The Newspaper of the URJ Greene Family Camp’s Journalism Activity

June 2011 – Sivan 5771 A Volume I - Number 1 A Bruceville, Texas A Session I

Mezuzahless buildings include cabins, motels, dinning room and sports center

By BEN DICKERSON

BRUCEVILLE, TX – As the gates open, another session of Greene Family Camp has begun, and everything is falling into place. However, not everything is where

it should be, as an investigation by the Greene Cricket-Press has shown many of the buildings on campus do not have mezuzot.

Buildings found to be currently mezuzahless include camper cabins, the guest motel, the senior staff house, the chadar ochel (dining hall) and the sports center.

Speaking to long-time camp director Loui Dobin, it became apparent that this was not their

intention.Loui stated that he and the staff

have enormous respect for Jewish tradition – Jews are instructed to “inscribe [the words of Torah] on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut. 6:4-9) – and would never have taken the mezuzot down by their own discretion.

Missing mezuzot mystery

See Mezuzot on Page 6

Underground rollercoaster & bowling alley: Fact or fiction?By DIANE SCHEINBERG

There are several stories floating around camp about secret underground facilities.

Some are strange. Some might be true.

Two are very confusing: Is there really a rollercoaster under the staff lounge; and is there really a bowling alley under Kibbutz?

When asked by the Greene Cricket-Press about these allegations, camp senior assistant director, Stefani Rozen, offered more questions than answers.

The tight-lipped Rozen did, however, divulge that she found bowling pins in the woods near Kibbutz when she was a camper. She might also have let it slip that the See Rumors on Page 4

Melachim camper Abby Herring caught several feet of air off the lake’s new blob on June 16. The massive infatable and accoutrements – made possible by a generous gift from the Mankoff Family Foundation of Dallas – are new to GFC this year. Other new additions include the return of horseback riding for Kibbutz and an expanded zoo and organic garden.

Pups help with homesickness

By CASEY BAREFIELD

There are two puppies at the GFC zoo to help kids feel at home. The puppies’ names are Laila and Belle.

The Green Cricket-Press met with zookeepers to learn more.

Laila and Belle are sisters from the same litter. They are a mixed

See Puppies on Page 3

got blob??

The dining room was among the recently repainted buildings found to not have a mezuzah.

Casey Barefield interviewed Michelle Renfrow about GFC zoo puppies Belle and Laila.

subterranean roller coaster – “The Greene Monster” – was, maybe, painted green, and that, maybe, it’s a full-size ride, like those at Six Flags, and, maybe, goes 60-miles per hour.

Scott Braswell, camp assistant director, told the GCP that the roller coaster rumor surfaced after the staff lounge was built in 1998. However, like Rozen, he offered few concrete details.

“Official camp policy is ‘No comment,’ ” he said.

The GCP planned to investigate on its own, but was prevented from doing so.

“We sadly don’t allow campers in the staff lounge because of certain privileges,” Scott said.

The entryway to the rumored bowling alley allegedly can be found in the Kibbutz freezer room.

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HAVE YOU SEEN ME?

Becky the Chicken

Lost & found

Kohamin campers Joseph Buks and Jacob Pickett were part of the rescue team.

Hermon resorts to fowl play in successful chicken rescueBy GCP Staff

Becky, the GFC zoo’s chicken, gave ’keepers a good scare the first week of camp with a daring escape.

The feisty fowl flew the coop Wednesday night, June 15, as work was being done on her pen.

After hiding out for nearly a day in the adjacent thicket – taunting pursuers with brief sightings and mocking buck-buck-b’ggucks – she was nabbed by a reconnaissance and rescue team of Kohanim campers from the bunk of Hermon.

Open gateBecky escaped from the zoo at

approximately 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to eyewitness Michelle Renfrow, GFC zoo director.

“We were installing a wood barrier against the fence to keep the dogs from seeing the rabbits and the chicken,” Renfrow said. “We opened the coop gate to bring the wood in and Becky bolted.”

The layer hen ran between the legs of security officer Omri Dvorkin, squeezed under the zoo house wall and darted straight into

the sheltering thicket across the drive, leaving frustrated zookeepers to ponder, “Why did our chicken have to cross the road?!”

