Camp Avoda
Camp Avoda is a Jewish boys' overnight camp located on Tispaquin Pond in Middleboro, Massachusetts. It has been in continuous operation since the summer of 1927,[1] making it the oldest Jewish boys' camp in New England.[2][3]
History
Camp Avoda was established in early 1927 by an organization then known as the Young Men's Hebrew Association.[4] The camp was established to serve the needs of underprivileged Jewish boys. Originally, the bunks were essentially "huts" and had no screening or walls. Today the campers sleep in basic cabins which were built at various times between the late 1950s and early 1980s. Many bunks have had extensions annexed to them after the great rise in attendance in the middle 1990s.
Today the camp is a non-profit entity operated by a Board of Directors and duly incorporated as Camp Avoda, Inc. It serves the needs of 125-150 campers per session.
Camp Avoda is located on a 50-acre (200,000 m2) tract of land on Tispaquin Pond in Middleborough, Massachusetts. However, more than half of that land is wooded area which is used for hiking, camping, and a high-elements ropes course which was constructed in 1999.
The camp is well known for its unique layout. All 8 cabins, the recreation hall, the C.I.T. "bungalow", the shower houses, two administrator cabins, and the "OD shack" surround the large ball field, where all field sports are played. The small size of this camp grants it what many consider a very "intimate" feeling.
Paul G. Davis is currently the Executive Director of the Camp, a position he has been in since the late 1960s; he has been employed as an administrator since 1966, making him one of the longest serving camp directors in the United States. Camp Avoda has a 7½ week season, which includes a 3½ week long first session and a 4-week second session. Each summer there are 32-40 junior and senior counselors ranging between ages 17–24. Almost all counselors were once campers at Camp Avoda, and most are typically college students.
Most campers reside in New England, with the vast majority concentrated in the Greater Boston area. However, not all campers live near the camp. Each year, a large number of campers travel from states like Florida, New Mexico, New Jersey and California, and from countries as far off as Israel, to spend their summers at Camp Avoda.
Tradition
Camp Avoda is one of the only summer camps in the world, where any given summer, all or almost all counselors were once Avoda campers and successful graduates of the Avoda Counselor-in-Training (C.I.T.) program.[5]
"Avodians" describe themselves as sharing a "special bond." Today, Avodians can be found throughout the United States and the World. In 2002, Camp Avoda celebrated its 75th Anniversary and over 1,000 Avodians throughout the World embarked upon Camp Avoda to revel in the festivities.
4th of July Celebration
July 4 is the first pinnacle event of the summer. The camp hosts its own carnival during the day, where each bunk creates its own booth in addition to those rented by the camp. At night is the annual Bonfire and Chip Ceremony. The bonfire is built entirely by Bunk 14, who name the bonfire and place a sign at the top with the name. The bonfire can be as tall as 16 feet (4.9 m). The entire camp gathers in front of the bonfire to watch it burn. Once the fire has burned long enough, and has started to die down, the chip ceremony begins. Each bunk chooses a member to stand in front of the fire, and make a speech. After they make their speech, they take a wood chip, and throw it into the fire. The speech usually is about their camp experience, or what camp means to them. Many speeches often revolve around how they believe Avoda is the greatest place on earth, and how the feeling of being there is indescribable. After all the bunks have gone, Bunk 14 goes, with 3 speakers. After Bunk 14 has gone up, all of the old Bunk 14's are called up by year, until you get to the oldest staff members and administrators, and finally the director.
Trips
Every Thursday, except during Color War, is a trip day. Trips include Six Flags New England, a Red Sox Game, Water Country, etc. In addition, there are choice trips, in which campers are given the option to choose which trip they would like to go on (there are usually 3-4 options). There are also optional trips, which are different from choice trips, in that you can choose not to go on any of them. Trips designated for specific groups of campers include the annual fishing trip (Freshman, Sophomore, and Juniors), the Bunk 14 overnight, and the Senior Canoe Trip.
