The campers learn about interesting themes by playing. In our programs we try to make the children be opened to the Jewish traditions and values, all this in an interactive way with debates, discussions, games underlying the principal of free choice. The camp helps the kids by showing how it feels to be a part of a group, teaching to respect each other, to learn who they are, how to open towards others. And all this happens through exciting and interesting programs, experiences and adventures. With our programs fitted to age groups we want the kids to make friends, sport, relax and have Jewish communal experiences by the end of the 12 day session. Our campers may dance, swim, sing, and canoe the day away, but know this about Szarvas: no one goes home thinner than they arrived. That’s because we run – modesty aside – one of the best and tastiest kosher kitchens in Central Europe, serving everything from regional specialties like Hungarian goulash and spaetzle to Israeli treats like humus and falafel. Our air – conditioned dining hall is where we celebrate birthdays and sing Hebrew songs before, during and after lunch. At Szarvas we mix everything up. Hebrew songs and Israeli dancing are programmed alongside canoeing, swimming, computers, and sports. We learn together, sing together and grow together. And we don’t just make friends at Szarvas, we forge friendships that will last a lifetime – 2,000 each summer. Remarkably enough, even language differences are not barriers! And what teenager leaves summer camp with dry eyes? Szarvas campers are no different from other campers – save for this: many of these children return home to cities where their families are the only Jews in town. And the friends they make at Szarvas are often their very first Jewish friendships. By today the claims of the different countries have changed. Many Jewish camps have opened their gates, which are mainly under the management of those, who grew up and discovered their Jewish root in Szarvas, which stands as the model of their camps or programs. Whatever surroundings the alumni of Szarvas form, they constantly attentive to Europe’s still unique international Jewish setting, and do their best to bring their community to Hungary at least once a year. With the opportunity given for certain countries by the European Union (the Schengen agreement) this is more easier than before, but for others it’s more harder (e.g.: East Europe – they have requirement for visa, and we haven’t even mentioned the other financial charges). From summer till summer
By today the camp has outgrown itself and is more then a summer camp. It’s 365-day project which last from summer till summer. Following the summer camp Szarvas gives home to a student camp which is organized by UJS, a student organization of Budapest. Among autumn events we can find a conference for the teachers of the Jewish schools, a seminar for the Hungarian group leaders and an autumn dance camp for Hungarian participants. After having a short brake, the spring season begins in February with a leader training, and continues with seminars for organizations of all the Jewish branches, international group and unit-head training, international dance camp, Machol Hungaria, an increasingly popular family camp for those who grew up in the summer camp and started a family, and just before the summer camp starts a pre-camp takes place, a one-week seminar with the participation of every international leader. Our summer camp is the single most important Jewish outreach program in Central and Eastern Europe. We take 1,300 children from more than 40 communities in 25 countries, bring them to us for two weeks, and send them home bursting with Jewish pride. That’s why so many of these children come back to us year after year, returning first as campers, then as counselors. In our first decade of operation, we have rekindled a Jewish flame in more than 25,000 children.
