Welcome to the Camp Ben Frankel Blog

Just like last Sunday, yesterday we had a camp wide full day event. Israel Day is a day where we celebrate all things Israel. We learned fun facts like how Israel invented texting capabilities, USBs, and cell phone technology. We ate Israeli food including falafel and the delicious Israeli shwarma. We had stations all around camp, in which campers would experience different parts of Israel. A kibbutz with a petting zoo, a Bedouin tent outside with their own tea, a Jerusalem wall where the kids wrote notes that will be taken there after camp and much more! Besides the small storm cutting down our ‘day at the Israeli beach,’ the day ran beautifully!

There isn’t a nicer way to spend a day then to be at Camp Ben Frankel on Shabbat. After a long tiring week with outdoor day, the dance, ropes course, horseback riding and cheerleading the whole camp deserves a day off. A day when we sleep in, when we take naps and forget about our normal weeks activities. Our acting camp Rabbi, Paul, lead a great service and told a very nice story during Havdallah that he had wrote himself preparing us for the week ahead.

Campers Blog:
I love camp! Everyday is like an exciting new adventure. I make a lot of new friends each year! I also love all the fun activities that the counselors plan!

- Ranana G. 9^th grade

The 1^st week of camp is awesome! All of the activities, the Israeli scouts, and the counselors are the best part of camp! I LOVE CAMP!!

- Sheli C. 7^th grade

I had sports this week! It was so much fun playing all kinds of sports with my friends! I’m so excited for the rest of camp!

- Noga M. 7^th grade

Last night’s program is a very special one to our campers at Camp Ben Frankel. The Dance is when the entire camp gets together and just parties with their friends. We had a professional DJ, Zach Dalin, drive in from St. Louis to run the party. One of our counselors said that in his eight years of camp this was the best camp dance he had ever experienced. A lot of kids ask someone to the dance and have their very first dates here at camp. The memories from this program last a lifetime.

Campers Blog:

Camp is superb. Everybody is so close, everybody is one big family. The Jewish community makes being at camp super awecome. The counselors are amazing especially Delia, Melissa, and Tal!!! GO CBAF!!!!

- Elizabeth B. 8^th grade

I love tie dying in arts and crafts. I liked the awesome cabin presentations. I love camp!

- Nathan R. 8^th grade

I love having all of my friends at camp because we get to become even closer! We are like a family. On Shabbat (today!!!) we do our hair, make up and pick out each other’s clothes. I love my camp friends.

- Adina B. 7^th grade

There WILL NOT be a blog post tomorrow as it is Shabbat.

Camp Ben Frankel got all dressed up yesterday for our Fashion Show program! After the camp was broken up into four groups, they were given themes to use for the show. They used these themes, the random clothes they brought to the program, and odd items they were given to use to dress up for the show. The show had a finale when the models walked the runway with their new outfits!

Campers blog:

Camp is awesome!. I’m having lots of fun and it just keeps getting better. I believe I speak for everyone when I say, “It’s Fantastic!”.

- Jett R. 9^th grade

Today is Friday, my favorite day of camp. I am having such a good time at camp so far! My counselors are amazing. They are the best. Camp is the best place ever. I love having all my friends here. I’m so excited for Shabbat!

- Abbie S. 9^th grade

Camp is great this year. I love my counselors. They are so funny! I love camp, the people/activities/everything. This is a second home to me. I love C-BAF!

- Payton R. 9^th grade

Camp Ben Frankel has done the program from last night year after year but this time was arguably the best. World record night is a program with different stations set up around camp for the campers to try to set the record. We had the water chug, sprinting, wheel barrel races, pyramid making, cup stacking and more! The kids got to run around carnival style trying every record they could. The program even ended with an award ceremony where the record holders were recognised and given awards.

Your winners in the following order: Younger kids, older kids, staff

• Water chug- Maccabee (2.35 seconds), Jordan (2.41 seconds), Elliot (1.78 seconds)
• Standing on one foot- Adina L. (34 minutes), Ranana (46 minutes), Assaf (20 minutes)
• Wheel Barrel races- Molly and Adina L (31 seconds), Gil and Paul (25 seconds), Avery and Adam (20 seconds)
• Happy Jousting (A game similar to thumb wars)- Pardes, Paul, Elliot
• Ping Pong Bounce- Will (41), Gil (734), Nitai (1101)
• Arm Wrestling- Maccabee, Samarah, Emma
• Costume Change- Molly (125 seconds), Adina B (24 seconds)
• Cup Stacking- Hannah B (5 seconds), Noga (1.7 seconds), Paul (4.5 seconds)
• Sprinting- Will (7.4 seconds), Maddie (7.8 seconds), Danny (6.9 seconds)

Campers notes:

I think camp is way better than last year! There are so many activities and camp is so fun. I pretty much like everything; I just hope I get to stay for all four weeks!

