Camp Massad (Montreal)

Camp Massad (Montreal)
Formation	1947
Type	Jewish summer camp
Headquarters	Montréal, Quebec
Location	Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Official languages	Hebrew, French, English
Website	http://www.campmassad.org

Camp Massad (Machaneh Massad/מחנה מסד in Hebrew) is a Canadian Hebrew-speaking Jewish and Zionist summer camp for campers aged 7 to 16 located in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec in the Laurentian Mountains. It was founded in 1947, with the creation of Massad Alef on Lac Quenouille, Quebec. The original founding group consisted of some who did not preach the possibilities of Jewish survival in America. It was part of the Massad movement.

Camp Massad has a kosher kitchen (under the supervision of the Montreal Va'ad Ha'ir^[1]) and has a long tradition of Hebrew language immersion. The camp is also Shomer Shabbat. It runs during the summer, starting in late June, and finishing in mid-August. It attracts campers of various Jewish backgrounds from Montreal and other parts of Canada, various cities in the United States, Israel, and many other places throughout the world. Camp Massad is a member camp of the Ontario Camps Association [1].

Camp Massad is a great indicator of the Zionist, religious, and cultural values of the Montreal Jewish community. It places Jewish summer camping as an important part of the community's youth development, with Camp Massad playing a strong role in Jewish and social upbringing.

History

Camp Massad was founded in 1947 by Rabbi Aron Horowitz, along with Isaac Gold, the first President of the Camp. Leon Kronitz, who later served as its director, and Chaim Maizel also helped found the camp. Having more than 80,000 Jews living in Montreal, and an increasing number of Jews in Canada, the Jewish community felt a need to create a Jewish summer camp, which were very rare at the time.
The camp was larger in the 70s and 80s, but the camp has run a smaller program since then.
The current Camp Director is .

Notable alumni

• William Shatner
• Irwin Cotler

Location

Camp Massad is situated on Lac Quenouille, approximately 100 kilometres north of Montreal, in the Laurentian mountains of Quebec, Canada. The camp is surrounded by Lac Quenouille, Lac Maxime, and Lac Pierre.

Program

Activities in Camp Massad's program are divided up into four general sections: Agam, Creative Arts, Sports, and Teva.

The Agam activities are the water activities by Lac Quenouille, including Swim Instruction, Canoeing and Kayaking, Water skiing, Boogie boarding and Tubing. Creative Arts activities include Arts & Crafts (Omanut), Dance (Rikud), Song (Shira), Music (Musica), and Drama/Performance. Sports include Baseball (Kaddur Basis), Basketball (Kaddur Sal), Floor Hockey, Soccer (Kaddur Reggel), Tennis, and Volleyball/Newcomb (Kaddur Aff). Teva includes Science/Nature Study and Outdoor Adventure/Tripping (Hiking, Canoe Trips, Camping/Cookouts, and Overnight Trips).

Age groups

The age groups at Camp Massad are named after various parts of the tree in the Hebrew language. In each age group, there is a Banim (boys) and Banot (girls) section.

Shoresh

Shoresh (שורש), Hebrew for root (of a tree), is the youngest possible age group at Camp Massad. It is not always present; it is only there when there is a great amount of children under the normal age of the normally lowest age-group. It usually consists of children having finished Grades 1 and 2 (going into the 2nd or 3rd grade). They are part of the Emek (junior) section of Massad.

Geza Alef and Bet

Geza (גזע), Hebrew for trunk (of a tree), is the name of the two youngest age groups following Shoresh. It consists of Geza Alef ('A') and Bet ('B'). Geza Alef, for children having finished Grade 3 (going into the 4th grade), and Geza Bet, for children having finished Grade 4 (going into the 5th grade), are part of the Emek (Junior) section of Massad.

Anaf Alef and Bet

Anaf (ענף), Hebrew for Branch, is the name of the age groups following Geza, and the two oldest age groups in the Emek (junior) section. It consists of Anaf Alef ('A'), for children having finished Grade 5 (going into the 6th grade), and Anaf Bet ('B'), for children having finished Grade 6 (going into the 7th grade).

Tzameret Alef, Bet, and Gimmel

Tzameret (צמרת), Hebrew for treetop, is the name of the age groups in the Galil (Senior) section (which is on top of a hill). It consists of Tzameret Alef ('A'), for children having finished Grade 7 (going into the 8th grade), Tzameret Bet ('B'), for children having finished Grade 8 (going into the 9th grade), and Tzameret Gimmel ('C'), for children having finished Grade 9 (going into the 10th grade).

