Making Camp a Safer Space: Sex, Gender, Language, and the Value of Respect (1/4)

This is post one of four. The next three will be published:

Sunday, April 3rd

Thursday, April 7th

Tuesday, April 12th

This post was inspired by conversations with and a large part written by, Rebecca Suldan, a longtime Yavneh attendee from Baltimore, Maryland. She is currently a Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major at Yale, who will serve on the board of the Yale Women's Center next year, and organizes Cookies and Tea, an informal discussion group for Jewish women on campus. She helped me write this piece because as much as she loves camp, she wishes that at times, it could be a safer, more inclusive space. You can reach her at rebecca.suldan@gmail.com with comments or questions.

DISCLAIMER: First, due to the nature of this post (and the next three), I would like to reiterate that my views and opinions are mine, and mine alone, and do not reflect those of Camp Yavneh. Second, the issues I will discuss are in no way unique to Yavneh, or camping in general. Finally, please do not take this post out of the context of the rest of the mission of my blog. I love camp. Period. Even though it is not perfect (as I will highlight) I still feel 100% comfortable being there and potentially sending my kids there as well. In addition, please direct your concerns and questions to either Becca or me, (even though the entry is written from my perspective) and remember, what I say here is an attempt to highlight places for improvement at Yavneh, not carelessly criticize with no objective in mind.

I would like to start off with a story from one of my summers at camp. My bunk was having the ‘beginning of the month’ meeting, where the counselors and kids go over bunk rules. As is typical for older bunks, the counselors guided the conversation but let the kids suggest the rules. One kid raised his hand and said, “We all know how we were last year, guys.  We have to respect our girls.”  Having heard this line before, the rest of the bunk agreed, with the exception of one camper.  He responded with something along the lines of, “Just by using the word ‘our,’ we imply possession of the girls.”  At the time, his bunkmates dismissed his comment as a mere technicality and a typical thing for this camper to say. I, too, didn’t really give it much thought then, but as I think about it now, his remark strikes me as spot on. “Our” does imply ownership.  In this case, the boys assumed that the girls in the aydah were theirs to take and use at their whim, and that they alone could decide whether to use them or not. One might argue that I’m reading into this single word too much.  In response, though, I’d say that anyone who has walked into a Maalot or Kerem boys’ bunk at night knows how disgusting the language that the boys use while talking about girls can be. When girls find out about these conversations, they often become upset or embarrassed – and rightfully so.  In using such language, these boys, most often aware of its hurtful and objectifying nature, exercise control and power over female campers.  They exercise the “right” to define, label, and judge them.

Before I continue, let’s step back for a moment. What is the difference between boys and girls? Sex? Gender? Both? At camp, issues of gender and sex play an enormous role in structuring interactions among campers, counselors, and staff. It’s worth clarifying the difference between the two terms.  Sex, on the one hand, is biological—hormones, chromosomes, genitals, and genes.  Gender, on the other hand, refers to the social and cultural patterns of behavior, identity, and attitudes.  Gender is acquired and learned. Boys are not born with a “Tonka trucks gene” and girls with a “Disney princess gene.”  In the past century, we have come to think of gender as something that is not fixed and immutable but rather as something constructed.  Instead of saying, “All boys like sports and all girls like clothes,” or, “Boys are hornier than girls,” we might ask, “How are boys and girls taught and socialized to behave and present themselves differently?”

That is not to say that gender is irrelevant or unimportant.  Under our society’s current construction of gender, men and women are still expected to dress, think, and behave in certain ways according to prescribed gender roles.  Boys may not be born with a “Tonka trucks gene,” but they are considered deviant if they choose Barbies over action figures.  Likewise, girls who are too aggressive, also challenge what is expected of their gender.  Gender roles are often especially confining in regards to romantic or sexual encounters, which are often discussed in the context of a “sexual script.”  According to this script, boys who hookup with lots of girls improve their reputations and social standings, whereas girls who are sexually active risk earning the “slut” label.

