Hello From Camp!

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.

Kvutzat Workshop 55 (as pictured below, when they were in Chotrim 1998) led the way!  Most graduated college in the past year or two and are still settling into the working world.  They decided that as a kvutzah they would raise $5,500.  Today they are proud to announce that they have already exceeded their goal with $5,798 -- and more still coming in. 

"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.

Thank you, Kvutzat Workshop 55 for your help!  We are closer to our goal as a result of your generosity! 

Do you want to do something similar with your age group, family, friends, etc.?  Contact Ilana for assistance. 

Want to contribute to the campaign?  Please click here or send a check with this pledge sheet to:

Campaign for Galil

PO Box 1245

Newtown, PA 18940

Hello to everyone!! 

Today was an exciting day for us: we had our 1st session out-of-camp trip (which we call kupa trip)!  We went to a place called Dutch Springs, where there is a water park in an old quarry.  In the water there are a variety of trampolines, climbing walls, and other fun activities.  They also have a "sky challenge" which is a fusion of an obstacle course and a high ropes course.  Needless to say, everyone had an amazing time! 

After a long day of fun in the sun (don't worry, we lathered up in sunscreen!) we are back at camp and ready for a relaxing night full of BBQ and a movie.  Tomorrow is Friday, leading into Shabbat, a restful time for everyone at camp.  After today we can all use some rest. 

Check back in tomorrow to hear about how we celebrate Shabbat -- and make sure to check Bunk1 for photos from today!!! 

Lailah Tov, 

Molly Bernstein 

Here at camp, we strive to give our campers the ability to practice the things they love, while at the same time learning new things and expanding their horizons.  One way we do this is during a part of the day called sadnaot, literally "workshops."

 Each day the shchavot (age groups) rotate through our 6 sadnaot to talk about a different subject or learn a new skill. By having the opportunity to interact with our different facilities and specialties, the chanichim (campers) are encouraged to value the different activities, and at the same time learn about a related issue.  

  

 

Hello Everyone!! 

Today, I'd like to explain a big part of the ideology on which we have built our community.  Yesterday I explained that Camp Galil is a member of a youth movement called Habonim Dror, but what I didn't tell you was that Habonim Dror is one of the groups who contributed to the building of Israel through the creation of  kibbutzim (collective agricultural communities).  This branch of zionism is called labor zionism, which is committed to building up of Israel through working the land. 

 How is this related to camp? Every morning, all of the machaneh (camp) does some work, or avodah in order to help camp run.  We divide all of the chanichim (campers) and madrichim (counselors) into groups, and they are responsible for one kind of work that needs to get done.  For example, we have one group or anaf (literally, branch) that sets up breakfast, one that washes the dishes from breakfast, one that prepares the campfire for Saturday night, one that picks up trash, and of course one that cleans the bathrooms.  We even have one for taking care of our gan (garden) and one that looks after the animals! Our chanichim enjoy avodah, as loud music and silliness is an integral part of the experience. 

By having each member of our community contributing to the upkeep of our space, individuals take on responsibility for our grounds, and we find people picking up trash or cleaning something up without being asked.  As Pirkei Avot (the Jewish book of ethical teachings) says, "Lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, v'lo ata ben chorin lehivatel mimena" or "It's not for you to finish the task, but you are not free to cease trying."  By all doing our part and contributing to the work that must get done, we create a community that cares about each other. 

Check out more pictures of our campers having fun at avodah on our bunk1 photo website!! 

 While I walked around machaneh (camp) today, I stopped by the Bogrim (post 9th grade) activity and heard them talking about the concepts of collective memory and its impact on personal identity.  They started by using a world map to look at where all of their families came from, and the conversation progressed into understanding who they were and why.  As I reflected on this conversation, I thought about how Camp Galil impacts those who spend their summers here. 

Camp Galil is a very special place.  I'm biased of course, as I've been here since the year 2000 (since before many of our campers were born), but today I want to share with you exactly what makes us so special. 

 At Galil, we do all of the typical summer camp stuff.  We go swimming, we play sports, we have campfires, and we sing songs.  But what we do that sets us apart is a part of the day that we call "peulat shichva" or age group activity. 

