Camp Moshava (Habonim Dror)

"Moshava is the name of several Jewish summer camps in North America including ones run by Bnei Akiva and Hashomer Hatzair. This site is for Camp Moshava Habonim Dror."

Camp Moshava is one of seven Habonim Dror camps in North America. Moshava was founded in 1935 when Sigfrid Sonniborn of Baltimore gave convert|162|acre|km2 of land near Annapolis to the labor Zionist youth movements Hashomer Hatzair and Gordonia to be shared as a summer camp. Following the amalgamation of Gordonia and Habonim in 1938, the camp was solely used by Habonim, which eventually sold the land and moved to Buffalo Gap, West Virginia. Currently, Camp Moshava is located in Street, Maryland outside of Bel-Air, and has been in that location since 1985. It is also the only Habonim Dror North America camp that runs for eight weeks during the summer, as opposed to seven.

At Moshava, chanichim (campers) live according to the ideals of Habonim Dror in a community with values based on cooperation, equality, and many Jewish/Zionist values. Camp Moshava tries to simulate the kibbutz experience while learning about Israel, Judaism, socialism, self-actualization and social justice, in addition to having fun as a camp.

Every day (except Shabbat) there is avodah (work), in which campers do jobs to improve the camp, including picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, and carpentry.

Those who attend also enjoy activities such as shira (singing), mischakim (sports/games), and other various sodnaot (workshops).

The official breakdown of the age groups is as follows:

*Amelim 1 (going into 4th grade)
*Amelim 2 (going into 5th grade)
*Chotrim (going into 6th Grade)
*Tzofim or Chotrim 2 (going into 7th Grade)
*Solelim (going into 8th Grade)
*Bonim (going into 9th Grade)
*Bogrim (going into 10th grade)
*MBI (going into 11th Grade, optional trip to Israel)
*Madatz (CIT) (going 12th grade)
*Anything higher is a Madrich (counselor)

If a kvutsah (group) is abnormally large or small, it may be split from or absorbed into a neighboring age. In extreme cases, three or more kvutsot can be combined and renamed.

ee also

* Habonim Dror

Monday Thru Friday Routine

The first thing the (chanichim) campers do in the morning is (wake up) Kima, brush their teeth, and head down to the Toren (flag pole). The head of the camp calls out each age group to see if all of the campers/counselors in that group are there. After everyone has been accounted for, Moshava gathers around the flag pole and sing their morning song, after the head of the camp calls someone up to raise the flag.Then the camp goes in for Aruchat Boker (breakfast) in the Hadar Ha'ochel (Dining Hall). After the campers have finished their meal, they head down to their Avoda (Work) with the counselors in charge of that job to their designated area. There are usually 6-7 campers in each Avoda.

"ex." Ben eats breakfast, then goes to Anaf Gan with and the counselor Eve to tend the garden.

After an hour of working, the campers take a Rachatsa (wash time)for 30 minutes. Then there is a Peulat Shichva where the age group gets together to do a special activity that relates to age group bonding and learning about the ideals of the movement. Afterwards, there is Shira where the campers and madrichim learn songs in the Moadone L'Chaver (the big dome, or "Meeting Place of Friends"). Then, there is Aruchat Tzhorayim (lunch) which is followed by Menuchah (rest).

At 2:20 The Lower Shetach (Amelim, Chotrim, and Tzofim) have Sadnaot (a workshop) like canoeing for example, and the Upper Shetach (Solelim, Bonim and Bogrim) Have Schiya (swimming). Then, at 3:10 It switches around; Aquacultural Judaism for Lower, and Sadnaot for Upper.

At 4:00 there are Mischakim (games) where the children play Ga-ga and or other games like Ultimate Frisbee, an occasional Soccer, and card games.

At 5:00 the campers go to the benches next to the MLC for Aruchat Arba and grab a snack, there usually oranges, apples or plums.

At 5:15, the campers go to their level of Ivrit (Hebrew).Then at 6:00 There is Chugim (interest groups) where the campers have a group that basically do whatever is on their interest. For example, there could be a Chug Volleyball.At 7:00 there is again another Hitkansuit (gathering at the Flag pole).At 7:15 the campers eat dinner, Aruchat Erev, and there is another Chofesh at 8:00.Then campers go to the MLC for Tochinit Erev, this is an activity in the nighttime. Traditionally the first Tochinit Erev of every Session is "Getting to know the Counselors", but after the first day the Tochnit Erev would change to Flashlight tag and "Whose line is it anyway".Then unfortunately the campers have to go to sleep. The bedtime varies for each age group.

Summary of routine

8:15 Kima
8:45 Hitkansuit Boker
9:00 Aruchat Boker
9:30 Avoda
10:20 Rachatsa
10:50 Peulat Shichva
12:20 Shira
12:50 Aruchat Tzohorayim
1:35 Menucha
2:20 Sadnaot for Lower Shetach
Schiya for Upper Shetach
3:10 Aquacultural Judiaism for Lower Shetach
Sadnaot for Upper Shetach
4:00 Mischakim
5:00 Aruchat Arba
5:15 Ivrit
6:00 Chugim
7:00 Hitkansut Erev
7:15 Aruchat Erev
8:00 Chofesh
8:45 Tochnit Erev
9:45 Kibud

External links

* [http://www.camphabonimdrormoshava.org/ Habonim Dror Camp Moshava]