Malam

Malam (מלם) stands for Machon Le’Madrichim, or Counselors in Training (CIT's). It comes right after finishing Tzemeret Gimel, and is the year right before becoming a staff member (or Tzevet), for children having finished Grade 10 (going into 11th grade). Malam is one of the most anticipated age groups at camp.

Sections

Map of Camp Massad

Massad is divided into two sections. They are:

Emek

Emek (עמק), meaning 'Valley' in Hebrew, is the main section of Camp Massad. It includes the Main Field, the Chadar Ochel (Dining Hall), the Camp Office, the Agam (Waterfront) and many bunks (cabins). It is where the Emek (Junior) section of the camp resides.

Galil

Galil (גליל) is the other section of Massad. It is on a hill across the road from the Emek section. It includes the Sports field (or Migrash Sport), the Marpeah ('Marp'/ infirmary), and many bunks (cabins). It is where the Galili (Senior) section of the camp resides.

Places in Camp Massad

The Kikar

The Kikar (the Main Field) is in the Emek section. It is the center of Emek, as it is where Mifkad (Flagpole) happens every morning, following morning tefillah (prayers), and every night, before dinner. This is when the entire camp gathers together to sing Himnon HaMachaneh (the camp anthem) and Hatikvah. Around it are the Office, the Ulam (where tefillah, plays and other performances, as well as indoor activities take place), the Chadar Ochel, and a road leading to the Emek bunks.

The Misrad (Office)

The Main office is in the Emek section.

The Chadar Ochel

More commonly known as simply the Chadar, this is the Camp dining hall where the camp eats their meals.

The Ulam

The Ulam is a gymnasium situated in the Emek section adjacent to the Kikar. It is where the prayers, Camp plays and performances, and sports take place. It is a gymnasium with a stage at one side. Below the Ulam are the staff lounge and the Tuck shop (or Shekem), where canteen/snacks are given out to campers and staff each day.

The Migrash Zerah and Gan area

The Migrash Zerah is a small field at the front of the Emek area. This was an earlier location for mifkad/flagpole, and is now used for various outdoor activities. The Gan/park is right next to it, and camp BBQs are held here. There is also a bonfire pit, picnic tables, a swing set, and 'see-saws' in the park. Near these places is a small field where there are several ping-pong tables and a volleyball court.

The 'Agam'

The Agam and surrounding area

This is the waterfront, where water sports take place, such as canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and water-skiing. Near the Agam is Omanut /the art room. This is in the Emek area.

The Migrash Sport (or the Sports field)

The Sports Field is complete with a baseball field, basketball court, football field (used for the Grey Cup football tournament during the summer) and a soccer field. On the side is a small shack, known as the sports shack, which contains sports equipment. Also, nearby is the tennis court. The field is situated at the bottom of the hill in the Galil section.

Galil and the Marpeah

Galil is the hill in which the senior campers live. On it is the hockey arena, a soccer field, many bunks, and the Marpeah. The Marpeah is more commonly known as 'the Marp' and is the Camp infirmary. This is also where the doctor lives.

Logo

Camp Massad Logos

The camp logo describes what Camp Massad represents: Hebrew Speaking (Hebrew Letters), Art (The Palette), Sports (The Sports Equipment), Water Sports/Boating (The Boat), Drama/Theatre (The Theatre Masks), and Music (The Guitar). In the middle is a tree, representing the different bunks and age groups which are named after parts of a tree, and it is inside a Star of David, representing Judaism and Israel.   The original Camp Massad logo is rarely used nowadays, but it can still be found in various parts of the camp and on the camp flag.   The most recent camp logo was designed several years ago.

External links

• Official Website
• Camp Massad at Bunk1.com
• Ontario Camps Association
• Foundation for Jewish Camp
• Full Map of Camp Massad
• 46°09′01″N 74°21′56″W / 46.1503458°N 74.3655968°W / 46.1503458; -74.3655968Coordinates: 46°09′01″N 74°21′56″W / 46.1503458°N 74.3655968°W / 46.1503458; -74.3655968^[2]

References

1. ^ Montreal Va'ad Ha'ir
2. ^ Coordinates

• Camp Massad of Canada has contributed to this page, and supports its development.
• http://www.campmassad.org
• http://www.jewishcamps.org/fjc/global/camp_detail.asp?id=56&ST=&q=galil&section=grants&sf=Mid-August
• http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Modern/ModernSocial/Camps.htm
• http://www.thejewishweek.com/
• http://www.atid.org/news/13-3-00.asp
• Horowitz, Aron: Hebrew Camps Massad: Their Impact on Canadian Life and Culture, 1990 [2]