Camp a Blast for Shluchim Kids

Flying and driving from around the country and the world, excited boys arrived in camp ready to drink in the warmth and inspiration of the coming 10 days.

Young Shluchim living in remote areas on Shlichus look forward all year to the Tzeirei Hashluchim Winter Camp by the Shluchim Office which takes place in Lake Worth, FL. The time with friends, fabrengens, trips and fun combine to give the children who attend an amazing boost. Many of the children attend the Nigri International Online School, for whom it was also a class reunion.

The excitement started right away with learning, davening, delicious meals, exciting sports, activities, and swimming.

Each day brought new surprises and highlights, getting started right away with each camper getting to go on the camp’s elaborate on-grounds ropes course and zip-line.

In an exciting new initiative spearheaded by the head counselors Boruch Ceitlin and Mendel Goldman, each bunk was assigned a different one of the 6 (populated) continents, and each day camp focused on one of them. When a continent was front and center, the whole camp focused on the unique identity of the continent, the Rebbe’s interactions with them, and the Shlichus landscape there.

Each camper was given a map of the world with places to stick on pictures of the Rebbe, which they earned through Davening, learning, and good behavior.

Excitement took over on Thursday as Shlichus War was announced. Camp was split into 2 teams with fellow campers as the generals, lieutenants and captains. Each team had the opportunity to bring out their team’s aspect of Shlichus, Zchus and Achrayus respectively, through skits, songs, and plays.

On Erev Shabbos, the campers all participated in a grand rally. They said pesukim, heard from special Shabbos guest Rabbi Yossi Lew, and watched a video of the Rebbe. It was a beautiful scene watching each camper listening carefully to the Sicha as the Rebbe spoke, and then writing it down in their own words!

Everyone enjoyed an inspiring and lebedike Shabbos, with the traditional “Shabbos Competition,” Davening and Farbregens along with our special guest.

With Motzai Shabbos came an action packed evening, beginning with a beautiful bonfire complete with camp songs, stories and marshmallows.

Continuing on from there, the campers had the opportunity to make their own sushi! Rabbi Avraham Granat showed all the campers what to do, and then everyone was off to make their own unique rolls. A delicious pizza Melava Malka topped off a night to remember.

On Sunday, the kids woke up to the grand trip!

First a lavish breakfast was served and then onto the buses for the first stop: ice skating! Campers showed off their skills on a rink reserved exclusively for camp, and those who needed help had plenty of skate trainers available to them.

A delicious pizza lunch followed at Chabad of Boca Raton with warm words by Rabbi Moshe Denburg.

Then it was off to the next stop – jet boating! A huge boat was waiting to take the kids on a thrilling high speed water-adventure.

The day continued at a trampoline park with lots of jumping, a magnificent ropes course challenge and other attractions.

Tired from such an exciting day, camp boarded the buses to Chabad of Weston for a delicious BBQ dinner where the campers filled up on great food and the warm words of Rabbi Yisroel Spalter.

On the last day of camp, campers prepared to write a Pan to the Rebbe after such an amazing camp experience.

League championship games followed, and then it was time to pack up, preparing to partake in the Grand Banquet.

A delicious Chinese dinner awaited them, prepared masterfully by the camp chef Rabbi Nissen Pewzner, and a program including a video of the Rebbe, Nigunim, and an address by several of their fellow young Shuchim. The evening ended with dancing, bunk competition and league winners, best campers, and a special surprise of a video of our last week in camp.

“The Tzeirei Hashluchim Winter Camp is a truly magical experience,” remarked Berel Bendet, who directs the Tzeriei Hashluchim. “Though the banquet marks the official end of camp, the lessons, camaraderie and chayus are a power surge that will certainly remain with the kids throughout the year and well beyond.”

The Young Shluchim Camp is a project of The Shluchim Office.

The Shluchim Office extends its heartfelt condolences to Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, on the passing of his daughter.

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

Rabbi Levy, of OK Kosher Certification, is one of the primary sponsors of the Young Shluchim Camp.

Learning, Davening, and a special initiative of Neshek are being undertaken לעילוי נשמת רבקה ע”ה בת יבדלח”ט הרב דן יואל שיחי’ ליווי in the Girls Division of the camp which is now underway.

For more pictures of the boys camp, visit the Young Shluchim photosite.