Camp Experience at Gan Israel

 
With summer vacation in full-swing, many local children are spending their days free of classroom duties at summer camps throughout the area.

However, for children at Camp Gan Israel in Northbrook, education is not put on hold simply because school is out.

Children from across Chicago and the northern suburbs flock to Camp Gan Israel of greater Chicago five days a week to participate in typical summer camp activities, but with a religious and cultural flare.

The camp’s mission is to enrich the lives of children from diverse Jewish backgrounds and affiliations through camp, while inspiring them to try new things and expose them to new experiences. Camp Gan Israel of Greater Chicago is part of a growing network of day camps, with camps all across the United States and some in Canada.

Gan Israel Chicago began in Skokie 30 years ago and moved to Northbrook five years ago. The six-week camp began on June 29 and accommodates 140 campers, led by 25 counselors.
 
Campers, who range in age from 2 to 14 years old attend the camp, and are divided into groups by age and gender. The girls’ camp is located at the Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook, 755 Huehl Rd. and the boys’ camp is located at Ezra Habonim, 2095 Landwehr Rd. in Northbrook.

The camp meets all day five days a week through mid-August, when campers will head to Wisconsin for a week-long overnight excursion.

“It’s a regular, fun day camp with the aspect of Jewish education interwoven into every day activities,” said Rabbi Meir Moscowitz. “It’s important for the camp to give the kids a Jewish experience.”

Part of the Jewish experience includes morning prayers, times of solitude for reflection, Jewish education and weekly Shabbat activities. Each week at the camp has a different theme, such as charity, friendship and Jewish identity.

Ester Scheiman directs the camp along with her husband, Schneur Scheiman. Schneur the key to the camp’s success is the dedicated staff of counselors.

“Our counselors are from all over the place, locally, nationally and some international as well,” she said. “They are able to cater to the children and give them an experience they’ll never forget. Some of our counselors are former campers themselves. This is a reflection of how our counselors serve as role models for the children.”

Camp counselor Mushkie Notik of Riverwoods said other activities, like sports, outings, calligraphy, music and games are on the camp’s daily schedule as well. However, she said, it is important to try and incorporate values like team work, acceptance and optimism into the mix to keep with the Jewish spirit.

“Some of the kids go to Jewish schools and some don’t,” Notik said. “So, it’s a nice time for the kids to mix. For those that go to public school, they’re able to get back into the culture and customs they share with other Jews their age. That’s something very important.”

Notik said that she hopes by the end of summer, the campers will have learned something and be able to look back on the camp with fond memories.

“All of us counselors try to make every day really special for the kids,” she said. “We work really hard to plan fun activities for them with that certain Jewish warmth to it.”

Each Friday, the campers participate in challah making for a Shabbat dinner.

“It’s exciting, hands-on,” Notik said. “This is a great way to teach the kids about Judaism in a fun way.”

Aidel Zoberman, 11, of Chicago is attending Camp Gan Israel for her second year. She said the Jewish learning aspect is what makes coming to camp fun.

“There are a lot of activities to choose from, it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “And when we incorporate parts of our Jewish culture, it makes me become more observant at home and with my friends. I try to live the things I learn.”

Ruchama Kagan, 11, of Buffalo Grove is in her fourth year at the camp and said it’s something she looks forward to every summer.

“I’ve been to both religious and not religious day camps,” Kagan said. “This camp is different because we all have something in common from the start. It makes it more fun that way.”

For more information on Camp Gan Israel of Greater Chicago, go to www.ganisraelchicago.com.