Category

Summer 2019

Week Eight at Mogen Av!

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We start strong and finish stronger!
Nachas Concert! Barbeque Night! Field Day!
This week was NON-STOP!
What a way to end the last full week of camp!!

THIS IS CMA!

 

CMA BBQ

It wasn’t Memorial Day, but this past Monday, our campers and staff were treated to a full blown barbeque by none other than our dedicated and hard working head staff. With hotdogs, hamburgers, fries and condiments, (not to mention the singing and dancing) it truly was a smoky feast. Then, to top it off, we headed down to the outdoor amphitheater for a concert by NACHAS!

 

Nachas in CMA

Coming off of his two albums, Nachi Baldinger is a popular and sought after singer and musician who, this past Monday, brought his talent to Camp Mogen Av for an amazing performance that rocked the camp! Lively and personable, Nachas swept the whole crowd in as we jumped higher and felt the music!

 

Field Day 2019

The climax of the summer! The highlight of the year! Field Day 2019 is now in the past. Following an amazing breakout where the (not so) amazing Nachum was replaced by the sports counselors and Rabbi Eli Mann, the two teams of Shamayim and Aretz were knee deep in competition, but had their arms on each others shoulders all the way to the grand sing. With the All-Star Baseball game, All-Star Football, All-Star Basketball, Grand Plays, the famous Groisseh Farher, and many more special events, the schedule was packed with points to be won. Then came the Grand Sing. a full night of singing and dancing. Both teams performed beautiful Alma Maters that reverberated throughout the Old Gym. The achdus that was displayed throughout the two and a half days was truly inspiring. Shout out to Team of Shamayim for taking home the victory, but as our past Marah D’asrah, Rabbi Saks, would always say, “Whether you win, or you lose, you always win!”

Week Seven at Mogen Av!

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It just keeps getting better!
From the excitement of Visiting Day to the amazing Dr. Schnitzel to the pure fun of bowling.
From the awe of the VR Beis Hamikdash to the inspiration of the Cantata.

THIS IS CMA!

 

Dr. Schnitzel

Who doesn’t love blowing things up? Dr. Schnitzel does! This mad scientist came to camp this past Sunday to show us all the things that you can’t do at home, and boy, were they cool! The audience was enthralled at the sight of exploding solutions and erupting mixtures. The very brave even took part in his fantastic ways!

 

Bowling

What started out as 6 campers to a lane with not a bumper to be seen (c’mon, we’re real guys here), slowly evolved into a party with a cappella music, black lights, lasers, and a disco ball. A full arcade complimented the row of lanes and everyone had a blast. There was also bowling too! Our bowling trip, as always, was fun from the bus ride there through the bus ride back!

 

Beis Hamikdash in Virtual Reality

On Wednesday, we had the unique opportunity to host a virtual reality display of the 2nd Beis Hamikdash. There is nothing that can describe the display of surround sound and vision of the majestic Makom Kedusha that was once in our midst. Led by Yehoyada HaCohen, we were led from one area to another without even leaving Swan Lake! What a way to come into Tisha B’av with a greater understanding and real yearning for that which we have no longer.

 

Cantata 2019

In anticipation of Tisha B’av, Thursday night was our famous Cantata, in which our talented staff led by Shlomo Lehrer put on a play to bring us into the appropriate mood. This year, the theme was how to feel the loss of the Beis Hamikdash when it is so unrelateable to us. The beautiful choir was led by the one and only Avi Pruzansky, and featured “Ani Ma’amin,” an original composition written especially for this year.
You can watch the cantata here.

Week Six at Mogen Av!

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The excitement just won’t stop!
Grand Trip and Grand Entertainment. Special outings and special events.
This summer is one of a kind with trips, games, sports, and activities!

THIS IS CMA!

 

Revolution Ice Skating

Any camp can go on a trip, but in Mogen Av we make our trips GRAND! Part one was ice skating at the Revolution Ice Center. Aside from the rink, there was a full football field for those who prefer to play football. Our Program Director, Rabbi Chanales, and Head Counselor, Rabbi Palgon provided a fantastic surprise, with beautiful Mogen Av scarves for the entire camp to skate in style!