Tournaments
Avoda competes in many tournaments with rival camps including Camps Bauercrest, Bournedale, Young Judea, Tel Noar, and Tevya. Avoda also attends many tournaments including the Bournedale and YJ tournaments. Avoda also hosts its own tournament. In this tournament the sports are soccer and basketball.
Bunk 14
Bunk 14, also known as "The Betty Grable Commandos" is the bunk of the oldest campers at Avoda. Typically it houses 15-year-olds entering the 10th grade. With Bunk 14 comes special privileges (such as the ability to bring TV's, Video Game Systems, and walk around camp after Call to Quarters) and automatic "alumni" status. Many alumni are often identified and identify themselves by their Bunk 14 Year.
Color War
For many staff and campers alike, Color War is the highlight and culmination of the summer. During the last week of the summer, the camp is split up into two teams, "white" and "blue". Each team typically consists of 8 staff members, usually: 1 General, 5 Lieutenants, and 2 Aides. However, in previous years, there have been 4 Lieutenants, 6 Lieutenants, and 3 Aides on a team. Color War takes place over 6 days. Each camper is placed in a division with other campers of their own age and one year above or below them. The four divisions are Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. In each division, the two teams face each other in sports, side events, tug of wars, and other events. The point values for each event are hidden from the campers, but increase in value from the Freshman to Senior Division. Before Color War, the staffs assemble to prepare for the week. A few days before Color War is Negotiations, in which the General and 1st Lieutenant of each team negotiate out the order of picks for each division, as well as team location, and color, with the other team. A few days after Negotiations, and usually the day before or the day of Color War, is Picks. During Picks, each team is given the opportunity to pick the campers that they want on their team. One of the traditions of Color War is the silent meals. This doesn't apply to any of the Color War staff members, captains, or judges. If you are caught talking during any of the 18 meals (6 days, 3 meals a day), points will automatically be deducted from your team. The winner is usually announced through a fixed race or game of some sort, in which the counselors representing the winning team win. The winning team then proceeds to jump in the lake, celebrating for up to half an hour with their victorious teammates and staff members.
Color War Record
| Year | Winning team | Losing team |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | White Cougars
General Bobby Gilberg |
Blue Brigade
General Danny Bauman |
| 1974 | Blue Israelites
General Robbie Coppel |
White Cobras
General Brad Barry |
| 1975 | White Wizards
General Robbie Coppel |
Blue Tide
General Mike Katz |
| 1976 | Blue Rockets
General George Brockman |
White Eagles
General Robbie Coppel |
| 1977 | Blue Destroyers
General Stuart Bram |
White Kings
General David Goodman |
| 1978 | White Cosmos
General Eric Yaffe |
Blue Diamonds
General Phil Lukoff |
| 1979 | White Warriors
General David Bamel |
Blue Cyclones
General Mitch Rubin |
| 1980 | White Avodians
General Paul Kleinmann |
Blue Aztecs
General Robert Satloff |
| 1981 | White Sabres
General Steve Aronson |
Blue Galaxy
General Steve Camiel |
| 1982 | Blue Sting
General Mike Roth |
White Warlords
General Steve Aronson |
| 1983 | White Falcons
General David Snider |
Blue Dragons
General Mike Rutstein |
| 1984 | Blue Express
General Evan Yampolsky |
White Magic
General Andy Stone |
| 1985 | Blue Demons
General Paul Simon |
White Spray
General Mark Solomon |
| 1986 | White Spartans
General Peter Spider Lebowitz |
Blue Crusade
General David Wertheim |
| 1987 | White Cougars
General Davida Bones |
Blue Pythons
