Overnight Camp

Yavneh’s music festival/competition is the pinnacle experience of 1st session. Unlike any other Zimriyah you have ever experienced, aydot compete against each other in different song categories including Shir Yisraeli, Shir Chasidi and Shir Ayda. The best word to describe Zimriyah is shtick – from the Kerem costumes, to the intense hand movements, to showcasing a camper’s hidden musical talent – it is all there. Replete with “celebrity” judges, a packed Beit Am of alumni, and live streaming into parents’ homes, there is no other night like Zimriyah!

Formally known as the Kerem play, our campers entering 10th grade put on a production once a summer – could be a musical, a series of one acts or a revue. They work with one of our artists in residence to come up with a meaningful production that is memorable for both them and the entire camp community.

This special day happens twice during the summer – Yom Yisrael Katan and Yom Yisrael Gadol 

Our mishlachat spend a lot of time planning two spectacular days where our campers get to walk around a shuk, learn about culture, both modern and traditional, and interact with and explore the different cultures that make up the diverse fabric of the Jewish homeland.

In addition, during Yom Israel Gadol, normal camp activities give way to all-day Israel programming culminating in a tekes  in the evening where every camper is somehow involved. Gadol and Katan happen during different sessions each year.

Yavneh’s dance festival is always during 2nd month. Since Israeli dancing is a big thing at Yavneh, every camper participates in Rikudiyah. There is a mixture of new and old dances and many of them have creative spins on them. The evening usually ends with our lead dance instructor leading the entire camp in a raucous Israeli dance session.

2nd session Color War! Veteran campers wait for their Kerem year to lead the whole camp, split into two teams in intense competition of all kinds. Campers have opportunities to participate in sports and arts competitions, relay races, and full-team activities, including who can be the quietest during a meal (you can hear a pin drop!) and our unique chidon quiz night. Coming together on the last night through special performances and the awesome and artistic shelet reveals, we end with hyped-up team songs, announce the winner, and celebrate with Yachas Tov .

For one day every summer, camp transforms into quite a scene. Big trucks deposit loads of rides and the fields become a midway. Our Kerem campers help organize campers, coordinate other fun games, hand out treats (cotton candy or caramel apples), and bring on the Yavneh ruach for which Kerem truly shines! A full day dedicated to ridiculous revelry, outdoor and water fun, and a true building of camp kehillah!

This is a Yavneh-style old school lip sync contest. Bunks compete for the glory of saying you won KTV. There’s a lot of shtick and a lot of fun. During a lunch a few days prior to KTV, Kerem picks a theme for each ayda that they have to focus on. Could be Broadway hits or grunge rock, you better hope your rosh knows how to be lucky.

Every night at Yavneh brings something fun and different for our campers. Planned by either tochnit staff, roshei aydot or madrichim, our evening programming is varied and creative. Sometimes you participate as a bunk (l’fi tzrif), as a unit (l’fi ayda), as upper or lower camp, or the entire camp comes together! We get creative when it comes to peulot erev – it could be a big bar mitzvah party, a giant game of capture the flag, or a murder-mystery evening – you won’t be bored!

This happens on the last night of camp. The madrichim become the meltzers, the food is even better than the rest of the summer and Estelle turns the Chaddar Ochel into a magical space. We celebrate the best summer of our lives and say thanks to so many who do so much to make Yavneh the best camp.