Learning is my favorite part of the day”, said Mendel Ciment from Little Rock Arkansas.
This year in Gan Israel there is a special emphasis on making learning fun, accessible and meaningful.
“I want kids to experience a great love for learning that they can take with them for the rest of the year. Having a positive feeling about learning is so important since it’s the corner stone for the rest of our lives” said Moishe Frank, Learning Director for summer 5769
The famous “Air Miles” program was created and developed by Moishe in the summer of 2003 and is now used in Gan Israel camps around the world. During learning class the camper accumulates miles for his participation and joins different ranks due to the amount of miles he has. Prizes are then administered to the boys according to how many they’ve acquired.
Zalman Futerfas, Nosson Potash and Moishe Frank together form a great team as learning directors this summer.
The boys enjoy weekly game shows that are connected to what they learn during the week, thus bringing what they learned to life. These games shows are innovative way to bring chayus into learning and have been a major success. There is a great deal of “hands on learning” as well. When the boys were learning about tefillin, a sofer was brought into camp to illustrate the halochos and understand how it applies practically. Tzitzis were made by the boys so they can appreciate how the garment is made.
Every week a video is made, comprised of boys acting out what they learned that week. The video is displayed in the main are outside the dining room for boys to see all week and feel proud of.
On shabbos morning these is a record number of 150 boys who come to learn chassidus faren davenen, and the lucky boys earn a new picture of the Rebbe each time.
The campers air miles go up if they practice what they learn during their free time.
Finally, there is “leben vi chossid project”, which includes halachas and minhagim of how a chossid should act.