Tikvah Chaverim Program

For many campers, a main highlight of the summer is building friendships. The Tikvah Chaverim program helps to create sustainable relationships between Tikvah campers and Machon campers. Throughout the summer, individuals from each group are paired up with each other to experience the fun of camp together. Here, this year's participants express their enthusiasm for the program. Even though the summer is just beginning, Machon and Tikvah campers alike attest to the program's success.

Adam (Tikvah Programming Specialist): The Tikvah Chaverim program is an opportunity for Machon and Tikvah to spend time together. This year, we are focusing on expanding the amount of interaction between Machon and Tikvah campers; pairs can participate in activities together all over camp, from swimming to tefila to art. My favorite aspect of the program is the one-on-one spotlight, where campers eat lunch together on Wednesdays and Shabbat and develop nice relationships.

Kayla (Machon camper): The Chaverim program is a cool concept. Campers in Tikvah are just like us; we have similar interests and similar hobbies at camp. It is unique that we can share these passions together and also teach each other from different perspectives. One of the reasons that I am especially excited is that my cabin is connected to the Tikvah girls cabin. I think this gives me an opportunity to interact more with my Tikvah Chaver (friend) and emphasizes that we are not part of different aidot, but as part of a larger whole.

Jillian (Tikvah camper): Besides meeting new people, I am excited about the Tikvah Lunch Theater. We take stories with a common theme (this year's theme is Epic Battles) and create our own scripts based on Torah. We already started working on our scripts with our Chaverim. I am excited to perform!

Emilie (Rosh Tikvah): I think that the most unique part of the Tikvah Chaverim program is that both Machon campers and Tikvah campers benefit. Each party learns from each other and develops great friendships throughout the summer that might not have otherwise formed.

Jona (Tikvah camper): I am excited about my Chaver. This is a great way for me to meet new friends outside of my cabin. My Chaver and I like a lot of the same things, so we are going to hang out on Shabbat.

Jason (Machon camper): One of the reasons I wanted to participate in the program is to meet new friends in camp. So many times per day I pass the campers in Tikvah, but I don't know them personally. Its cool to walk all over camp and be able to stop to say hi to so many new faces.