Camp begins in less than two weeks and the staff of Moshavat Hateva and Kibbutz
Hatzofim are busy at work sweeping, bleaching, thumping, waterproofing, putting up the tent, drilling, and building away to set up the ohelim (tents) that the chanichim (campers) will sleep in over the next eight weeks. Below is a behind-the-scenes look at the work the tzevet (staff) of the downstairs units undertakes to set-up the ohelim.

Step 1 – Sweeping and Bleaching

After the long Wisconsin winter and brief Wisconsin spring, the concrete platforms need a good cleaning before the tents are constructed. Madrichim (counselors) first take brooms to sweep off all of the debris from the fresh cut grass and branches. Next, madrichim get down on their hands and knees to bleach each platform to ensure their cleanliness.

Step 2 – Thumping

To keep the tents stable throughout the summer, ropes attached to the tent are placed on stakes outside the tent. To make sure the stakes do not fall over during the summer, they are put into the ground through an action called thumping. The video below shows two of our madrichim thumping a steak into the ground. With 16 tents and 16 stakes per tent, our madrichim thump 256 stakes.

Step 3 – Tent movement and Waterproofing

The ohelim the chanichim sleep under do not spend the year out in frigid cold but cuddle up in our machzan (shed). Moving the tents to the platforms presents quite a challenge because they weigh over 300 pounds! It can take up to 10 madrichim just to move one tent to its designated platform. Once the tents are placed on the platforms, they are stretched out across the platform and coated with a protective solution that waterproofs the tent.

Step 4 – Putting up the Tent

Once the platforms are clean, the stakes are in the ground, and the waterproofing has dried, the ohelim are ready to be erected. Ohelim have 8 wall poles, 4 door poles, and 2 center poles that are placed in grommets on the corner of the ohel. Once placed in the grommets, each pole is grabbed by one madrich. On the command of one of the madrichim with the center pole, all the madrichim grabbing wall and door poles lift up with the madrichim with the center poles run under the tent and place the center poles vertically to full erect the tent. The madrichim remain with their poles while other madrichim place ropes on the ohel around the stakes and tighten up so the tent can remain upright without any support from the madrichim. Below is a video of a tent being put up in Moshavah.

Step 5 – Shelves and Bed Frames

Once set-up and stable, the beds need to be constructed so the chanichim have a place to sleep and shelves need to be placed in the ohel so the chanichim have a place to put their things. Bed frames are carried in piece by piece and the bunks are constructed in the ohel. Once the bunks are built, mattresses are placed on each bed spring. Shelves are cleaned and bleached before being moved into the ohel

 

Once step 5 is completed for the 16^th tent, the staff is done with set up and the units are ready for all the chanichim to move into. After a good shower and hot meal, the downstairs staff move into the tents and eagerly wait for all of the chanichim to arrive.

Signing off until next week,

Eli Danson

 

Eli has been dreaming about becoming rosh of Mosh since he went on his first hikingtiyul (trip) in 2006. Now, at the ripe age of 23, he will be embarking on the tiyul of a lifetime, molding and shaping all of the Mosh chanichim (campers) of 2016. Eli spent eight years as a camper at OSRUI and will be undertaking his sixth summer on tzevet(staff) and fifth summer on Mosh staff. Every summer Eli looks forward to guiding all four tiyulim (hiking, biking, canoeing, and rock climbing) and watching the chanichim grow through their interactions with teva (nature). Eli also thoroughly enjoys his time at thebreicha (pool) playing water basketball, mirkaz ivrit (Hebrew center) crafting Israeli treats, and grilling in Moshavah.

Away from camp, Eli was a collegiate swimmer at Carleton College specializing in the 200 butterfly and also played violin in the school’s orchestra. This past fall, after obtaining his degree in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry, Eli broadened his horizons and started a master’s program at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in exercise physiology. In North Carolina, Eli continues to bathe in the beauty of teva by frequenting the Appalachian Mountains and Atlantic Ocean. After obtaining his master’s degree, Eli will pursue his PhD in exercise physiology and hopes to have a career as a professor. 

Moshavah is designed for those campers who love the outdoors and are prepared to face personal challenges in both thought and action. As a Moshavah camper, you will live in a tent with ten or twelve other teens and two counselors and participate in planning the program with personal responsibility for each part of the day. Specially trained staff and faculty members will supervise and help you and your fellow Mosh campers as everyone participates in two or three multi-day trips: rock-climbing expeditions, backpacking, canoeing, and biking.