This all being said, I know that we have made much progress in the past hundred, fifty, even twenty years. Still, much work remains

The point of this extended introduction is to provide a lens with which to examine issues of gender, sex, and sexual encounters at camp.  To what extent do both counselors and camp traditions reinforce these essentializing views of boys and girls?  To what extent is camp perhaps not a safe space for those exploring their sexual or gender identity?  How can the counselors and staff collectively be a proactive force in creating a safe space for all campers?

Finally, I know that camp dynamics are shaped in great part by a larger American culture, and that it is incredibly difficult to prevent all gender norms and sexual scripts from having an influence. No single rule or program will be able to change the way society as a whole thinks about gender and sex.  Admittedly, camp is not the place to change the world in this regard … but it can be a better place for campers for the four or eight weeks they are there.  Camp should and must be a safe space, regardless of campers’ gender. Too often, however, this safe space is challenged and undermined by the words and actions of other campers and counselors, and by a few of the programs and policies of Yavneh itself.  Hopefully, in addressing these problems, we can work on improving both camp policies and our own individual behaviors and attitudes.

Color War and More.

The Maccabiah Lie

I have always found it funny that counselors and Kerem are able to convince younger kids at camp that “Maccabiah is not happening this year.” I remember in 1999 there was a water shortage, and Kerem said that there would be no Maccabiah that year because there wasn’t enough water. In 2000, there was too much rain, and Kerem said that there would be no Maccabiah that year[1] because there was too much water and the cesspool was going to run over. Guess what - Maccabiah happened both years and it has happened every year since its first year of existence,  in the 60’s. It is a time of competition for every possible skill at camp, the biggest leadership opportunity for Kerem, and the culmination of the summer. I could not imagine a summer without a Maccabiah, it is just one of those things that must happen in order for camp to end. In fact I have never heard of a normal summer camp that does not have a color war. Most camps use 4-6 teams in their color war (in fact I have not heard of another camp that uses only two, but I could easily be wrong). Usually the teams are colors (hence the name color war) but often you will have teams at other camps called the ‘red dragons’ or the ‘blue bombers’[2] to give them their own identity. Camp Yavneh, as we all know, uses Hebrew words with deep Judaic meaning, for the team names. Once you are in Kerem, you realize how much revolves around the team name that Rabbi Dov chooses for you: songs, tekes, shelet, cheers, and obviously rekah. This is basically everything that earns points. Machaneh Yavneh cares about Jewish education, and this is clearly demonstrated by the point allotment. Usually other camps do color war anywhere from 1 to 4 days. Yavneh does it for 5-8 days depending when Tisha Bav is that particular year.

My point is after seeing how our camp’s “color war” compares to that of most other camp’s, I think Maccabiah says a lot about the character of Yavneh. As long as Yavneh is still running, so too will Maccabiah. And a note to all current/future Gurim and Kfirim campers: when they say there is no Maccabiah, they’re lying.[3]

What are some of the ‘secrets’ of pre-Maccabiah breakout that I can reveal?

So much emphasis is placed on Maccabiah breakout and what follows, but there is so much effort and planning that goes into it even before the initial “there is no Maccabiah this year” rumors start to surface. As a camper I always had a lot of questions when it came to  behind the scenes of Maccabiah. Here are five questions (and answers) that I always wondered about.

1.     Who picks and writes the songs for Lechu Neranenah, and who writes Tekes?

a.     This usually depends on the roshes. I think the most effective way to pick and write songs is to use a committee comprised of both roshes and non-roshes so that no one has “special say” because he/she is a rosh. Other teams just have a rosh or two decide and don’t let the rest of the team help out.

2.     Where are the team shelets made?

a.     Ceramic room.

3.     How are the team mascots decided and where do they find so many stuffed animals?

a.     First, the aydah brainstorms different types of pairs, and through a vote, the winning pair is chosen. Afterward the mascots are usually decided by a coin flip. Finding them can be a little harder. Before the Internet, it was probably a lot harder to find such obscure mascots. Nowadays, Kerem finds them on the Internet and they are shipped to camp.

