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This machaneh for years 5 and 6 is based around the theme of Tikkun Olam – which literally means the order of the World. Throughout machaneh they will enjoy different fun, yet educational peulot (activities) around this interesting theme.
Wednesdsay 1st August: Mainsite (Day 1)
Today the London chanichim arrived bang on time at about 3.00, with the Manchester / Leeds coach a bit behind time due to traffic on the M1 - arriving in at 4.00. There was great excitement by all when they arrived on site, and met up with their friends and new friends.
When they arrived they met the senior leaders (Abi and Michael) who are very fun and friendly. After this they split up into kvutsot (groups) and had some Kvutsah time with a little bit of kibbud (chocolate). Dinner was soon after with yummy fish fingers, beans and chips topped off nicely with ice cream.
Whilst one group did the first load of toranut (washing up) other groups painted posters to decorate their bedrooms with.
They then went into their first peulah (activity) which was an introduction to the leaders in the form of a (not so talented) talent show. After this they had a "kidnapping mystery" (similar to a murder mystery, but just with no murder) which the leaders had carefully planned and included carefully shot cctv style footage which the chanichim (participants) got to watch ont he big screen projector! They finally found super man who had been captured by Banana Man.
The chanichim then went off to bed as tired bunnies, ready for a full fun day tomorrow.
Thursday 2nd August: Mainsite (Day 2)
Today the chanichim had a fun active day of peulot. They started off with a peulah about human rights which took them on an imaginary journey around the world with different activities - fun was had by all.
Next was a peulah about Refugee Discrimination, which was linked in with cake making. Needless to say it was a good outcome, with yummy cake at the end.
The day was also filled with fun sporting activities, and kvutsa (group) time where they have been planning MYOD.
MYOD is short for Make Your Own Day (or in hebrew, "who else"). This is where the chanichim get experience (with the help of the leaders) to plan their own day. They spend time in their groups planning what they are going to do for a session on that special day, and then run activities for all the other chanichim (participants) on the camp. Its a bit of hard work for the chanichim, but extremely rewarding, and they always love it as they get to do what they want on that day!
Dinner was a yummy vegetarian spaghetti bolognese.
Friday 3rd August: Mainsite (Day 3)
Today has been an extremely active day for the chanichim. They started off as usual with WMBA (Wake up, Mifkad, Breakfast, Avodah). Mifkad is where all the chanichim stand in a chet (similar to the army) in their groups, and they all sing their songs in the morning. There is obviously internal competition as to who is the loudest... also a good way to wake them up! Avodah is hebrew for "work" and is meant for tidying up.
After WMBA they had a tunnel activity (crawling through man made tunnels - usually out of tables and sheets) with the aim of peulah being poverty in the UK, this also incorporated the chocolate game - needless to say, they loved.
After this they went on a magical time machine showing the role of the Jewish community in the UK, which was followed by MYOD planning.
The next session they loved - they were told they were going on a huge pre-built water slide, but when they got there, there was no water. This was symbolisng how in third world countries water is not so easy to get, and into a big trading game they went were they had to work for money, and but water, and trade items for water etc. Needless to say ended up in a huge fun water slide session, with an important message put accross.
They then had shabbat dinner, followed by friendship bracelet making and are now in a shiron session (song session) around a bonfire.
Fun day for all.
Saturday 4th August: Mainsite (Day 4)
Over half way through... who would have thought!?!
Today the chanichim had a little bit of a shabbat lie in, before getting up and having a parsha relevant breakfast. Here they looked at different aspects of the parsha, whilst
having traditional jewish food for breakfast (eg. smoked salmon and cream cheese, etc).
After this was a fun team building activity which involved them working together to demonstrate caring for each other within the community, and this led nicely onto them all
making lunch for one another.
This was followed by a treasure hunt in the forest, where the winning team did excepptionally well. Mifkad was next where they all sang extremely loud, and then they had a great dinner of pizza - everyone was extremely ful by the end.
Afterwards they said goodbye to Shabbat with a lovely havdallah service, followed by creative workshops on the Live Aid theme (eg. singing, dancing, drama, etc).
After this they all relaxed before going to bed whilst watching the film Back to the Future...
