What is experiential education?
Experiential education understands that every moment of the day is a potential learning opportunity: meals, discussions, sports, singing — and even bedtime. This theory of education allows the chanichimot (campers) to experience an alternative way to “live their learning,” and then to reflect on these experiences together through more specific and explicit moments of chinuch (education). Experiential education is, of course, all about the experience — linking thoughts and actions in all aspects of our camp lives.At Gilboa, there’s no better day to fully capture the essence of experiential education than our Yom Meychad (Special Day). By pairing a unique theme with an educational topic, chanichimot (campers) learn about important issues through the lens of a fun and active day.
Here’s the story of this year’s theme, Ants and Bees:
When chanichimot (campers) woke up on the morning of July 19th, Gilboa looked oddly different than it had looked all session. The rolling hills between tzrifim (cabins) were transformed overnight into an anthill and a beehive; the pool became “The Watering Hole” and the chadar ochel (dining hall) somehow converted into a break-room cafeteria divided in two — one side for worker bees, and one for worker ants.
Residing over this insect kingdom was the Queen Bee and Queen Ant, who oversaw their factory of bee and ant laborers, respectively. Soon enough, chanichimot (campers) learned that they themselves were either a bee or an ant — and that historically, ants and bees have struggled to get along.
With a spirit of friendly competition in the air, the bees and ants learned and sang several songs of the insect laborer, such as: “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Anthill / Beehive,” “Union Bug,” and “We Shall Honeycomb.”
The Queen Bee (left)
The Queen Ant (left)
After a dance battle in which the ants and bees inevitably tied, the Queen Bee and Queen Ant fueled the flames of ant-bee animosity even further by enforcing a game of capture the flag between the two factions. Instead of splitting the winnings evenly among the workers, the ants and bees realized that the two Queens were conspiring all along to exploit their labor.
In a moment of clarity, the ants and bees understood that the Queens were only pitting the insects against each other for their own gain. The answer, the bees and ants realized, is solidarity amongst the workers!
The insects then engaged in a skill-sharing session, engaging in such activities as visiting the "vegan health bees" to drink some rejuvenating apple juice, and strength-building with the "muscle beach ants." After sharing all the skills that both ants and bees have to offer to each other, the two factions learned that they’re more powerful together than when they’re divided. The bees and ants then wrote an “insectfesto,” which included their plot to overthrow the tyrant Queens.
Come nightfall, the ants and bees were ready to fight — a short hatzagah (skit) motivated the insects not to give up:
Veteran Ant: “We’ve been training for a long time and now it’s the time to FIGHT!”
Veteran Bee: “Everything has been building up this and I truly believe that you are all ready. We WILL overthrow the queens TONIGHT!”
Veteran Ant: “When we insects fight, we win!”
Everyone: "WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!"
After a game of Zap (flashlight tag), the ants and bees approached the Queens’ hideout. Surrounded by all sides by angry insect laborers, the Queens had no choice but to surrender — a mashed-potato food fight ran the Queens out of hiding for good. The ants and bees took control over their own destiny; by working with each other and not against each other, they doubled their collective power and won against the oppressive insect Queens!
The night ended with a ceremonious dance party and some sweet and well-deserved honey-cake, courtesy of the hardworking bees in the mitbach (kitchen)!
Comments