Becky’s pursuers tried to follow, but were thwarted by the spinney overgrowth and the cover of night. Even a pool net and a machete were no use. Renfrow sustained injuries, likely warranting a visit to the camp infirmary.

An APB was issued that night and a reward of a fresh egg omelet was offered. Chicken sightings were reported over the course of the next day, witnesses said.

CaptureZookeepers received a credible

tip late Thursday afternoon, June 16. Renfrow and the camp security team rushed into action, enlisting help from the visiting Hermon bunk boys.

The pursuers organized into converging columns. They closed in and cornered Becky at the fence near the pasture. An AWOL goat nearby also was taken into custody.

Jacob Pickett, 11, was part of the R&R team.

“Becky was on the fence when she was spotted. It was pure luck that we were able to catch her,” Jacob said.

Joseph Buks, 11, who also was involved in the operation, said he was pleased with the outcome.

“It felt like catching a chicken,” he said.

The triumphant Hermon campers opted for extra MT for their reward.

Raid round upBy ZAKARY MORRIS

Raids have been going on for years at GFC and have become an important part of camp.

Lots of campers look forward to them every year – despite raids officially being banned by administrators – and, yet, they always happen. There are rules, though, to raids.

The GCP talked to Scott Braswell, camp assistant director, about the rules.

“I don’t approve of raids,” Scott said.

He did, however, say that he allows bunk competitions, as long as

they don’t make a mess.If a raid does occur, there’s to be

no stealing or “weird things,” Scott said.

Camper Alec Peddecord has participated in two raids, one early in the day and one late, and said he plans to do more.

Alec said they’ve raided mostly buildings and have done so “for fun.”

Counselor Rachel Glinsmann said she was involved in four raids, usually at night.

“We raid kids’ cabins,” she said, “for fun, always.”

Rachel, too, said she’ll continue to partake in raids, as well as help carry out “surprises.”

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New guys at the Greene Family Camp zooBy MADISON GALERSTON

The camp zoo is old but the animals are all new to us.

The zoo has at least 20 new animals for us to enjoy, including eight horses. Only Kibbutz currently gets to ride the horses.

The new horses are Cassie, Cinnamon, Spice, Dusty and Prance. But, all these horses are no comparison to the new donkey, Chocolate. He may look cute, but he won’t let you get close.

Like last year, there are new puppies – Laila and Belle – and those puppy-dog eyes make you melt. Sadly, there are only two little dogs, but they are cuties.

Other new animals include:• Becky the layer hen• Two albino bunny rabbits• Three one-week-old guinea fowls• One one-week-old turkey, TomA cow also might be joining the

zoo soon, according to ’keepers.El Stinkacabra is a new beast

rumored to live in the woods behind the zoo. Keep two eyes open if you don’t want the half-goat, half-pig, El Stinkacabra to come and eat you.

Sleeping with an eye open might help find camp’s missing cow from a few years back. Diane Scheinberg and Hanna Boucher learned about camp’s new horses from the zoo’s Dee Perry.

breed: half black-tongue cur, one-quarter catahoula and one-quarter bloodhound.

They were brought to the zoo by Dee Perry, GFC zoo specialist. They sleep either in their kennel at the zoo or in zoo director Michelle Renfrow’s room.

When they arrived at camp, Laila and Belle were 12 weeks old. They’re expected to grow to 50 pounds each. They currently are eating puppy food.

Neither puppy bites, but they do like to bark at chickens and rabbits.

GFC first brought puppies to camp last year to help homesick kids. Campers can visit Laila and Belle as often as they like.

At the end of the summer, Laila and Belle can be adopted – for free – by anyone who wants them and can properly take care of them. For more information about puppy adoption, see Michelle or Dee.

Puppies From Page 1

The zooLocomotion the llama is among

the weirdest animals the GFC zoo has ever had.

The new horses at camp don’t wear shoes.

Horse poo is just recycled grass.You can tell how old a horse is by

its teeth.The weirdest thing that has

happened at the zoo was Locomotion having heat stroke.

The first animal the zoo ever had was an armadillo.

