“What time do you wake up?” “What fruit or vegetable do you most connect with?” “What’s the meaning of life?”
The juniors used the answers to questions like these to attempt to identify their peers in a game run by their grade government on Friday, March 21, during their shabbaton. Every grade in high school has an annual grade-wide shabbaton, aimed at being a fun way to connect people who might not know each other well and promote grade bonding without electronic devices.
After Zman Kodesh and a schoolwide Kabbalat Shabbat assembly, the juniors met as a grade to review norms and introduce the shabbaton theme. Every shabbaton has a different theme. This year’s theme was “Leaping into Leadership,” which they explored through group activities and discussions. Tori Ball, Dean of Experiential Leadership and Service Learning helped plan the shabbaton and come up with the theme.
“We thought it was a really meaningful time to reflect upon the fact that now that the seniors have graduated and have gone to Israel,” Ball said. “The eleventh grade is now the oldest grade in the school, and we gave them some space to reflect on what sort of role models they want to be and how they want to step up as leaders in the school community.”
After this discussion, the juniors loaded onto buses and departed school to go to Sky Zone Trampoline Park. Junior Sammi Krantz said she enjoyed Sky Zone, especially because of a guest who accompanied them on their shabbaton.
“We got to play dodgeball and basketball on the trampoline,” Krantz said. “It was fun. It was also really cute, because Mr. Shorr’s baby, Tehila, was there, and she was really cute standing by all of the things at Sky Zone.”
Previously, all the shabbatons have been held at Capital Camps Retreat Center. However, starting last year, the juniors have started going to Pearlstone Retreat Center in Reisterstown, Md.
Ball said that Pearlstone is noticeably “more upscale” and has less of a “campy” feel. Junior Daniel Jacobson said he appreciated the facilities at Pearlstone.
“It’s not cabins, it’s more hotel-style, which was very enjoyable because the rooms themselves are nicer,” Jacobson said. “And they have a farm there where they’ve got sheep. And the food was considerably better, in my opinion, than Capital Camps.”
Once they arrived at Pearlstone from Sky Zone, the juniors ate lunch and played a grade-wide game where they sat in a circle with one person leading them in different motions, attempting to avoid detection by a designated detective. Afterward, they held a group discussion about leaders in the community and had free time when they could hang out with friends and get ready for Shabbat.
Jacobson said he appreciated the amount of free time they had throughout the shabbaton and wished they had more. On the contrary, Krantz said that she wished there were more structured activities, especially since Pearlstone is larger than Capital Camps, which made it difficult for her to find people.
“I thought that we could have had a few more planned things, because there was a lot of free time, and I kind of got bored,” Krantz said.
After their free time was over, there was an optional mechitza Minchah service to welcome in Shabbat. They lit candles and prayed Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv as a grade. Then they ate dinner together and sang Zemirot. Their grade government hosted activities like identifying peers through their answers to random questions, Wavelength, Shabbat dancing with Jewish Text teacher Paul Blank and free time before bed.
Saturday morning, students participated in either a group discussion about the meaning of work or a Mechitzah or egalitarian Shacharit. Afterward, there was breakfast followed by Torah service in either prayer option or an alternative yoga and meditation led by English teacher Dory Fox.
“I did the yoga and meditation, and I really felt very restored afterward,” Ball said. “I was very impressed by Dr. Fox. I feel like she could be a professional yoga teacher.”
After all the morning options concluded, the grade ate lunch and had more free time. Some people played sports such as Spikeball while others played card games inside. Afterward, there were smaller group discussions about the weekend’s theme, which were followed by more free time.
Then everyone had the choice between Minchah, a nature walk and an indoor activity, all of which were followed by dinner, Ma’ariv, havdalah and campfire songs with s’mores. Ball, who attends all shabbatons, said she felt this one went particularly well.
“It just really felt like a peaceful and relaxing weekend where people really were kind to one another,” Ball said. “And I think I speak for all the faculty on the trip, where we were just amazed by what a wonderful weekend it was. We really had an exceptional experience together as a grade.
