Experimental Camp A Success

“You are the pioneers of this camp; you are the cornerstone for an innovative future in the Jewish camping world”. These were the opening words to the children seated in the plush grounds of Camp Gan Israel on South Padre Island, Texas for the 2006 summer session.

An oasis on the Gulf of Mexico, this newly founded camp is a longtime dream of Rabbis Asher Hecht and Eli Laber, who serve as camp co-directors. “For the past few years much time and money has been invested in studying the void in serving Jewish children with summer camps,” Hecht said. After learning that only 7% of Jewish children attend Jewish overnight camps throughout the USA, they undertook this major initiative.

The 48 acre campgrounds – originally a retreat center- is equipped with a luxurious lounge, game room, carpeted Bunk Houses, swimming pools, amphitheater and a breathtaking view of a scenic river.

The vision of the camp, according to Menny Amoyal, a supporter of the camp and a community activist of the Texas Valley, “is to introduce a camp with a vision focused on implementing a professional and instructional approach, to the various adventure programs that are offered.”

The theme of this inaugural summer was an instructive-based water camp. Designated to enhance the children’s abilities to enjoy activities in and around the water, the children attended daily lessons which they mastered through the sometimes tricky techniques of Boy Scout Aquatics. The children also enjoyed sailing, water skiing, snorkeling and kayaking. The activities made it the only Jewish camp of its kind situated on an Island. As they experienced a summer of unparalleled excitement, the campers enjoyed a hands-on approach to Jewish themes and traditions.

“There are many other Jewish camps doing the routines of a full day of fun and excitement”, said Rabbi Eli Laber, “yet our focus here is to bring them to a Jewish adventure camp, which will allow them to walk away at the end of a summer, thoroughly  well-versed in the particular area we focused on during that session.” A specially designed “Jewish Fun Time” program gave the campers an opportunity to learn the details of many Jewish traditions and mitzvot, and experience them hands-on.

In this inaugural year, the directors opened the summer program to a limited number of campers, accepting children only from the Lone star state. “This initial summer will be reviewed for lessons learned, in order to fine-tune the program and to allow us to expand registration beyond Texas with the goal to make it the most unique Jewish camp out there” said Rabbi Asher Hecht.

For more information on Camp Gan Israel, South Padre Island, Texas, visit: www.cgispi.com