Hello from the Netzarim Unit Leader, Ella, and Assistant Unit Leader Calvin! We are excited to tell you a little bit about who we are, some of the unique aspects of our unit, and some of the programs we have done with the campers.
I’m Ella
My name is Calvin, and I have loved returning to camp since I started in my Kavanah year. Camp Mountain Chai is special to me because I can be my authentic self and share Jewish culture with others. I have been an SIT, counselor, and now I am the Netzarim Assistant Unit Leader! My time at camp has prepared me for my academic and personal experiences at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Having each one of my roles has taught me something different about camp. Specifically, being a Kavanah and SIT camper allowed me to see how counselors and staff can be role models for me, being a Counselor developed important skills like caring for others, and being an Assistant Unit Leader has boosted my leadership and creativity. My main role this summer is to help guide counselors and create amazing programs that the campers enjoy each day.
In Netzarim, we are centered around the core values of Compassion and B’tzelem Elohim (created in the image of God). This translates to our activities and relationships in the form of practicing empathy and deeper thinking about others. On Tuesday, July 8th, we met as a unit to do Peulah, or a Jewish activity. The campers provided their definitions of the unit values, and we explored them through games and skits that translated to camp. The campers were eager to demonstrate their teamwork and recognize the differences in others that can coalesce into a strong community.
One of the fun programs we did was the Trashion Show, where campers dressed staff members in trash bags and various art supplies before they modeled their looks on a runway. The campers worked with the staff to create themed looks, runway songs, and even cheers for their ridiculously fun presentations at the end.
We also did a fun program to Get To Know [Their] Staff, where campers had to guess which fun facts were attributed to which staff members from their cabins. The staff members got a huge bucket of water dumped on them if the campers guessed the most correct fun facts about them.
One of the most special parts of camp is the overnight, which starts with a beautiful hike through the forest and ends with songs and s’mores under the stars at a campsite. After the fun hike, Netzarim campers and staff had a wonderful meal together, where everyone reflected on the new environment away from the cabins. The special part was after roasting s’mores and getting comfortable in our sleeping bags with our friends, singing our siyum (closing) songs we sing each night while staring at the stars and the bright moon.
Hopefully you learned a little more about Netzarim and the fun aspects of our unit. Session 2 has been lovely so far, and there is still so much more fun to be had!