The puppies, Laila and Belle, have the smelliest poo at the zoo.

The color of a chiken’s egg depends on the color of its ear flap.

Other random stuffThe strangest thing found in the

mail was a teddy bear filled with candy.

The weirdest thing snuck into camp was a pair of handcuffs. (Don’t worry, it was only for the heck of it.)

Hershey’s Cookies and Cream is the most popular MT food.

The smallest average camper shoe size is a Size 13 kids.

The largest camper shoe size is Size 15 adults.

Camp orders approximately 500,000 ketchup packets per year.

The electricity bill at camp last month was about $10,000.

DID YOU KNOW ... DO YOU CARE

?Random facts and

stats about GFC

By HANNA BOUCHER

By SAM HERMAN

Ever been trottin’ ’round camp in 100-degree weather, feeling like you are about to pass out from dehydration?

The Greene Cricket-Press doesn’t want you to die – that’d be bad for business – so we’ve scouted the primacies to find the frostiest wattering holes at camp.

Nurse water, by a campin’ mile, is the best on site. The map shows water fountain ratings from 1 to 10, with 10 being the coldest.

Wet that whistle!Rating scale of 1 to 10

Zip line / courtyard9

Ulam Ha’sport10

Zoo7

Newlam5

Campfire site9

Chadar Ochel3

S

By LILY BARNES

Ashley Marcks is one of the most important members of the camp admin team.

The 23-year-old Houstonian takes care of homesick children and first-time campers. Anyone can meet with her – no appointment necessary.

“I love to work with children! I was offered this job and I grabbed it up,” Ashley told the GCP when asked how she came to camp.

Ashley has worked at GFC for four summers. Before admin, she was a counselor.

“I do more behind-the-scenes work now that I am on admin. Also, I don’t live with the campers in this position,” she said.

In order to best serve the campers and their needs, Ashley is flexible.

“Sometimes I meet with the campers in my office, and sometimes in their cabin. My office is the Camper Care Team Office in the Camp Office Building,” Ashely said.

There supposedly is a door in the lounge that is always locked, said Scott, leading to speculation that it might be the entrance to the roller coaster.

“But, I can neither confirm nor deny if that is true,” he said.

Rozen said that Kibbutz was built in the late 1970s. The rumor is that the entryway to the bowling alley can be found in the kitchen’s freezer room.

The GCP went to investigate, but the door was locked.

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“I love to work with children!

”– Ashley Marcks

He’s brown He’s roundHe’s Wilson

Wilson is not appreciated by all, however, the GCP learned. In fact, he has his enemies.

“I wish he would expire,” said Amanda Zivley from bunk Timna.

Four days after this interview, Wilson went missing. Yahel bunk counselor Louis Abramowitz promised that he’d be reclaimed by the end of the day, June 19. Abramowitz was true to his word. Wilson was returned to his rightful owners during an after-lunch counter-raid that day.

So, what do readers think? Is the coconut Wilson a friend? Or just a snack kept too long?

Wilson loves to eat chips and salsa while wearing his favorite orange, pink and green Snuggie.

Wilson dons formal white attire for Shabbat.

Full Marcks to GFC admin Ashley

Lily Barnes found rapport with camper care team member Ashley Marcks.

By SAM HERMAN

Free days are some of the best times at camp.

There are so many options that it can be hard to decide what to do. The Greene Cricket-Press interviewed folks around camp to share their suggestions.

Camp director, Loui Dobin, said he loves the new activities: the blob and horseback riding. He also digs riding on golf carts.

Yarden bunker Ben Dickerson said his favorite activity is to sleep and listen to indy rock.

Jodi Gibbs, in bunk Carmiel, said she loves to walk around camp.

Counselor Jackie Fenson is into swimming.

Banyas bunker Dylan Solmon loves to go to the glee club.

Chufsha fun

Diane Scheinberg likes to summit the camp’s Alpine Tower.

Rumors From Page 1

By ALLISON WOITTE

What’s up with the coconut from the bunk of Yahel?

Wilson the coconut, named for the volleyball from the movie, “Castaway,” is Yahel’s mascot.