These activities are created by madrichim (counselors) and can be about almost anything.  Peulot often start with a silly ice-breakers in order to get our ya-ya's out, and then we use alternative educational methods to encourage our campers to think critically about the world, society, or really anything they are passionate about. 

  During this time slot, the younger campers have a rotation for instructional swim in order to break up the time into shorter activities, while the older kids have longer peulot.  In addition, younger kids almost always have very active and experiential peulot while the older kids' peulot are often discussion based and may include a text from a famous thinker.  

Now you may be asking, why does this set us apart? You may have seen on our Camp Galil symbol the words Habonim Dror, which is the name of the youth movement that Camp Galil is apart of.  Habonim Dror has 7 camps across North America, and exists in many countries all over the world including Australia, England, Brazil, Turkey, and Uruguay.  Thus, our education spans across the world, and being a camper at Galil connects us to other youth all around the world.   

P.S. I'd like to wish a VERY happy 22nd birthday to our counselor for the CIT (counselor-in-training) program, Nora Chong.  And a belated 11th birthday to Halle Cooper (her birthday was yesterday). 

Hello Parents!! 

Today was a day full of excitement, smiles, and hugs from old friends.  Our campers arrived this morning, set up their beds, waved goodbye to their parents, and the Camp Galil fun officially started!!  In addition, this session has the most campers Galil has seen in at least a decade! 

Once the parents left, the whole machaneh gathered in the Chadar Ochel (dining hall) for lunch, which featured the traditional first day meal of grilled cheese and tomato soup.  After all the tummies were full, a loud rendition of shira (after meal singing) thundered through the Chadar Ochel as all the shchavot (age groups) sang their songs and showed their ruach (spirit).   

As shira came to a close, everyone divided up into their shchavot and went to play some games, learn names, and get a quick lice check (we were 100% lice free!).  I walked around and took pictures of each shichva (age group) so that all of our readers can see Camp Galil 2011 for themselves.  Please keep in mind that as I took these pictures, I had the campers yell their shichva's name (age group) so some of them are making silly faces. 

Later tonight our campers will be introduced to all of the different time slots of the day, as they will select their chugim (interest groups), their avodah (work groups, more about this tomorrow), and their sport for the session.   

Amelim: 

 Chotrim: 

Sayarim: 

Tzophim: 

Bonim: 

Bogrim: 

Madatz: 

We loved meeting you today, and we are so excited to have all of you and your families in the Galil community.  Lailah Tov! (Good night) 

 With the start of camp right around the corner, our tzevet (staff) is working hard to prepare for the arrival of our chanichim (campers).  We've been planning peulot (activities), building the new pen for the lambs, planting the gan (garden), and generally getting excited for camp to finally begin!!  

 Our tzevet this year is an awesome group of madrichim (counselors) coming from all of the world, including Israel, England, California, and of course, Philadelphia.  Our tzevet ranges almost 7 years, and each group below is divided by kvutzah, or the word we use for age group, but denotes a much stronger bond.  Here is Tzevet 2011!  

Kvutzat Workshop 55: Adina Teibloom  (Tzevet Mitbach, unfortunately Adina could not be photographed because she is still teaching in Philadelphia!)  

 Kvutzat Workshop 56:  

From left: Molly Wernick (Co-Rosh) Zack Arnson-Serotta (Driver), Shiah IrgangLaden (Merakez Chinuch).  

  

 Kvutzat Workshop 57:    

 From top left: Nora Chong (Madatz Madricha), Sophia Bernstein (Merakezet Techni), David “H Pot” Rosenberg (Madrich), Kali Silverman (Co-Rosh).  

  

Kvutzat Workshop 58:   

  

From left: Eve Lifson (Ropes/Tiyul Specialist), Elie Shane (Tzevet Mitbach), Levi Natkins (Madatz Madrich), Karmi Oxman (Ropes/Tiyul Specialist).  

