CGI Poconos for Public School Girls Celebrating 10 Years

In the winter of 2011, Rabbi Gershon and Devorah Sandler embarked on a very unique Shlichus to open the first-ever Chabad overnight camp for public school girls.

Although Gan Yisroel was founded by the Rebbe for children that had time off from Cheder, for the first few years many secular children attended as well, however over the years, as more options opened for secular children and the anash community continued to grow the Gan Yisroel overnight camps became more focused on Anash children and less geared towards public school children.

Since then, many Shluchim have opened amazing Gan Izzy day camps serving thousands of public school children around the world, but nevertheless there still wasn’t an overnight option for girls.

“As a child, I was not fortunate to grow up in a religious household, however since I was 9 years old my parents sent me to a “Jewish” overnight camp which I returned to as a staff member for 5 consecutive summers. The only thing missing in that experience was the genuine warmth of authentic Yiddishkeit,” said Gershon Sandler, Founder and director of CGI Poconos.

“Therefore, when I was fortunate to become religious we where determined to make it our Shlichus to create a overnight camp for these public school children combining the strong lessons of professional camping learned in my youth combined with the mission and vision of Gan Yisroel as described by the Rebbe, which BH we have succeed to do for the past 10 seasons.”

Ten years later, over 150 Shluchim have partnered with CGI Poconos in sharing this amazing experience with over 650 girls in their respective communities.

Mrs. Henya Hertzel, Director of the Chabad Israeli Center of Boca Raton, FL said, “during the 4 weeks of camp the girls experience for themselves the Yiddishkeit we try so hard to instill in them throughout the year during Hebrew school and at our Shabbos meals. The many girls we have sent over the past few years had an overwhelming effect on their family and on the whole community.”

In addition, “It is very motivating and encouraging to see more such camps opening around the world as more Shluchim begin to see the incredible effect overnight camp can have on the children in their communities. We are grateful to see more Shluchim taking action in this regard,” said Gershon Sandler.

Now, entering its second decade, CGI Poconos is preparing for its biggest summer yet and has created 3 separate divisions for the girls in order to maintain its close-knit atmosphere:

Junior Camp
Entering grades 3-5
The first and youngest division of CGI Poconos, Junior Camp is the first stop in the garden of Gan Israel. Geared for girls entering 3rd-5th grades the program is designed to help children develop basic life skills & solid foundations and includes all the fun activities and trips of camp infused with Jewish values and traditions.

The Bat Mitzvah Experience
Entering grades 6 & 7
The Bat Mitzvah Experience (B-Me), is a uniquely designed summer program for girls ages 11-13 that combines all the classic fun of overnight camp along with special activities and trips to help deepen a girl’s understanding and appreciation of entering adulthood.

The Teen Experience
Entering grades 8-10
A spectacular, action-packed summer program for teenage girls that combines the classic fun of overnight camp along with special trips, overnight camping, leadership training and unique adventures catering specifically to the interests of today’s teens.

To find out more about CGI Poconos please visit https://cgipoconos.org.