By Max Antman, Rosh Eidah of Gesher
Gesher’s second week started off with a bang! On Sunday we celebrated Yom Pride, or Yom Rainbow, with the madrichim (counselors) and chanichim (campers) dressing up in their brightest and most vibrant colors. Our Limud topic for that day was on the historic and perpetual issues regarding LGBTQ rights, and how these issues have evolved over the course the lives of the chanichim. It was very interesting to hear responses from youth who have grown up hearing and experiencing these issues so directly. “I am glad this issue is something we can discuss openly now,” remarked one chanich. “It means that we are finally making progress.” The picture below shows our madrichim and chanichim sporting their ‘Yom Pride’ garb on this colorful and meaningful day.
The following day was our first tiyul (trip), and it was not only fun, but also very insightful. The trip focused on the theme of social justice, and as a way of building off our conversations from the previous day, was located at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. The center did a presentation for us about the ways in which the LGBT community has evolved over the past few years, and afterwards, exposed the chanichim to several videos, interactive activities and writing exercises that allowed them to explore their own identities in a safe and educational environment. We finished off the tiyul with a trip to the a park in Oconomowoc and some tasty gelato, which is always a good way to take the edge off an intense, dialogue filled day. “It was interesting to hear from people who actually have personal experience in this community,” said Chloe, a 9th grader. “I never realized how many things I take for granted that other people have to worry about…I’m glad I was able to learn about what gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people actually go through.”
As a Rosh Eidah (unit head), we are often asked how we know that a session is going well. It is obviously different for everyone, but my measurement of success is rather simple. When I got back from a day off today, my bed, desk, and the surrounding area of my room was entirely filled with balloons. On the wall, spelled out with balloons, were the letters L-P-S, which stands for Leadership Programming Seminar, one of the many chugim (electives) we offer this session in Gesher. The picture below shows this clever—and comically inconvenient—prank. If chanichim are having fun, we are succeeding; it is as simple as that. Whether in limudim (study), on tiyul or in their specific chug or swim group, we see our success in the wide smiles and constant laughter, we see our success in the questioning conversation and interesting dialogue, and we see our success in the desire to keep learning, to keep experiencing Judaism, and to keep coming back to camp.
With Gesher’s second erev tzrif (cabin night) tomorrow night, the second of four tiyulim next Monday and a new rotation of chugim early next week, the Gesher chanichim have a lot to look forward to. Things are going quite well in The Gesh, and I know it is going to get even better in the coming days!