Camp Ramah in New England's View From the Heights

Magshimim/Bogrim Kishroniyah Film-Making Short Film!

Our Magshimim/Bogrim film-making Kishroniyah group created this wonderful short documentary about our kitchen staff.  Enjoy:

Bogrim Buddies

The summer has been filled with many amazing experiences throughout camp, but one activity that is unique to Bogrim is a chug (activity) called Bogrim Buddies. Bogrim Buddies pairs a Bogrim camper up with a camper from Amitzim. Amitzim is part of the TIkvah program for campers with disabilities. This is a very special program for the Bogrimers and the Amitzimers. Campers have the chance to build a relationship over the course of the summer, and discover how much they have in common with each other. It has been wildly popular in Bogrim, and when chanichim (campers) are asked about their experience in the chug they have nothing but praise for the program. The campers meet up during Amitzim sports perek, and the campers together get to play sports and get to know each other. It is truly a beautiful program!

 

Peulat Shabbat with Amitzim and Bogrim!

This week Amitzim and Bogrim had the opportunity to have a wonderful and educational peulat Shabbat together. In honor of the parsha, which reminds us of the ten commandments, we focused on two of the commandments; not saying G-d's name in vain and observing Shabbat. When learning about how to use G-d's name appropriately Bogrim and Amitzim were split up into separate groups. Bogrim had a discussion about words that are used in every day life that are considered derogatory but are often used casually. Words such as "retarded" and "idiot" are thrown around in conversation in the lives of many teenagers but in fact they have other meanings and should not be used in such contexts. The chanichim (campers) really opened up and suggested words that could be used instead and an awareness of how disrespectful these words can be. I was impressed by the maturity I found when talking to a group of Bogrim campers and was proud at how deep their conversation was. When thinking about the connection with the Torah portion the campers also pointed out more respectful and positive ways that G-d's name can be used rather than just throwing it around casually. 

Amitzim had a similar discussion about appropriate ways to use G-d's name and used different role play scenarios to help explain this concept. The group then gathered together to do an activity about how we observe Shabbat at home and at camp. Eventually everyone realized that even though we all may celebrate Shabbat in different ways during the year, at camp we all share the same joyous and special experience. 

Shavua Tov from Palmer!

Bogrim travels through Israel!

During the Yom Miyuchad (special day) this week, Bogrim chanichim traveled along Shvil Yisrael (path of Israel). Shvil Yisrael is a trail that runs from the north of Israel down to the south, which takes about two consecutive months to hike. During this special Yom, we "traveled" through many different Israeli cities, playing fun games and learning interesting facts about those places, and about Israel in general. Some highlights included learning about Israeli-Palestinian coexistence in the port city of Haifa, choreographing dances to Israeli songs in Tel Aviv, and learning about the Israeli Army in the Negev (desert), and our Eilat beach party at the end of the day. Overall it was a great day, and our chanichim got a taste of different experiences in Israel.

Take Ramah Home: Bogrim's Hanukiyot

Our Bogrim campers have spent the last two days working hard on their take home project - a hanukiya for Chanukah.

The project was led by Cecillia Kremer, a skilled, full-time mosaic artist who originally trained as an epidemiologist but eventually found her true calling in the world of ecologically-friendly art.

The campers began the project by designing mosaic patterns for both sides of the hanukiya, and gluing their choice of tiles, beads and colored glass onto the MDF base.

Grouting the mosaic was the next stage. This involved mixing together the grouting powder and water until it resembled the consistency of peanut butter. Then it was time to cover the entire mosaic in what looked like, for those choosing black for their grouting, a mud pie.

Several of the campers looked slightly concerned at the prospect of covering their beautiful designs like this but Cecillia was on hand to explain what to do next.

After a thorough cleaning, campers glued the base onto the hanukiya, painted and varnished it and glued on the candle-holders.

The multi-stage project took patience and several hours of dedicated concentration. But it was well worth the effort.

Each hanukiya is a work of art in its own right and something that the campers will treasure for years to come.

Take a look at just two of the stunning end results.

 

Bogrim discusses identity

Today Bogrim had a peulat edah run by staff that discussed Jewish identity. Being that today is Tisha B'Av (9th of Av), it was an appropriate topic to discuss. We started by breaking up into groups and going to different stations. At each station a counselor was given a character to act as. Each of these characters are famous Jews who, whether they are observant all the time or not, stand up for their Judaism at some point in their life. A few of these people included Sandy Koufax, Senator Joe Lieberman, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

After they learned a little bit about each of these people, the groups discussed their own Jewish identity, and the struggles that they may face being teenagers in a secular world. It was great to hear the chanichim having a discussion with each other. They come from a variety of backgrounds, and it is clear that they have a level of intellectual maturity to have these types of discussions. I was very impressed with the deep ideas the chanichim have, and it was wonderful to reflect on being Jewish on this specific day. Tisha B'Av is time of tragedy in Jewish history, and we commemorate that at Camp Ramah. However, on this day we are also privileged to see Jewish youth growing and maturing in a safe and positive environment.

Bogrim celebrates Shabbat with a Tisch

People who have experienced a Shabbat at Camp Ramah agree that it is special. In Adat HaBogrim we try to take advantage of the amazing ruach (spirit) of the day by having special events for the edah. One of those activities is something called a tisch . A tisch is a Friday night gathering where Jews get together and sing songs and eat food together in an atmosphere filled with simcha (happiness). Immediately following dinner and shira (songs), our entire edah heads over to our moadon (meeting building). We pass out a few extra snacks and sing lots of fun songs. The madrichim lead the chanichim in these songs, and sometimes a group of chanichim will get up to teach a song that is special to them. The Bogrim tisch really is a beautiful activity where we can take the energy we have and focus it into a fun and spirited activity.

 

More Photos from Magshimim/Bogrim Kishroniyah!

Here are some more glimpses at the fun our Magshimim/Bogrim campers have been having with our visiting Kishroniyah specialists!

Mural Project:

 
Film-making:

 
Silk-Screening:

 
Cooking:

 
Tennis:

 
Jewelry-making:

 

Bogrim returns from Etgar!

On Monday morning, adat HaBogrim set out on our overnight etgar. We went on our separate trips, and wouldn't meet up again until Tuesday afternoon. In those 30 hours or so, chanichim in Bogrim faced challenges that brought each group together, and thus helped us bond as an edah. Chanichim came back with amazing stories of how the various things they faced in nature. After getting back from these amazing trips we had a peulat erev that focused on the concept of growing as a result of facing adversity.  

This was the first year for this edah that etgar took place outside of camp. The trips that we go on in Bogrim teach the campers about how to take initiative and how to take care of themselves. Aside from facing physical trials, the chanichim are expected to try to figure out their way by looking at maps, and to cook meals for themselves. It was a very fun experience, and the energy in the edah now is amazing. We are so excited for the rest of the summer! Check out the pictures below of the rafting etgar trip.

Magshimim/Bogrim Kishroniyah Begins!

After three and a half incredible days, our Machon/Nivonim campers completed their final Kishroniyah session this morning.  It's incredible to see how much our campers accomplished working with our visiting specialists -- the projects they created (the growing mural, the complete movie created by our filmmaking group, the wonderful tracks of music recorded to CD by our a capella group) and the skills they learned (in their sports, in the cooking group, in the dance group). 

Although our Machon/Nivonim Kishroniyah program is over, it is only the beginning of our Magshimim/Bogrim Kishroniyah!  This afternoon our Mag/Bog kids split off into their groups to begin their three days of workshops.  There are lots of photos on our web-site -- here are a few!

Football:

 

Tennis:

 
Basketball:

 
Dance: