Is camp accessible and universally designed? In this meaningful and thought provoking speciality track, we will intentionally push ourselves to think about camp from a universal design perspective, explore how our own identities factor into an inclusion mindset, learn how to appropriately support the many different needs that campers might come to camp with, and apply these learnings to your camp ecosystem. Together we will learn and use new language, tools, and pedagogy to engage and wrestle with disabilities in a camp setting.

You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy making things, you just have to like making things! The truth is that most of us DO like to make things! Sometimes the things are complicated and sometimes the things are simple. In this track, we are going to focus on creating things with materials that you already have, things that you can throw into a backpack and pull out when a camper is feeling low or just bored. Art shouldn’t be stressful, it should be joyful. Join us and learn how to bring the joy of creativity along with you anywhere you go!

When the night falls, children’s stories come to life! Join us in this Saturday Night Live session with all-time favorite children’s books such as The Giving Tree, Where the Wild Things Are, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, we will discover creative ways to theatrically introduce and produce a bedtime story for a guarantee of sweet (Jewish) dreams.

Time off is a treasured and necessary aspect of being a staff member at camp when staff have an opportunity to take a break to reset in whatever way feels most restorative. In this elective, we will discuss unique ways to experience time off while staying at camp. Intention and boundaries can be significant in transforming our mindsets of how we approach place and space and together we will play with how to make time off meaningful, replenishing and restful.

Ishay Ribo is an Israeli singer-songwriter. He has become an intrinsic part of a fascinating phenomena that brings traditional texts and ideas into the mainstream popular music scene. His music has gained popularity among Orthodox, national-religious, and secular audiences. In this elective we will study the lyrics and enjoy the music that enriches Jewish Renewal in such a prayerful and playful way. The elective will focus on “Modeh Ani” how in this, of all years can I find the strength to give gratitude, to be grateful, and to be great-ful as an educator and role model at camp?

In order to be effective, the members of a team first need to establish strong trust, communication, and collaboration. At camp, though, it can be difficult to find the time to build and maintain this foundation without a clear method in place for doing so. In this specialty track, we will explore proven tools and techniques for developing teams while also appreciating the AWEsome power (pAWEr) that each of us, as individual team members, has to contribute to our team’s synergy.

You don’t have to know a dance to do a dance! Are you graceful? Are you awkward? Somewhere in between? Israeli dance is accessible and energetic and fun… and is specifically built to be that way regardless of your skill level (or lack thereof). Come learn the what, the why, and the how of Israeli dance, including all the other things you can secretly learn (and teach!) while doing it.

As the People of the Book, many of us are used to “learning Jewish” through text. Yet Judaism is a tradition based as much in the body as it is in the brain. In this track we’ll dive into multiple modalities for experiencing Jewish learning and practice through our bodies with a specific emphasis on physical movement practice through a Jewish lens. Whether you’re a specialist in areas like dance, sports, nature, or theater; a bunk counselor looking for ways to build community through physical and spiritual practice; or just a Jewish camp pro looking for ways to bring Jewish learning out of the book and into the body, there’s something in this track for you.

“Justice, Justice you shall pursue” is a constant clarion call from all corners of Jewish life. Social Justice and the imperative to “heal the word” is a primary Jewish value, but what is really at the heart of it and what does it look and feel like on the ground in our camps? In this specialty track, we will get back to basics about the foundations of social justice and deepen our perspectives on some of the modern social issues that drive our passions. Through group discussion, interactive activities, and analysis of famous text, we will gain a strong footing in how to implement the ideals of social change from boker tov to bunktime. Join us as we learn how we can pray with our feet by turning our passions into action.

Start your morning with a delightful breakfast (bowl of cereal, fresh pancakes, or whatever you’ve got), and entertaining short animated films that will upgrade your day, and uplift your spirit. PJs are welcome!