Horse Day Photos and recap

Woah, sorry parents–it’s been a few days since we had a full recap. Saturday we intended to have horse day, but due to weather we swapped it and made it all camp activity fun day and sent the ATLs and Jalapeno off camp to make sure that we got clean laundry. Yesterday the weather could not have been more perfect and we had an excellent horse day as well as Gazette writing session with our editor Sneezy, a delicious cookout lunch prepared by Jalapeno, and an Israeli Day scavenger hunt and snacks prepared by Beardo. We tackled the book of Leviticus and the idea of holiness in Tabernacle yesterday and today we kicked off the book of Numbers. Over the weekend we had visits from special guests Ruski, Scooter, and Watson. Saturday night our campfire talk was from Sitruce and she shared about learning to trust and obey our parents. Indiana Jones shared last night at campfire about Joseph, Moses, and Job and that we’re never as alone or as forgotten as we might feel-but that God is always with us. We’re having a great time and we can’t believe that we’re already in the second week. The time to return your campers to you is going to come too soon!!!

I hope that you’ll enjoy these photos and we’ll keep updating here and on instagram and on facebook. Happy Monday! ~ RedSox

Great Field Trip

We had such a great time at the science museum! There were a couple of different kinds of building materials we could build massive towers with, water tables, an experiments with bubbles, sand tables, and experimenting with circuits. 

It was really cool to have campers in different groups (not just tribes) and to be able to explore and experiment together. 

The planetarium show helped us to understand the night sky and last night we had a clear night to see the stars. 

Beardo shared with us about remembering the creator while we’re young from Ecclesiastes and we had an early lights out after such a full day!

For breakfast we had make your own breakfast sandwiches, for lunch we had turkey or pb&j sandwiches, and for dinner we had hot dogs and hamburgers. 

Great day all around!!! Can’t wait to see what today will hold.

~RedSox

Photos from our field trip!!!

Great Second Day!

The weather for the 4th of July and the second full day of camp could not have been better! The sun was out but not too hot (we’re all doing a good job of wearing sunscreen and reminding each other to wear sunscreen!) We had scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, hash browns, and bagels for breakfast; quesadillas and a choice of tomato soup, corn chowder, or smurf mushroom soup (it was blue!); and then for dinner we had a taco bar.

The kids are coming along well designing their crafts and campers are getting their alef-bets approved from Beardo. Hiking, a run, archery, rockwall, and boating activities all went well and the pool time was a real highlight.

After campfire we stayed up at Sunset to watch the sunset and to watch all of the area fireworks displays. Squid shared with us about prayer and we took some time to “give props to Jesus” about the things we saw or had experienced today. We’re having a ton of fun with your kids, they’re great! But you knew that already!

Lila Tov Camp Gilgal Families,

RedSox

Hello from the Mom at Camp.

Shalom,

I would like to introduce myself. I’m Jalapeno, the Craft Teacher, and your official Camp Gilgal East “Camp Ima”. Many of you might already know me from last year, but for those who don’t; Hello, thanks for entrusting us with your kids and joining the Camp Gilgal Family. You might be asking yourself, “Wait a minute, you call yourself the ‘Camp Ima’, what is a ‘Ima’ and how is that so?” Ima means “Mom” is Hebrew, and I earned the title of Camp Ima because I, like you, am a proud parent. Last year was my first year at camp, and I brought my two sons (Gato, 5 and Spitzy, 1) along to join me in the Gilgal experience. We all had a blast, which is why both Spitzy and I are back this year, teaching craft and spending time with your lovely kiddos.

Me (on the far left), my two boys, and Red Sox 

As a fellow parent, I felt it would be nice to write to you throughout junior camp and provide you with a parental point of view of all the amazing activities and adventures at Camp Gilgal this year. I know it can be hard sending your precious babies away for 2 weeks without being able to have a quick check in visit or even a phone call. Actually, this year I too had to say goodbye to my oldest, Gato, as he is staying back home with his father and attending a local camp for kindergartners. But, just as I trust he will have fun without me, trust that your sons and daughters are having the time of their lives and are learning more and more about the Lord with every lesson, song, and friendship. In just the few days of camp, I have seen many of your youngsters show kindness to a new friend, learn a Hebrew word or two (or five!), and discover something new about their God.

It has been a pleasure to introduce myself to you, and I can’t wait to share more about camp as your own personal “Camp Ima”. And just in case you were wondering…. all your kids are safe and healthy, eating their vegetables, and brushing their teeth. ;)

First full day of camp!!!

We had a great first day at camp! We started working on our memory verses (Joshua 1:9; and Deuteronomy 10:12-22) and had a full day of activities. Everyone has Hebrew and craft each day and then two other activities such as hiking, field sports, boating, archery, mad science, and drama games.
The entire camp spent part of the afternoon in the pool and had a great first FOB!
Our first campfire with a campfire (too wet last night!) was awesome and Hiccup shared with us about loving people that are mean to us. We hope you enjoy these photos of today and you can see video on Instagram and Facebook.
Lila Tov,

RedSox

First day of camp!!!

We had a great first night dinner of pizza and chicken wings, a swim test, picking activities, and now the tribes are about to start making their tribe flags. We are having a great time!!!

More later,

RedSox

First time camp advice from Sneezy

Dear First Time Camper,

Camp is less than two weeks away. Right now, you might be feeling anxious. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by how much you have to pack (check out my previous post called “What to Pack!”) or by meeting new people. Maybe you’re scared to be away from home. Or maybe you’re so excited that you can’t even handle waiting one more day! Wherever you’re at, I want you to know that I am praying for you. All the staff are praying for you. We are so excited to spend two weeks with you. We want to help you learn more about Jesus. We want you to make new friends. And through it all, we want you to have fun!

My first year of camp was almost ten years ago (wow!) and I have grown to love camp more and more each year. Your first year is a time to sit back and enjoy the ride and learn the ropes of Camp Gilgal. By your second year, you’ll be a pro!

A few things we always do at camp are a big craft project that you’ll get to take home, a memory verse, Tabernacle, a camp out, theme meals, campfires, talent night, and so much more. One of my favourite activities is counselor hunt. The counselors all pretend to be a certain animal and the campers have to go find them and bring them back to home base. It’s so much fun! Meals are a great time to bond with your tribe over delicious food. Events like this shape camp. The activities are so much fun and there are so many choices that you are sure to find something you enjoy. Some of the activities include field sports, artsy fun, karate and drama games. Trust me, there will never be a dull moment during camp!

The campers and staff will all greet you with open arms. We love you, and we want to show Jesus’ great love to you. Know that you are not alone. Every camper has been where you are right now. Your first year at camp is the most special and the most memorable.

Looking back to ten years ago, I was a shy camper. I live in Canada, so camp was a really far trip for me and I was super scared to be away from home. Even though I was timid and unsure, I still had the best time at camp. I made great friends, and the staff were incredibly kind and understanding. Returning to camp year after year is a benchmark in my year and is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I promise, you are going to have a great time. Camp is a place where we build each other up in God. It is a place to be who we truly are. It is a place to worship our Creator. It is a place to learn. It is a place to have fun.

I am so excited to see you!!! I can’t wait to talk to you and hang out with you, and make memories with you.

With Love and In Y’shua,

Sneezy