Freshman Day: For Unity and Fun

Tehila Azar ('17)

September 18, 2014

 

Ma’ayanot first-year students attended their annual Freshmen Day event, Thursday, September 18th. Freshmen Day is a trip that occurs annually in which the freshmen go to an outdoor center for activities, and have the opportunity to bond and form friendships. This year, the freshman went to Camp Vacamas, in West Milford, NJ. During the first half of the day, the grade was divided by their mehanekhet groups.  Each participated in activities and spent time with students with whom they might not share classes. Each mehanekhet group played games which helped them get to know one another, informally known as “ice-breakers.”  The purpose of these games was to learn each other’s names, and also to have  fun with games such as “human knot.”

 

After the exciting morning activities, the grade ate lunch together, and then were given the opportunity to choose which activity they wanted to do in the afternoon. The choices were: high ropes, boating, hiking, and arts and crafts. To end off the exhilarating day, the students had a bonfire where they melted s’mores, and then sat in a circle for a kumzitz. According to Elisheva Mirwis (‘18) Freshmen Day was an “amazing experience, resulting in a lot of bonding.” She was able to form friendships with students in her mehanekhet group, whom she did not have the opportunity of getting to know well before Freshman Day. Another freshman, Jessie Orgel, said Camp Vacamas was a really nice place and she enjoyed sitting next to the lake and talking with her friends. Every year, the executive board of GO also  attends Freshmen Day to meet the new first-year students and talk with them about beginning Ma’ayanot. Avigail Gottlieb, Secretary of GO and class of 2017, said Freshmen Day was really great and she is happy she befriended such an awesome grade comprising so many great girls.

 

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