Machon Teen Leadership

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At URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy, we create experiences that allow our campers and now teens to grow through science inquiry, Jewish discovery, leadership, and fun. Our Machon Teen Leadership program, which means “Foundation” as well as “Institute,” gives our teens the opportunity to build community, teach, and become effective leaders and change agents at camp, in STEM, and beyond.

The program’s goals are to create opportunities for personal and professional growth, provide hands-on leadership experience and STEM education skill-building, to give back to the 6 Points Sci-Tech community as a leader and role model, and to impact camp in a meaningful way, all while adding depth to their resumes and completing community service hours.

There are three main areas of focus: training, leadership, and innovation.

 

Elements of the Machon Program

  • Jewish Leadership: Machonikim (participants in the Machon program) will meet with staff and educational faculty to explore essential questions in Judaism and wrestle with the connections that can be found between Judaism and STEM. Teens will also gain a deeper understanding of the URJ’s mission of creating a more whole, just, and compassionate world through science and technology.
  • Learning from Jewish and STEM innovators: Each summer, we have leadership staff, faculty, and special guests who bring a wealth of knowledge in science, Judaism, and innovation to our community. Machonikim will have special opportunities to meet with these leaders and learn about their unique knowledge-base and skillsets. These guests and our staff will help our teens understand STEM opportunities as they think about life after high school graduation. As part of the program, teens will be guided to use their camp experience to demonstrate skills on a college resume or application.
  • Training in community building: Machonikim will live in halls with younger campers and learn how to build community in a small-group setting. They will learn about a wide variety of community-building topics, including homesickness; diversity, equity, and inclusion; how to identify and prevent bullying; development of listening skills; health and
  • Hands-on leadership experience and opportunities to lead programming and lessons, build relationships and serve as role models for younger campers as junior counselors and teen leaders.
  • Training in teaching skills: Machonikim will learn to write a camp program or lesson plan, assist in workshops and chugim, and lead small and large group activities. They will work closely with our counselors, instructors, and leadership team, who will support and mentor them through this process.
  • An incredible cohort: Spend the summer with an amazing cohort filled with other highly motivated, exciting, STEM-loving peers! Throughout the summer, Machonikim will participate in fun, Machon-only social activities as they build relationships and friendships that can last a lifetime!

 

 

Program Info & Dates

Program Dates: June 23 – August 4, 2024 (with the option to leave early on July 21)

Tuition: Available on our Dates & Rates page.

Eligibility: Participants must be at least entering 12th grade in the Fall of 2024.

Application Timeline: Your full Machon application (including the camper application via CampInTouch, reflection questions, references, and background check questionnaire) must be received by January 1, 2024! After that, Machon will be invited to interview with a leadership team or camp council member. Machon who are accepted into the program after their interview will be notified by February 15.

How the Machon Application is Different Than A Typical Camper Application: The Machon Teen Leadership Program is a full summer-long values-based leadership development program for rising high school seniors. It is a completely different camp experience than being a camper. It is designed for hardworking individuals looking to challenge themselves and actively engage in their growth within a Jewish STEM context. As a leadership experience, the Machon application is more in-depth than a typical camper application and requires active participation from the Machon applicant. The application process consists of three parts:

  • Submitting an online camper application to URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy through CampInTouch.
  • Submitting the additional Machon Application pieces, which can be found in the “Forms & Documents” page of your CampInTouch account (available after you submit the online application). The application consists of reflection questions, three references, and a background questionnaire.
  • An online Machon Interview with a leadership team or camp council member.

Questions/Moving forward: If you have questions about the program or the application process, please email scitech@urj.org or call (857) 246-8677.