Exciting Sustainable Curriculum Comes to Colorado’s Trendsetting Jewish Day Camp

Camp Gan Israel of the Rockies (CGI), the premiere Jewish day camp in Colorado, is going green, with comprehensive sustainable practices being implemented throughout its innovative summer programming. The camp, which serves ages 2.5 through 13 years old, will take place from June 25-July 27, 2012, at the state-of-the-art Ryan Elementary School in Lafayette, Colorado.

Camp Gan Israel of the Rockies is a joint project of Chabad of Longmont and Chabad of NW Metro Denver serving children from Boulder County and beyond, and is part of the largest and fastest growing network of Jewish day camps in the world. Gan Israel enjoys a well-earned reputation as a trendsetter with innovative ideas, creative programs, and new activities. But the true magic of the camp lives in the the comprehensive program designed to expose children to the richness of their Jewish heritage with highly qualified and caring staff, exciting programs, and cultural tradition. The camp has three different age divisions: Mini Gan Izzy (ages 3-4), Sabras (5-9), and Pioneers (10-13).

Introducing recycling to camp will nicely complement our curriculum of Jewish values and holidays,” says Leah Brackman, co-director of CGI Rockies, and despite the extra work and cost involved, it will be well worth the effort.

The decision to “go green” emerged out of Chabad Jewish Center of Longmont’s recent participation in Hazon’s Sustainable Audit program, which the center conducted over the last year. The audit included an overall assessment of the center’s current sustainable practices, as well as new initiatives for education and green practices that have been enthusiastically embraced by the community. At the recent Purim celebration, recycling and composting bins were prevalent, as well as traditional Mishloach Manot, or Purim goody bags prepared for friends and family, made out of recycled material.

For the 2012 camp season, CGI has committed to extending the green effort into the day-to-day operations of the camp, which provides healthy, kosher lunches and snacks, as well as branded water canteens. In addition, sustainability will be woven into the camp curriculum, as CGI of the Rockies believe that it is every member of a community, from the youngest to the oldest, can participate in environmentally-friendly practices. Lastly, the camp will be offering bus to and from key locations to help families with the high price of gasoline, as well as to lower the camp’s carbon footprint throughout Boulder County.

To learn more about Camp Gan Israel of the Rockies, please visit: http://www.jewishkidscamp.com or call 303.429.5177.