Camp Gesher
Camp Gesher is part of the Labour-Zionist youth movement Habonim Dror and is a sleep-over summer camp for Jewish youth, near Cloyne, Ontario, Canada. [1][2]
Gesher was formally a Dror camp before the merger of Habonim and Dror in the late 1980s, unlike the other six Habonim Dror camps throughout North America, which were Habonim camps. Summers at Gesher are based on the five pillars of Habonim Dror North America. The camp philosophy revolves around socialist ideals and the structure of the camp is similar to that of a kibbutz in Israel.
Gesher's logo is Habonim Dror's semel (emblem) which comprises a wheat sheaf in a Star of David, symbolising the roots of the organisation in Labour Zionism and in building the Kibbutz movement.
The camp runs for seven weeks during the summer and hosts seminars throughout the year.
The name Gesher is Hebrew for bridge.
Camp Gesher originated in 1962 from Camp Revivim (serving campers from Ottawa and Toronto) and Camp Kissufim (serving campers from Montreal).
Age Groups
Campers are divided into groups (kvutsot) as follows:[3]
- Ofarimot- post grades 2 & 3
- Amelimot- post grade 4
- Chalutzimot- post grade 5
- Solelimot- post grade 6
- Chotrimot- post grade 7
- Bonimot- post grade 8
- Bogrimot- post grade 9
- MBI(trip to Israel)- post grade 10
- Madatz(CIT)- post grade 11
Literary references
The Program, a novel by Hal Niedzviecki, takes place in part at Camp Gesher.[4]
References
- ↑ Sobel, Emma. "Camp Gesher: Helping Campers Become Community Leaders". Doing Jewish In Toronto. UJA Federation. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ "Camp Gesher : Camp: Summer Camp & Educational Activities for Kids in Toronto". Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ↑ http://www.campgesher.com
- ↑ Niedzviecki, Hal. "Camp Gesher: an excerpt from The Program". failbetter. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
External links
Summer camps of Habonim Dror North America | ||
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| Active camps |
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| Defunct camps and hachshara farms | ||
Coordinates: 44°51′57″N 77°12′30″W / 44.86583°N 77.20833°W