Sunday 5th August: Mainsite (Day 5)
Today they got up and had their usual WUMBA routine, before going straight into a peulah that looked at Fair Trade… this was apparently the “McDaddy of all peulot”. The chanchim had to start off by doing different tasks in order to earn “money”, they then used this “money” to buy different materials, at which point they made things from these materials. However, when the western buyers came round, of course they didn’t give them much money for the products. So the chanichim could buy fewer materials, meaning they could buy less, and the story continues. This showed them about the reailty of the importance of fair trade – very very fun, and very effective.
Next was the issue of child soldiers, where they watched a short clip, and then a “real life child soldier” appeared behind a sheet (to maintain anonymity) where the chanichim got to ask him questions. The chanichim were astounded by the issues that arose.
After lunch they touched the tought subject of Darfur, where at the end they all got to write their thoughts and feelings on a large wall – very powerful, and it showed how much the chanichim got involved, and how much they enjoyed the peulah.
Next up they got into their groups and started to prepare the zigs (skits) for the final party (Live Eight).
After dinner (lovely pasta bake) they had a peulah that started off with a weather bulletin, which of course looked around different countries and dealt with climate change. Lots of posters and decorating letter – they were fun and educated up!
Monday 6th August: Mainsite (Day 6)
Today was their fun day out, which they were all super excited for!
After an hours bus ride to Hemel Hempstead to go to Leisureworld the chanchim had a great fun morning of swimming.
After lunch they split into two – some went ice skating, some went bowling – and then they changed over so everyone got a go of doing everything.
Once they got back from a thoroughly fun day, I joined them at the site and spent the rest of the evening with them. They were in exceptionally high spirits. They had a great barbeque where everyone was full up, and then whilst we were building a massive bonfire they perfected their skits for Live Eight tomorrow.
There was then a good long bonfire session with a very loud and (not so) tuneful shiron (song) session. Everyone was extremely happy.
Tuesday 7th August: Mainsite (Day 7)
This morning, after WUMBA they had the first peulah which showed them how an individual can make a difference. They did this by a massive treasure hunt which required getting lots of pieces of a jigsaw, putting them together to find out more information about people such as Mendale, Luther-King, Geldoff etc. Was great fun.
At this point I should tell you that the uneduational theme of the camp was Super Hero’s – as you will see from the chanichims tshirts tomorrow!
So the next peulah they were told they were going to watch a short video of super hero’s changing a difference to the world… so they went in, set up the projector etc, and then watched a film of them throughout camp! It was a great little film running them through the peulot they did, with music over the top, etc etc – the chanichim had a great surprise, and absolutely loved it!
After lunch the chanichim were given a campaign theme (either Darfur, Child Soldiers, Climate Change, Poverty or Fair Trade), and each were given a part of a super hero drawn on MASSIVE paper. They then, in a group, wrote a letter to Gordon Brown about why the issue should be important to him, and how he should use his influence to change things. They then joined all the pieces together to make an ABSOLUTEY HUGE super hero, with letters inside it, which will be sent off to Gordon Brown, signed from all the chanichim.
After this they had great fun with helium balloons, and no it was not sucking it up and making funny voices! They each wrote a letter to a stranger, telling them how important it was to help change the world through part of their previous campaign. They then put it inside a helium balloon, and they all set it off into the air. The hope is that whoever finds it will write a letter as the chanichim suggested them to. They also gave them the habo website so hopefully they will make contact with us!
This was followed by preparation of their skits for the live aid performance (by them) tonight.
They then had a huge VIP dinner which was a lovely vegetarian stir fry (either black bean or sweet and sour), which they all loved.
They are now currently in Live Aid being entertained by one another before going into the last night disco!
All are extremely sad to be coming home tomorrow, but no doubt looking forward to their own beds!
Wednesday 8th August: Mainsite (Day 8)
Today was the last day at camp, and of course was a sad day for all! After a bit of cleaning up, they had one last final LOUD mifkad, before saying their teary goodbyes to their new friends!
Everyone has said they are definately coming back next year - wicked!
Click here to see photos of Efrochim - Set 1!
Click here to see photos of Efrochim - Set 2!
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