- Josiah S. 7^th grade

This is my 4^th year coming to camp. I love camp. It is my favorite time of the year. My counselors are the best They are nice, easy going and cool. Today we did Israeli dacing and I learned a lot. And I love the Israeli scouts.

- Hallie M. 8^th grade

Camp is the best thing since microwave burritos. I love swimming at the waterfront, friendship circles and gaga. Actually, I just love absolutely everything.

- Jacob “Cybertron” 7^th Grade

This week, the kids start a new round of morning and evening activities as they’ll do every week. We now have horse backriding, ropes course, tennis, rocketry, and cheerleading added to our schedule. Rocketry has been at Camp Ben Frankel for several years and comes back time and time again as a very fun activity. Cheerleading is brand new to this year and for the first time our kids are being driven to larger courts for tennis! Horse backriding and ropes course are always an experiences that the kids never forget.

Last night, the campers enjoyed our annual show by the Israeli scouts or Tzofim. These are teenagers that travel throughout the country in the ‘Caravan’ performing concerts for Jewish camps. The kids absolutely love the atmosphere where they get to dance and jump around to this small live concert with the entire camp. Even the staff chant “Caravan! Caravan!” on the way to the show.

This is my seventh year at camp. I’m so glad I’m finally back after a year. I am a lucky one who gets to have her birthday at c amp. It was yesterday. It was so much fun to have my birthday with my camp family.

P.S Delia [my counselor] has an amazing hat and I want it!

- Marlie B.

8^th grade

I love camp because my counselors are awesome and the food is great! I have an awesome cabin and good beds. We all are great friends at camp. The activities are so good and we learn new things. This is my first year and it is so great.

- Chelsea M.

7^th grade

CBF is so fun! Only after Only after the first week you feel as if it is your “second home” and that your cabin mates are family. The activities are really fun and exciting.

- Ethan H.

8^th grade

As you may know, camp ben frankel has added an entire extra week to camp this year. Because we plan our largest camp events on sundays, we needed a new day long program. With the help of the SIU outdoor staff, we planned a full outdoor day with programs we’ve never run before. Unfortunatley, in the morning we had a pop up thunder storm that prevented all of our morning activities. Though, the staff was well prepared to entertain our campers until it cleared up around noon. It was a day of constant fun. The kids had a blast playing new games and soaking each other during different water fights.

Our week ended with a bang. The CITs had a day off and got to go to the rec center to swim, play basketball, tennis, and have a great time away from camp for awhile. The other campers all were taken to a bowling alley and had a great time before getting the camp ready for shabbat.

Our first Shabbat at camp was perfect. After a long first week of running around and tiring themselves out the campers needed a day of rest. We all slept in and enjoyed a more relaxed programing day. We started with Saturday services and were proud with the participation from the campers. We had campers leading prayers, opening the ark, and even reading torah during the torah service. We had some nap time after lunch followed by open, intellectual discussions about a range of Jewish topics with the kids. We ended the day with a heartwarming Havdalah to end shabbat. We stood as a whole camp and sang beautiful music and prayers for the upcoming week together.

Because of how popular this blog is getting we’ve decided to add something new. The campers are now going to submit pieces onto the blog about their own camp experiences. Enjoy!

The first week of camp is really amazing and my counselors and cabin mates are
super nice! Our cabin presentations was amazingly funny and it was absolutely
nothing about Jerry Seinfeld [our cabin name]. And I also rocked the drums for our
presentation. The first week of sports for me was fun because I played street hocky
for the first time.

- Josh B.
8th grade

Camp is AWESOME! The counselors are super nice, especially Delia, Melissa, and Tal
which are my counselors. How lucky am I?! I got to play my favorite sport, football!

- Samarah G.
8th grade

I love camp. I met so many new friends and the counselors are so cool! Also, the
activities are really fun and interesting. Go Camp Ben Frankel!

- Shakked A.
7th grade

Our camp is once again whole as our CITs return. They are now stonger and closer as a group having been tested by the wild. The staff that went along were pleasently surprised on how excellent they had done on the Maddog and look forward to having them as future counselors.

Check out the Pre and Post Maddog talks here:

Maddog Talks

Besides the CITs returning, we enjoyed cabin presentations last night. This program involves every cabin getting together and putting on a small skit or song for the camp that identifies their unique group. The MCs of the night were the senior staff who took their title seriously. They came dressed as very old senior citizens, which the children found quite entertaining.

The technical problems have been fixed on the previous post. Enjoy the pictures!

There will NOT be a blog post tomorrow because it is shabbat.

Our staff members are not only very capable at camp but are skilled in many facets of their lives. Last night’s program is a great example of the unbelieveble talent on our staff. Hannah R and Delia R, two of our loved counselors, performed music from their band ‘Dubb Nubb’ for the entire camp. Campers were very anxious to watch them perform and they certainly lived up to the hype. We’re honored to have these two perform for us. Watch out parents: you may be asked to buy a Dubb Nubb CD.

The duplicates have been removed. Enjoy the gallery!