Camp Galil
Encyclopedia
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 seminar
s during the year.
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 Na'aleh
(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!
In 2010, Galil introduced a new program called "Taste of Galil" for campers finishing second grade only. They spend four days in a one-on-one setting with their counselors and the other campers their age. In 2011, this program will be held August 3rd to August 7th.
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.
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. Workshop is in its 60th year.
Galil graduates in college may participate in a semester or year of study in Israel at University of Haifa
as part of Habo U.
Habonim Dror
Habonim Dror is a Jewish Labour Zionist youth movement formed by the merger in 1982 of the Habonim and Dror youth movements. Habonim Dror's sister movement in Israel is Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed, the Working and Studying Youth.-Ideology:...
North America summer camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
for Jewish students in northern Ottsville, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia. It runs for seven weeks during the summer and hosts several seminar
Seminar
Seminar is, generally, a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is...
s during the year.
History
Camp Galil was founded on its current Bucks County site in 1946 as part of Habonim, a Labor ZionistLabor Zionism
Labor Zionism can be described as the major stream of the left wing of the Zionist movement. It was, for many years, the most significant tendency among Zionists and Zionist organizational structure...
youth movement. Its name refers to the famously scenic area of northern Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
surrounding the Sea of Galilee
Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee, also Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias , is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, and it is approximately in circumference, about long, and wide. The lake has a total area of , and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m...
. 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
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
(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
Gesher Haziv
Gesher HaZiv is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Situated in the Western Galilee on the coastal highway between Nahariya and the Lebanese border, opposite the Akhziv National Park, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Asher Regional Council...
, 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
Camp Gilboa
Camp Gilboa is one of the seven North American machanot associated with the socialist-Zionist youth movement, Habonim Dror. It is open to kids entering 3rd-10th grade, and incoming 12th graders are accepted as Madatz...
(in California) and Na'aleh
Camp Na'aleh
Camp Na'aleh is one of seven summer camps in North America run by the Labor Zionist youth movement Habonim Dror. Founded in 1932, it is the oldest of Habonim Dror North America's summer camps.-History:...
(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
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
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.Summer 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.In 2010, Galil introduced a new program called "Taste of Galil" for campers finishing second grade only. They spend four days in a one-on-one setting with their counselors and the other campers their age. In 2011, this program will be held August 3rd to August 7th.
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 2nd grade-"Taste of Galil"
- 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 IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
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. Workshop is in its 60th year.
Galil graduates in college may participate in a semester or year of study in Israel at University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
as part of Habo U.
Notable Alumi
Notable alumni include:- Ron BloomRon BloomFrom February 2009 to August 2011, Ron Bloom served as a senior official in the Obama Administration. From February 2011 to August 2011, Bloom served at the White House as the Assistant to the President for Manufacturing Policy...
- Kenneth BobKenneth BobKenneth Bob is the president of Ameinu, the American Labor Zionist organization. He was elected at the national convention of the Labor Zionist Alliance in 2004, when the decision was made to modernize the organization, which included changing the name of the organization to Ameinu, which means...
- Jack Markell
- Judith RodinJudith RodinJudith Rodin was the 7th president of the University of Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2004 and the first permanent female president of an Ivy League university. She is currently the president of the Rockefeller Foundation, a position she has held since 2005. A University of Pennsylvania alumna, she...
- Noah "Xaphoon Jones" BeresinChiddy BangChiddy Bang is an American alternative hip hop band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group consists of Chidera "Chiddy" Anamege and Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin. The duo was introduced through former band member Zachary Sewall in late 2008 during their freshman year at Drexel University, in...
External links
- Camp Galil website
- Camp Galil promotional video
- Oy, Wilderness! Suburban Sprawl Robbing Summer Camps of Woodsy Feel, The ForwardThe ForwardThe Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
, August 3, 2001. - Goodies Go for Good, The Jewish Exponent.
- Men and Women Who Love Camp Too Much, The ForwardThe ForwardThe Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
, July 26, 2002.