Gilgal Gazette Weekly Edition

The whole Gilgal Gazette (East, Midwest, and West) will be live online later this fall, but we’ll be sharing pieces from the Camp Gilgal East Gazette here each week. The Gilgal Gazette is a newspaper written by Camp Gilgal campers, for Camp Gilgal campers. We hope that you enjoy it!

Tabernacle

Penina S., Age 12, Tribe of Joseph (Junior Camp)

Tabernacle is a place where everyone gets together in the morning to worship and praise God. We sing songs, read stories, recite the memory verse and more. It takes place after breakfast but before your activities.

One day we got blowpops to represent the remnant of people left who believed in God. The gum was what we were supposed to leave. Some people ate their gum, others left it on their sticks and some people didn’t open theirs because they knew it would be too tempting.

In Tabernacle I learned that it is important to always trust God, no matter the circumstances.

The Camp-Out

Matthew S., Age 9, Tribe of Judah (Junior Camp)

On Monday of the second week of camp we packed for a camp-out after we packed we headed to our campsite. Since we didn’t have a fire place we went to Benjamin’s site. We made a fire and ate hot dogs and hamburgers. One hot dog rolled off the grill. Then Gavyn started chasing us with sticks. Then we noticed that there were fireworks on the other side of the valley. When we went back to our campsite we tried setting our tent up, but it kept falling down so we called Scooter and he came. He also tried but it fell again so we slept on the blacktop.  I had camped a bunch before with my family – this wasn’t the best camping but it was the most fun! I hope you enjoyed my story.

Gilgal Gazette Weekly Edition

The whole Gilgal Gazette (East, Midwest, and West) will be live online later this fall, but we’ll be sharing pieces from the Camp Gilgal East Gazette here each week. The Gilgal Gazette is a newspaper written by Camp Gilgal campers, for Camp Gilgal campers. We hope that you enjoy it!

Table Cleaning Contest with Judah

Penina S., Age 13, Tribe of Joseph (Junior Camp)

At Camp Gilgal we have a tradition. The first tribe to finish a meal has the right to bang on the tables. So, it was nearing the end of dinner. Both of our tribes (Joseph and Judah) were almost done with our meals. It was hot dogs and hamburgers. Judah is about to bang the table because they are done. Just then, Noah walks in the room with a burger. He’s part of the tribe of Judah. Everyone cracked up. It was really funny. In the end we (Judah) won. At Camp Gilgal, we have lots of funny moments like this; it’s great!

Teamwork

Netanya W., Age 11, Tribe of Ephraim (Junior Camp)

In Camp Gilgal there is a lot of teamwork! Teamwork is used in a lot of things like going to the party at the end of camp! And also we use teamwork in camp activities such as Capture the Degel (that’s a game) and we have teams and we have to work together to get the degel (flag) and also other fun games like that! I love Camp Gilgal! It’s really fun! You might be sad leaving home for two weeks but Camp Gilgal is just like a home. Everyone here is so nice and when it’s time to go home you’ll be sad leaving because it’s like you’re leaving your Camp Gilgal family. I love it here!

Gilgal Gazette Weekly Edition

The whole Gilgal Gazette (East, Midwest, and West) will be live online later this fall, but we’ll be sharing pieces from the Camp Gilgal East Gazette here each week. The Gilgal Gazette is a newspaper written by Camp Gilgal campers, for Camp Gilgal campers. We hope that you enjoy it!

Interviewing Squid

Sydney F., Age 12, Tribe of Joseph (Junior Camp)

A few days ago I interviewed the Amazing Squid! Spiritually, she prays for family, friends, campers, and just about everything constantly. Also, Squid reads the Bible mostly every day when she gets the chance. Squid’s favorite books in the bible are Psalms, Jeremiah, Esther, Ephesians, and Philippians. In fact, She’s always been a believer in Jesus Christ because she grew up attending church.

A question that I asked Squid was, “Do you want a boyfriend?” Her response was, “When I’m older and when God’s timing is right for me.” Another interesting fact about her is that her favorite number is seven because it’s written in the Bible many times. Did you know that her favorite color is pink and she loves all the food at Camp Gilgal? Also Squid was born on December 23^rd.