4.     When Kerem says, “We fought for everyone on this team,” is it true? And are the teams created by  a draft?

a.     I don’t want to say all the Kerems in the past have been lying when they say the fought for everyone but it certainly is a bit of stretch.  First of all, the team splits do not even slightly resemble a draft. This is how it works: the counselors divide their bunk into team A and team B, noting which campers are good at sports, singing, acting, dancing, intelligence, and enthusiasm. In addition, siblings of members of Kerem are taken out of the overall list and matched up with an equal, so that they can be guaranteed to be on their Kerem siblings’ team. This list is handed over to the Kerem so they can discuss the strengths of each team. If the Kerem is diligent enough, they will know each camper and figure out what he/she brings to the table. When the time comes, Lisa Rubins facilitates a coin flip for each bunk. The team that wins the coin flip gets to choose either team A or B. There certainly is a lot of fighting for individuals especially if the Kerem think that one team is stronger than the other. But overall it is a fair system where almost every camper is looked at and discussed.

5.     Does someone actually keep score throught Maccabiah or is the whole process rigged in favor of a predetermined winner?

a.     There is no question that the answer to this question is yes. Scott Rubins keeps score. I have seen with my own eyes the Excel spreadsheet that Scott uses to tally the points. This is how the scoring system works: the shoftim record the results of a particular game, give the score card to Scott in the office, and he enters in the data for the points. The victor is decided by points not by a theoretical coin flip.

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[1] Kerem 2000 really did not want to do Maccabiah. Supposedly they protested.refusing to organize it, and had to be convinced to run it.

[2] I just made these up on the spot, but they sound real, right?

[3] Kerem 11- Feel free to use this as an excuse for why Maccabiah is not happening this year.  I think it would be funny and ironic. 

Best. Kerem. Ever: Part 2

Before I begin, I would like to note that we set a few records this past week (besides the very first week):

Most views in first hour of posting: 92
Most views in a day: 301
Most views in the week: 824

Nice.

Second, if you see on the right side toolbar, we are fast approaching 10,000 views. If you happen to be that 10,000th view, screen capture it for me, and let me know. I will give you a prize of some sort.

Contiuned from Last Week:

4. Comparison Bias

As much as people say that you go into the summer with a clean slate, this unfortunately is not true. The new Kerem will be a) already be stigmatized from previous summers and b) constantly compared to the previous Kerem. If you were ‘bad’ or ‘good’ in previous years, people will be looking out for you to continue on that trajectory. If were preceded by a ‘bad’ or ‘good’ Kerem, you will either be helped because anything you do will automatically be better, or handicapped because you are constantly being compared to the previous Kerem. In addition, the following year’s Kerem can have a retroactive effect on how the previous Kerem is perceived. If the current year’s Kerem is very good, then Kerem the previous year - which might have been average - loses ground. If the current Kerem is bad, then the previous Kerem now all of a sudden looks better than ever.

3. Passion/Performance

Did your aydah do well at Zimiryah? Did your aydah have a great Maccabiah? Did your aydah rock the play? Do you inspire those unforgettable Shabbat experiences, all the way from Kabbalat Shabbat to Zmirot to Musaf? Did your aydah create fun and memorable peulot for the other aydot as well as an off-the-charts Yom Carnival? Did your aydah cry their eyes out at the end of the summer (that’s a stupid question, every Kerem does)?  For you to be a great Kerem, you need to be able to answer yes for all of these questions. You need to show everyone that you care and you pull through each and every time – always in style. You exceed expectations and ‘rock out’ in the process because you can and because you care.

2. Leaving a Legacy-

All Kerems are passionate on the last day of the summer. However, the more interesting matter arises two years later when that Kerem has the opportunity to become counselors. What is their “return rate”? And, how excited and fixated are they about their own Kerem? This, ultimately is the reason I think that Kerem ‘04 is perceived as a very good Kerem; it’s not necessarily because of what we did, it’s because we came back in droves and we were obsessed with ourselves more than most other Kerems.[1] I would tell who ever asked me that Kerem summer was my best two months of my life, that everything throughout the summer was amazing, and I would glorify my Kerem’s contributions to the camp. I think this was the common mindset of my fellow Kerem-mates, and I think generally it was believable. Other counselors might find this annoying (which they certainly did), but at the same time, kids, who rarely find their counselors irritating, listened to the slanted views of Kerem ‘04 members and started to believe them. And the younger the kids are, the more inclined they are to unfalteringly believe what they’re told. In the end, the more counselors go back and continue to go back, the better the Kerem appears to be.

