Second session hit the ground running. The earlier pickup
time allowed us to finish all the trainings on the first part of the first day,
and get right into camp activities. After the usual lice check, rules of camp, safety drills,
swim test and archery and kayaking safety training, chanichim watched presentations about chugim (electives)
and Avodah (work groups) that they can choose from.
Chugim choices this session are diverse –from Sports, “Artsy
Fartsy”, and “Living Poets Society” to “Chugs and Kisses” and “Hippies and
Hipsters” among others, chanichim had plenty to choose from. More about chugim in
other posts.
Later in the evening each kvutza (age group) sat together
and decided which member will participate in which Avodah.
So why is the first blog post of the session about Avodah? Why
do we do Avodah at Gilboa, and why is this an essential part of camp?
At Gilboa, chanichim are encouraged to be creators of their
community and their experiences rather than consumers of ones. Everyone takes
ownership of the facilities by cleaning them, beautifying them, building new structures
and even maintaining equipment such as generators and the water well when they
are a bit older. Gilboa is a self-sustaining community, where everything is planned,
run, cooked and maintained by members of the youth movement, and that includes
the chanichim (campers) and the madrichim (counselors). Everyone taking responsibility and being an
equally important participant and contributor makes for a true community of empowered youth.
Toranut Boker set up the tables for breakfast, serve the meals, wash dishes and clean the chadar (dining hall).
Ashpa pick up the trash from all the cabins, the bathrooms and take care of recycling.
Goy (Gan and Noy) take care of the herb garden and of camp paths, and build new structures around camp (here in a planning and work group cheer writing session).
Bishul cut vegetables for lunch and dinner's salads.
And the most coveted work group of all - Briut - sanitizing and cleaning the bathrooms and showers.
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