Shalom!
Second session has been packed! Take a look:
The day after Revo—Yom Sheni (Monday)—was a yom ragil (regular day). The tochnit erev (evening activity) was a variant of “Zap,” a Gilboa tradition. During Zap, the chanichim (campers) wear dark clothing in order to sneak across the machaneh (camp) with getting “zapped”—a madrich/a (counselor) shining a flashlight on a chanich/a and saying “Zap! Go back!” This year, the chanichim sneaked from the medura pit to the migrash sport in order to escape the oppressive political regime of their home country.
Yom Shlishi (Tuesday) was tiyul. However, instead of going on a hike, the machaneh took a day trip to a local apple farm. The Bonim and the Bogrim left for the farm first. Upon arrival, they were greeted with a delicious caramel apple snack. On the farm, they learned about apple farming, rode a tractor, shot BB guns at soda cans, tasted preserves and apple butter, used a cider press, brushed a pig named blossom and petted a horse named Duke, and visited an apiary to learn about bees. Meanwhile, the Amelim, Chotrim, and Shomrim participated in a peula (activity) about food justice back at machaneh.
The Amelim, Chotrim, and Shomrim joined the Bonim and Bogrim at the farm for lunch. We took a short hike over a creek to a beautiful grassy area shaded by oak trees in order to eat our packed lunches and drink our fresh-pressed apple cider. Following lunch, the Amelim, Chotrim, and Shomrim toured the farm and ate caramel apples, while the Bonim and Bogrim returned to machaneh to learn about food justice.
If it seems that the day couldn’t get better, you are mistaken. The tochnit erev on Yom Shlishi was Wish Night. At the beginning of the session, each chanich/a submits three wishes. On Wish Night, the tzevet helps make one wish a reality for each chanich/a!
Yom Revi’i (Wednesday) is almost a yom ragil; it has a Yom Teva (Nature Day) twist. All of today’s activities have an environmental connection. The machaneh is threatened by Smashy Hands—a flower-crushing monster with a Siamese twin (twice the smash per hour!). The chanichim will need to defeat Smashy Hands before the day is out. Furthermore, the peula for each shichva (age group) revolves around the connection between Judaism and environmental responsibility.
The evening will end with a medura (campfire), kumsitz (sing-alongs), banana boats, and stargazing. Keep an eye out for that meteor shower tonight!
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