 

The Great Wolf Lodge

Next we bused straight over to The Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Water Park! With over 15 unique slides and water activities, everyone had a blast, and with practically no waiting in line, the two and a half hours of time in the park were non-stop splashing! What a way to kick off the second half of an amazing summer!

 

MArom Division Grand Trip

The highlight of our MArom Division’s summer is the bi-annual trip to Lake George – a two day overnight trip with loads of touring and fun centered around the Adirondack Mountains. We went to Treetop Adventures, Jiminy Peak, Dave & Buster’s, rollerblading, and go carting; it was truly non-stop fun! With barbecues and down time at two hotels, this grand trip was truly an unforgettable experience!

 

Mystery in Mogen Av

There wasn’t actually a murder, but there was a fantastic murder mystery show! A team of professional actors came to perform in camp. In this interactive presentation, our campers and staff had the opportunity to use clues and tips to crack the whodunit that plagued our campus!

 

Visiting Day, Trip Two, 2019

This Sunday (August 4th) will be Visiting Day. We look forward to seeing you on our beautiful campus located in Swan Lake. Visiting hours are from 11:30am-5:30pm. A delicious complimentary lunch will be served in the dining room from 12:30pm to 2pm.
We have an extraordinarily dedicated, caring and responsible group of staff here in Mogen Av. They spend their day building healthy relationships trying to find the personalized formulas to ensure your son has a growing, exciting stay in camp both in Ruchniyus and Gashmiyus. It goes without saying that they are strong role models with exemplary Middos Tovos. The camp has a mandatory tipping policy as a way of showing Hakoras Hatov to the staff members who tirelessly care for your son on a daily basis.
Many of our staff depend solely on tips as their compensation for their hard work and as such, we are requiring parents to tip the staff that have done such a wonderful job with your son. Please show your appreciation accordingly. A tipping schedule can be found in the Visiting Day brochure and is available in the office.

Week Five at Mogen Av!

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THIS IS IT!
From packing to unpacking.
From the campers staying to the campers coming.
This summer is one of a kind with games, sports, and activities!

THIS IS CMA!

 

Trip One Banquet

A delicious feast was served up in honor of the departing Trip One campers. Hot schnitzel sandwiches and crispy french fries were served in a beautifully decorated dining room. No one ever wants to leave camp, but if you have to, then this is the way to go!

 

Learning Awards

In a beautiful ceremony this past Sunday, awards were presented to those campers who excelled in their learning. Camp is a wonderful place to grow, and we would like to wish a Mazel Tov to these campers for pushing themselves to take their learning to the next level!

 

Trip 1.5

For the day in between Trips One and Two, we had a special activity of rollerblading, right in our spacious gym. Kids On Wheels came with enough pairs of skates for all of those campers staying for both halves, and everyone enjoyed the fun, skating, and games!

 

Let’s Get WHEEL?

What a great beginning to Trip Two! Campers were greeted with an ice cream party as soon as they arrived in camp, followed that night by “Let’s Get WHEEL”, an exciting activity full of unique challenges and games led by Rabbi Eli Mann! Just wait until you see what is in store for the next three weeks to come!

Week Three at Mogen Av!

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WE ARE GOING FULL FORCE!
Non-stop action. Full days of fun. Exciting activities.

THIS IS CMA!

 

Visiting Day, Trip One 2019

It was truly a wonderful sight to behold as parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins came to visit their children, grandchildren, brothers and nephews, and enjoy the beautiful warm weather that the Catskill Mountains have to offer. We had a fantastic turnout and a delicious lunch buffet served up by Simcha Weichbrod of Simcha’s by Simcha (whose summer job happens to be Head Chef at Camp Mogen Av!).

 

The Krach Fun de JOEY!

It was LIVE! It was LOUD! It was Joey to the MAX! What a concert we had with Joey Newcomb, featuring all his songs from his latest album in an amazing stage performance. In his unique and uplifting singing, Joey engaged every camper! Everyone was into it as he took the stage with his famous Krach Fun de Pickle (with a live pickle too!) and nobody wanted the awesome concert night to end. What a fantastic way to come off of Visiting Day!

