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Archive for November, 2011

How To… Tie-Dye

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Posted in Parenting, Why We Love Camp on November 17th, 2011 by alicia - No Comments »

The following is the fourth post in our “How To… Bring Camp Home” blog series.

Tie-dying is a super fun project that kids (and adults) of all ages can really get into.  Any article of clothing can be tie-dyed – from t-shirts to socks – as well as other things made out of cotton (or a cotton blend) – think bags, pillow cases, tapestries, towels, laundry bags, aprons…

You’ll need to cover a table or work outside.  Once you have a station set up, you’ll need the following supplies:

- Buckets, pots or dish tubs

- 2 or more colors of fabric dye

- Soda ash (sometimes comes with the dye)

- A long-handled utensil (to stir the dye)

- Rubber bands or string

- Spray bottles and plastic squeeze bottles

- Ziploc bags (optional)

- Synthrapol detergent

- Rubber gloves

- Washing machine

Before you dye your item, you should wash and dry it.  Then soak the item in the soda ash for about 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, prepare the dyes according to the manufacturer’s directions.  Before using the soda ash or dyes, be sure to put on gloves for protection.

Next, it’s time to tie!  Any part of your item that the dye can’t reach will stay whatever color your item started as.  You can create the designs by folding or twisting the fabric then tying it with string or using rubber bands to keep it in place.  You can also use the string and rubber bands to aid in creating the design.

This site, Echoes of a Dream, has some instructions on how to create some designs and pictures of how they will come out: http://simmy.typepad.com/echoesofadream/2006/06/how_to_tie_dye.html

And here are some illustrations of a few basic tie dying folding and tying techniques: http://www.prochemical.com/directions/Folding.htm

Next, dip the shirts in dye for all over color (minus the unexposed parts, of course).  You can also use the squirt bottles to get dye in the creases or place colors strategically.  Use the spray bottles to create even more designs.  Get creative – this is the fun part!

Once you are done dying, the items need to set for 12-24 hours.  They need to remain wet though, so you may want to store your designs in a plastic bag.

After setting, remove the rubber bands and string and wash the items with like colors in really hot water using Synthrapol detergent.  Hang to dry or use the dryer and in no time … Voilà!  You’ve created a masterpiece!

 

How To… Play Ga-Ga

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Posted in Parenting, Why We Love Camp on November 14th, 2011 by alicia - No Comments »

The following is the third post in our “How To… Bring Camp Home” blog series.

Kids at camp everywhere love to play ga-ga.  Ga-ga (aka Ga-ga ball) is Israeli dodgeball – similar to what American’s know dodgeball to be but it is played in a “pit” or ring.  Sound fun?  Well, it is.

First thing you need to play ga-ga is a pit.  Many camps have ga-ga pits (usually octagonal) permanently constructed, but you can bring the fun home by creating the same shape using benches turned on their sides.  You can also construct one out of wooden boards, rent one, or purchase a portable pit.

Here are some tips for building a permanent one of your own:

http://www.ehow.com/how_8671580_make-gaga-pit.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask

Once the pit is complete, you’ll need a large bouncy ball (a kickball is perfect) and some competitors.  The more people the better, but ga-ga shouldn’t be played with less than five people.

Ok, now you have a pit, the ball, and some competitors … but how do you play?

First, everyone gathers in the pit and the ball is bounced hard (so it bounces three times without being touched) while all of the players say “ga” on each of the bounces.  Then players take turns slapping the ball with the palms of their hands trying to hit other players below the knees (players do not need to go after the ball in any particular order – some people like to be in control of the ball, others prefer to dodge it).  Players jump, duck, and otherwise dodge the ball to stay in the game.  A hit above the knees doesn’t count.  Once a player is touched by the ball, he/she is out and must leave the pit.  The last player standing wins!

 

 

 

Widening the Tent of Jewish Camping in America

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Posted in Guest Bloggers, Why We Love Camp on November 10th, 2011 by alicia - No Comments »

 

 

The following was originally published on the Jewish Outreach Institute blog.

Jewish summer camps are often a staple for Jewish children. As someone who went to a Jewish camp for four years, I can tell you that it was an extremely important part of not only growing up, but of finding my Jewish identity. In fact, some of  my fondest memories of camp are the beautiful outdoor Havdallah services every week (the service to end the Sabbath). Interestingly, many of my fellow campers came from intermarried families, and some were not Jewish at all. The camp welcomed campers of all backgrounds, and when I think back on my experience, I don’t think “oh, how integrated!” I just think “wow, those were some great summers.”

Welcoming in campers who either may not have been raised Jewish, or only have a distant Jewish relative, can be a struggle for some Jewish camps. How far back in the generational tree do we go? Can we exclude campers who don’t have at least one Jewish relative? The answer is probably no. Judaism is a culture of warmth and family, not of turning people away. So how can we truly extend a hand to children and even grandchildren of intermarried families?

In a recent article for the Jewish Herald-Voice, Teddy Weinberger shares the work of the Jewish Agency, which runs a network of summer camps in the former Soviet Union. These camps, described as a “cultural lifeline to Jewish identity,” are free, and are funded by several Russian Jewish philanthropists, and by several Jewish Federations, such as Atlanta and Boston. The most fascinating part about these camps, though, is who they seek to serve. Many of the campers don’t have Jewish parents, or even Jewish grandparents; they only have at least one Jewish great-grandparent. Some argue that this is providing Jewish camp for non-Jews, but I agree with the article—this is a way of welcoming back in families who were lost to assimilation and political upheaval.

Weinberger then shifts the focus of the article to the United States. Why is this model not being followed here? Surely there are plenty of camp-aged children with at least one Jewish great¬¬-grandparent, so why not reach out to them? Weinberger points out that the majority of Jewish philanthropy for outreach is focused on the intermarried and their children. However, if we broaden the scope and provide funding to reach these other generations (those twice or thrice removed from Judaism), we would reach thousands more people.

