Danielle Smith
JOFEE Final Presentation
A poem about my year at camp :)
Beginning in March
With some snow on the
ground
I moved into the woods
With little around
I chatted and hired
Some new summer staff
And when they arrived
We all had a laugh
The summer was wild
In many good ways
I learned how to delegate
And say “it’s okay!”
After the summer
There was quite the
switch
I focused on marketing
And my sales pitch
I held a huge calendar
With sixty events
Running Jofee programs
For ladies and gents
I created new systems
And organized
Using the winter
To rest tired eyes
Then come the spring
We kicked into high gear
Several programs a week
It’s been a full year!
The cyclical nature
Of camp is real neat
Repeating my projects
from last year’s a treat.
Overall I’ve learned lots:
How to manage a crowd,
And how to stay calm
When the kids were too
loud
I did lots of research
About zips and high ropes
Come fall, kids’ll swing
Right over the goats!
One goal was to learn
The behind the scenes
stuff
About camp, education,
Decisions that seem tough.
I was also ready
For more leadership roles
And at Eden Village
I filled many small holes
I took initiative
and stepped up all the
time
Using my strengths
To help me to shine
I learned what I’m great at
And where I can grow
The seeds I now hold
I’m excited to sow!
Pics from SUMMER 2017!!
JOFEE at camp in Numbers
Number of JOFEE family programs I
supported… 5
★ Maple Sugar Festival x 2
★ Sukkot Fest
★ Lag B’Omer Fest
★ Family Camp
Number of people engaged in family
programs at camp… 610
Farm School/ Homeschool Program
50 repeat students in the spring and fall
Number of campers at camp in
2016… 400
JOFEE off- camp in numbers
Number of JOFEE programs I lead
outside of camp...
2 tincture making
3 yad whittling
14 eco drama
9 candle making
2 salve making
4 matzah making
3 kippah felting
34 Total
Total number of kids I directly engaged in JOFEE
Programs outside of camp...1,016
Story from the field
I taught an eco drama program
That focused on ways
To protect the planet
With small acts each day
Some kids never knew
That food turns back into soil
And that plastic and polyester
Come from crude oil
Like conserving water,
And picking up trash,
And composting things
Like leftover hash (browns)
They wrote thanking me
For sharing these facts
And they went home with a list
Of all their new eco acts.
We had a long discussion
About their lifestyles
And kids were excited
To bike and walk miles!
A whole folder full
Of these words so sweet
Reminded me that what i’m doing
Is pretty darn neat!
After this program
I got cards in the mail
Saying how excited they are
To compost their kale
Jofee identity
I am so grateful
For this opportunity
To be a fellow
Immersed in JOFEE
New transferable skills
Like google docs
And holding a space
For all sorts of deep talks
I feel like a part
Of a larger movement
While spending the year
On my self improvement
Moving forward with knowledge
About my top strengths
Has already helped me
To go to great lengths
I’ve gathered tools of the trade
From trainings and friends
Seeing the whole world
Through a new lens
I am so looking forward
To building community
And holding Jewish events
When I live in the city
Goals and Challenges
From the very beginning
It became clear
That I would learn and grow
A whole lot this year
All of the coordination
And details to carry
My head is full and fluttering
Like a small programs fairy.
Prioritizing programs
and hands on learning
Proved difficult for me
Despite my deep yearning
Holding many projects
All at the same time
Was something I’d never done
A growing edge of mine
I have learned more about
Holding multiple roles
Overall meeting
Most of my goals
I was excited to teach
And loved when I did
Guiding my students
And helping each kid
Now I juggle many things
Moving in between
A project here, a small task there
It will all be seen
I grew as a leader
And educator
Becoming more confident
As a program creator!
I know more about
The backend of ed
And I’m grateful for that
As I look further ahead
One big goal of mine
Before coming to camp
Was to learn what it takes
To run programs like a champ
Ensuring a balance
Between the office and not
Was a challenge for me
That came up a lot
What’s next???
Now as camp is winding up
I’m winding down
Preparing to move back
To my home town
I’ll have teacher mentors
And more pedagogy
To continue to shape
The teacher in me
I’ll use what I’ve learned
From teaching in shul
And shift my attention
To kiddos in school
Living in Boston
I’m pumped for it all
If you’re in town
Please give me a call!
Taking grad classes
That start up in June
This next big transition
Is starting so soon!