NCSY SUMMER PROGRAMS 2011 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN; EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS JANUARY 3
This year, give a Chanukah present that you can’t gift-wrap but is sure to have a more dramatic impact: a spot in an NCSY summer program.
NCSY, the Orthodox Union’s international youth program, plays a pivotal role in the lives of Jewish teens around the world. The organization’s multitude of educational and fun-filled activities, retreats and programs, help Jewish teens connect with and appreciate their Jewish heritage, the land of Israel, as an investment in the future of the Jewish people.
“NCSY runs the most inspirational teen trips to destinations near and far,” declared Rabbi Steven Burg, International Director of NCSY. “If you want your teen to have a great summer and be fired up and passionate about Judaism and Israel, NCSY is the way to go.”
NCSY features a variety of summer programs that cater to the many interests of Jewish teens of different ages. Though this year’s summer programs include annual ones like JOLT (Jewish Overseas Leadership Training), some of the trips have changed. ICE (Israel and Italy ) a five-week program, previously exploring Jewish communities within Israel and Central Europe, will now include both the Israel and Italy components of the trip which were previously separate – taking participants to Milan, Venice, and the Alps, before heading off to Israel, to compare European society with Israeli culture.
TJJ Ambassadors (The Jewish Journey Ambassadors) will once again be offered following the success of its premiere year. Geared towards public school teens who wish to explore Israel’s wondrous sites, TJJA is an intense leadership program that combines touring with training in social action, political advocacy, and high level study.
Registration for the programs is now open. An early-bird registration discount of $250 is available through January 3. Past participants may inquire about an additional discount at summer@ncsy.org. Scholarship assistance is also available.
The summer 2011 NCSY programs include:
- Camp Sports – Baltimore-based camp for boys in grades 8-11, featuring baseball, football, soccer, basketball, and frisbee in competitive leagues and recreationally. Includes paintballing, trip to Hershey Park, watching a demolition derby, and 20 other field trips.
- GIVE (Girls Israel Volunteer Experience) – Program for girls grades 9-12 that provides the opportunity to volunteer at Israeli food banks, hospitals, and camps for child victims of terror; greet new olim arriving on a Nefesh B’Nefesh flight; collect clothing for the poor; as well as tour Israel and participate in volunteer activities.
- ICE (Israel and Italy) – Tour exotic locations such as Milan, Venice, and the Alps, then Israel. Experience great touring, educational programming and community service projects. Available to those in grades 10-12.
- JOLT (Jewish Overseas Leadership Training) – a leadership program that begins in Poland at Majdanek, Treblinka, Lublin and Auschwitz; then goes to the Austrian Alps to be a counselor at an OU/NCSY summer camp, run in partnership with the Lauder Yeshurun Outreach Organization, to connect with Jewish children from across Eastern Europe. After Europe, participants travel to Israel. Available to those in grades 10-12.
- Kollel – In Jerusalem, boys (grades 9-12) will intensify their commitment to Judaism through learning, playing competitive sports, engaging in recreational activities and touring Israel.
- Michlelet – In Israel, girls (grades 9-12) will learn Torah on beginners through advanced levels, while touring Israel and participating in recreational and volunteer activities.
- JV Elite – an incredible basketball program for Jewish boys and girls in grades 5-12 to develop, mold and showcase their skills while being trained by top NCAA coaches and athletes from top universities.
- SEG (Summer Experience for Girls) – Located in Upstate New York, SEG gives girls grades 8-12 an opportunity to travel to Hershey Park and other attractions, tour New York City and even go to a minor league baseball game. They will be able to choose their own activities from a variety of possibilities, including swimming, sports, art, horseback riding, and aerobics. At the same time, they will explore different concepts of Judaism by participating in interactive classes given by rabbis and teachers, as well as experienced advisors.
- TJJ (The Jerusalem Journey) – Public school co-ed students grades 9-12 will explore Israel by participating in activities such as archeological digs, hiking up Masada, visiting the Kotel, and swimming in the Kineret.
- TJJ Ambassadors – Public school students in grades 10-12 participate in a leadership training program in areas such as social action and political advocacy, combined with high level study and touring in Israel.
- Camp Nageela Midwest – A three-week summer camp in Marshall, Indiana with sports activities and trips to amusement parks, professional baseball games and other exciting trips. Camp is located near a huge forest and private lake and has an Olympic size pool. Programming combines Jewish values with great athletic activities. Camp for boys and girls (separate), available for grades 3-10.
- Machane Dror – Join both English and Hebrew-speaking Israelis for an amazing summer experience in the Golan Heights for tiyulim (hikes) and trips to amusement parks, inspiring shiurim, chesed activities, shows, competitive sports, color war, and much more. Separate camps for boys and girls, grades 5-9.
- Shakespeare in Jerusalem – A four-week fully accredited program for co-ed public school students, to earn grade 11 or 12 English credit while touring Israel. Courses will include Jewish themes, such as the study of the Merchant of Venice, an exploration of Jewish poets, as well as a Holocaust novel; classes will be taught in traditional classrooms. Activities include zip-lining, rafting, sleeping in a Bedouin tent, floating in the Dead Sea, climbing Masada, and camel riding.
For more information on these programs, and to register, visit NCSY’s website at www.ncsysummer.com , call 1-888-TOUR-4-YOU, or e-mail David Cutler, NCSY Director of Summer Programs at summer@ncsy.org.
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The words of this author reflect his/her own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Orthodox Union.