The Greene Cricket-Press interviewed Jake Rosenfield, 12, of Dallas, and Michael Lobsenz, 12, of Round Rock, about this odd coconut.

Q: How did you choose a coconut as a mascot?A: It was in the cabin as a joke from thecounselors and he just became the mascot.

Q: Where does he sleep?A: He has a bed made of napkins, spare pillows and blankets.

Q: Are you allowed to have a coconut at camp?A: It has a natural-made container, so it doesn’t attract ants.

Q: What does he do when you’re out of the cabin?A: Mostly sleep, but we take him to a lot of places.

Q: Are you worried about raid kidnappings?A: The campers are but the counselors aren’t.They believe he’s very well hidden.

Q: Does he have any fruit friends?A: Not yet, but we are working on it. He islooking on an online dating site.

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By SHELBY BALLINGER

Have you ever thought what it would be like to be a head cook?

The Greene Cricket-Press, on Wednesday, June 15, ventured into the camp kitchen and interviewed our fantastic head chef, Judy Roach.

We got the scoop about her and her kitchen.

Q: What is the most popular food?

A: Grilled cheese is everyone’s favorite, there is always very little left!

Q: What makes it so good?

A: Garlic butter.

Q: When did you start working at Greene Family Camp?

A: 19 years ago.

Q: What do you like most about working here?

A: I love cooking and seeing all the wonderful kids.

Q: Do you like having your last name as Roach?

A: No, I hate it! It’s never pleasant to have the last name Roach.

Q: Where did you learn how to cook?

A: I learned from my Dad. He was from Bohemia, Czechoslovakia.

Q: How many people work in the camp kitchen?

A: 8 people.

Q: Who helps you the most?

A: Maria.

Q: Where does the food come from and how often does it come?

A: It comes from a company called Sysco. Deliveries are approximately every other day.

Q: Who would you like to give a shout out to?

A: Loui – he is the man! He lets us get much better food than other camps. He wants the best for all of us!

Judy and her kitchen staff have one of the hardest

jobs at camp. Next time you see them,

say thanks for all they do.

Campers vote FRIEND!By GCP Staff Bonim-Niviim campers dined on hobo packs Thursday, June 16.

The Greene Cricket-Press polled the campers to see how the grub faired.

An overwhelming majority – 87 percent of respondents – voted in favor of the GFC campout staple.

Hobo packs: Campout friend or foe?

Roach in the kitchen

Judy Roach and her kitchen staff prepared stirfry chicken for dinner on June 15.

seasoned beef

potatoes

corncarrots

lima beans

BONIM / NIVIIM

Hanna BoucherMadison GalerstonDiane Scheinberg

KOHANIM

Shelby BallingerCasey Barefield

Lily BarnesAlexis Kuppersmith

Zakary MorrisAlli Woitte

MELACHIM

Ben DickersonJodi Gibbs

Sam Herman

Greene CriCket-Press stAFF

peas

Judy

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Shabbat fashion: It’s not optional

By ALEXIS KUPPERSMITH

Camp director Loui Dobin is fond of saying that GFC is the Shabbat of the year: Friday nights are different, more special Shabbats.

One reason why Friday nights are “more special” are the clothes that we wear.

“White is a color of cleanliness,” said camp assistant director Rabbi Ana Bonnheim when interviewed by the Greene Cricket-Press.

“During the 15th century, in Safed, everyone went up to the hills, wearing white, to welcome Shabbat,” she said.

Today, people can chose to wear what they want, she said, when asked her if campers should wear formal clothes. “But, we want them to feel special, though,” she noted.

For the first erev Shabbat of Session I, June 17, campers and counselors, alike, dressed up special.

“I’ll be wearing white: White linen

pants, a white T-shirt and a colorful scarf from Israel,” said Michelle Renfrow, GFC zoo director.

Counselor Esther Malinas said, “I won’t be wearing white! I have a black dress with a black and gold belt.”

Lindsay from bunk Tiberias said, “I have this pretty dress. It’s not completely white.”

Shelby, also from Tiberias, said, “A white lacy tank top with black shorts.”

Alli from Arad said, “Either a fancy dress or a skirt.”