Now, I am not trying to say that my Kerem summer was not amazing, and that the “legendary Kerem ‘04” is exactly that – just a legend. However, upholding a legacy after the summer is a great way to be remembered for being a fantastic Kerem.

1. Care about the Campers

Many people often forget this notion, but I would say it is the most important thing that a Kerem can do for camp. Kerem has to show love and appreciation for the younger campers. As much as Kerem’s role is about having fun, it is about being leaders for the camp and the campers. I don’t care how many inappropriate ‘crazy’ times you’ve had in your bunk, at the end of the day, you better make sure that Jimmy in Gurim is having a good day. This past summer as Rosh Kerem, every time someone told me that my campers did something great for one of their campers (this actually happened many times a week) I always told them to actually tell the particular Kerem kid themselves. Kerem, more than anyone else, deserves the recognition when they do the small things, and affect individual campers’ lives. As a Kerem rosh, I was much happier to see my kids positively influence other campers than I would have been to see my kids win Zimriyah. Ultimately, it is the Gurim kids (and all the younger aydot) that will either glorify or dismiss a Kerem. They don’t care if you win Zimriyah, they just care if you help them have the greatest summer possible.

...

After all of this, I still sometimes think about something that ELi Aroesty-Cohen once shared with me about the Kerem summer:

“It's not about who's the best. It's about who's having a great time. I prefer to think of Kerem's impact on the individual level. ’The best Kerem’ does not really exist. Each camper will form a bond with their Kerem and that can eventually lead them to see that aydah as being the best Kerem ever. Kerem is used to drive the atmosphere of the camp. They can make each individual and aydah feel great about themselves and the summer.”

I agree ELi. The kid who has the best summer is the kid who had the most fun. Kerem is only a vehicle to help every camper achieve this goal.

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[1] I think we legitimately had the right to be because we were a very solid Kerem.

A Letter to My Editor

Laurel-

It was only four months ago, right after Thanksgiving, that a camper of mine jokingly told me that I should write about my thoughts on Yavneh.  I liked the idea, but I had to acknowledge that my writing, in general, is quite terrible. I mix up my words and make silly grammatical mistakes. Every English paper that I wrote in high school had to be reviewed by my mother to make corrections. More importantly, even if I did have enough material to write about, there was no way that I could actually find the motivation to write what I had to say logically and coherently, making sure that everything I wrote was reasonable and thoughtful. I needed someone to help. Someone who knew me well, who could put up with my antics, could challenge me intellectually and offer advice. But I was stuck because I knew how much hard work would have to go into helping me. It would not be a simple: Can you glance at this paper and tell me if it’s ok? There would be so much material, so many posts. And when I asked you, Laurel, and warned you how much time and energy would be involved, I was fully expecting you to say no. You had a job and a life, and frankly at the beginning I could find no reason for you to agree.

But you didn’t. You said yes. And from that point on, Laurel, this passionate project took off. I had so much excitement at the beginning, and you helped me harness it. I had some crazy ideas along the way, and you steered me toward the center. My grammar was, as usual, atrocious, and you corrected it flawlessly. We spoke on the phone for hours trying to figure out the best way to say something or the most effective way to get more people to read the blog, and you were there giving great suggestions. Scheduled or not, Laurel, we always ended up talking at least one or two times a week. I know people who don’t talk to their parents that much.

But more than all of this, more than all of the help you have given me, the thing I care most about is your friendship and your support. I really look forward to every weekly conversation, not only because we talk about Yavneh Theory, but because I get to talk to a friend. We have really become the best of friends since the time you didn’t invite me to your Bat Mitzvah (don’t worry I am over it by now) and seem to work well together in a lot of different situations. We went to high school and sat on student council together. Kerem summer, we were both Roshes on the same team for Maccabiah. Debbie placed both of us in Maalot in 2006, and obviously we were both Kerem 2007 counselors. It’s only natural then, Laurel, that three and half years later, we are working on another project together. I know I can trust you and that you can trust me, and for that we make a really great team.

