“You are the pioneers of this camp; you are the cornerstone for an innovative future in the Jewish camping world”. These were the opening words to the children seated in the plush grounds of Camp Gan Israel on South Padre Island, Texas for the 2006 summer session.
An oasis on the Gulf of Mexico, this newly founded camp is a longtime dream of Rabbi’s Asher Hecht and Eli Laber, who serve as camp co-directors. “For the past few years much time and money has been invested in studying the void in serving Jewish children with summer camps”, Hecht said. After learning that only 7% of Jewish children attend Jewish overnight camps throughout the USA, they undertook this major initiative.
South Padre Island Pioneers
“You are the pioneers of this camp; you are the cornerstone for an innovative future in the Jewish camping world”. These were the opening words to the children seated in the plush grounds of Camp Gan Israel on South Padre Island, Texas for the 2006 summer session.
An oasis on the Gulf of Mexico, this newly founded camp is a longtime dream of Rabbi’s Asher Hecht and Eli Laber, who serve as camp co-directors. “For the past few years much time and money has been invested in studying the void in serving Jewish children with summer camps”, Hecht said. After learning that only 7% of Jewish children attend Jewish overnight camps throughout the USA, they undertook this major initiative.
The 48 acre campgrounds – originally a retreat center- is equipped with a luxurious lounge, game room, carpeted Bunk Houses, swimming pools, amphitheater and a breathtaking-view of a scenic river.
The vision of the camp, according to Menny Amoyal, a supporter of the camp and a community activist of the Texas Valley, “is to introduce a camp with a vision focused on implementing a professional and instructional approach, to the various adventure programs that are offered.”
The theme of this inaugural summer was an instructive-based water camp. Designated to enhance the children’s abilities to enjoy activities in and around the water, the children attended daily lessons where they mastered through the sometimes tricky techniques of Boy Scout Aquatics. Included in their curriculum were: Sailing, water skiing, snorkeling and kayaking. These activities were used in a most creative way to fuse the world of a Jewish child’s dreams with the opportunity for him to express his talents in many ways; making it the only Jewish camp of its kind situated on an Island. As they experienced a summer of unparalleled excitement, the campers enjoyed a hands-on approach to Jewish themes and traditions.
“There are many other Jewish camps doing the routines of a full day of fun and excitement”, said Rabbi Eli Laber, “yet our focus here is to bring them to a Jewish adventure camp, which will allow them to walk away at the end of a summer, thoroughly well-versed in the particular area we focused on during that session”. A specially designed “Jewish Fun Time” program, gave the campers an opportunity to learn the details of many Jewish commandments in a hands-on way.
In this inaugural year, the directors limited the summer program to an exclusive number of campers, accepting children only from the Lone star state. “This initial summer will be reviewed for lessons learned, in order to fine-tune the program and to allow us to expand registration beyond Texas with the goal to make this camp the most unique Jewish camp out there” said Rabbi Asher Hecht.
For more information on Camp Gan Israel, South Padre Island, Texas, visit: www.cgispi.com
Yosef Shidler the Camp Guy
Well done – I got to hand it to you for pulling it off. Lets all work together to Change that 7% to 100%… Moshiach Now
The Offenbachers
Great Job Oshy and crew !!
a happy and satisfied camper
Hey, no one mentioned how great the food was..
Thanks to FEIVEL GOLDSTEIN for his great culinary expertise and fine entertainment!!!
FEIVEL FEVER!!!!!
shprintz and fam
Asher i am very proud of you, continue doing all the good work that you do
south padre
South Padre Island Rox Texas!!
MENACHEM S
ASHY I KNEW WE COULD RELY ON YOU!
a fan
asher hecht, you are un-real!
keep it up! we love you!
CGISPI CREW
Feivel (Phil Goldstein) He was awesome with the kids and his food was awesome it really rocked . He was a major inspiration to the camps sucess Feivel Fever
Menachem
Wow, you made it to the news!
Yasher Koach