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Educational PhilosophyDescription & PhilosophyBrief Description:Camp Moshava is a Religious, Zionist, coeducational resident summer camp sponsored by Bnei Akiva of North America. It is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania in the scenic Pocono mountains. Moshava owns 195 acres of rolling woodlands and meadows, a beautiful fresh water lake and dense areas of forests and small streams.
Camper & Staff Populations:Moshava’s camper population includes 800 third through ninth graders from all over the United States who attend either for two months or for a single month session. We also have campers from Canada, Israel and Europe. Moshava attracts over 200 staff members from all over the United States, as well. Our staff attend a variety of different colleges and many have spent a year in Israel studying in an educational institution. We also recruit staff from Israel from a wide variety of backgrounds - Israeli, children of American immigrants, Ethiopians, Russians and have an exchange program with the Religious Kibbutz movement for post army age staff.
Philosophy of Education:Camp Moshava is in the “business” to educate. We educate in a variety of ways and in all aspects of the camp: The Camp Setting:As Bernard Reisman describes in his report on Informal Jewish Education in North America:
Formal Education:Moshava has daily classes for its campers taught by a group of dedicated experienced teachers. Classes cover the full spectrum of Jewish philosophy and law through biblical, talmudic and modern source material taught with creative methods in small class groups. Moshava also sees its staff as an important educational target group and there are required and optional classes provided on a daily basis for our staff. Learning Torah is therefore going on all day and late into the night at Camp Moshava.
Informal Education:As a camp committed to serious Zionist education, our program is suffused with both direct and experiential activities that teach about and develop a love for Israel that is unique to the camping enterprise. Campers may simulate the crossing of the Jordan river in the time of Joshua, escape from the British as they land in Palestine or debate current issues challenging the State of Israel today. Camp Moshava has already developed a series of experiential summer camp programs where campers recreate history, experience and simulate important historical events and process and "digest" substantial amounts of information and issues related to the theme. These curricula include:
Some of our most innovative ideas include:
These integrated programs are designed to synthesize the camp experience into a total educational package including large scale simulations, discussion groups, creative learning activities and audio-visual presentations. Even standard camp activities like capture the flag, carnivals, treasure hunts or color wars relate to the theme and complete this total living experience.
Basic programming:Camp Moshava provides the full gamut of athletic and sports activities. With a special focus on the outdoors and an appreciation of nature, Moshava runs a fully integrated nature program which combines hiking, camping and nature study. Moshava is committed to providing a varied program that will develop camper’s talents in the areas of the creative arts and self-expression. These include drama, music, art, woodworking and running our own radio station.
Personal Growth:Moshava provides for personal growth & development through small group experiences, meaningful relationships, self-acceptance and acceptance of others.
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