Would You Lend a Stranger $1000?

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How many people did you trust today? Stop and think about it, right now. Maybe you came up with a couple of family members, there might have been a couple of people at work you were relying on who came through for you…you probably came up with a number under ten, no? But let me ask you – did you buy something from the supermarket today? Aren’t you trusting the supplier, the packager, and the store itself that they’re not messing with your product? If you stopped by the bank or deposited a check, aren’t you trusting the employees there not to misappropriate your information? If you even just stepped foot on the street, aren’t you trusting that every driver will drive safely rather than go careening around the area?

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Disaster Averted, Memories Made

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Amazing Yagilu stories aren’t limited to the two months of Camp Yagilu. Throughout the year, parents reach out to share incredible stories where their teens demonstrate either Yagilu skills or Yagilu spirits. I love hearing these stories, which really bring home how impactful the summer really was. Here’s one story a parent shared:

Off To a Rough Start

The family had planned a weeklong family vacation in the Midwest right after camp. They got a good deal on a rented house, packed up the car, and drove up. Pulling into the driveway close to sunset, everyone began unloading the car and bringing suitcases inside. Once inside, though, they discovered that there was no electricity in the house! That meant no light, no heat, and no running water! After trying unsuccessfully to get in touch with the owner of the house, the family had to decide what to do. Normally, this situation would send everyone back into the car to find a motel for the night until everything was worked out over at the house. But that’s not the way the oldest kids in the family, 3 boys fresh out of a month in Yagilu (one a counselor, one a JC, and one a first-year camper), saw it. To them, this was an exciting challenge that they were more than equipped to handle! They whipped out their headlamps and pocketknives and got to work. In no time, they had a fire going in the fireplace with a nice-sized woodpile to keep it going and some water drawn for hand-washing from a stream in the area. By the next morning, the electricity was taken care of, and the vacation continued without a hitch.

Sibling Synergy

The parents pointed out something really special. As with every family, siblings are sometimes prone to fighting. In this situation, though, the parents noticed a really special sense of teamwork.  Everyone worked together and contributed to what needed to get done. That’s amazing!
To me, what stood out was the confidence these teens had when attacking a difficult problem. They recognized that they had the skills to tackle the challenge, and really rose to the occasion to help their family!
Any story that involves fire and knives on the one hand, and teamwork, problem-solving, and camaraderie on the other, is one for the history books. Thanks so much for sharing!

Share Your Stories!

Does your family have a similar story? What would you have done if this had happened to you? We love hearing from you-be in touch!

The Greatness of a Family Hike – and the dog.

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The climb to the top surprised me this time. In addition to the sounds of a nice family from New Jersey, happy children, a relieved and pleased dad, and the calming sound of a flowing stream, I heard other noises. Other noises that I didn’t instinctively recognize. I knew the birds calls, I hear them all the time. And I’m intuitively familiar with the patter of hikers’ steps in the forest.

But this time, I heard barking all the time. The family who I led on this hike brought their dog with them. We hiked with a dog. A big golden retriever, full of doggy excitement and exuberance. Many hikers bring their dogs along but this was first experience hiking with a dog. And boy was it fun. He splashed in the river, ran down the mountainside just to fetch a stick, and even got in a fight with a swan and a goose. I’m kind of thankful no bears showed up this time. I wonder how he would have reacted.

When a family goes hiking together, they share such a wonderful experience. They come to a calming place in the forest, and they are away from the computer, video games and TV that distract people from conversation. And they embark on an adventure together. The dog too was part of the fun. I watched as the father and children shared a new experience, they learned new skills together. And in this group, they learned the ways of the forest together.

They took responsibility for each other. They looked out for trail markers, they helped collect wood for the campfire, they prepared dinner, they took turns using my knife to sharpen sticks to roast their marshmallows. They put up their tents, they helped each other unroll their sleeping bags, they figured out how to put up a fly tarp (and its a good thing they did, because it poured that night!).

They also took care of their dog, who after a long day of hiking (and fighting with geese) was so exhausted he just lay down on the floor and shivered himself to sleep.

The sleep that people experience after a day like this grants them a profound feeling of restfulness and peace. Their bodies feel good after all the exertion, they feel happy after a day of discovery and relationship building, and they feel satisfied to have worked and accomplished together. Sleep like this celebrates the day’s accomplishments.

The smiles the next morning shone brightly, albeit groggily. Everyone had a good night’s sleep, protected from pitter-pattering raindrops, we davened an inspired prayer. Another fire, a hot breakfast, and a challenging hike later, the bodies were tired again, but the moods and happiness soared. Even the dog was back to his normal, exuberant self.