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Camp Avoda[a] 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]
| Camp Avoda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Middleboro, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 41°51′59″N 70°51′48″W / 41.866362°N 70.863209°W |
| Type | Jewish boys' overnight camp |
| Season | June to August |
| Established | 1927 |
| Website | campavoda |
History
editCamp Avoda was established in early 1927 by the Young Men's Hebrew Association[4] to serve the needs of underprivileged Jewish boys. Originally, the bunks were essentially "huts" and had no screening or walls. Today, campers sleep in basic cabins which were built at various times between the late 1950s and early 1980s. Many bunks were expanded after a rise in attendance in the mid-1990s.
Organization
editThe 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 60-acre (240,000 m2) tract of land on Tispaquin Pond in Middleborough, Massachusetts. More than half of that land is wooded area, which is used for hiking, camping, mountain-biking, and a high-elements ropes course which was constructed in 1999.
The camp's buildings, including eight 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.
Ken Shifman is currently the executive director of the camp. Shifman began as director in 2008 and became executive director in 2015 after Paul G. Davis retired. Davis had been employed since 1966, making him one of the longest-serving camp directors in the United States.[citation needed]
Camp Avoda currently has a 7+1⁄2-week season, which includes a 4-week-long first session and a 3+1⁄2-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, some campers travel from Florida, the Washington, D.C. area, New Jersey, California, and Israel, to spend their summers at Camp Avoda.
In 2002, Camp Avoda celebrated its 75th anniversary, with over 1,000 Avodians attending festivities.
Traditions
editNearly all counselors were once Avoda campers and successful graduates of the Avoda Counselor-in-Training (C.I.T.) program.[5]
4th of July Celebration
editJuly 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). Once the fire has started to die down, a member from each bunk stands in front of the fire and makes a speech about their camp experience. After they make their speech, they take a wood chip, and throw it into the fire. Bunk 14 is the last bunk to speak, and has three speakers. After the campers finish, staff members and administrators, and finally the director, make speeches.
Trips
editTrips occur every Thursday, except during Color War. Destinations have included Six Flags New England, Red Sox games, and Water Country. In addition, there are choice trips, in which campers are given between 3 and 4 options of destination. 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
editAvoda competes in tournaments with rival camps such as Camp Bauercrest, Bournedale, Young Judaea, Tel Noar, and Tevya. Avoda also attends the Bauercrest and YJ tournaments, and hosts its own annual tournament including soccer, softball and basketball.
Bunk 14
editBunk 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, however following the cancellation of the 2020 summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 16 year-olds entering the 11th grade are currently Bunk 14ers. With Bunk 14 comes special privileges and automatic "alumni" status. Many alumni are often identified and identify themselves by their Bunk 14 Year.
Color War
editColor War occurs during the last week of the summer. The camp is split up into two teams, "White" and "Blue", with each team including eight staff members. 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.
One of the traditions of Color War is the silent meals. If campers are caught talking during any of the 18 meals (6 days, 3 meals a day), points are deducted from their 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 jumps in the lake.
Color War Record
edit| Year | Winning team | Losing team |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | White Patriots
General Carl Rottersman |
Blue Braves
General Steven Woolf |
| 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 |
| 2017 | Blue Wizards
General Joshua Cohen |
White Royals
General Drew Lukoff |
| 2018 | Navy Seals
General Abe Watman |
White Avengers
General Wes Fixler |
| 2019 | Blue Anarchy
General Shay Wenglin |
White Jaguars
General Ty Goldstein |
| 2021 | White Avalanche
General Jay Blumenfeld |
Blue Conquerors
General Max Waltzman |
| 2022 | Blue Demons
General Nate Goldberg |
White Armada
General Ethan Shifman |
| 2023 | White Huskies
General Owen Sherman |
Blue Bandits
General Max Kleinmann |
| 2024 | Blue Revolution
General Charlie Zuker |
White Flames
General Alex Shifman |
Alumni Association
editSince 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] t is common for Alumni members to stop by throughout the summer to interact with the current staff and campers.
In addition to the Alumni Weekend, the Avoda Alumni Association hosts events throughout the off-season at various Massachusetts locations, including: Billiard Nights, Family Day at Gillette Stadium, and the annual Thanksgiving Football Game. The Alumni Association also hosts fundraising and charitable endeavors aimed at providing scholarships to campers for the summers.
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ 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 Archived 2008-01-16 at the Wayback Machine retrieved on May 4, 2008
- ^ A Parent's Guide to Jewish Day and Overnight Camps Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine 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.
- ^ [1] Archived 2008-01-16 at the Wayback Machine retrieved on May 1, 2008