By Erez Milrad
In Israel, we grow up hearing about summer camps in America. Those cool camps at which only the luckiest kids get to fly to every year and have an amazing experience. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of those kids; so, summer camp was always an unaccomplished dream.
In August 2017, I started to wonder what my plans would be after I was released from my IDF service in March 2018. Right before the army, I participated in a “gap year”, a pre-military program called Mechina. That was my first experience with education and working with kids. I knew that it was an important part of what I want to have and do in my life. During my army service, I had to command and give instruction to soldiers that didn’t want to be in the army and had given me, although a great experience, a very hard time. As I was thinking about my plans, an ad from the Jewish Agency popped on my computer- “come teach at an American Jewish camp”. I always thought those camps were specifically for people who like to work with young children and play games with them all day long; but the science and technology option caught my eye. That’s when I knew this is my true opportunity to experience teaching the subjects I love with kids who want to learn about them.
I started my 8-month journey with the Jewish Agency to find the camp that would be best for my skills, and finally received the announcement “welcome to Sci-Tech West”. I was thrilled and scared about the idea of coming to a brand-new camp in a new country. I was so excited for the true opportunity to design a new summer camp as we think it should be, starting from scratch!
So on Monday June 11th, 3 enthusiastic Israelis entered Mt Clef (our dorm building at camp) and met the rest of the staff for the first time. It was difficult in the beginning with the language barrier as my English is far from fluent, but all of us had an immediate connection and by the time I went to bed that night, I knew this is truly the camp for me. After an intense staff week, we became a cohesive unit and I knew that we could support each other through anything.
The campers then arrived, and it was a very stressful, exciting, and fulfilling day for all of us. The language barrier continued to be an issue, but we made through it, and had an awesome first session. It was a very weird experience to come work in camp after the army, where you can’t just give orders to the kids and expect that they will follow. I had to learn how to motivate the kids and approach them in the way they would want to follow my lead. This was a huge personal growth experience for me.
I learned about the meaning of a co-counselor. He has been there by my side the entire time, and I truly have someone to count on and who can count on me. I learned the culture differences, and tried to adapt myself throughout the session, while still trying to show camp parts of our Israeli culture.
It’s been 10 years now since the summer camp dream started for me, and today I can happily say that I’m accomplishing it, with the staff, the leadership team and with every camper. I just wished I had a technological summer camp when I was young like Sci-Tech West that’s truly become home for us.
Erez Milrad is a member of our Pioneer Mishlachat here at Sci-Tech West. He is originally from Kibbutz Gadot in Israel. He is a counselor and specialist who has been helping everywhere from Volleyball to Airplanes and Rockets.