General Gary Solomon |
| 1988 | Blue Shadow
General Jay Yampolsky |
White Lightning
General Russell Katz |
| 1989 | Blue Storm
General Mark Glovin |
White Raiders
General Ken Shifman |
| 1990 | White Panthers
General Ken Shifman |
Blue Stampede
General Russell Katz |
| 1991 | Blue Scorpions
General Jeff Blocker |
White Knights
General Andy Spear |
| 1992 | White Empire
General Stu Glass |
Blue Assault
General David Wilcov |
| 1993 | Blue Sharks
General Jeremy Agulnek |
White Heat
General Ricky Hyman |
| 1994 | Blue Predators
General Jeremy Agulnek |
White Seminoles
General Ricky Hyman |
| 1995 | Blue Devils
General Jeff Vetstein |
White Wolves
General Bobby Zuker |
| 1996 | Blue Grizzlies
General Jeremy Agulnek |
White Wildcats
General Mark Sokoloff |
| 1997 | Blue Justice
General Jeff Vetstein |
White Bulldogs
General Ken Freeman |
| 1998 | White Vipers
General Spencer Kimball |
Blue Rebels
General Aaron Agulnek |
| 1999 | White Force
General Eric Levy |
Blue Tide
General EJ Kimball |
| 2000 | Blue Dynasty
General Spencer Kimball |
White Warriors
General Dave Brown |
| 2001 | White Lions
General Barry Morgan |
Blue Terror
General Adam Miller |
| 2002 | Blue Gladiators
General EJ Kimball |
White Patriots
General Josh Schneider |
| 2003 | Blue Giants
General Adam Miller |
White Titans
General Greg Lazaroff |
| 2004 | Blue Buccaneers
General Adam Miller |
White Outlaws
General Evan Traiger |
| 2005 | Blue Mafia
General Todd Miller |
White Tigers
General Mike Pemstein |
| 2006 | Blue Venom
General Sawyer Emmer |
White Dragons
General Mike Pemstein |
| 2007 | Blue Animals
General Dan Gollinger |
White Spartans
General Erik Silevitch |
| 2008 | White Phantoms
General Matt Norcross |
Blue Army
General David Fine |
| 2009 | Blue Monsters
General Adam Rubin |
White Mustangs
General Jonny Singer |
| 2010 | White Assassins
General Cory Finkelman |
Blue Heroes
General Ethan Gurwitz |
| 2011 | Blue Barbarians
General Richard Katz |
White Legends
General Josh Coran |
| 2012 | White Mercenaries
General Ben Rubin |
Blue Gators
General Eddie Bernson |
| 2013 | Blue Goblins
General Jason Hefter |
White Prophets
General Jacob Dennis |
| 2014 | Blue Vikings
General Joey Sherman |
White Chiefs
General Jacob Dennis |
| 2015 | White Olympians
General Sam Watman |
Blue Apes
General Louis Douglas |
| 2016 | White Villains
General Jared Fixler |
Blue Bears
General Louis Douglas |
Alumni Association
The Avoda Alumni Association is an active and integral part of Avoda's success. Since 1987, the Camp Avoda Alumni Association has hosted a full weekend dedicated to Alumni events, which typically takes place the weekend before the campers arrive at camp.[6] It is common for Alumni members to stop by throughout the summer to interact with the current staff and campers. While visiting, the alumni members are able to participate in the alumni's which they have (Bunk 1, Bunk 12, Bunk 14).
In addition to the "Alumni Weekend" the Avoda Alumni Association has many events throughout the off-season at various Massachusetts locations, including: Billiard Nights, Family Day at Gillette Stadium, and the annual Thanksgiving Football Game in Cleveland Circle. The Alumni Association engages in many fundraising and charitable endeavors aimed at providing scholarships to campers for the summers.
References
- ↑ Staff, Peterson (2003). Summer Opportunities for Kids and Teenagers 2004. Thompson Peterson's. p. 275. ISBN 0-7689-1158-3.
- ↑ Jewish Camping and Summer Programs retrieved on May 4, 2008
- ↑ A Parent's Guide to Jewish Day and Overnight Camps retrieved on May 4, 2008
- ↑ Reckford, Laura. Frommer's Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard 2008. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, (2008), p. 109.
- ↑ "Our Leadership Team". Camp Avoda. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ↑ retrieved on May 1, 2008