided to run a book drive through Camp Galil. By choosing the Broad Street Ministry, we are donating our money to their new program geared towards giving people a "re-identification." Today we visited the Broad Street Ministy and spoke with the guests to see their amazing work first-hand. In addition, we took a tour of their facilities and are looking to start a long-term relationship between this amazing organization and all of us here at Camp Galil. 
The next part of the day was chugim (interest groups). Campers choose their activity on the first day of the session from a wide variety including World Cup Soccer, knitting and crocheting, photography, and clothing design. Lunch followed with a delicious salad bar and chicken. 
After Alumni Day, Kupa trip, and Bocoup all in the last two days, you'd think Galil would be ready for a normal day, but it seems that a certain group of villains had other plans. Said villains took over machaneh (camp) early this morning at hitkansut (flag raising). Led by Darth Vader, the Joker, Ursula, and the Wicked Witch of the West, these bad guys (played by some of our fabulous counselors) turned Galil into their evil empire! They taught the chanichim (campers) how to be a true villain from creating their own costumes to practicing their evil cackles.
Unfortunately, when some of the villains took it too far and attacked their new friends in a mid-afternoon jello and applesauce fight, we realized that total chaos and destruction wasn't such a good idea and that we need some good in this world, too. This disagreement escalated into a final epic battle between the five main villains on the top of the high ropes course. In the end the chanichim were able to vanquish Ursula and the Joker and restore balance to machaneh.
When Galil reached out to its alumni last month asking for help completing the new Amy Adina Schulman Center at Galil, many answered the call. However, not all alumni -- especially the younger ones -- could afford to give $1 per day for the next three years. As a result, they are banding together by kvutzah (age group) to show their support for Galil and this project.
"The Galil experience is never-ending," says alumna Talia Stein. "I stopped attending machaneh (camp) seven years ago, but the values I was instilled with continue to inform my every day life. Perhaps most importantly, Galil taught me that tikkun olam is not a trip we take every session, but a guiding principle for every day life. I give, together with my kvutzah, the people who changed my life, so that more people can have the unforgettable and incomparable Galil experience.
This morning we started to get ready for another Shabbat at Galil, our first of 2nd Session! As always after a delicious muffin breakfast -- a fan favorite -- we cleaned our little machaneh (camp) during an extra long avodah (work time). There's no better way to enjoy a peaceful Shabbat than when machaneh is nice and clean.
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Last night during tochnit erev (evening program), campers were given the special task of stepping into the shoes of famous fashion designers and creating memorable looks for the Summer 2011 season. Their models: the madrichim (counselors). Their objective: to make them look as ridiculous as possible. As you can tell by the pictures, our campers were very successful! No one could keep a straight face during this hilarious fashion show, but it was a great time for all, and gave campers a chance to get to know madrichim they don't necessarily work with every day.
Speaking of new faces, we are proud to introduce our new tzvatim k'tanim (bunk staffs)! 
Today we kicked off our second session with a brand new schedule. After breakfast we had avodah (work) as usual. The pictures show our gan v'chayot (garden and animals) work group in which campers help in the garden, feed our chickens and lambs, and collect eggs each day. After avodah, our campers participate in peulat schichva (activities by age group) followed by the big switch: chugim (interest groups). Chugim was in the late afternoon 1st session but we think campers will be excited to get to take part in their electives earlier in the day! Now sports is in the afternoon and leads straight into schiya chofshit (free swim) so our campers can relax, cool down, and have plenty of time to shower afterwards.
g freshly harvested items from the gan and pudding for dessert. Nothing tastes better than our freshly grown produce! 
Today we said goodbye to a relaxing intersession and welcomed the second session-ers to our Galil family! We met new friends and got to see old friends as well. After settling into new tzrifim (cabins) everyone met their counselors and bunkmates and played some ice-breaker games to get to know each other.
We are looking forward to an exciting session and one that will be packed with special days and activities for all campers, so stay tuned some memorable stories in the next three weeks. More photos will be uploaded to Bunk1 tomorrow! .jpeg "intersesssion 2011 swimming")
Today we will move bunks and prepare for our new friends to arrive Tuesday afternoon...followed by a very magical trip...to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2! Our campers are excited for the popcorn, air-conditioning, and final film! 
