This Month’s Featured Chalutz

Simon Lowen
Chalutz

Our featured chalutz this month is Simon Lowen.  Simon is known among his camp friends as the boy who is always smiling.  Here at camp he’s been having an awesome time.  Simon has enjoyed mountain biking, rock-climbing, playing sports, learning wilderness survival and orienteering skills, participating in service projects and other cool activities.  His favorite activity this session was a tag game where campers were given food, and had to strategize how to get from one part of camp to another part of camp safely, without getting attacked or eaten by bigger animals (counselors hiding in the bushes).

Simon thought his ˜Masaot” (excursions) were awesome.  He particularly loved his backpacking and rock-climbing excursions.  He found them very challenging physically, and was frustrated that you can’t rock climb in the rain!  He learned that backpacking is difficult, but doing it with friends and encouraging each other makes a big difference.  His counselors noted the intense pleasure he got lighting the campfire to cook his group’s meal.

Simon learned a lot at camp beyond technical outdoor skills.  He learned a lot about Judaism, participated in services, learned Hebrew songs and how to say the blessing after meals (”Birkat HaMazon).  He put on tefillin for the first time.  Simon commented that the counselors are awesome and they find ways to relate everything to Judaism.

Simon is a happy go-lucky teenager about to enter 9^th grade.  He enjoys reading and playing with friends.  When he grows up he wants to be an environmental lawyer because he likes to argue.  He also might want to be a teacher because he loves working with little kids and enjoys math and science.

After camp, Simon will be moving to Tennessee.  While sad to leave camp, he has missed his baby sister very much.  He is very close with his family and thinks of his parents often while at camp.  They are awesome and do as much as they can for me.  One of the things they did for me was let me go to Ramah Outdoor Adventure.  Simon will leave camp with many wonderful memories, and hopes to return next year.

See some of our previously featured madrichim and chalutzim