Day 13 @ CGI Coonawarra

FRIDAY: The last full weekday of CGI 5774. Today campers finished off any material they had been learning in Learning Classes, and had their last turns on the Giant Swing and. Regular sports were played, and the Grand Final of the My Day My Way sport elective was played off.
After lunch, campers gathered outside the pool area, as the suspense built up for the announcement of the winning team of Colour War. After all three judges had already been thrown in the pool, fully clothed, as is customary during such announcements, they clambered out, and as Mendel Blsesofsky took a leap into the pool, the words "Winning team of CHOSSID" resounded through the area. Moments later, many of the staff were dog-paddling their way around the pool, as they attempted to swim in their clothes...
Moving into the afternoon, a massive Camp cleanup and packup occurred, with campers leaving only the bare necessities for Shabbos and Sunday unpacked.
In honour of the holy day of Yud Shevat, after all were already dressed for Shabbos, campers and councilors gathered in the Shul, as they prepared to write Panim to the Rebbe. Menachem Lipskier explained what a Pan is, and then a short video of the Rebbe visiting the Ohel was played. Some Niggunim were sung, and then campers made their way to the dining room, where adequete pens and paper were distributed for all to write their very own Pan, some for their first time ever.
Group Bunk photos were also taken today, with (almost) all dressed in Shabbos clothes.
The last weekday Mincha of CGI was davened, and then campers settled in for the final 24 hours of camp - Shabbos.

Day 12 @ CGI Coonawarra - COLOUR WAR (part 2)

After a breif lunch, campers were called into the Shul, to be breifed on the next Colour War activity: A grand Apache Race!
The race took both teams through a quick sprint to the lake, and from there, a canoe race across the lake. By the finish line, another two campers, one from either team, ran backwards through an obsastacle course, until they met their teammates, who competed in shooting basketballs through hoops. This was followed by a challenging egg-and-spoon race, and ten a demonstration from either team of their soccer skills. A swimming race followed, and then a sack race and firemans carry. The Apache race culminated with a very intense MBP race between teams Rebbe and Chossid. Team Rebbe pulled through in this part, and won the race by a mere few seconds.
Time was now given for teams Chossid and Rebbe to learn their theme songs that had been painstakingly prepared by the Colour War staff the night before. Team Chossid assembled in the Yeshivas Kayitz Zal, while Team Rebbe gathered in the Shul. After some listening, the teams began to pick up their songs quickly. At 4:30, there was a grand presentation of both teams' songs, in the Dining Room, where the judges assesed various aspects of the team presentations.
After a short break, campers assembeld again in the Shul, this time joined by the High School and Yeshivas Kayitz Divisions, to celebrate the 32nd completion of the Rambam's Mishneh Torah.
Rabbi Cohen made a Siyum on the Yad Hachazoka, followed by a Haschola by Chaim Bondar of Yeshivas Kyaitz. Naftali Jurkowicz made a Siyum on Sefer Hamitzvos, and then Menachem Mendel Stern and Ari Herzberg both announced thie Hachlotos to begin learning Sefer Hamitzvos, with the new cycle that starts today. The Siyum ended off with a song being taught by its' composer, Mendel Gourarie, which talks about the importance of learning Rambam every day.
Mincha was then davened, outside, to allow the team of Chossid to prepare their play that they would be performing, in the Shul. The play was an impressive one, complete with a dramatic soundtrack, props, and costumes. The play portrayed the life of R' Lazer Nanos, and how a Chossid remains forever connected with his Rebbe. After a quick dinner break, the team of Rebbe put on their play, which portrayed the idea of a leader.
After the plays, a smashing Maariv was davened, where the very last points of Colour War 5774 were earned by teams Chossid & Rebbe.

A prompt lights out was enforced, which didn;t take much effort at all, thanks to an action packed, very tiring day.