We know that all of you out there are concerned about us here at Galil due to the record high temps. I just want to take this time to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to keep as cool as possible and as hydrated as possible. In order to do this most effectively, there are a few fashion trends that have become increasingly popular over the past few days. The first rising trend is the gallon-sized water bottle causing nothing short of a hydration sensation! No one is seen without a water bottle in-hand, it's the cool thing to do. 
We told the chanichim that Captain Planet fell apart and it was our responsibility to put him back together by learning about different environmental issues that we encounter today. All of the chanichim were split up into teams based on Captain Planet's elements: Earth (green) , Wind (white) , Fire (red) , Water (blue), and Heart (purple). Each group learned about modern environmental issues. For example, the Earth team learned about Hydraulic Fracturing (aka Fracking) on the east coast of the United States and the concerns and benefits associated with it. .JPG "Creek Walk 1")
A heatwave in Ottsville is no match for the all-star chanichim (campers) at Galil! We spent a lot of time in the pool and sprinklers or hiking in Tinicum Creek, which borders Galil. Little gets in the way of us making magic. Despite the heat, today was an especially great day for our little machaneh (camp). Here is why:
"We the Bogrim group of 2011, strive to, by our values of leading by example, equality and social justice, help to educate the Philadelphia community as well as improve the physical and mental health of others." 
It's not so bad getting your hands dirty when it means picking the first round of carrots from the soil or pruning the pea plants! Arguably though, the best places to work is in the front corner of the gan where the basil and tomatoes grow just one bed apart. It's a snack too tasty to pass up as our basil is in bloom and our number of ripe tomatoes is about to boom! Our Chotrim came into the gan today with some understanding of what it takes to grow food, but now that they got a chance to harvest our produce, they may be just a little bit more interested to eat their vegetables when the show up at meals. 
As our gan continues to expand, so does our desire to model the values of conservation and sustainability that we speak of so often at Galil. The informal agricultural education we receive by having a garden is fantastic (and tasty!) And who knows, one day our mitbach (kitchen) may not need to purchase any produce, because we can grow it all ourselves! 
One of the things that makes Camp Galil very special is the way that we structure our peulot (activities). Our madrichim (counselors) and madatzim (counselors in training) are as much educators as they are caretakers for all of our wonderful chanichim (campers). Everyday, our madrichim are responsible for planning and executing not one, but two of what we call Peulat Shicvah (activities with your age group). Each of our peulot ranges in theme and style to facilitate a process for our chanichim where they are learning at the same time they are having fun. In real-world terms, this style is referred to is "Informal Education." We start with a short game, apply a method which serves as the bulk of the program, then come together to talk about the themes applied in the method. Friday's peulat shicvah is run by our madatzim, so its contents tend to be a little extra special in preparation for shabbat.
After a full and exciting week, we're taking our shabbat a little more "unplugged" than usual, as we are going to try and observe shabbat without the use of any electricity. Sounds like a fun challenge!
The next morning, machaneh awoke to
Israeli music and strings of blue and white flags cascading from trees and
buildings. It was Yom Yisrael (Israel Day)! The chanichim spent the morning and most of the
afternoon running around playing games that reflected the cultural growth of
Israel, eating falafel, and there was even an Israel carnival. Now, I don’t
often like to interject with my opinion too heavily on these internet
communication devices, but here I must. The falafel that we had for lunch
wasn’t just camp falafel. Oh no. You see, this summer, we have not one but TWO Israeli chefs! They made Israeli salad. They made chareef (spicy sauce). Home made hummus.
Zatar as far as the eye could see. I have not been to Israel since my year
fighting the good fight on Workshop 56, but when I bit into this falafel, it
was as if I was walking the streets of Old Akko, through the hustle and bustle
of Hummus Sayiid, old men bartering over sacks of spices, and tourists spending
too much money on tapestries and incense.
It was a very good falafel. .JPG "Cannonball Contest")
so it is our responsibility to make sure Galil's wonderful chanichim (campers) are as hydrated as they are happy. Not all of us are as lucky as the Amelim (post 3rd and 4th graders) and the Chotrim (post 5th graders) who are tubing down the Delaware River today for tiyul (our outdoors trip), but we manage to mix things up enough to keep everyone cool. 
