Why is summer camp held in Canada?
Givat Haviva runs many programs based in their campus in Israel as well as in participating schools and communities. In these spaces they challenge participants to question their identities and worldviews, but this work is made more difficult by the fact that participants return home to their families and friends each day, and are immediately surrounded by the ‘status quo’ once again. Holding the program far away from their everyday lives provides participants with the space they need to develop their relationships and opinions independent of their home environment, and to fully process the programming in which they are participating.
For most of our participants, Heart to Heart is the first time they have traveled so far from home, and certainly the first trip they have taken without their families. Experiencing this new adventure together is an important step in solidifying the sense of community and trust within the group, and helps participants to form a unique group identity.
Furthermore, Canada itself has a lot to offer in the way of content. Programming includes a visit to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, as well as discussions about bilingualism and the history and present day realities of Canada’s First Nations communities. These topics all offer valuable opportunities for participants to explore issues of democracy, multiculturalism, diaspora communities, discrimination and inclusion from new perspectives, and make connections to these aspects of their own society.
What happens when participants go home after camp?
Each cohort's transition home and reintegration into their communities is unique and to some degree influenced by the current political climate. Nevertheless, we have found that each of our cohorts goes home with a high degree of motivation and enthusiasm to continue their journey, often talking non-stop about their time at camp to the joy and irritation of their families and friends, and organizing social gatherings int heir homes and at local cafes, movie theatres, malls, etc. In addition to an intensive academic year of cohort-based alumni programming, following their summer at camp, participants also become part of a larger community of Heart to Heart alumni. Learn more about alumni programming in the alumni section of our What We Do page.
In what language does the program operate?
Heart to Heart's summer camp program is officially run in English and that is the dominant language at camp. Although they are encouraged to speak in English, participants are always invited to express themselves in the language of their choice and are encouraged to act as translators for one another. Our summer staff includes English, Arabic, Hebrew (and French) speakers in order to support participants through out the summer.
Givat Haviva runs many programs based in their campus in Israel as well as in participating schools and communities. In these spaces they challenge participants to question their identities and worldviews, but this work is made more difficult by the fact that participants return home to their families and friends each day, and are immediately surrounded by the ‘status quo’ once again. Holding the program far away from their everyday lives provides participants with the space they need to develop their relationships and opinions independent of their home environment, and to fully process the programming in which they are participating.
For most of our participants, Heart to Heart is the first time they have traveled so far from home, and certainly the first trip they have taken without their families. Experiencing this new adventure together is an important step in solidifying the sense of community and trust within the group, and helps participants to form a unique group identity.
Furthermore, Canada itself has a lot to offer in the way of content. Programming includes a visit to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, as well as discussions about bilingualism and the history and present day realities of Canada’s First Nations communities. These topics all offer valuable opportunities for participants to explore issues of democracy, multiculturalism, diaspora communities, discrimination and inclusion from new perspectives, and make connections to these aspects of their own society.
What happens when participants go home after camp?
Each cohort's transition home and reintegration into their communities is unique and to some degree influenced by the current political climate. Nevertheless, we have found that each of our cohorts goes home with a high degree of motivation and enthusiasm to continue their journey, often talking non-stop about their time at camp to the joy and irritation of their families and friends, and organizing social gatherings int heir homes and at local cafes, movie theatres, malls, etc. In addition to an intensive academic year of cohort-based alumni programming, following their summer at camp, participants also become part of a larger community of Heart to Heart alumni. Learn more about alumni programming in the alumni section of our What We Do page.
In what language does the program operate?
Heart to Heart's summer camp program is officially run in English and that is the dominant language at camp. Although they are encouraged to speak in English, participants are always invited to express themselves in the language of their choice and are encouraged to act as translators for one another. Our summer staff includes English, Arabic, Hebrew (and French) speakers in order to support participants through out the summer.