So here’s to you Laurel. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your help over the past few months and for the few months still ahead of us.

Love—

Yoni

Best. Kerem. Ever. Part 1

At a Yavneh board meeting sometime after this past summer, I heard that Debbie told the board that Kerem 2010 ranked in her top three favorite Kerems of all time. Lo and behold, a few days later it showed up as the status of one of my campers: “I was told this a little while ago, but kept forgetting to post it: apparently, we're in Debbie's top 3 Kerems of all time. She's not wrong, either.” As you can imagine, on that day, the comment was quite popular. It got 9 ‘Likes’ and 8 comments. However, the comment that stood out most to me was one by another one of my campers: “Haha that’s nasty! Who yo think the others are? 04 anddd…” [SIC] Now, as you all know, I was a member of Kerem 2004, but I am not relaying this story to you as a means of tooting my own horn. I am more interested in why my camper automatically assumed that 2004 was in Debbie’s top three at all. What did K’04 do that was so good? What did Kerem 2010 do that warranted Debbie’s comment? Is it even possible to define which Kerem is the best? We, the campers and counselors, talk about it incessantly, and yet we have no real way to determine the answer. This is one of those eternal Yavneh questions that persists every year – no matter how long this question is debated, it remains unresolved. The problem with answering this question is its subjectivity. Either you haven’t been to Kerem yet so a) you have a limited idea of what a “good” Kerem looks like and b) you don’t really know what it means or what it’s like to be in Kerem. Otherwise, you have already been in Kerem and you probably think that your Kerem was the best ever. Even if you are someone on upper staff who has seen many Kerems, and even if you are able to eliminate a bias in favor of a certain Kerem, it is still impossible to get a comprehensive, overarching assessment of a Kerem because they do so much during the summer. Kerem affects every minute aspect of a summer to the extent that no single person can comprehend the overall impact. Therefore, I think it is a fruitless endeavor to either rank the Kerems or tell you which one I think is best. It is impossible for me to remain unbiased about this issue, and frankly my opinion is as good as anyone else’s.

However, the conversation does not end here. It is still possible to assess, completely on a qualitative level, what makes a Kerem better than another. Despite the subjectivity that is nearly impossible to avoid when assessing any Kerem, I can objectively tell you what a Kerem can do in order to succeed. Every Kerem encounters the same problems, but every Kerem chooses to deal with them differently.  Every Kerem has to plan Zim and Mac, run KTV and peulot, deal with social and emotional issues, and learn how to become leaders. However, it’s the manner with which they go about dealing with these issues and how they project themselves to camp that ultimately determine who succeeds and who fails. I have come up with eight different aspects that can determine a Kerem’s performance. All of these are intangible and unquantifiable, but I think that they are important elements of a Kerem’s success. Even though they are all important, I have listed them from least to most important.

8. Cohesive,  inside and out.

It’s pretty obvious why it is important for an aydah to be cohesive. It fosters teamwork, cooperation, etc. Kids who can work together will undoubtedly have a better summer than campers who can’t. However, I would also argue that it is just as important to appear cohesive from the outside as well. As a rosh aydah for two years, one of my rules for my staff was that if we had an internal fight, the kids should never know that we were upset with each other. This rule also applies to the campers that make up the Kerem aydah. Kerem, for 2 months, is putting on a show for the rest of camp. If people see kinks in the armor, reasons to believe that the Kerem kids can’t work together, than they probably aren’t doing a good job leading the camp.

7. Attitude

The aydah as a whole needs to make sure that their collective attitude is ‘We want to be the best Kerem ever.’ They need to want it. More importantly, they have to remain positive when things don’t go their way, as well as understand that they will not be the “best” at everything. Therefore, they need to be able to take criticismand still remain positive.  This is for Kerem’s benefit as well as for the betterment of the entire camp. A lousy attitude is perceptible even to the youngest camper. There is nothing less inspiring than seeing your mentor and leader have a negative attitude.

