By Eli Danson, Moshavah Rosh Eidah

The first couple of days in Moshavah have been spectacular. The Chanichim (campers) have all moved into their ohelim (tents) and chosen bunk mates, their chugim (tents) have been selected and they have started learning that beautiful, ancient, relevant language we call Hebrew.

Today, the kids are looking forward to hearing their first trip assignments. In Mosh Aleph, we go on three, three day backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, and biking trips. Here is a quick description of each of the trips

Backpacking

The backpacking trip consists of 6-8 campers and 2-3 counselors hiking the ice age trail in Kettle Moraine Wisconsin. The campers hike around 7 miles each day carrying all of their gear, food, and water in their hiking packs. The backpacking trip can be physically challenging for the chanichim carrying all of that weight but is arguably the most rewarding at the end. Because the trip is so small and the group is so close to each other, there is large amounts of time for bonding between chanichim and also between chanichim and madrichim.

Canoeing

The canoeing trip consist of 12-16 campers and 4-6 staff members canoeing on the black river in Black River Falls Wisconsin. Chanichim are paired off in canoes and have a new partner each day. Everyone stores their gear in dry bags, bags that are water proof and keep all gear and personal belongings.   Many best friends are made from the deep conversations that happen between canoe partners on the river. Also on the river are sing alongs, splash battles, and tifi-float (services on the canoes).

Rock Climbing

The rock climbing trip consists of 12-16 campers and 4-6 staff members rock climbing at Devils Lake in Baraboo Wisconsin. Rock climbing is the only trip with a set base camp that everyone returns to at the end of the day. In the morning, chanichim and madrichim walk up the CCC to the bluffs where they are fit with harnesses and helmets and pick which climbs they choose to challenge themselves on. Kids can also chose to repel, learn to belay, hike the beautiful trails, and scramble in the boulder fields.

Biking

The biking trip consists of 6-8 campers and 3 counselors biking the Drumline state trail in Madison Wisconsin. The campers bike around 30 miles a day carrying all of their gear in paniers and in a rickshaw. The kids feel the wind on their face as they bike through the beautiful trails and roads of small Wisconsin towns. Conversing on the bike is a unique way for chanichim to communicate and connect of making up steep hills.

The madrichim and chanichim are all ready to go into the wilderness and connect with the teva and their Judaism.