Shabbat clothes make the wearer feel special … most of the time.

Alli took a picture of a friend drinking bug juice at dinner on Shabbat. The flash caused her to spill the red drink on her white pants. Later, as her friend (anonymous) went to night meds, she slipped and grass stained her Shabbat outfit!

These incidents show that wearing white at camp can be hard.

By BEN DICKERSON

More so than any other generation before, Generation Y, the “Millennials,” are children of the Internet. Computers, in themselves, are becoming more and more of what it means to be human. It’s a manner of expression, with programs like GarageBand assisting in music production and changing the music industry, and apps like Photoshop helping to preserve memories digitally. That’s why it’s perplexing that at Greene Family Camp, campers still are not allowed to access the Internet.

Limited Internet access could do a world of good. It would provide more immediate contact with beloved family members, thereby providing a remedy for homesickness and allowing campers to receive needed items from home more quickly.

Having Internet access would keep campers in touch with the outside world, i.e, current events. This has been a problem for me at camp: Two years ago, when Michael Jackson died, nobody knew until three days later.

Limited Internet access also would allow campers to have vital communication at crucial moments. Imagine your 90-year-old grandmother falling seriously ill during your time at camp. The Internet would provide a way of seeing her before she dies.

In my experience at camp, I have seen many children excluded, sitting on the side of a field or a room, scared to participate because they’re bad at football or dancing, or some other thing. If Internet connection were permitted, it would give way to a number of new

activities aimed at more “indoorsy kids,” like the aforementioned GarageBand or Photoshop or video-sharing.

For those concerned that this sort of class would be antisocial, I counter that activities of this sort should have group assignments or projects (or even group gaming) in order to bring campers together socially via technology.

Although I am proposing that this be enacted, I am not attempting to draw attention away from the sort of things for which we come to camp, like fencing or archery or ultimate Frisbee. Limits should be placed on Internet use, in order to make sure that campers do not become consumed with Internet

activities.Introducing Internet privileges

might also draw on-the-fence campers to Greene. The camp could advertise that it has top-notch Internet capabilities, which could convince potential campers who don’t want to lose touch with the outside world over the summer.

Bottom line: The Union for Reform Judaism, sponsor of this camp, prides itself on embracing change and being progressive. We live in a changing world, in which people are becoming more and more connected to, and interconnected with, technology, relying on computers and mobile devises for communication, interaction and expression.

In the 21st century, the Internet at camp is inevitable. GFC should be progressive and embrace the opportunity to offer new activities, to be more inclusive and to promote new forms of socialization for campers by allowing limited Internet usage.

Buildings that currently do not have mezuzot are

circled in red.

In the 21st century,

the Internet at camp is inevitable.

Op-ed: Internet is an asset at camp

The GFC director proposed that the cause of the disappearance was the repainting of buildings.

“Some 75-80 percent of structures on camp have been painted in the last year,” Loui said. “What happened,

most likely, is that the painters either did not know what a mezuzah was, and painted over it, or simply took them down and forgot to put them back on the doors.”

Now that the issue has been brought to the attention of the administration, Loui said, the

problem will be rectified as soon as possible.

GFC senior assistant director, Stefani Rozen, suggested that if congregations would like to help, they can sponsor a mezuzah reposting, as kosher klafim (mezuzah scrolls) run from $20-30.

Mezuzot From Page 1

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Write your own captions

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Life with

a

Are you proud to be a Jew? With a fro?

Well, here was your chance to show it off, as

we, the Green Cricket-Press, trotted about camp

askin’ y’all to show it off.

You very respectfully let us show it off. Nu, be

ready to become fro-life famous.

You may be wondering if just men can have

a fro? The answer is no!

We came across froed-up women

here. In fact, the ladies sport the

bigest ones at camp.

Have you seen Michelle Renfrow?

And she’s not the only one with a

she-fro. There’s also Rachel

Glinsmann. They

rock it!

JewfroThe Burning Bush

The

Renfro The Manbrillo

The Isro

The Diva The Party-in-the-Back The

Ark

By JODI GIBBSPhotos by SAM HERMAN

The Honorary Jewfro