It’s a me, Mario! – Yom Mario Shabbat
By Sam Kazer, Communications Specialist
Saturday morning was turning out to be grand; our visual T’filah after breakfast inspired loud singing and helped further establish our k’sharim (connections) to one another and to our community. Camp was set up for a nice, relaxing day – that is until Bowser stormed into the room after services! Donning his horns and spiked shell, he announced that he was taking over, splitting camp into four teams that would compete for the Mushroom Cup. So much for our united camp community!
Bowser and the Mushroom Cup!
Campers joined with their counselors as teams Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach and set off to decorate their team poster and kart while creating their team cheers. Next, Bowser brought the teams together to play Mario Party using mini-games adapted from the TV show Minute to Win It. Campers competed to move cotton balls with their noses, stack cups, and juggle balloons. Following these intense mini-games, campers enjoyed a Shabbat BBQ and an extended Menucha (rest period) in order to get ready for the rest of the day’s competitions.
Mario team decorates their poster.
Campers compete in Mario Party mini-games.
In the afternoon campers played real life Super Mario Galaxy, traveling to different planets to complete various tasks. At the Old School Galaxy, campers worked together using a giant game pad to play classic Super Mario Bros. Quest Galaxy had campers complete an obstacle course full of Mario related objects while Puzzle Galaxy tested campers mental skills with puzzles and brain teasers. Lastly, campers had the pleasure of making ice cream with dry-ice in the Ice Galaxy.
Team Luigi plays Super Mario Bros. collectively using a GIANT controller.
After showers and dinner teams Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach participated in real life Mario Kart as the last chance to earn points toward the Mushroom Cup. Holding their karts made earlier in the day, campers in teams of two ran around a planned course, aiming to come in first place in the race. Just like in the games, campers could pick up items like shells and lightning bolts which they could instruct their teammates to use on other teams to hinder their progress.
Campers race in Mario Kart to win points towards the Mushroom Cup!
Through all the cheers, competitions, and ruach (spirit) team Toad came out on top at the end of the day, defeating Bowser and returning camp back to its Sci-Tech self! We ended the evening by coming back together as a camp community, celebrating Havdalah and singing Hashkiveinu and Shema.