Here at JOI, we seek to open the tent to all those who would cast their lot with the Jewish people, whether this be by birth, marriage, or conversion. With many nervous about the “numbers” of Jews world-wide, I think it would be wise to reach out to this relatively unknown segment of the population. Many of the families who fall into the category of having a Jewish great-grandparent may have veered away from Judaism not by choice, but by force, and we should welcome them back in with open arms… starting with some free bug juice and s’mores.

How To… Build a Campfire

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Posted in Parenting, Why We Love Camp on November 10th, 2011 by alicia - No Comments »

The following is the second post in our “How To… Bring Camp Home” blog series.

 

Campfires are an essential (and super fun) part of camp.  Why not build one in your own backyard (or if it’s too cold, just use your fireplace) and invite some friends over to get cozy ‘round the fire, sing some songs, and make some s’mores!

 

Check out these helpful sites for tips and info on building a campfire.

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Fire

http://nordskogen.northshield.org/officers/moas/campfires_101.html#buildfire

 

How To … Bring Camp Home: Friendship Bracelets

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Posted in Parenting, Why We Love Camp on November 7th, 2011 by alicia - No Comments »

If you’re anything like us, you long for the days of Jewish camp.  That includes everything from song sessions to bug juice, and Maccabiah to talent shows.  Maybe your kids came home from camp telling you about ga-ga, how they reached the top of the climbing tower, and learned to dive.  Well, in this series of posts over the next few weeks, we’re going to give you some activities to do (alone or with your kids) to keep that camp spirit alive!

 

Friendship bracelets

Who doesn’t love to wear and make friendship bracelets?!?  Made from string or lanyard, these fun and attractive accessories adorn campers arms whether they are male or female, young or old.

 

If you want a refresher or would like to learn some new stiches, check out these websites and let the creative juices flow!

 

Honestly…WTF http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-friendship-bracelet/

How to Make Jewelry.com http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/how-to-make-friendship-bracelets.html

I Spy DIY http://ispy-diy.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-diy-hurricane-bracelets.html

 

The Magic of Jewish Camp

Posted in Developing Professionals, Guest Bloggers, Why We Love Camp on November 2nd, 2011 by alicia - 1 Comment

The following was originally posted on the URJ Camps blog.

I never gave much thought to the intentionality of the summers of my youth.  I am not sure how the plan was devised, but early on, I had my summers all mapped out. It started with summers at  URJ Camp Harlam (at the time UAHC), NFTY in Israel with my Confirmation class and JFTY  Urban Mitzvah Corp. For as long as I could remember, this was the plan. When I was in 9th grade (you know that awful teenage, hate everything age) I was lucky enough to have an older cousin on JFTY Board, who invited me to winter conclave.  Mini-Camp in the winter? With no parents and song session to boot? I was hooked and JFTY conclaves began to weave together the long winters before my next summer experience began. Each summer different from the previous, each an exercise in building community, exploring my Judaism and developing leadership skills.  And all the while, I had no idea – I was having a blast and hanging with my friends!

I was fortunate enough to have grown up in Westfield, NJ – a NY suburb with a fairly large Jewish community.  There was always another kid in my class eating matzah with me or racing off to Hebrew school. I was very active in my temple and my parents surround our family with a chavurah that grew into my extended family. It wasn’t until I got to camp that I realized not everyone was lucky enough to have this. Some of my bunkmates had barely even met another Jew, let alone been friends with one until they came to camp (At the time, not realizing the factors that went into deciding where to live,  I thought this was so mean of other parents).

Song sessions, Maccabiah, Israel staff, discussions about G-d. I would have laughed if you had told me some of this magic I thought was “just camp,” was intentional, that I was there to actually learn something.  All I thought I was learning was how to shave my legs or plan a raid on boys camp (and yes, I would have to say this was one of my first lessons in getting a disparate group to agree to a plan and it has served me well in my career!).   I didn’t realize that I was learning how to be, well, Jewish.  I was experiencing Judaism in a way that isn’t taught sitting at a desk in Hebrew school.   Religious school  is the skills and drills part.  I could recite my prayers, tell a bible story, explain why Hannukah was 8 days. But at Camp, Mitzvah Corps, Israel – I was being Jewish all day, every day.   I was learning to be spiritual and to love being Jewish in a new way – every day.

During these special times, no one was reading me a bible story that I could barely relate to.  We weren’t being told to be Kosher in a certain way or observe Shabbat in the strictest manner.  I was experiencing how to be Jewish in a way you can’t anywhere else. Hundreds of us, dressed in white, would walk up to Chapel on the Hill or Chapel in the Woods to celebrate Shabbat (celebrate Shabbat – I didn’t even know at the time that you could celebrate it and not just observe it.). We would sing songs in a way I didn’t know they could be sung – with song leaders and counselors at the helm – and a Rabbi in the background.   Yes, it was called a Chapel, and you went there for services, yet the experience of sharing Shabbat this way is incomparable to sitting in a folding chair on Rosh Hashanah in a big cavernous room.  I remember my mom telling me that saying the Sh’ma at a URJ Biennial years ago was one of the most intense Jewish experiences of her life. And all I could think as she was a saying that – ‘hey you should try camp or a conclave’.

I never sat around the kitchen table with my parents saying I wanted to work for a Jewish non-profit. But as I look back, the handwriting was on the wall.  I wanted to write ads.  But instead of the Absolut ads that I would admire as a kid, I write about Jewish camp. I am lucky enough to go to work every day and relive those carefree summers and tell everyone about the magic of Jewish camp.

Alison Rosner Cohen
Director, Marketing & Communications
Foundation for Jewish Camp