First Jewish Online Camp Launched by Chabad

Jewish kids around the world last week arrived at summer camp, unpacking suitcases and duffle bags neatly packed with items such as a sleeping bag, clothes, towels, bathing suits and, of course, the ubiquitous bug spray.

But at CGI Online (Camp Gan Izzy) — a new online Jewish camp for children of Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries — campers are told to bring their supplies to the computer instead.

“Once you have all that – you should be all ready to see your friends and have a blast at CGI online!,” reads the bright, cheery note from Counselor Bassie Alperowitz. “I can’t wait to meet you all, once again on the computer! We’ll see and make lots of new friends! Who’s excited? I am, I am!”

The first solution created for daughters of Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries, the camp is free to girls who graduated grades 1 to 4 in the movement’s year-long Shluchim Online School. Campers log in to the bunk room, with Counselor Bassie leading each group through the magic of the Internet via the webcam and a special software, Eluminate Live!

Each child attends camp once a week for a three-hour “day” with the times staggered in order to accommodate various time zones. A special theme governs each week, with campers learning new songs, games, a daily bit of Torah wisdom and special arts and crafts projects.

This week, 14 little girls from England, Amsterdam and the United States eagerly “raised hands” in the virtual bunkhouse, hoping to be chosen to sing a verse of the camp song. The words were displayed on the white board, followed by a list of the supplies needed for the next activity, creation of a photo montage.

In the webcam window, meanwhile, flashed five small squares, each displaying a child wearing headphones and enthusiastically engaged in the activity. A larger window showed another child.

As the youngsters were working on their projects, Counselor Bassie offered helpful suggestions in a separate chat window beside the white board, responding to questions sent to her by each child either in chat or verbally by webcam.

Meanwhile, the list of children at the top of the site indicated that 6 of the 14 campers had their hands raised – a handful for any counselor, virtual or otherwise.

The software itself and the program’s use of it is a fascinating study in multi-modal education. The emissary division has used it successfully for both its boys’ and girls’ divisions in the year-long academic Internet school program, from grades 1 through 9. Now, for the first time, the movement has launched its online camp program for its emissaries as well.

A separate, tiny window suddenly pops up. Entitled “CAMP!” it cheerfully reminds the campers how much time is left before they have to stop the current arts activity — a connection race to spot the most differences in the next 40 seconds. The game builds the ability of the children not only to discern details in two images placed side by side on the white board, but also to use the graphic tool (in this case red and black outline squares) to point them out.

“Who’s having a good time?” sings out Counselor Bassie. “I am, I am,” the campers all sing back loudly from more than a dozen webcams. And the white board changes again.

Several times during the “day,” the children are brought back to the “camp song,” a ditty that reinforces the concept that there is more than one way to be a Chassid, more than one way to connect with one’s Rebbe, and more than one way to use the Internet, which has mammoth potential to be used for good, as long as it is used appropriately.

Together the children sing, “We’re proud to be a Chassid, We shout it out so loud, Whether it ‘s webcam or on mic, We make the Rebbe proud!”