East Teen Camp 2022

Night Time Routine

Vivian K.
Age: 14
Tribe of Asher

In the evening at Camp Gilgal, we usually have dinner around 5:45pm. After everyone’s done eating Hiccup gives us instructions of what we’re going to do. We usually go back to our cabins and put on closed toes shows for a fun activity. Some of the fun activities we do are nukem or volleyball. We also do inside activities. The other night we played a fun game called screamo. After that we usually get ready for campfire, but we haven’t been going up to sunset this week because of the weather. We do it in the Mishcon when we’re not up at sunset. When campfire is over Hiccup closes in prayer and we get ready for lights out. Me and my 7 cabin mates change into comfy clothes and brush our teeth. Most of us stay up and talk for a while until Watson or Nacho make us be quiet. That’s what a night at camp Gilgal looks like for me.

Camp Gilgal Feedback Interview

Nati B.
Age: 15
Tribe: Benjamin

Welcome to the world of Feedback, master magician, obscenely tall, can’t spell and epic backstory! Feedback was born at a young age and grew up quite fast. In only 9 years, he was 10. However he had already been to camp twice and had made a name for himself by being (and I quote): “Hideous, having long hair and putting stuff up his nose.”

But then he became Feedback. At 16 (his first year of staff), he was 6’2” and already wise. You could tell by the scruffed hair on his chin and gleam in his eye. Feedback was doing great, but his town tragically burnt down, which changed him forever. Feedback was in a hard place, but he got back up on his feet and came to camp. Over the years, Feedback has been kind, artistic, funny and very tall – there really aren’t any words to describe him. Personally, I highly recommend that the next time you see him, call him by his true feebity-jibbity.

PS. Feedback’s favourite verse is John 1:1 because it specifies the divinity of Yeshua and how everything was made through him.

Simba’s Socks

Noah A.
Age: 14
Tribe of Benjamin

Simba, one of my tribe leaders is always wearing socks. (Who isn’t?) But, his socks aren’t ordinary socks, they are special like my fellow camper, Yoav. Simba has a multitude of special colors or “flavors” because they’re different, but in the same genre. The socks gave me comfort in the darkest times, I would look at the Swedish fish socks and they made me think happy thoughts. Sometimes the socks would be the most memorable part of the day, like the whole “double stuff vs normal” debate. The sock groupings are as such: Cereal, candy misc. Most of the time, Simba wears slides (maybe to display his socks?) If you would like to see Simba’s socks, come to camp. 

The First Day At Camp

Yoav S.
Age: 15
Tribe of Benjamin

The first day at camp started when we were waiting for the pickup to go to camp. After waiting for an hour and a half we went in the van and started the long trip. During the car ride to camp, I talked to my friends that were next to me and I also fell asleep many times. When we arrived at camp we settled into our cabins. After we finished getting comfortable in our cabins we had a group activity that involved team building exercises and communication. It was really fun to see other teams figure out words that my team knew the answers to. After dinner we have campfire discussion, then we go to our cabins and have our first nights rest.

White Water Rafting

Ilana S.
Age: 12
Tribe of Asher

After a fun drive to a camp ground, we setup tents and slept, looking at the stars. We woke up early and got ready to leave. We get to the whitewater rafting place, get out paddle, helmets and pfd. We got on the raft and I forget what time it was and had an amazing time. During the places where we could swim, I discovered that it is beautiful and it showed God’s creation. We splashed and attached the other rafts. The Ωrapids were extremely fun. In one of them, Feedback fell out and that was funny. He was fun, so we continued our adventure paddling and swimming.  We demolished Simba’s boat but they struck back. Who’s Simba, you might ask? That’s another story. But he’s a kind and funny counselor. We ended the trip with calm waters and snacks. I will never forget that trip.

Cabin Cleanup/Inspection

Mati L.
Age: 15
Tribe of Benjamin

Cabin cleanup is an important part of camp and is often looked over. On the first day, everyone in my tribe ignored cabin cleanup, thinking that the cabin was “clean enough”. During lunch, when the cabin scores were released, we were told we got a devastating 75/100. Since then, we’ve had to pick up the pace and really pay attention to every small detail. During 1st and 2nd activity cabin inspection. Cabin inspection is always intense at Camp Gilgal. A tag sticking out of a sleeping bag or even something as simple as a bottle of hand sanitizer being 20 degrees off is 5 points further from a perfect cabin. This slightly chaotic experience makes cleaning a room somewhat exciting.

Camp Gilgal Decathlon

Elliott Etienne
Age: 15
Tribe: Benjamin

The second night of camp, we got to do a thing called the Decathlon. It is a mix of games that you do at camp and off camp. My team were given a pack of 12 sodas to drink and then to stack in a tower without knocking it over. It was difficult because there was lots of wind and a time crunch. We rushed back into the cars so we could get to our next event. We had to build another tower, this one out of spaghetti and marshmallows. After that we had an obstacle course to run on a playground. Fast forward a couple rounds, and we are all working to make a “swamp cow” out of duct tape. By this point it was getting dark, which made it difficult, but still a lot of fun. When we got back to camp, we did my favorite game: the shaving cream-cheese puff toss. I volunteered for our team, and they covered my head and face in shaving cream. Then they had to throw cheese puffs at me, into the shaving cream. My team won this competition! It was so much fun and I loved it. You should come to Camp Gilgal too and try it for yourself!