 

Late Night Carnival 2019

From the beginning of the week, all the campers had one mission: to come up with the most creative, popular, and well-run carnival booth. From the famous Paper Toss game to the Cornstarch Challenge, each booth was a unique and fun attraction. Of course, no carnival is a real carnival if it doesn’t include popcorn, cotton candy, a full BBQ, and an assortment of blowup rides and races. We had a blast late into the night!

 

Bear Safety Training

Living in camp means living in the wild. So although we don’t anticipate bears on our campus, we nevertheless take all the precautions we can. We are privileged to have on campus Tani Prero, a well-known wilderness expert who gave an interactive workshop to our campers and staff of the Dos and Don’ts when it comes to bears. Safety is our top priority and we take it very seriously.

Week Two at Mogen Av!

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Trip one is ROCKING!
Leagues. Cookouts. Bonfires. Trips. Games. Night Activities.
All in a typical week at Camp Mogen Av

THIS IS CMA!

 

MArom and MA’aleh go to Scranton

The trip began with a couple hours at the Skyzone trampoline park, but that was just to wear ’em out. Next stop was a RailRiders baseball game, with the first pitch thrown by our very own Yossi Klass. Supper was by the tailgate, and the game was nonstop fun. Then to top it off, there was an amazing fireworks display after the game that put this trip right over the top!

 

Yukel Day 2019

And the winner is:
JD!!
The day you know and love, Yukel Day has come (and passed)! Shout out to the Junior Division team of Marketing Mishaps! An honorable mention to the Senior team of Air Travel, the MA’aleh team of Division, and the MArom team of Emotion!

 

Bowling Trips for Everyone

It might not be Thanksgiving, but that didn’t stop the turkeys from rolling. On Tuesday, MArom and MA’aleh divisions were treated to a bowling outing, followed by Senior and Junior divisions who went yesterday. Bowl on!

 

Human Hungry Hungry Hippos

In a loud and exciting scuffle, 8 teams competed to collect as many colored balls as they could. Armed with helmets, wheels, and a crate, they were ‘wheelbarrowed’ around the gym as their teammates roared with laughter!

 

Visiting Day, Trip One, 2019

This Sunday (July 7th) will be Visiting Day. We look forward to seeing you on our beautiful campus located in Swan Lake. Visiting hours are from 11:30am-5:30pm. A complimentary lunch will be served in the dining room from 12:30pm to 2pm.
We have an extraordinarily dedicated, caring and responsible group of staff here in Mogen Av. They spend their day building healthy relationships trying to find the personalized formulas to ensure your son has a growing, exciting stay in camp both in Ruchniyus and Gashmiyus. It goes without saying that they are strong role models with exemplary Middos Tovos. The camp has a mandatory tipping policy as a way of showing Hakoras Hatov to the staff members who tirelessly care for your son on a daily basis.
Many of our staff depend solely on tips as their compensation for their hard work and as such, we are requiring parents to tip the staff that have done such a wonderful job with your son. Please show your appreciation accordingly. A tipping schedule can be found in the Visiting Day brochure and is available in the office.

Welcome to Summer 2019!

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Welcome campers old and new!
The summer is off to a fantastic start as we approach our first shabbos in camp!
THIS IS CMA!

S’mores in a Cone!
As if arriving in camp wasn’t enough of an excitement, we started off Day 1 with S’mores in a cone! Hot off the grill, these delicious and sticky treats were handed out as campers waited to receive their bunks. These tasty goodies made the return to camp sweeter than ever!
Up For Anything – Year Five!
Thursday night, in a messy chaos, campers did things they never thought were possible! This wonderful activity provided a perfect ice breaker for new and old campers to meet. From slimy spaghetti to shaving cream to chocolate syrup, nothing was left out of this crazy, wacky and, most of all, hilarious night activity!
Air-O-Sport
A whole new way to play Ultimate! Our campers saw first hand the level of skill required to knock off those little rockets! What a time the MA’aleh division had!
9 Square in the Air
The perfect 9 player volleyball game! The Senior Division had quite some time knocking the ball about. Next time we are going to try it in our black-light arena…
Mountain Boarding
Summer + Snowboarding = Perfection
Our Juniors got to try their hand on the gorgeous hill overlooking White Lake!
AND THIS WAS ONLY THE FIRST THREE DAYS!