Uploaded to eCamp

Campfires, mosquitoes, canoeing, nature walks…and website design? Summer camp usually means disconnecting kids from technology, but in the case of Israel’s eCamp, it’s just the opposite.

eCamp, now going into its third year, is an overnight summer camp in Israel for children and teenagers between the ages of 8 - 18 that focuses on exploring the wonders of Israeli technology and building creative and technological skills for the future. Israel National News spoke with eCamp's CEO and director, Dotan Tamir. "It started from the idea of making a summer camp in Israel that has the same structure and standards as American summer camps, bringing that experience to the Israeli kids and teenagers, while also emphasizing Israeli technology as something that we're proud of and something we want the kids to be involved with," says Tamir. "We also want to bring Jewish kids and teenagers from all over the world to Israel to experience that, and to make friends with Israelis so that in the future, they can become a part of our family, do things together, and start projects together."

Since it opened two summers ago, eCamp has brought campers from 20 different countries to Israel, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and China. This summer; it expects more than 300 campers. "It is a very international community we're building," Tamir relates. "The majority of the staff is Israeli, but we also bring in staff from Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, London, and of course, the United States, so it's a meeting point for kids who like technology and digital arts, or want to be involved in it  – it's really open for everybody. About a third of campers from last year are returning, so it's really starting to become a family of kids that are returning year after year."

eCamp prides itself on its staff to camper ratio, which is about one staff member for every four or five campers. This results in "very personal attention," Tamir explains. "It makes the staff become very good friends with the kids and the friendships and connections last a very long time – we have very big groups on Facebook, and the kids keep their connections and friends over the years. They even come for winter reunions. So, it's not just a one-time experience, putting your kid somewhere for the summer just so that they do something. It's something bigger – something that becomes part of them."

eCamp emphasizes Jewish values. Although it takes a modern, inclusive approach to Judaism where all are welcome, eCamp keeps the traditional elements of Judaism such as Shabbat and Kashrut, and accommodations are made for those campers who require time for prayers. Shabbat, in particular, is a day meant for the kids to explore their Jewish identity together in a traditional Shabbat atmosphere. "Shabbat is a very unique day at camp," says Tamir. "Every Friday evening, we have a Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony, which is beautiful – first we have songs, and then a play by the older campers. Then, we have a service, a Kiddush, and Shabbat dinner. The whole atmosphere is very unique; especially for the non-religious campers, because for them, it could be their first Shabbat experience – so here, they get some values and ideas that they usually don't get. We have special activities arranged by their counselors, speaking about Jewish values and traditions, and every camper gets to talk about how they celebrate the Jewish tradition where they come from. It's a day where the kids get to know each other better – these are the days that they really bond."

eCamp also attempts to promote the Jewish value of Tikun Olam (repairing the world) to its campers by showing them, "how to do Tikun Olam using technology," Tamir explains. "Tikkun Olam doesn't have to be only protesting or helping poverty – it can also be coming up with an idea, a technology, or an invention that can really help a lot of people around the world. For example, we're taking the older camper group to a company right next to the camp – a biotechnological startup company where they have a special technology to deal with brain damage. When they see this, they get the idea that if they'll be good at technology, they can really save lives. There are also ways that they learn how to make a website that will help the community raise funds, or gain awareness of something that's important. It's not just about using the tools, but learning how to use them for the best.”

Kesem Fine, an 11-year-old boy from Haifa who is planning on going to eCamp this summer, spoke to Israel National News about why he chose eCamp. Fine says he is a little nervous to be away from home, but explains that campers are allowed to use Skype or the camp telephone to call home at any time. Also, "eCamp tries to match you up with the best possibilities of people (roommates) – they'll try to match you up with the best person so that you can have a good friend there who might go to the same courses as you. They try to put two Americans and one Israeli, or two Israelis and one American in each room," says Fine.

Fine says he is most excited about the computer courses he'll be taking. "They have 22 courses in every single subject from video making to music, creating photographs, building computers, video games, consoles, programming – almost everything," he explains excitedly. "In the first session, you actually go to Intel – you get to work there, and you get to go into this room where they test all the programs, so I'm pretty excited for that."

Fine also talks about how eCamp is not only a computer camp, but also an outdoor-oriented summer camp. "You'd probably think from the name e-Camp that it's all about electronics," he says, "But it's not – if you look at the daily courses and stuff that you do everyday, most of the time you're going to be outside."

Oranim Education Initiatives, one of the major organizers for MASA programs in Israel, is eCamp's parent company. "I myself worked in a computer camp in America, and returned there as an Assistant Director," says Tamir, "It was not a Jewish camp but the experience was amazing – I came with the idea to Oranim. We are giving an experience not similar to anything else in Israel because there aren't really summer camps here in the American style where the campers spend two weeks away from home without cell phones, speaking only English. There's nothing like it in Israel – the combination of computer camp, overnight camp, international community – it's something that doesn't exist."

For more information about eCamp, visit www.ecamp4u.com.