Take Z'man Sport (sports time) for example: many of us head down to the brecha (pool) for the cannonball splash contests, games of catch, and the occasional whirl pool. Today our yoga group practiced Bikram or Hot Yoga in the MoAdina. When z'man sport is over, we take a rest pose, shower off, put on some dry clothes and get ready for the rest of the day. 
After the heat breaks tonight and the Amelim and Chotrim return from tiyul, we're headed to a very special tochnit erev (evening program) where we transform our humble machaneh (camp) into A Night at the Oscars. 
Mealtime at Galil provides not just our nourishment, but
also the passing on of our 65-year machaneh
(camp) heritage. Every meal is like an exuberant family dinner where we share about the peulot (activities) we participated in that day. We have meal-based traditions like pizza on Fridays and bagels on Sunday,
but my favorite tradition is shira (singing). Every day at lunch and dinner we sing, we eat, and then we sing a little
more!
five songs that they sing about themselves to the rest of machaneh. The kids stand up on benches and sing as loud as they can to prove their shicvah has the most ruach
Additionally, there are songs that don’t necessarily apply
to a certain shicvah. 
Rikkudei Am (Israeli Folk Dancing) until the sun comes up. What about the chanichim (campers) who have a skill or an interest that has not yet surfaced? How do we get each of our chanichim to try something new? One of our answers: Sadnaot!
Tomorrow each shicvah will go to a different sadna to try out something new and we can't wait to see what new passions and interests we will help our chanichim discover. If your super-athletic child/a comes home knowing how to knit, we might have had something to do with it! 
Danya uses mostly patchwork and applique techniques. She enjoys working with nature themes, especially trees because of the resonances that it has within Jewish culture. As you can see from the picture, just like at the infirmary, Ruthie likes to help out! 
Every Friday after lunch, the entire machaneh (camp) gets together and sits in Hyde Park to discuss camp and provide feedback. Each and every member of our community is allowed to go up to the front and share any thoughts they have. 
This part of the day is called "asefa clalit" because it is modeled after the meetings that the community has on a kibbutz. It's important for everyone to get together and to share their thoughts so that we can better everything we do. In addition, it emphasizes the role that each and every one of us have at Galil, and that we can all define how camp runs. 
Happy 11th birthday to Shayne Kanner of Chotrim! 
This afternoon the camp broke free of our chains and move to freedom, with a celebratory dance party in our new MoAdina (the first dance party, by the way) and thus the day ends. It feels good to be free! .jpg "sports1")
Sports is one of my favorite times of the day, as I grew up playing high school basketball, so I've always enjoyed this time the most. Here at camp, we play a variety of sports so that those who are specifically passionate or skilled in one sport can play that, while others can spend the time learning how to play a new sport. .jpg "sports2")
Our sports program is focused on building teamwork through good sportsmanship and interactions between campers of different ages. This way, everyone is including other members of our community, and older campers are expected to be positive role models during each sport. .jpg "sports3")
All of the campers were divided into teams, and were given certain ingredients with which to impress our judges. The madrichim (counselors) gave each team the same ingredients, which usually do not go together. For example, one of the rounds featured crackers, soy nut butter, cheddar cheese, and sprinkles. 
The challenge was for the campers to create something both edible and aesthetically-pleasing with what they were given. 
Our lovely judges can be seen in the photo above -- a mix of counselors, summer directors, and counselors-in-training. They were lucky enough to get to taste the amazing concoctions our campers made! 
groups prepares throughout the week. In front of the fire, we sing songs, people present acts, and the whole camp spends time laughing together. 
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We are SO EXCITED that these buildings are almost complete and ready to be used this summer, but we also need to share with the community that our work is not yet done. 
Please follow 
While you may already know about the new clubhouse and staff space that we are almost finished building, there's another new space for campers at Galil this summer!
Hello to everyone! This summer I will be blogging from machaneh (camp) in order to keep you updated on the goings on at camp. In order to start this off, I thought I'd briefly introduce myself.