On Monday, our full staff arrived for Shavuah Hachanah (staff week) 2016!
This week is not only fun and exciting as our staff get to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, it is also crucial
and imperative to the success of the summer as they go through every aspect of camp learning the rules, regulations, tips, and skills necessary to help our campers have the most amazing summer ever! This is the week where our tzevet (staff) grow to be the leaders, role models, and mentors we expect our madrichim (counselors) and moomchim (specialists) to be.
Every member of the tzevet will learn how to be good leaders and model staff members at the waterfront, pool, sports center, mercaz ivrit (Hebrew center), and during t’filot (services), as well as meeting with the Health Center staff and the inclusion team. Every staff member will have extensive training in our safety program so they know what to do in a variety of emergency situations, and will complete a CPR training course.
Each eidah (unit) tzevet has a chance to lead services and introduce themselves at various meals throughout the week, while each of our amazingly talented song leaders gets the opportunity to lead a shira (song session) for the rest of the staff.
On Monday night, our Rashei Eidot hosted the annual staff banquet, where they had a chance to introduce themselves. The theme was ‘Albert’s Super Sweet 16 Birthday Party’ for our Assistant Director, Albert Marks. There were videos, speeches, cake, and a delicious dinner. Scroll down to hear his “birthday” wish for the tzevet!
Our staff will be challenged all week to become better leaders, better team members, better staff members, while working hard towards becoming their better selves. We use a variety of exciting, fun, and unique activities to push our tzevet towards this challenge. This summer we are using peer to peer leadership training to help our staff work towards becoming the tzevet member they want to be.
Other highlights of Shavuah Hachanah (Staff Week) will include:
- Oconomostaff: Staff Talent Show
- Staff Trivia Night
- Shabbat
- BBQ at Jerry and Paula’s
- T-shirt night
- Baker’s Dozen, where we talk about topics such as Staff Power, Everything Has an Impact, Knowing Each Camper, Ten Magic Tricks for Your Back Pocket, How to Start and End the Day, How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, They’ll Do What You Do, Anger Management, Being Fair, Chaver or Madrich?, Everyone’s A Winner at OSRUI, Need for Limits – Campers Feeling Safe, Every Camper Has Special Needs
- Programming by our Mishlachat (Israeli staff).
- A discussion about gender and its role in our community, both OSRUI and the world.
- A discussion with the Anti-Defamation League about “new anti-semitism” on college campuses and what to do to confront it.
- Featured speakers, such as OSRUI Alum Daniel Shore (silly hats pictured above courtesy of Shore!) and OSRUI Board Chair Mike Frazin.
- And so much more!
We are so excited to have our tzevet here for Summer 2016 and cannot wait for the chanichim (campers) to get here next week!
https://vimeo.com/170699932