Several weeks ago, as we were gearing up for camp, I was sitting and having a lot of conversations with people. Our primary concerns were health, safety and security, of course, as we want to welcome your children into the safest and most open arms we can provide! Once we provided for basic needs, everyone rallied around the project of setting up the whole camp program, from learning icebreaker games to setting up a trip calendar for every unit to learn out of camp, and getting ready to plan Maccabiah (color war/Olympics/etc).
Just as we have essential curriculum and progression in school, including my beloved day school, The Davis Academy, so too do we set curriculum that goes through a child’s years in camp. In the Programming Castle (because we like to nickname buildings, people, activities, and things at camp), each unit’s dedicated programmer crafts a schedule filled with programs addressing their unit’s enduring understandings and essential questions. “Why does being Jewish matter?” they ask our oldest campers. “We are all a part of K’lal Yisrael/the people of Israel” responds a younger unit. This framework allows for structure fun sessions, as well as a healthy mindset for working, living, learning and enjoying our experiential Jewish summer home.
The following email, edited slightly from its original version, shows the bridging of the two kinds of educational venues, two totally different settings, and two totally identical program goals, addressing the important question of “how do we build a Jewish community together?”
Dear Community Rabbi,
I hope this email finds you well.
We’re gearing up for camp and one of our Programmers is preparing a program about setting a new place, and deciding how to establish the Jewish community. I’ve included the programmer on this email so you two can connect.
The program idea reminds me very much of the program you did with the 5
th
graders at our day school before they went on their trip to Savannah, GA! I was hoping that you two would be able to touch base about this program while you’re at camp for the first week and a half.
Looking forward to seeing you at day school graduation.
All the best,
Your Friendly, Neighborhood Nadiv Educator
