Virtual Camp For Young Shluchim Opens Registration for Fourth Summer
For young Shluchos like Gavriela Ita Gutierrez, growing up with her family on shlichus in La Paz, Mexico, leaves her far from established Jewish infrastructure. As proud Shluchim of the Rebbe, dedicating their life to the cause prioritizes giving to others over the comforts and conveniences of frum communal life. MyShliach at Merkos 302 aims to create a global community for Gavriela and thousands of like-minded kids around the world.
Among their many programs throughout the year, MyShliach offers a fully virtual summer camp. “This program makes all the difference for children on shlichus in remote areas, it allows them to have a fun and meaningful day camp experience which wouldn’t otherwise be possible, ” her mother Mrs. Rochel Gutierrez said after last year’s camp. “I noticed Gavriela Ita grow in confidence, maturity, and skills as the camp progressed.”
This year, experienced educator and Shliach Rabbi Shaya Itkin has joined the team to coordinate a fun-filled summer program. Promising to be as engaging and immersive as an in-person camp, the MyShliach virtual summer camp aims big. “We are ready to take on the impossible, to ensure no young Shliach misses out on the quality summer they deserve,” he says.
The program is open to young Shluchim and Shluchos in pre-1A to 3rd grade who are too young to travel elsewhere to an overnight camp. They will participate in daily fun and educational activities together with like-minded young shluchim from all over the states and Europe.
“The social and emotional well-being of kids growing up on Shlichus is of utmost importance,” says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. “Our goal is to ensure that every young child growing up on shlichus has the same sense of community and belonging as any other child, and even more, as they’re well-being impacts the entire globe.”
Building off a successful program for the past few summers, the team at MyShliach brings their combined experience to the table, ready to recreate the immersive experience of an in-person camp, through the magic of modern technology.
The daily excitement is encouraged by guest entertainers, interactive games, and new friendships. Torah learning and Chassidishe experiences are incorporated into the daily schedule, complete with MyShliach’s signature incentive system.
Parents are provided with a supplies list before the 4-week program enabling their children to take part in art-and-crafts activities guided by their counselors online. The importance of sensory experience is not forgotten despite the camp being mainly online.
The MyShliach team wasn’t planning to run the virtual camp this summer but seeing interest from the parents, they arose to the occasion. As Rabbi Mendy Shanowitz, director of MyShliach at Merkos 302 explains “Rabbi Kotlarsky OBM would always check in on us to make sure we are looking out for even one young child in the most far-flung Makom Hashlichus, so when the demand is there to help the shluchim, we make it happen.”
Open to all Lubavitcher families too, should they find themselves far from an in-person camp, the team at MyShliach looks forward to a spectacular summer.
Camp Dates:
Session 1: July 8 – Jul 19
Session 2: July 22 – Aug 2
For more information visit: myshliach.com/camp
