Getting Ready for the First Shabbat

Things really got started today as the campers learned what activities they would do for the first machzor [the first half of the summer] and began going around to their classes and tarbut.  The weather had warmed up nicely and many classes could be seen sitting in circles around the kikar.

One of the new features at camp this summer is "The Ultimate Fruit Bowl," a large cooler filled with different kinds of fruit that sits outside the business office.  Now campers have the opportunity to have a snack of fresh fruit any time of the day.  It already seems to be a big hit. 

We had our first kikar dancing of the summer.  Hundreds of campers and staff filled the lower kikar for the half hour before lunch to dance to old favorites and even learn a few new dances.  Later in the afternoon it was time to get ready for our first Shabbat together.  The Nivonim set up benches along the waterfront for our Kabbalat Shabbat service, but ominous clouds forced us inside the Bet Am.  Still, Kabbalt Shabbat at Ramah is always beautiful, no matter where it ends up being.

Karly S. (Tikvah):  I've been doing a lot of stuff.  [My favorite thing so far has been] singing.  We got to learn our Zimriyah [music festival] song.

Ella F. (Bogrim): My favorite thing about camp so far this year is the fruit.  It's really good.

Kayla S. (Bogrim):  I'm really excited to try out for our play, Oliver.

Becca H. (Nivonim):  The best part of camp so far has been being able to relax. It was great running up to the Givah [Nivo Hill] and seeing it for the first time and being together as an eidah in our own little area.  We really get to see camp from a whole different perspective.  [Being in Nivo is different from our other years as campers because] the counselors treat you not as newcomers.  They're more like friends and we're more connected as an eidah.

Andrew H. (Nivonim):  It's really nice to have the "Ultimate Fruit Bowl" in the middle of camp...It's nice to be able to go whenever I want to get fruit.  It's a good way to stay healthy.  Even though it's only our second day at camp, I think [Nivo summer] is going to turn out to be one of the coolest summers ever.  This is my second summer and I think being in Nivo is nice...it is the coolest feeling in the world.