Students in the Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens experienced an incredible two-week chesed program entitled CAMP iCARE. The program combined daily lessons on chesed together with fun and meaningful activities and contests. The school building was transformed into a sleepaway camp, and it really felt like summer, birds chirping and all! The entranceway featured a camp bunkhouse surrounded by sky, trees, flowers, butterflies, and a virtual campfire, roasting marshmallows. Bunkhouse, canteen, and swimming pool banners with meaningful messages and p’sukim were just some of the other decorations throughout the school.
At the program opening assembly, the teachers wore logo baseball caps and whistles to resemble counselors. Each student received a tie-dyed mini-backpack with fun and meaningful camp prizes. Mrs. Nechama Jurkowitz, Limudei Kodesh principal/“Camp Director” explained to the students the power of chesed and encouraged them to work on gladdening other’s hearts.
The talented moros then performed a humorous, thought-provoking play entitled, “The Ripple Effect.” Taking place in a camp setting, the students were shown how one smile or cheerful word can affect so many people, and even come around full circle.
Mrs. Elisa Taub, Program Director/”Head Counselor,” explained to the girls that the “i” in CAMP iCARE is lowercase because in this camp it is not about the “I” or the “me.” Rather, everyone should be thinking about each other. “At CAMP iCARE we radiate warmth and kindness!”
Two eighth-grade “head counselors” presented a welcome song with motions, followed by the entire eighth grade performing the fantastic CAMP iCARE theme song with motions. The song, with its amazing chesed messages, was played over the school intercom each day, and added so much ruach to the program.
Each morning, the Limudei Kodesh moros/counselors taught an important lesson on chesed. Some of the topics covered were: “Emulating Hashem’s Kindness,” “Givers and Takers,” “Chesed Boomerangs Back to You,” “Showing Sensitivity and Empathy Towards Others,” “Small and Constant Acts of Kindness,” and “Recognizing and Stopping Bullying Behaviors.”
In addition, students filled out Camp Certificate raffle tickets, which were checklists reviewing their daily acts of chesed. Mrs. Taub came around daily with the Kind Heart Golf Cart to collect the tickets and play the catchy Boker Tov song, which the girls joined in together with enthusiastic motions!
Some exciting events that enhanced the program were the barbecue-picnic lunch, campfire-kumsitz event with “roasted” marshmallows, visits to an assisted living facility to cheer up the elderly residents, “bunk” pictures of classes, and a sidewalk chalk “kind words” activity. A highlight of the program was the Chesed-Chasunah Celebration, where the girls celebrated a wedding happening at that very moment in Eretz Yisrael, which they were sponsoring through the Yad Eliezer “Adopt A Wedding” program. The lunchroom was elegantly decorated, and the girls danced to chasunah music and were treated to special doughnuts!
The program ended with an amazing assembly. Mrs. Chedva Abrahamson, school graphic artist, who was involved in many facets of the program, produced a memorable video highlighting the learning and fun experienced by the students throughout the two-week CAMP iCARE program.
After raffle winners were drawn, over 600 students stood up and sang the program theme song while performing the motions. There was electricity in the air as the ruach soared higher and higher.
Those two weeks at CAMP iCARE imparted amazing lessons of chesed in an overwhelming way, leaving lasting impressions on the students that will surely last a lifetime!
