Welcome to Our COJECO JFAM Weekend at Camp Zeke
Friday
2:00 – 4:00 PM – Arrival/Welcome/Show Families to Rooms – Enjoy a selection of healthy snacks, cold drinks and freshly brewed hot coffee in our center dining room. Hachnasat orchim – we welcome you to our community!
4:00 PM – Meet on the main lawn near the lawn deck for fun and games and an interactive camp treasure hunt and visit all the key places on camp to learn where everything is located.
5:00 PM – Join us on the lakeside pavilion for a reception complete with wine and hors d’oeuvres for the adults and fresh fruit and snacks for the kids.
5:30 PM – It’s time for Kabbalat Shabbat – Help us welcome Shabbat through joyful song, reflection and prayer.
6:00 PM – We now move to the dining room porch as we explain and practice the ritual of lighting the Shabbat candles, Family blessing (i.e. blessing the children), say kiddush, have a ritual hand wash, and then everyone washes their hands as they enter the dining room as a community (hang the bracha for handwashing above the sink). Once seated, we sing Shalom aleichem, say the blessings over the challah. We encourage the children to join in the singing and rejoicing in welcoming the Sabbath.
6:15 PM – Enjoy a festive Shabbat meal with a traditional chicken and matzo ball soup, fresh roast chicken, chicken fingers for the kids, tri-color roast fingerling potatoes, a fresh vegetable medley and warm fruit pies for dessert. (Wine and Grape Juice)
Throughout the meal, we will sing/teach short Shabbat songs accompanied with a bit of learning (i.e. about the meal and what we’re eating, and a bit of Torah). We finish the Shabbat meal by singing the prayer after the meal.
7:15 PM – Learn to create bedtime rituals with our Jewish life leader in the dining room. (Dine on south side, learn afterward on north side) – Hashkiveinu, Shma, guided prayer – COJECO staff adds a Russian-language equivalent
7:45 PM – Leilah tov – Bedtime for the younger children. For children ages 6 and older – join our counselors in the theater for a fun-filled Shabbat Game Oneg
8:15 PM – Join our adult smooze, snacks and adult beverages at our Oneg Shabbat in the A Lounge – Babysitters are available to watch your little ones. COJECO staff will run an interactive program
Saturday – Shabbat Shalom!
7:30AM – Good morning!
Enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee or a hot cocoa on the dining room porch.
We invite you to join us for morning yoga on the lakeside pavilion
8:15 – 9:15 AM – Breakfast – Enjoy a selection of fresh fruit salad, assorted yogurts, muffins, pastries, hard boiled eggs, fresh bagels and spreads, and assorted cold cereals. – We practice shmirat ha’guf – taking care of our health.
– Singing and Ruach in the dining room before we split into Shabboptions.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM – It’s time for Shabboptions – select one of the following:
● Traditional Shabbat Service full of joyful singing and prayer led by our Rabbi on the lakeside pavilion
● Shabbat Theater – Join us in the theater as we create mini plays using scenes from the Bible
● Shabbat Reflective Nature Walk – Meet us at the lakefront and take a gentle walk around the lake as we reflect on the meaning of Shabbat and the Torah portion of the week. (Wear hiking boots or shoes and bug spray).
● Torah Yoga – Stretch your limbs as we contemplate the Torah portion of the week with our flexible instructors, lakeside in our martial arts studio.
10:45 AM – 12:30 PM – Separate child and adult programming for children 2+ – Babysitting is available for children under the age of 2.
● Children 2 years and older are divided into groups by age under the supportive supervision of our wonderful counselors. Children enjoy fun activities like Shabbat appropriate nature arts and crafts, Gaga, Sports, lawn games or a song session with our Camp Zeke song leaders. (Shabbat crafts – challah cover, kiddush cup, candle sticks, Havdalah box – including spice bag, Havdalah candle.)
● Adults can choose from a circus workshop, working out in a well-equipped gym, a lively Zumba or spin class or a chance to relax and enjoy nature.
● At 11:45 AM – we invite the adults to gather at the lakeside pavilion for a discussion of Tikkun Middot/Jewish values with our Rabbi.
12:30PM – Lunch – Enjoy a healthy lunch with plenty of fresh salads, fruits and tasty fresh options.
1:30PM – Rest hour – Recuperate and relax with your family. Take time for a nap or explore our beautiful property on
your own.
2:30 – 5:30 PM
Family activity time!
The fun continues with a variety of activities for the family to enjoy including fitness classes, music, healthy cooking, Shabbat crafts, swimming in the pool, arts and crafts, kickball, basketball, tennis, circus arts, ping pong, nature exploration, hiking and more.
Enjoy healthy and refreshing snacks served from our canteen located on the theater porch.
5:30 PM – Free time before dinner
6:00 PM – Dinner or the third meal
7:00 PM – Help us say farewell to Shabbat and welcome to the new week with our Havdalah service on the lawn deck.
7:15 PM – Evening campfire and s’mores – Learn songs you can sing all year long as you join at the lakeside pavilion for a Shira – Jewish singing (song session) – Our staff are available to watch your little ones when they are ready for bed.
8:30 PM – Come one, come all to the Camp Zeke JFAM All Family Talent Show! – In the Theater
9:30 PM – Leilah tov for the rest of the kids – Practice your bedtime rituals – Staff are available to watch your little ones.
10:00 PM – Adults only chat and smooze – examine ways to create Jewish family rituals and traditions that will last a lifetime. Adult beverages and snacks will be served.
Sunday
7:30AM – Good morning!
Enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee or a hot cocoa on the dining room porch.
We invite you to join us for morning yoga on the lakeside pavilion
8:15 – 9:15 AM – Breakfast – Enjoy a selection of fresh fruit salad, assorted yogurts, muffins, pastries, blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs, fresh bagels and spreads, steel-cut oatmeal with fresh berries and assorted cold cereals. – We practice shmirat ha’guf – taking care of our health.
9:30 – 11:30 AM – Choice of activities – spend time as a family and try some of Zeke’s favorites.
● Circus arts – learn to spin on our silks and hoops or tumble on our mats
● Family Zumba dance party – shake and stretch as we take care of our health
● It’s Challah braiding time! – Learn to bake the traditional bread we eat on Shabbat
● Make a traditional Blintzes for Shavuot
● Judaica art – Create your own mezuzah case or challah cover
● Lake is open for boating – Parents must accompany children
● Lively game of family basketball – meet on the lower basketball court
11:30 – 12:00 Noon – Farewell and closing gathering on the main lawn – with singing and blessings – let’s all share what we learned and what we hope to do once we get home.
12:30 PM – Farewell lunch
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