Infusing Israel at Camp
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Camp is a natural environment for young people to explore their relationship with Israel and Israelis. The immersive experience of camp provides great opportunities to infuse Israel into the fabric of everyday life, and to sustain a meaningful culture of Israel education in the camp and the camp community that will extend beyond the summer!
Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
10 WAYS TO INFUSE ISRAEL AT YOUR CAMP
Israeli Music 🎶
Add Israeli music to your summer soundtrack! Pump up the volume in the dining room, cabins, and outdoors with these iCenter Israeli music Spotify playlists.
Hebrew Word of the Day 📣
Ready to use Hebrew slang like an Israeli? Yalla! Hang these vibrant and fun slang posters around camp and weave cool Hebrew slang into activities, big and small. You can highlight one of these words or phrases every morning as your Hebrew Word of the Day.
Get To Know Israelis at Camp 
Invite Israeli shlichim to lead an activity for your bunk or unit. A simple activity like “meet the counselor” or storytelling can be a great starting point that can lead to impactful relationship-building
Celebrating Birthdays 🎉
Spice up birthday celebrations with loads of Israeli Yom Huledet (birthday) fun! Sing Israeli birthday songs, like Yom Huledet Sameach (same tune as Happy Birthday to You in English), and play Israeli birthday games. Find more ideas here.
Create a ‘Megilah’ for Your Cabin 📝
Inspired by Israel’s Declaration of Independence (Hebrew: Megilat Ha'atzmaut), campers can write a “Megilat Tzrif,” an agreement amongst the cabin members that establishes norms and shared priorities for the summer. It’s a great way to bring campers together in the first hours or days after they get off the bus, and to frame their collective experience in an exciting, aspirational way.
Programs and Activities 🎲
Israel can be woven into any activity, even if it’s not the main topic. For example, add Israeli cheers and songs for color wars (ask your shlichim!), learn about the social justice work of Israeli nonprofits, or name camp sports teams after Israeli soccer or basketball teams (ask the shlichim for ideas, or learn more yourself!)
Tap Into the Richness Your Shlichim Bring 💡
Many camps will have more Israeli staff members than ever this summer. Whether you’re bringing two or 22 Israelis to camp, provide opportunities for them to join program planning committees and encourage North American and Israeli staff members to collaborate as they work to make the summer fun, exciting, and creative for everyone!
Israeli Food 🌯
Get to know the tastes and smells of Israeli food at camp! Find a recipe to make in a cooking elective or give your camp chef some new ideas for fun and delicious themed meals. If you can stock the canteen with Israeli snacks, that’s another simple way to bring a taste of Israel.I
Sharing People, Places, and Culture 🏞️
Bring the sights, history, and stories of Israel to camp through The iCenter’s Israel Resource Cards. This unique resource summarizes key Israeli moments, people, places. Download them, blow them up and hang in the dining hall, your unit’s meeting space, and around the bunks—they’re great conversation starters and additions to activities.
Make a Beit Cafe in the Staff Lounge ☕️
Whether it’s a fixture of the camp landscape all summer long or a special event one or two nights each session, an Israel-themed beit cafe (coffeehouse) lounge can be loads of fun. Gather a group of Israeli and North American staff members to set it up, create a snacks and drinks menu, and choose a playlist to set the mood.
