JUNIOR NCSY SUMMER PROGRAM CAMP GESHER, MORPHS INTO CAMP NAGEELA MIDWEST; TWO THREE-WEEK SESSIONS SET FOR INDIANA CAMP THIS SUMMER
The Orthodox Union’s Midwest Region of NCSY, announced today the newest Junior NCSY Summer Program — Camp Nageela Midwest for boys and girls grades four through eight. Due to the overwhelming success in August 2006 of Camp Gesher, which drew over 100 children for one week of summer fun and Torah learning, Midwest NCSY was approached by Agudath Israel Midwest and offered the opportunity to expand Camp Gesher to two three-week sessions. In addition, the Agudah-NCSY partnership will allow the camp to move to its own facility: a beautiful site in Marshall, IN near Indianapolis.
In this partnership, Agudath Israel has agreed to provide both the facility and funds for the camp, while NCSY will be given charge of staffing, developing programming and running the camp. “This is an amazing opportunity to run a full blown-summer program for Junior NCSY with zero worry about cost,” declared Rabbi Micah Greenland, the director of the Midwest Region, who was instrumental in developing the partnership.
“Rabbi Greenland is a true visionary and saw immediately the chance that existed for both organizations to create a tremendous opportunity while remaining loyal and true to the values, ideals and programming that has made NCSY the leading force in the Jewish outreach world,” declared Rabbi Michael Rovinsky, founder of Camp Gesher, and now Director of Camp Nageela Midwest.
“The idea that such outstanding, yet diverse, organizations have come together to inspire Jewish growth among primarily unaffiliated youth is a powerful message to the entire Jewish community that we are united in reconnecting as many Jewish youth as possible to their heritage,” concluded Rabbi Rovinsky.
Camp Nageela Midwest, similar in its target audience and program to the long-running Camp Nageela in the Catskill Mountains of New York, boasts a beautiful, newly renovated, air-conditioned facility built on 500-plus acres of land. Cabins are carpeted, each with a living room, fire place and private bathroom facilities. There are both indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, a weight room, rope courses and 33 acres of sports fields, including tennis courts.
The administrative team of Nageela Midwest brings over sixty years of camping and youth work experience and includes Rabbi Binyamin Pinkus, who will serve as Associate Camp Director; Mrs. Kreindel Pinkus, Girls Program Director; and Chava Heisler, Head Girls Counselor. The position of Head Boys Counselor will be filled shortly.
The camp is targeting Jewish growth-oriented children who are completing grades four through eight this coming June. There will be both a girls’ session and a boys’ session. The girls’ session will run from June 19 to July 9 and the boys’ session, will run from July 10 to July 30.
Nageela Midwest is actively recruiting both campers and staff. “We are looking for energetic and exciting collegiate bnot/bnei Torah who can both inspire and motivate these children to become passionate about their Judaism. A successful Nageela staff member will have the opportunity to literally change the lives of dozens of unaffiliated Jewish youth,” Rabbi Greenland declared.
For more information or to apply for a staff position, go to the Nageela Midwest website at www.campnageelamidwest.org or contact Camp Director Rabbi Rovinsky at 314-498-6279. Potential campers can apply online as well.