Galil Blog
Tiyul, meaning trip or hike in Hebrew, is a time during the session when all of machaneh (camp) goes on a camping trip together! These past two days were spent at Fort Washington State Park, a beautiful bit of nature and a nice change of scenery. Upon arrival, the chanichimot (campers) began pitching their tents, with each kvutsah (age group) setting up in a different area around the site. Once all of the ohelim (tents) were up, the chanichimot all hung out with each other. It was a nice time to break down the walls of kvutsah and spend time with people from different kvutsot than their own.
They played lots of spikeball, threw around a frisbee for hours, played card games like Eucher and Resistence, braided their hair, and just talked. Simultaneously, members of each kvutsah began prepping the campfires for the night. Tzofimot and older are allowed to use the axe after they learn how and get passed, and they had a blast chopping wood for later in the night. Some of the younger chanichimot gathered smaller sticks and branches for kindling, and found perfect sticks for marshmallow roasting. Shoutout to Miriam and Elias from Bonimot! They created a competition between themselves for who had the bigger roasting stick, leading to a point of holding incredibly large sticks over the fire for their smores. The chanichim fanned the fires and grew them as large as they could, and largest fire goes to the Madatz, where Joanna made an impressive fire that her kvutsah praised.
For dinner we roasted potatos in the fire and ate grilled chicken sandwiches before leading back into more of the same chill activities. Later in the night, after the sun had set, the younger kvutsot gathered around the Tzofimot’s fire to enjoy a nice bit of kumzitz (a gathering of singing) around the campfire. Madrichimot (counselors) Jonah and Azi, and Dahlia from our very own Mazkirut (leaders of camp) played guitar while the chanichimot sang and called out the names of songs they wanted. They sang until the fire died down, and turned in for the night.
The next day, we rose for breakfast and put on our long pants and hats to get ready for the hike! Before we left, we packed up the camp, so we were ready to head back to machaneh after the hike. We all headed off together, walking around Fort Washington State Park, through the trees and fields, before reaching a point where the “Older Kids Hike” continued further, and the “Younger Kids Hike” began to head back to the campsite. After being given the option, many of the chanichimot from Kartivimot, Sayarimot, and Tzofimot joined the longer hike, while the rest of us finished our shorter journey and sat to enjoy sandwiches and snacks at the overlook point at the front of the State Park. It was a nice, peaceful break from the usual long camp days! We are excited now to be back at Galil: clean, rested, and ready for Shabbat the next day!
