Our Program
Lech~Lecha לך לך Teens is a fun, adventurous, one-week outdoor Backpacking experience for Jewish teens. Close-knit groups, ten to fifteen teens and two to three guides, will embark on an epic journey together in the wilderness. We'll create a supportive and laughter-filled environment for teens of all backgrounds, fostering social connection and personal growth.
There's nothing like nature to bond us together - group challenges, wilderness skills, bonfires, guitars, star-gazing, and creative projects - check out our weekly schedule, below, for program content details.
There's nothing like nature to bond us together - group challenges, wilderness skills, bonfires, guitars, star-gazing, and creative projects - check out our weekly schedule, below, for program content details.
Where?
This summer we'll be exploring the gorgeous Appalachian forests right outside of Harrisburg, PA.
WHEN
Tuesday June 22nd - Sunday June 27th
What
An epic 6-day backpacking journey. Discovering together, laughing together, learning about ourselves and the wilderness, getting super close to incredible friends, learning about our heritage and celebrating Shabbat in the woods.
High quality tents and communal gear are provided. Upon registration you will receive a packing that includes, among other things, a backpacking backpack, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad. Otherwise, all gear is provided.
High quality tents and communal gear are provided. Upon registration you will receive a packing that includes, among other things, a backpacking backpack, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad. Otherwise, all gear is provided.
Who: GENDER & AGE
All genders are invited to journey together with us. Our trek is open to all rising 8th, 9th & 10th graders.
flexible pricing
We are committed to equity. Cost is a sliding scale: $320 - $820, based on financial ability. We do not request any private financial information but trust your judgment on your family's ability to contribute.
Our Core Values
1. Pluralism: Tikkun Olam, bettering our world, is founded upon an appreciation of the unique role of each individual, including ourselves!
2. Curiosity: Growth requires engaging the unfamiliar, facing and overcoming challenges - together, supporting each other.
3. Celebration: Life is good, let's enjoy it together
2. Curiosity: Growth requires engaging the unfamiliar, facing and overcoming challenges - together, supporting each other.
3. Celebration: Life is good, let's enjoy it together
Schedule & Day in the Life
Educational Models
1. Experience: Learning by doing, feeling, working, running, building, dancing.
2. Immersion: Spending a week together bonds us as a group.
3. Leadership: Lech~Lecha לך לך challenges our youth to contribute, to design, and to create.
2. Immersion: Spending a week together bonds us as a group.
3. Leadership: Lech~Lecha לך לך challenges our youth to contribute, to design, and to create.
COVID-19
We at Lech Lecha ~ לך לך are so grateful to have successfully modeled safe and healthy outdoor gatherings last summer strictly abiding by local and national COVID protocol in consultation with medical professionals.
Here is how we will be making every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 this summer:
Here is how we will be making every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 this summer:
- Prevention: participants must either have healed from COVID, have been fully vaccinated, or have received a negative COVID test over the 72 hours prior to any Lech Lecha program in addition to confirming that we have not knowingly been exposed or experienced systems thereafter. \
- During Lech Lecha, each participant will have their own utensils throughout the adventure and protocols around food preparation and distribution are strict. Mask wearing is required whenever within two meters of your neighbor.
- Tent Pods. We will be sharing tents in groups of two and three. This is necessary in order to be sustainably carry our gear on our backs. Participants are asked to agree to pod-up with another participant. You may request to do so with a friend with whom you are treking or will be paired up with a new friend (you can request that this new friend is vaccinated or has been through COVID on the registration form). If you are uncomfortable with this setup, there is an option to request a single-person tent on the registration form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Friends: Who's joining me? Can I come with a friend? Group of friends?
We all have different goals - some may want to meet new friends, some want to have a chance to connect with old friends, and some of us want both. Most of our programs will be for individual campers from a variety of backgrounds and summer camps.
Hard to be alone in a new group? Bring a friend! When possible, we try to accomodate friends coming together in the same cohort.
We are also available to facilitate programs for entire groups of 6-15 who want to come together. If this is your case, please be in touch directly.
Hard to be alone in a new group? Bring a friend! When possible, we try to accomodate friends coming together in the same cohort.
We are also available to facilitate programs for entire groups of 6-15 who want to come together. If this is your case, please be in touch directly.
Observance: What does pluralism look like in practice?
We celebrate each individual's perspective and practice. Our programs invite discussion and participation, inspiring one another's personal journeys. Communal practice reflects our diversity, experiencing prayer and blessings through various modalities, utilizing song and movement. All adventures are kosher and shomer Shabbat, honoring individual practice and fully supporting observance of mitzvot
Food: What's it like?
No nuts! And with fewer than ten campers per session, we are happy to make accommodations necessary for other allergies and eating habits. Check out our "Day In the Life" to get a preview of our menu. I love our food! Made by counselors on site, we'll eat simple and delicious camping-style meals.
Communication Devices: Can we bring them on our adventure?
Distance makes the heart grow stronger. After months of online classes and eyes peeled to screens, we're excited to be taking a week off. Parents are asked to hold onto camper communication devices while they are on Lech~Lecha לך לך. Breaking out of the familiar surroundings of home and social networks helps us to break into a stronger relationship with those around us, with nature, and with ourselves.
Refund Policy: What if my teen has to return home?
A registered camper may decide not to join our programming this summer for non-extenuating circumstances. If this happens 7 days or more prior to the start of the session (i.e. before June 7th for the session beginning on June 13th), all but $90 of your downpayment will be returned. If this happens within the week of camp (i.e. June 7th onward for June 13th session, the downpayment ($360) will not be refunded but no additional cost will be incurred.
Communication with staff
Our teen programming is new this summer, and you've never met us - we completely understand and value your desire to know what is going on at camp and stay updated. You'll be able to contact us at all times with the contact info exclusive for parents that we'll share upon registration. But we'll also be actively sharing our experience at Lech Lecha ~ לך לךwith daily pictures and messages over WhatsApp (aside from Shabbat).
Testimonials
My son attended a week with Nadav last summer and loved learning about nature, about himself as Jewish teen among his peers, hiking, cooking, playing frisbee, and singing together. He gained a lot of self confidence that week and was able to reach out to kids, (Jewish and non-Jewish) when he came home more than he had on his own before. I’d recommend a trip with Nadav and his team for every outdoorsy Jewish teen to experience the joy of learning about nature, about their own strengths, and about developing social connections in a safe space, infused with spirituality and energy."
Sam was excited about spending such an amazing week just hiking and talking about the natural beauty of the area. Exploring the woods together each day, stopping to listen to the sounds, and connect to the counselors. He described having built his own shelter in the woods, learning how to bake challah and cook in the oven he helped build. The personal accomplishment he felt during this week was second only to the joy that he felt building friendships.