6. Visible leaders

When I ask, “Who is the face of a particular Kerem?” who comes to mind? Even though Kerem summer is supposed to be a leadership opportunity for everyone, there is no question that some campers emerge as the leaders of the aydah. I feel as though there are two different types of visible leaders, both of which are incredibly important to ensuring a successful aydah. There is the “I love and live for Zimryiah and Maccabiah” type of leaders whom you will see in front of the camp leading a cheer, or spending hours of free time arranging a song and dance (and handmotions). They will actively participate in the behind the scenes work as well take on a more visible role to ensure that they are recognized. The second type of leader is the “I have pretty apathetic-to-average feeling about camp activities, but I am the kid who everyone looks up to in the bunk.” These kids are the center of the social circle, and usually they have an antic or ‘thing that they do’ in front of the camp. These kids focus on the intangible aspects of the summer. I think having an aydah with both of these types of people is critical to success.

5. Identity

The people who have attended camp for years talk about this blurring effect; that each Kerem, after a while, looks and feels the same. One way to curb this, to distinguish one’s Kerem from all the others, is to have and establish some sort of identity. 

·      Stand up for something. As much as the fan fair was mixed for Kerem 2007’s revolution, Kerem 2007 will stand out because of it.

·      Have a personal joke- Look no further than this past year when Kerem 2010 loved a stegosaurs song because Jeremy Tibbetts brought it to camp.  It wasn’t a big deal, but it gave Kerem ’10 character and flavor.

·      Start a “tradition”.[1] Too many to count here (check out this page for a few of the best.  Just realize that for almost all of these things, a single Kerem thought it was a good idea, and after their summer, it stuck.

Stay tuned for 4-1 next week. Can you guess which ones they are? Post in the comments...

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[1] I only use quotation marks here because of my earlier post on Traditions. 

Judaism at Camp: Part 2

This is a continuation from last week:


The Good

Shabbat- A few weeks ago, I asked on my blog poll what are the three great hours of camp. Rather than choosing something that only happens once every summer, 55% of you chose the only item on the list that happens 7 times. Shabbat at Yavneh is extremely unique and memorable. The energy and spirit that are channeled into the day go unmatched, from the moment that kids start getting into Friday Night ruach, all the way through Kabbalat Shabbat, Birkat, Musaf and finally Havdallah. As much as I hate using the word magic when  referring to camp[1] I feel that there really is something magical about the day. Including staff week, but excluding the Shabbatons at camp, I have spent 81 Shabbatot at camp, all having more or less the same feel and structure. The lack of change from one Shabbat to the next actually enhances the experience and creates a feeling of continuity from one Shabbat to the next.  No matter how much things chance inside or outside of camp, Shabbat is a constant and a comfort that we can depend on, week after week.

Hebrew- Even though I know some people might put this in the “Things to Improve” category, I think we really do a good job. We have integrated many Hebrew words into everyday conversation and there is always an emphasis on learning more. That the daily schedule is in Hebrew, the announcements are often in Hebrew, and the D’var Torah in the Orthodox minyan is in Hebrew are all signs that we don’t give ourselves enough credit. Often, the problem is that there are a few people in each aydah who constantly remind us that they don’t know Hebrew, and they resent the fact that they don’t understand much of what is being said. To half of them I would say a little bit of effort goe a long way: most of the Hebrew we use is so repetitive and simple that catching on is far easier than you think. To the other half, I would tell them they should make a good friend who knows Hebrew and can translate for them. I would love to hear more Hebrew used throughout the day. All upperstaff announcements should be in Hebrew, the D’var torah by Kerem during Shabbat Musaf should be in Hebrew, and even though it’s hard, counselors should also try to speak as much Hebrew as they can. Roshei Aydah nominations each week for counselors speaking in Hebrew worked surprisingly well this past summer. Maybe we can pass this system down to the ‘chanichim’ as well. LOL.

