Summer 2026, Week 7

Cheers for another alifut week at camp!

Each morning, after time on the migrash (main lawn) with all the campers, we start our day with a cheerful welcome song and a look at the schedule. This week, Nevatim campers had so much fun swimming in the pool, making bead creations at ma’ayan (beading) and painting their candle holders in ceramics. In sports, they stayed active by practicing yoga and gymnastics and playing soccer and softball. Even drama time had the campers moving around, shaking out their arms and legs and jumping around. 

At Park Mada, the marble run is always a hit. This week they also started to watch some chemistry experiments like the expanding foam of “elephant’s toothpaste.” In bishul (cooking), Nevatimers made totally tasty campfire scenes. Stay tuned next week for all of the recipes from our summer.

In omanut (art), Nevatim was inspired by Darom Adom (Red South) and the kalaniyot flowers that bloom in the Northern Negev in the winter. Using paint sticks, their individual creativity, and paper towel holders as stamps, they made the papers bloom as the desert blooms!

In shiur (Jewish exploration) this week, we continued learning about Israel using the song “Eretz Yisrael Sheli” (My Israel). We sang a verse about a gesher (bridge), a word we know well from our gesher here at camp. For the verse about the kvish (road), we cut out our own steering wheels and went for a drive on the White House Porch. Next week, we’re excited to put all the verses together and sing the full song as a group!

Our amazing Kochavim had an alifut week at camp! They were enthralled by our Tzofim (Israeli Scouts) guests and their performance. And just as the performers did on that stage, Kochavimers danced, jumped, twirled, and spun throughout the fun week! Campers enjoyed exploring in teva (nature), moving to the beat in rikkud (dance), getting creative at ma’ayan (beading), playing pickle ball and learning new yoga poses! Whether it was softball, gymnastics, or low ropes, this group was moving all week long. Even in drama, they revisited a favorite game of “Magic Elevator” where they sometimes had to shake their arms and legs, or run very slowly, or even jump around like frogs. In ceramics, the chanichim (campers) put their final touches on their beautiful apple bowls, in time to be used on your Rosh HaShanah table! 

In omanut (art), Kochavim used paint sticks and their imaginations to make pages full of blooming flowers. They were inspired by Darom Adom (Red South) and the kalaniyot flowers that bloom in the Northern Negev in the winter.

At Park Mada, the marble run is always a hit. This week they also started to watch some chemistry experiments like the expanding foam of “elephant’s toothpaste” or launching rockets.  

Shorashim had an alifut week and stayed active with a variety of sports. They especially enjoyed swimming, basketball, tennis, softball, and a new favorite, pickle ball, which was a big hit this week! Soccer and Gaga continue to be all time favorites! At Park Mada, the marble run is always a hit. This week they also started to watch some chemistry experiments like the expanding foam of “elephant’s toothpaste” or launching rockets into the sky. At low ropes, campers challenged themselves to reach new heights as they climbed the rock wall. 

The week was also filled with creativity. In ceramics, they put the finishing touches on their “shalom” plaques that will be ready to hang up by next week.In bishul (cooking), they made edible campfires, using crackers and frosting and candy to design the perfect scenes. Omanut (art) took them to the Northern Negev and the Darom Adom (Red South) when millions of kalaniyot flowers cover the desert. Then they covered their pages by painting flowers and using stamps made from paper towel rolls. 

In shiur (Jewish exploration) we continued the stories of the important characters of Bereishit, including Yizchak and Rivkah at the well, Yaacov tricking his father to get Esav’s blessing, and Joseph’s coat of many colors. The chanichim (campers) then worked together to build Jacob’s Ladder out of popsicle sticks.

We had an alifut week at camp! Watching the guest performers from Tzofim (Israeli Scouts) was inspiring and energizing, which is good because our chanichim (campers) needed their energy this week for softball, archery, migdal (high ropes), basketball, tennis, soccer, gaga, swim, rikkud (dance) and more! 

Just yesterday, we celebrated Yom Challal (Outer Space Day)! We made rockets and flew them off of a tower and may have spotted an alien or two on the migrash!

With their two feet planted firmly on Earth, Nitzanim had fun practicing gymnastics and learning new yoga poses. In drama, they got to revisit their favorite game of “Magic Elevator” and practice using patience and creativity to stay in character once the doors of the “elevator” opened. Ceramics also required some patience as chanichim focused on the details and put the finishing touches on their leaf bowls. But in omanut (art), they got to cover their papers with flowers of all different colors and sizes, bringing the page to life as the kalaniyot flowers bring the Northern Negev to life in the winter months. 

At Park Mada, the marble run is always a hit. This week they also started to watch some chemistry experiments like the expanding foam of “elephant’s toothpaste” or launching rockets. And in shiur (Jewish exploration), we started by talking about the exodus from Egypt and even made timbrels to celebrate the crossing of the Red Sea. That trek across the sea naturally led to more time playing with water and in sprinklers, which is always a favorite activity!

