Machane Structure:
Machane Mitgalgel is an adventurous traveling sleep away camp. On the one hand, there are counselors and competitions and night activities. On the other hand, every day there is a different adventurous activity and finally we travel in a period of two weeks both to the Golan and to Eilat.
Pick up time table 1st week
Camp begins on the Sunday the 3rd of July. One week before the start of the camp, we will publish on the website the pick up times and locations. The campers will be met by the counselors on the buses and will head out north.
General Location
The first week the primary location will be the Dugit Beach on the Kineret where we will camp out. The second week we will be in Mitzpe Ramon, and in Eilat at the Field school camp ground.
Shabbat
Fridays and Shabbat are spent at home with the family, usually in bed, catching up on missing sleep hours. Campers from Abroad can be set up with other campers for the Shabbat weekend.
Pick up time table 2nd week
The second week to the south of Israel, starts on Sunday morning the 10th of July. Similar to the first week, the campers will be picked up at the different drop locations. Pick up times and locations will be published one week before the start of the second week.
Registration
As the camp is based on buses, the registration is based on the number of campers we can have on each bus.
Each bus has room for a maximum of 55 people. The maximum numbers of campers on each bus will not exceed 46, as the remaining space will be reserved for the counselors and the staff.
As such, registration is conducted in a similar fashion. Once 46 campers are registered, the registration for that bus is closed, and registration begins for the next bus.
There is a minimum requirement of 40 campers to confirm the next bus.
Age groups
Each bus is divided into three age groups. 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15. Each group will have approximately 15 campers. Although traveling eating and davening are conducted together by all, most of the activities are divided by age group. So for instance if we have an activity at the Kineret, the younger group would have a paddle boat session, the older group may have to build a raft with barrels and logs, and have a race with another group.
Counselors
In addition to the travel guides provided by Biranit Pisga Etgarim Ltd.Each of the three groups will have an individual counselor designated specifically for the group. The younger group ages (10-11) will have two counselors. All of the counselors speak English and Hebrew, and have previous experience as counselors.
Prerequisite
There are many different activities which the campers will engage during the two week session, many of which involve water and swimming. All campers must know how to swim. There will be a test conducted during the first week, to evaluate the swimming skills of each camper. Campers who are determined to be week swimmers will be required to wear a life vest in order to participate in the water activities.
Co –Ed arrangement
Certain activities will be together such as meals, Davening, some activities and the night activities. Sleeping arrangements are separate. Swimming is separate. When mixed swimming is part of the scheduled activity (Such as the Luna Gal), alternate programs will be offered to those who do not wish to go mixed swimming.
Safety& Insurance coverage
Machane Mitgalgel's infrastructure and framework are provided by Biranit-Pisga Etgarim Ltd, who are certified travel guides as well as certified action activity guides/instructors, and have all the necessary qualifications and certifications along with the insurance coverage to conduct such a trip and provide the action activities. The group is escorted by at least one armed guard or guide. All the camp sites and lodging arrangements are guarded as well.
Medical attention
A paramedic (Chovesh) will join the group in addition to additional staff members who have first aid medical training, and able to provide immediate assistance if necessary We require that each camper has his/her Kupat Holim card with them at all times, in the unlikely event that a visit to a Kupat Holim is necessary.