Galil Blog
Shalom Galil families!
As we started another hot day at Galil, the chanichimot learned that the Hebrew word for chicken is עוף (of) and then preceded to “chicken peck” (pick up and throw away little pieces of trash) around machaneh on the way to the Chadar Ochel. After a yummy breakfast of blintzes, the morning started off as usual, with avodah (work groups) and nikayon tzrif (cabin cleaning time). Then, during sadna’ot (specialist rotations), the Chatulimot (rising 7th and 8th graders) headed to the ropes course to take on the “elements” and ride the zipline. While the Chatulimot continued on the ropes course, everyone else went to Pish Alef, where the chanichimot learned about gender and feminism, with different focuses for each age group.
During lunch, there were big coolers of gatorade for everyone to enjoy along with their grilled cheese and tomato soup. As we ride out another heat wave, the afternoon was filled with lots of water activities! For sports today, chanichimot chose between swimming, water soccer, rikudei am (in the air-conditioned Moadon), and recess games with water.
Then, after pish bet, kibud, and chuggim, we all headed to the pool for a machaneh-wide pool party! Since it was so hot, we stayed in the pool while we did shira and learned a special new song for the American Camp Association visit tomorrow. After some shower time, everyone gathered for Hitkansut Erev before heading to dinner.
As the sun set, chanichimot gathered outside the moadon to hear the chuggim options for a tochnit erev (evening activity) about neurodiversity. At one chug, chanichimot made their own fidget tools out of flour, pipe cleaners, beads, buttons, and balloons while listening to a podcast. Another chug explored sensory processing through an immersive museum of auditory, visual, olfactory, and tactile stimuli in the moadon. One of the chuggim focused on neurodiversity in literature, and the final one talked about what it’s like to have a “sticky” brain.
To close off the evening, everyone split into their kvutzot and shared what they had learned in the chuggim. Learning together about the differences in the way people’s brains work through creative methods started some really interesting and important conversations that will hopefully continue beyond this tochnit erev. The chanichimot had a lot of thoughtful reflections to offer, and it was meaningful to have an informal space to celebrate and learn about neurodiversity at camp. After we sikkumed by kvutza, we all sang Rad HaYom together before saying goodnight.
Navigating the heat wave has been a challenge for everyone, but we’ve got some more activities planned for tomorrow to help keep everyone cool. In exciting news today, Jeff and Toby installed a brand new ice machine in the mitbach that the chanichimot are super excited to use to fill their water bottles. We also have a lot of other exciting things to look forward to in the last week and a half of the session. It’s still a surprise for the chanichimot, but the Bogrimot have been working hard to plan a really fun evening for Bozman tomorrow night. Stay tuned for a special guest blog from the Bogrimot tomorrow, and stay cool!