Camp Galil

Habonim Dror Camp Galil is a Habonim Dror North America summer camp for Jewish students in northern Ottsville, Pennsylvania, United States, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia. It runs for seven weeks during the summer and hosts several seminars during the year.

History

Camp Galil was founded on its current Bucks County site in 1946 as part of Habonim, a Labor Zionist youth movement. Its name refers to the famously scenic area of northern Israel surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Prior to and during the 1948 Israeli War of Independence, Galil used its resources to help the war effort on the Israeli side by holding weapons in its barn. As the new Jewish state emerged, Galil trained and educated many of its members to visit Israel and eventually make Aliyah (literally to "go up), or move to the Land of Israel. Galilniks, along with other members of Habonim, helped found and build several kibbutzim (socialist farming communities) all over Israel, including Gesher Haziv, Urim, and others.

In the 1980s, Habonim merged with Dror to form Habonim Dror North America (HDNA). Galil retained this slightly alterted affiliation and is still a member of HDNA.

However, the 1980s were trying times for both Camp Galil and the rest of HDNA. Two other HDNA camps, Camp Gilboa (in California) and Naaleh (in New York) both shut down due to low registration. Galil's enrollment also slumped, and it faced a very serious legal threat in 1986. Some HDNA members from the former Camp Gilboa went to Galil and helped it remain open. HDNA, Galil included, stopped sending members to live in Israel.

The 1990s were a happy time, both for Galil and for the rest of the nation. Galil's enrollment grew again, and any thoughts of shutting down disappeared. In 1995, counselors from Camp Miriam in British Columbia helped successfully restart Camp Gilboa. Following their lead, many from Galil helped reestablish Camp Naaleh in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2007 Naaleh acquired a new property in northern New York and relocated there for the summer of 2008. Gilboa and Naaleh are still running and growing in size.

The early 2000s were also an exciting time. HDNA once again had 7 camps, all of which were relatively successful. After about two decades without any movement members making Aliyah, HDNA sent its first new garin (literally "seed," it refers to a collective group moving to Israel) in 2000, which included Ezra Weinberg, who was rosh (head) of Galil in 1999 and 2000. HDNA sent two more garinim a few years later, one of which included Joshy Cohen, who was rosh in 2002 and 2003. With high enrollment numbers and a clear and exciting new direction, things sure are looking good for Camp Galil!

Galil Today

Galil is a very active machaneh (camp), both as part of HDNA and as part of the Philadelphia Jewish community.

ummer Camp

Galil runs a seven week summer camp every year which is split into two sessions. First session is four weeks long and runs from late June to mid July. Second session is three weeks long and runs from mid July to early August. Each session has about 130-160 chanichim (campers), with second session usually having fewer chanichim than first. Younger, first-year, chanichim can also opt to come for only two weeks and then extend their stay.

During the Year

Though the summer camp only runs for seven weeks, Galil remains active year round! During the rest of the year, Eizor Galil represents all the Habonim Dror members from the Philadelphia area. Different age groups are split into kenim (literally "nests"), and have various kef (fun) activities run for them by their year-round counselors, such as movies, bowling, haunted hay rides, fondue parties, and ice skating as well as chinuch (educational) activities which expand on the different curricular themes of the previous summer.

Also during the year are about five annual events which all the kenim participate in together. In September, we kick off the events with an annual potluck dinner. Every fall and spring, Galil opens its gates for a three-day "seminar," where camp is in session from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. This is a great time for people considering Galil to see what it's really like, and for people who've already been there to meet up with their friends. Every winter there is also a one-night Chanukkah sleepover, usually at a JCC. Eizor Galil (which is composed of all the kenim together) also normally runs celebrations for Passover, Purim, or both.

Age Groups

Galil is attended by children finishing grades 3 through 9, who are split into schavot (age groups).

#Post 3rd grade-Younger "Amelim"
#Post 4th grade-"Amelim" (workers)
#Post 5th grade-"Chotrim" (rowers)
#Post 6th grade-"Sayarim" (patrollers)
#Post 7th grade-"Tzofim" (scouts)
#Post 8th grade-"Bonim" (builders)
#Post 9th grade-"Bogrim" (graduates)
#Post 10th grade-"MBI"

Habonim Dror leadership training programs for graduates of Galil

Post 10th graders from Galil participate with 10th graders from all 7 Habonim Dror North America "machanot" (camps) in a summer program in Israel called "Machaneh Bonim b'Israel" (MBI)

Post 11th graders engage in a summer leadership program called "Madatz". This is a tochnit (program) dedicated to developing the hadracha (leadership) and heightening the sense of kvutsah (group), similar to a CIT type experience and most of the graduates go on to become "Madrachim" (counselors) the following summers and youth leaders during the school year.

Post 12th graders participate in the "Habonim Dror" year program in Israel - the oldest such program - known as Workshop. This coming September the 57th Workshop will commence.

Galil graduates in college may participate in a semester or year of study in Israel at University of Haifa as part of Habo U.

External links

* [http://www.campgalil.org/index.php Camp Galil website]
* [http://www.forward.com/issues/2001/01.08.03/news6.html Oy, Wilderness! Suburban Sprawl Robbing Summer Camps of Woodsy Feel] , "The Forward", August 3, 2001.
* [http://www.jewishexponent.com/ViewArticle.asp?ArtID=2025 Goodies Go for Good] , "The Jewish Exponent".
* [http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.07.26/fast4.html Men and Women Who Love Camp Too Much] , "The Forward", July 26, 2002.