Community- One of the strongest features of Camp Yavneh, and part of the reason why this blog is possible, is its community. There is such a cohesive bond between all members of Yavneh that exists solely from a collective memory and a common experience. Even when I question my belief in God, or ask myself why I uphold the Jewish observances that I do, I always know that the reason why I love Judaism so much is because of the community that it cultivates. I know where ever I go in the world, there will always be another Jew that I will have an instant connection to just because I am Jewish. Yavneh, to me, is the epitome of this. The sense of a Jewish community is emphasized over and over again and has really affected me and my commitment to Judaism.

The Not as Good

Holidays- To me, one of the most irritating facts about camp’s overall schedule is the fact that there is only one Jewish holiday that occurs during the summer months, and it happens to be one of the most depressing and sad ones  of all. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is important to learn and be knowledgeable about Tisha B’av. But in the grand scheme of things, there are many more important Jewish holidays during the year, that from an educational perspective, we completely miss out on. I have always imagined how we would celebrate Sukkot by building our own sukkah, or what we would do for the Hakafot for Simcat Torah, or how we would orchestrate a camp-wide Passover seder. There are so many fun and exciting Jewish traditions that we dismiss because they don’t fall during the summer. I don’t know a way to remedy this, but it’s a shame that we miss out on such good learning and experiential opportunities.  Just to note, camps in the South always start a few weeks earlier than those in the North. On years when the Jewish calendar is really late, (like when Tisha B’av falls during Maccabiah), Shavout actually falls during the summer. Someone from Ramah Darom in Georgia was telling about a summer a few years ago when camp started on a Tuesday, and that Thursday/Friday was Shavout. This meant that they had three Shabbat-like days in a row starting on the third day of camp. While in theory, camp couldn’t ask for a better start than that, the Gurim-age kids were completely in the dark aboutwhat was going on.

Translation of Observance- There is a very strong emphasis on observance at camp, especially pertaining to Shabbat activities. Even Shabbat is a very positive Jewish experience, there is usually very little translation of activities and observance from the camp environment to the rest of the year. Once campers and counselors are old enough to make decisions about their own level of observance, most choose not to be, and those that are, are usually affected by another factor. This fact might be indicative of the generation today and the view toward identity versus religious observance. However, I think in camp there should be more structured conversations about how to bring the Yavneh culture back home.

Charity- It has always annoyed me that there is a minimal effort at camp for actual Tikun Olam opportunities. Every summer, each aydah is required to do a Tikum Olam project. Some are more substantial like a book drive, going from bunk to bunk and raising Tzedakah, and piñata making out of papier-mâché. Others are not as Tikun Olam-oriented, things like painting a fence, Maalot-Gurim buddies, or creating the Mechitza each year. Even though every summer there are one or two that are half decent, almost all of them are contrived and require an art project that a Kfirim kid will forget about within 5 minutes. I know in 2009 the roshei arayot, Aaron Lyon and Ayelet Schieber, tried as hard as they could to find a place to bring their kids to engage in a meaningful Tikun Olam activity. Besides the financial constraint of providing a bus, they had a very difficult time finding a place close enough to camp that would take an aydah of 13year-olds.  We are instructed in the roshes room to only think about in-camp projects, but ultimatelyI’m not sure thatcreating a pretty piece of artwork constitutes repairing the world. The only real significant event that Yavneh allows is when Kerem has the opportunity to participate in a breast cancer walk at York Beach. Usually kids are asked to raise money before camp, but this past summer I had each camper participate in a phone-a-thon during the camp session. They were instructed to call 3 people (usually family members) and ask for sponsorships.  Each kid took an active role in raising money, and as usual, had a great time on the walk, but more importantly they were able to take ownership of the project and felt they made a difference. We ended up raising more than $4,000, well outpacing Kerems of the past. We need more events like this. I propose organizing a camp wide walk-a-thon around a section of Northwood where we would invite Northwood residences to raise money for a Jewish cause and local cause. Kids should be given the opportunity to call home and raise money, as well as contribute a dollar or two of their own. If done correctly, this event could be a wild success, it just needs a bit of planning , energy and vision.

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[1] I have a whole theory about the feeling of magic at camp. If you want to know what it is, check back in a few weeks for an upcoming blog entry.