Youth Director: vacant

Beth Ami Temple Youth BATY – programs foster a positive relationship between our young members and the Temple. The objectives of our youth program are to build a commitment to Judaism and to provide an atmosphere in which social relationships can thrive. We strive to provide a program in which our youth can explore and experience their Jewish identity in an environment designed to meet their individual needs.  These objectives are met through varied activities held throughout the year. These include: social events such as weekend kallot (retreats); participation in Temple activities such as the Purim carnival; Judaic study and discussion with our clergy and invited guests; participation in Erev Shabbat services; and trips and special events. Sr. BATY members can also participate in regional and national activities through the National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY).

 

Parents are encouraged to be involved through the Youth Activities Committee and the College Committee.  For more information please contact Youth Activities Chair, Neil Burka

MicroBaty  /  Jr Baty  /  Sr Baty  /  Teen Shabbat

MicroBATY (Grades 4 - 5)
MicroBaty membership is $20 and includes discounts on events.  Past events have included: fun and games day; family Mitzvah Day activities, and helping with the Purim Carnival.

Jr. BATY (grades 6 - 8)
Jr. BATY membership is $20 and includes discounts on events.  Past events have been a Wacky Weekend, a trip to two amusement parks and a scavenge hunt.

Senior BATY  (Grades 9 - 12)
SR BATY membership is $45 and includes a BATY t-shirt and discounts on events.  BATY meets throughout the school year with a wide variety of events including pizza dinners, Midnight movies, weekend retreats, social action activities and much more. All BATY members are also members of NFTY-MAR. (See next column).

NFTY is a national organization consisting of more than 450 Temple Youth Groups, divided into 20 regions, throughout the United Statesand Canada.(www.nfty.org)

NFTY-MAR is our regional leadership youth program, bringing together Reform Jewish Teens from North Carolina, eastern West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, Delaware and far-eastern Tennessee. Our members come together at many times during the year for learning, fun, worship, community service, and fellowship to help young Jewish adults throughout the region build and strengthen lifetime ties with each other and Reform Judaism. Each year, NFTY-MAR hosts seven regional events for high school age members of local youth groups. These events, which are held at congregations throughout the region and at CampHarlam, bring teenagers from Temple youth groups across the region together for Jewish enrichment and hands-on experiential programming. All events are planned and run by youth group members, and are supervised by very capable and committed adult staff. (www.nfty.org/mar).

NFTY National Convention

Every two years, NFTY hosts a national convention attended by more than 1500 NFTY members from all over the United States and Canada. This year’s National Convention is being held in Philadelphia, Feb 16-20, 2007(www.nfty.org/convention). Come join hundreds of Reform Jewish teenagers from across North America for 5 days of learning, worship, and fun!

Camp Harlam
Camp Harlam, in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania, is our regional URJ summer camp, and is one of eight camps sponsored by the Reform Movement. Camp Harlam has two four-week sessions for campers from fourth grade through tenth grade. In eleventh grade, campers go on a Camp Harlam NFTY in Israel program, and in 12th grade, students become CITs. Camp Harlam is a fully accredited URJ summer camp (www.campharlam.org).

NFTY Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life
Every summer, hundreds of Jewish high school students from around the country gather at the URJ Kutz Camp in Warwick, New Yorkfor the Kutz experience. First session (June 24-July 18) consists of the NFTY Regional Board Track, Temple Youth Group Leadership, Social Action Advocacy, Songleading, Judaic Studies, Hebrew, Visual Arts, and Theatre Arts. Second Session (July 19-August 5) is the Teen Exploration Program which consists of Money Matters, TEVA Outdoor Experience, NFTY Mitzvah Corps, Torah to the Max, TYG President at Kutz, Be Healthy and Safe . Third session (August 6-12) is a week-long trip-based curriculum. One program is NFTY Mitzvah Corps which is a community service program with social actions trip around the New York area. This is a great opportunity to spend a week of your summer performing mitzvot and helping the greater community. The other program is Packing For College, a program specifically for entering 11 and 12 graders. Trips to visit campuses both in the NY and Boston areas will be supplemented with programs on choosing a college, making Jewish choices, and taking standardized tests.

These programs encourage young teens to gain skills they will need to be effective leaders in their congregations, youth groups, and regions. Additionally, Kutz Camp provides opportunities for Jewish study, personal growth, and fun in a unique campus-like environment. Staff comes from all over the country. Kutz provides an intense, fun-filled environment for teens (www.kutzcamp.org)

Capital Camps

A Jewish Community Centers Association (JCCA) and American Camping Association (ACA) accredited camp for campers’ grades 3 through 10. Our 270-acre facility is located in the beautiful Catoctin Mountains of Pennsylvania, just one hour from Baltimore and Washington, D.C. We provide a full recreational program in a nurturing Jewish environment for approximately 300 campers. Programs include Arts & Crafts, Boating, Dance, Drama, Nature, Sports, Swim, Ropes Course and many more. Staff consists of cabin counselors and activity specialists chosen for their maturity, skills and love of camp. sue@capitalcamps.org

Israel Quest (IQ) (Grades 7 – 11) offers interested teens who want to spend at least a month in Israel after the tenth or eleventh grade an opportunity to earn grants of $1250 if they meet the program’s requirements. There are more than 50 approved trips to Israel including NFTY in Israel. The program is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Isreal Quest is part of the JET program within the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

NFTY in Israel - NFTY summer programs in Israelare 5-6 week adventures which combine travel and learning while touring ancient and modern Israel. (www.nfty.org/israel)

Eisendrath International Exchange (EIE): a fully accredited high school semester in Israel offered both in the Fall and Spring. This program includes immersion into the culture, history and language of Israelas well as standard U.S.high school academic courses. (http://www.nftyisrael.org/eie/)

For information on the Israel programs contact: URJ Youth Division at 845-987-6300.

College Connection
College Connection offers our college-age students the opportunity to stay connected to Temple Beth Ami, to Jewish life on campus and to other Jewish college students. The Temple sends student the monthly Chadashot, as well as “college survival” packages for Jewish holidays throughout the year. In addition, the clergy meet with college students each summer and during Winter Break.  For more information or to join our College Connection Committee, contact Sharon Greenbaum.

Kesher
The Hebrew word kesher translates as “connection.” Kesher is an organization for Reform Jews on college campuses. The purpose of Kesher is to connect Jewish students in college with their Judaism and with one another. (www.keshernet.com)

The Youth Choir for students in grades 3 through 8 meets on scheduled Sunday mornings after Religious School from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. Pizza lunch is served before rehearsals begin. Currently we are rehearsing for the Latkepalooza with Rick Recht on Sunday, December 17, 2006.

If you wish to join this choir, please contact Cantor Eschler. The Teen Choir is for students in grades 9^th – 12^th and has met on Tuesday evenings in the past. If you are interested in participating in this choir, please contact Cantor Eschler.