By Max Antman, Rosh Eidah of Gesher.  Max has been working closely with Naomi Gamoran, Rosh Eidah of Machon and the machonikim.

We often say that the most important staff position at camp is that of the madrich (counselor). It is for this reason that we consider our Machon (counselors in training) program essential to OSRUI’s overall success.

Our machonikim have just graduated from high school and with college, gap years and other adventures right around the corner, they are thrilled to spend the summer in a familiar place. Many of our Machonikim were campers for many years, and are eager to give back to a community that gave them so much. “I love having the opportunity to make the same kinds of connections with my chanichim (campers) that my madrichim made with me,” said Sophie, a Machon whose camp history spans over 8 years.

The machon program consists of several key features. First, the machonikim have daily meetings, where they discuss and problem-solve challenges they are facing in their eidot (units), learn how to effectively execute programs, and practice—through skits and scenario exercises—communicating with their chanichim. In addition, machonikim are given the opportunity to experience being in not just one eidah, but up to three. In order to discover which eidah fits each of them best, the machonikim rotate three times throughout the summer; they spend the first two weeks in one eidah, the second two in another, and the last four in a third. Ari, a machon who has been at OSRUI for seven years, explained this process quite nicely. “I love having the opportunity to switch between eidot,” she said, “because it gives me the opportunity to really find my niche as a madricha.”  Machonikim are the future of OSRUI staff, and as such, we are constantly working to improve the program, integrating new materials and teaching new strategies.

Our machonikim have finished their first rotation, and are working in different eidot for this session. Alek, a Machon who finished up his first rotation in Tiferet, expressed that the program is so much more than simple counselor preparation. “I am definitely learning how to be a madrich,” he said, “but even more than that, I am learning how to give kids a summer they will never forget.”

We can’t wait to see how all of our machonikim grow throughout the summer!