Camp Fun in Canada’s Capital

Close to 70 campers from very diverse neighborhoods, school and synagogues have joined together this summer in unity being at Camp Gan Israel of Ottawa.

Bracha Leah Caytak, CGI’s head counselor, has put together a fun, creative, excitement-filled schedule, where each day is filled with professional swimming lessons, tennis, dance, gymnastics, karate, woodworking and so much more.

The campers are greeted by counselors who were hand picked by Bracha Leah, each one is experienced working with children and brings warmth, nurturing and a love of Yiddishkeit and Chassidus to the Rebbe’s camp.

Counselors hail from all over North America: Hadara Friedman (Winnipeg), Mushka Teitelbaum (Ottawa), Leah Zucker (Key West, Florida), Devorah Leah Kaufman (New Orleans), Chaya Piekarski (Miami), Gitty Friedman (Miami), Rivky Gurary (Buffalo), Mimi Palace (Crown Heights), Jasmine Silver and Sari Galandauer (Ottawa).

One parent commented that their son was sad that this was his last year and that he was too old to come back next year, and that his sister was so lucky that she had two more years to attend CGI Ottawa.

Each morning campers are met with smiles, hugs and lots of fun. Bubbles, jump rope, music and dancing lead into a spirited line up. Davening and learning are an important part of the day followed by a busy and fun schedule.

Lego day, karate, Luv2Groove, and professional swimming lessons are but a few of the outstanding and well organized activities that are planned.

This year’s new and innovative activities included 4 days of sailing lessons. The campers were brought to Britannia Beach and learned how to set up the bow and stern and make sure the sails were put up correctly.

They sailed on the Ottawa River for 3 hours, taking turns steering with the keel. Campers also stayed close to the sail boat and jumped into the Ottawa River for a swim. This definitely added to a summer of a lifetime at CGI.