Chinuch is not just another period of the day in Moshava Ba’ir; It is an integral part of what each summer is all about. Each summer the camp chooses a tochnit, or theme, with the daily chinuch dedicated to exploring a different aspect of that theme every day. The tochnit is developed by a combination of learning the material, and activities related to the theme, that reinforce it in the campers’ minds. Given the broad age levels in camp, each aspect needs to be tailored to what is appropriate for that particular group.The weekly themes culminate in what the camp likes to call Kikar Chinuch, a carnival style educational day that takes the experiential experience to a completely different level.

“When I first started working at Moshava Ba’ir I found it fascinating that our tochnit impacts our entire program, from baking to color war. Eight years later and we still only start planning once the tochnit is announced; Once it is decided, we can begin planning,” said Robyn Adams, director of Programming.

Jeremy Hellman, co-rosh Chinuch said, “For this summer, Moshava Ba’ir’s theme is Binyan Yisrael. We are focusing on the building of the Jewish people and the building within Eretz Yisrael. Last week, campers learned about Shlomo’s construction of the Beit Hamikdash. During Thursday’s Kikar Chinuch, we had an amazing Beit Hamikdash Carnival with a Nisuch HaMayim Bucket Brigade, Name that Shirei Levi Tune and Terumat HaDeshen Relay Races!”

This week’s activities are a microcosm of what chinuch is like in Moshava Ba’ir New Jersey all summer!