It is such a pleasure to watch these campers grow and make each day at camp truly alifut! Over the past few weeks, our sports games have gotten more competitive, but still friendly, whether in ping pong, soccer, gaga, basketball, or pickle ball. We can see chanichim (campers) taking on more challenges in migdal (high ropes) and taking greater care with their work in ceramics, etz (woodworking), omanut (art), and at Park Mada.

They are also learning new things all of the time. On Monday, we had a Yom Spy (Spy Day) where chanichim made top-secret identities and navigated their way through a spy training course before learning how to sign “investigate” in American Sign Language! Click here for a peek into their Yom Spy. And yesterday, we got to take part in a metal workshop, learning about how imprints are made on the metal and getting to practice for ourselves. Today, we celebrated friends in our edah whose birthdays fall during the school year with a scavenger hunt, discussion of the difference between the Gregorian and Hebrew calendars, and small sweet treat!

The highlight of our alifut week was the extended day and overnight at camp, which made the entire week feel extra special. From start to finish, the evening was packed with fun activities! Campers enjoyed an additional swim time and then had an option to challenge themselves on the migdal (high ropes), play games of capture the flag or relax at ma’ayan (beading) while doing creative beading. The madrichim (counselors) ran great activities that kept everyone smiling all evening. We even had a metal work workshop and silent disco dance party before the bonfire with s’mores.

The rest of the week was just as exciting! Tzeirim loved having extra time to play tennis, working on hitting the ball more accurately. They also enjoyed basketball, softball, and learning new yoga poses. In Park Mada, our chanichim (campers) continued working with the Tinkercad program to finish making camp mascots and then moved on to creating a domino course online. In omanut (art), they looked at photos of Darom Adom (Red South) and the kalaniyot flowers that bloom in the Northern Negev in the winter for inspiration. After considering the shapes and lines of the flowers, they used oil pastels to create their own close up versions of what they had observed. Shiur (Jewish exploration) electives continue to be a hit as upcoming 4th graders love to have choices! In the Builders shiur elective this week, campers worked with LEGO bricks to build the Mishkan. 

The highlight of our alifut week was the extended day and overnight at camp, which made the entire week feel extra special. From start to finish, the evening was packed with fun activities! Campers enjoyed an additional swim time and then had an option to challenge themselves on the migdal (high ropes), play games of capture the flag or relax at ma’ayan (beading) while doing creative beading. The madrichim (counselors) ran great activities that kept everyone smiling all evening. We even had a metal work workshop and silent disco dance party before a bonfire with s’mores.

The rest of the week was just as exciting!  Nevonim stayed active with a variety of sports. They especially enjoyed swimming, basketball, softball and pickle ball, which was a big hit this week! From finishing up projects in etz (woodworking) and ceramics to challenging themselves on migdal (high ropes), these rising 5th graders approached every opportunity with enthusiasm. 

At Park Mada, campers had the opportunity to explore coding by using a Sphero robot bowl! First, they programmed the robot’s speed and distance, then tested their code by launching it toward the bowling pins. Once they had mastered bowling, they moved onto shuffleboard which requires more precision. It was a fun, hands-on way to learn about programming and robotics through play. In omanut (art), they looked at photos of Darom Adom (Red South), the kalaniyot flowers that bloom in the Northern Negev in the winter, and other wildflowers for inspiration. After considering the shapes and lines of the flowers, they used oil pastels to create their own close up versions of what they had observed. 

Chalutzim and Bogrim campers made their trip to Boston truly alifut this week! The chanichim (campers) made the most of every moment together. We started our visit in Beantown with a Duck Tour – a special way to see the city from land and water, and we even got to take turns (pretending) to drive the duckboat! That afternoon, we played games and had pizza at a communal outdoor space with games and plenty of areas to hang out together. On Wednesday we explored some local landmarks like Faneuil Hall and Fenway Park before taking part in the classic summer activity – mini golf! We got back to camp just in time to learn about imprinting designs on metal and, importantly, for glida (ice cream)! Click here for a look at highlights from the trip!

Sha’ar

We can’t believe how fast this alifut summer is flying by! This week our madrichim (counselors) are so excited and proud to share that they are seeing and hearing all of their chanichim truly understanding them and speaking exclusively in Hebrew. What a way to end our seventh week of camp!

The chanichim had so much fun practicing their Ivrit (Hebrew) during all kinds of exciting peulot (activities)! They used Hebrew while playing tennis shulchan (ping pong) and during yoga, where they did stretches using their own shavui mishkal (balance).

In omanut (art), the chanichim learned more about Darom Adom (Red South) celebrations of the blooming of the kalaniyot flowers. They then created beautiful prachim (flowers) using all of their tzevaot (colors). In Park Mada, they are doing a series of nisuyim meda’ayim (science experiments) such as making a har gaash (volcano) erupt using baking soda and vinegar. 

In bishul (cooking), some chanichim made limonana (frozen lemonade with mint) while others took a challenge to build something they love using different kinds of foods. They made a psanter (piano), bayiteem (houses), and even the Kotel!

It was a week full of fun learning and Hebrew everywhere!