Interview with Watson

Levia T.
Age: 14
Tribe of Asher

 Hello! My name is Levia and I’m interviewing the camp counselor Watson. What I personally like about Watson is that she always has something that is interesting to say.  For this year, her favorite part of camp was being able to serve like being on the worship team, cabin staff, or just helping others. She decided to become a tribe leader because as a camper the staff left a mark on her which made her become one for other campers and become closer to God. She knew about Jesus because she was from a believing family. She knows a lot about veggies because her family ate very healthy since her mother had health issues. And she used to buy veggies from a farm and had to learn how to cook them. If these were only one type of food she could eat it would be Eastern European because she like comfort food and there’s a lot of cabbage in it.

Tribe Time

Ava G.
Age: 14
Tribe of Asher

Tribe time is a time when you get to do many fun activities that the people in your bunk come up with. These activities can be a variety of things, like playing field games, talking with your friends, and more. My favorite thing to do is to do makeup on the girls in my bunk. I love making them feel beautiful and confident. Another exciting thing to do is sleep, after a full day of activities. Tribe time is an hour, so it is the perfect amount of time to take a power nap. It is my favorite and moist calming thing to do any time of the day. Before camp started I knew a majority of the girls in my bunk but meeting the new girls have been great! We have grown closer into a Gilgal family!

Camp Fire

Aylo L.
Age: 14
Tribe of Asher

Campfire is a time to talk about God and learn more about the Bible. It takes place at the top of a mountain that we walk to , around the time the sun sets. Sitting around the campfire and hearing counselors talk about the Bible and their relationships with God is very inspirational and peaceful. It is also a great time to chill before lights out. Campfire is something many of us look forward to at the end of the day. One time a counselor named Nacho talked about anxiety which is something I could relate to. If you come to camp, you will love campfire.

Food

Hayle G.
Age: 14
Tribe of Asher

The food at Camp Gilgal Is mouthwatering. From the gooey warm chocolate chip cookies to the hot crispy fries. Chef always impresses us with his cooking skills. My favorite meal would probably be waffles because there are a variety of options for toppings like chocolate chips, strawberries, and whipped cream. Waffles are always served on Friday morning. After lunch and dinner there are always desert. The desert in my opinion is the best part. There was a different desert everyday. On Tuesday, we had popsicles, Wednesday cookies, and Thursday pudding. Before eating, one camper volunteers to say a blessing. Whoever says the blessing, their table gets to eat first. My friends and I always raise our hands first to eat. Camp Gilgal good never disappoints anyone which is why it’s so good

Camping

Lilly M.
Age: 13
Tribe of Asher

 Hi, I am being forced to write this against my will (exaggeration). One night we were just playing volleyball and they spring it on us that we were going camping. We quickly packed up and shoved into the van. The car trip to the campsite can be summarized as 2 hours of sweaty teens squished together in the car, singing, gossiping and bonding. It was the ideal childhood memory. Once we got there we went in the lake for a bit, but some people got bit my horseflies. Seriously, horseflies are the bane of my existence. We also played volleyball barefoot on the beach. (I am trash at volleyball.) But it was still fun. After that we got to assemble our tents on our own. Each group got to figure it out together, so that was cool and hilarious. I’ve always wanted to setup a tent. We roasted marshmallows around the campfire, then had a bible study. By the way why did God make mosquitoes? Don’t you just love the feeling of bugs crawling up your legs? By then everyone was exhausted and passed out in our tents. You could hear the ominous sound of swamp cows outside the tent. *shivers* ANYWAY, the overall trip was really fun, and we laughed a lot, and I’ll remember this for a long time.

Tabernacle

Zechariah U.
Age: 16
Tribe of Benjamin

Everyone rushes into the Mishkan, Bible tucked under the and water bottle in hand. Then we plop into our seats to wait for Feedback to start the worship. Hiccup then sets up his laptop and projector, carefully removing the cap from the lens. We stand up and start singing praise and worship. Hiccup then sets up his laptop and projector, carefully removing the cap from the lens. We all stand up and start singing “You are Holy,” Nothing I Hold On To,” and “Never Let Go.” Then Feedback puts away his eight-string oversized ukulele, and we all sit down for Hiccups message. This year, the main top, dealt with is doubt and faith. A lot of what Hiccup spoke on was in the book of Acts, when Peter and John were facing the Sanhedren about reaching Yeshua and the Glory of God. It also talks about how the Sanhedren feared the crowd of followers that might challenge their authority if they did anything bad to the apostles. Then we close with a prayer, and head to the next activity. Tabernacle is a great time to strengthen your relationship with Yeshua and worship Him.

Game Room

Mark P.
Age: 12
Tribe of Simeon

I think the game room is a lot of fun. There’s lot’s of games to play and snacks to eat. Billiards, ping-pong, foosball, atomic, fireballs, skittles! (This isn’t all!) There’s so much to do, but most people choose the pool. And yet there’s a good side to that: you get to play with grown up counselors. For example, counselors like Verde, and Feedback can really start up a game of pool, unlike some campers, (although there are kids who can kickstart a decent game!) My favorite part of the game room is billiards. When I’m not playing billiards, I enjoy ping-pong and air hockey. Some more fun games to play. Air hockey being a game of moving your hand quickly yet accurately, and ping-pong. But the best way to find out about the game room is to see for yourself.