On a camp related note, I asked her why she wanted to be an assistant tribe leader, also known as an ATL. In response, she always wanted to since she was little, because she knew it would be super fun. Then I asked her why it would be super fun and she said, “You get to know everything the campers don’t know.” She also said because you get to keep secrets from the campers. You also get to stay up later, and you have more freedom. The final question I asked Squid was, “did you like having me here at camp?” and she said, “Yes! Of course!”

That was my interview of Squid – an ATL at Camp Gilgal.

Jumping Jacks Contest

Hannah K., Age 12 Tribe of Joseph (Junior Camp)

After Tabernacle, we decided to do a jumping jacks contest because we all wanted to move around. So we all went to the back of the room and we started to do jumping jacks. At first, it was really easy but then it got much harder. After about 10 minutes, Ephraim and I were the only ones left jumping. A lot of people were cheering me on which made me really happy. After Red Sox blew the whistle for us to stop jumping. My legs were burning! But then I ate a banana and it really helped my legs. I got first choice of what I wanted to write about in the Gilgal Gazette, so I chose to write this article! I really love Camp Gilgal and all the silly things we do!

Because it is Wonderful, it is the Winter, and it is a Weekend: WWW!!!

Wonderful Winter Weekend takes the excitement, adventure, friends, and fun of our Camp Gilgal summer programs and packs it all into one incredible weekend. Whether getting together with camp friends from summers past or trying out Camp Gilgal for the first time, WWW is an opportunity to meet with God together with other Jewish believers. And, a big advantage WWW has over summer camp…there could be snow! We hope that you’ll join us for Wonderful. Winter. Weekend. 2016!

Who:WWW is for campers ages 8*-18 (*or 7 if they will turn 8 by the summer)

When: February 5-7 (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch)

Where: Liebenzell Christian Retreat Center Schooley’s Mountain, NJ

Cost: $105

For more details or to register please visit campgilgal.com 

Gilgal Gazette Weekly Edition

Happy New Year! Below you’ll find our weekly serial edition of the Camp Gilgal East Gazette.

The whole Gilgal Gazette (East, Midwest, and West) will be live online later this fall, but we’ll be sharing pieces from the Camp Gilgal East Gazette here each week. The Gilgal Gazette is a newspaper written by Camp Gilgal campers, for Camp Gilgal campers. We hope that you enjoy it!

Interview with Horizon

Isaac G., age 9, Tribe of Judah (Junior Camp)

I decided to interview the ATL of my tribe, the tribe of Judah. This was my first year as a camper and Horizon’s first year as staff. I asked him sixteen questions that I wanted to know about him. Here are some of the questions I asked him the first was: why do you always wear a beanie? His answer was, “beanies are amazing. They’re comfy, warm, and it’s almost like a warm hug on your head. It looks cool, and once you wear one you can never go back.” The second question was why he chose to be an ATL. He said, “I love Camp Gilgal. I was a camper for two years in teen camp, and I always wanted to be a counselor with Camp Gilgal, and so for this year’s Junior Camp, I was able to be an ATL.” He said “I love the people here. They’re loving and caring, and even if I don’t see them very much because I live far away, they feel like family.”

This was my first year as a camper, and I learned how to shoot a long bow. I learned how to use a wood burner, and I learned a lot in Tabernacle. I loved playing soccer and field sports. Me and Horizon both love cats, and I’m thinking about wearing a beanie. I can’t wait to come back next year!

Interview with Sitruce

Keren A., Age 9, Tribe of Naphtali (Junior Camp)

I’m Keren and this is my first year at Camp Gilgal Junior Camp. My first counselors were Sitruce and Guacamole. I asked Sitruce a couple of questions because I wanted to know more about her. I discovered that her favorite animal is a cow because it has a funny face. I also learned that her favorite colors are black and blue. She told me that the first time she accepted Jesus was at Ingathering when she was 7. Her favorite book of the Bible is Psalms because it’s extremely poetic. Her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because her family is there and there’s a lot of food. She likes going to the forest and going on hikes. Finally her favorite food is any kind of Italian food. I learned a lot about Sitruce from these questions. I really enjoyed being her camper and I can’t wait to know her more.