 

 Kvutzat Workshop 59:     

  From top left: Phil Ross (Rosh Mitbach), Mikey Silbermann (Madrich), David Hodari (Madrich), Ethan Schwartz (Madrich), Darren Cohen (Madrich), Jonah Adams (Madrich), Julie Dancis (Madricha), Nathan Peretz (Madrich), Molly Bernstein (Communication Specialist), Sara Zebovitz (Madricha), Nuri Weitzman (Madricha), Dan Barkon (Madrich), Ari Feinberg (Madrich), Max Weisman (Madrich), Carla Golden  (Madricha), Hannah Weinstein (Madricha), Shuli Carroll (Madrich).  

 Kvutzat Workshop 60:   

  From top left: Eli Silverman (Madrich), Shaun Plotnick (Madrich), Shira Scott (Matzila), Jodi Crossan (Tzevet Mitbach), Pele IrgangLaden (Madrich), Allie Amado (Madricha), Yuval Yarden (Madricha), Danielle Gross (Madricha), Talia Gottesman  (Madricha), Hillary Kurland (Madricha), Jordan Cooper (Madricha), Diana Segal (Melechet Yad Specialist), Jill Lipman (Melechet Yad Specialist), Shula Smith (Madricha), Louis Abramson (Madrich).  

  Kvutzat Workshop 61:   

   From left: Talia Golden (Matzila), Jake Schurr (Tzevet Mitbach), Diana Goodman (Madricha), Pauline Bogad  (Madricha), Jonah Gray (Tzevet Mitbach).  

 Mishlachat:   

 

 From top left: Ronit Cohen (Shlicha), Lee Oz (Madricha), Igal Evlagon (Madrich), Hadas Brajtman (Chef), Roee Snir (Madrich), Lior Mashiach (Madricha).  

   

   

  

  

  

  

  

In the next week, Galil will fill up with 160 campers, 50 staff members, 7 baby lambs, and several chickens!  

We are so excited to have animals again at Galil! One of our work (avodah) groups will be responsible for taking care of our new friends, feeding them, and of course playing with them too! 

Help us name the baby lambs on our Facebook page.  We will announce the names that are chosen by your votes just before Opening Day next Sunday! 

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: 

 

You've been asking and here they are! Check out the pictures of our new buildings! 

 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. 

Galil has already raised over $800,000 to complete these beautiful and necessary structures, but we still need $300,000 to close the gap.  This is the largest fundraising effort in Galil's 65 year history!  We have decided to use the values of community, sharing, and kupa that we teach at camp to raise the remaining funds.  As such, we are asking all of you whose lives have been touched in one way or another to join the 100 individuals and foundations that have already been part of this campaign.  

We hope that each and every one of us will look deep inside and stretch to help us reach this goal. 

 One way you can do this is to donate $1 per day for the next three years.  When three hundred people join our campaign, we will reach our goal!  

For some of us, giving $1 per day is a stretch, but for some, we can do much more.  Please find the amount that moves you and help us complete these buildings that will sustain Galil for the next 65 years. 

 Please follow this link to make a payment online to our Campaign Fund.  If you would like to be part of the $1 per day campaign, please enter the amount you would like to give and how often (for example: if you want to give $30 per month, please type in 30 for the amount and set the recurrence to monthly.  DO NOT type in the total amount you would like to give unless it is a one-time payment).  $1 per day is $365 each year or $1,095 in total over three years. 

 If you would prefer to make your gift by check, please complete this form and send it to PO Box 1245, Newtown, PA 18940. 

 We hope to raise all $300,000 by our Alumni Day on July 31st!  

 If you have any questions, please call Sharon at (610) 847-2213.  On behalf of the entire Galil community, we thank you for your support!  

Sharon Waimberg, Executive Director 

Steve Shore, Camp Committee Chair 

Hank Albert, Alumnus and Parent 

Ilana Goldfus, Registrar 

 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!

Check out this new campsite built by members of Workshop 55!  We will use it to do more nature activities and overnight camping trips throughout the summer.

Thanks, Josh Waimberg, Lev Horowitz, Dustin Hellinger, Jesse Summers, and Roey Nissan for your incredible work!  We are so excited to use this campsite!