WOW Columbus Three Ideas Presentation

WOW – Jewish Education and Identity DepartmentWOW – Jewish Education and Identity Department Columbus Jewish Federation - Community PresentationColumbus Jewish Federation - Community Presentation

The WOW InitiativeThe WOW Initiative

First initiative ideas for grades 3 to 5/6First initiative ideas for grades 3 to 5/6

Our dreamsOur dreams The main ideaThe main idea Business plan and staffingBusiness plan and staffing Pilot programsPilot programs

WOW – Jewish Education and Identity DepartmentWOW – Jewish Education and Identity Department Columbus Jewish Federation - Community Board PresentationColumbus Jewish Federation - Community Board Presentation

Camp AlternativeCamp Alternative

We’re dreaming of…We’re dreaming of… The benefits of summer camp such as informal education in a kid world, The benefits of summer camp such as informal education in a kid world,

participatory learning, an immersion environment over many days, participatory learning, an immersion environment over many days, building relationships between students, and depth in their learning.building relationships between students, and depth in their learning.

Resolving the struggle with families who miss a lot of religious school or Resolving the struggle with families who miss a lot of religious school or opt out entirely for other activities because of the time conflict.opt out entirely for other activities because of the time conflict.

The Main Idea:The Main Idea: Establish a day camp model that incorporates informal education with Establish a day camp model that incorporates informal education with

religious education that operates for several days in the summer, a few religious education that operates for several days in the summer, a few days during winter break and on a periodic schedule during the year. days during winter break and on a periodic schedule during the year.

The camp incorporates an entire day of educational activities through a The camp incorporates an entire day of educational activities through a variety of experiences including arts, tefillah, playing, learning time, variety of experiences including arts, tefillah, playing, learning time, exploring etc.exploring etc.



Business Model & Staffing Business Model & Staffing Can be run as a community alternative, collaboration of institutions, or Can be run as a community alternative, collaboration of institutions, or

adopted by interested congregations/institutions. Can incorporate adopted by interested congregations/institutions. Can incorporate inclusion of unaffiliated families. inclusion of unaffiliated families.

Staffing is required for camp planning and separate staff is required for Staffing is required for camp planning and separate staff is required for actually running of the camp.actually running of the camp.

Sample Pilot ProgramsSample Pilot Programs A camp alternative program for a particular grade throughout the A camp alternative program for a particular grade throughout the

community ( e.g all of grade 3) or for participating schools (multiple community ( e.g all of grade 3) or for participating schools (multiple grades) for 2 weeks in early August, 1 week during winter break, monthly grades) for 2 weeks in early August, 1 week during winter break, monthly family education programs and additional weekly programs as family education programs and additional weekly programs as determined by congregation.determined by congregation.

Typical camp day includes community time, tefillah, chuggim (electives), Typical camp day includes community time, tefillah, chuggim (electives), learning, and arts.learning, and arts.


Retreat ConciergeRetreat Concierge

We’re dreaming of… We’re dreaming of… A way of providing immersive Jewish learning experiences throughout the A way of providing immersive Jewish learning experiences throughout the

year for students year for students A way to utilize the outdoors and other learning venues, study for a longer A way to utilize the outdoors and other learning venues, study for a longer

period of time, incorporate family education or other configurations of period of time, incorporate family education or other configurations of learners, and build community. learners, and build community.

Breaking the time and cost barriers for retreat planning by single Breaking the time and cost barriers for retreat planning by single organization staff members and not reinventing the wheel every time a organization staff members and not reinventing the wheel every time a retreat is planned. retreat is planned.

The Main Idea: The Main Idea: An education professional whose role is to assist in planning retreats for An education professional whose role is to assist in planning retreats for

groups focused on grades 3, 4, 5 & 6.groups focused on grades 3, 4, 5 & 6. The Concierge will build a community repository of information about The Concierge will build a community repository of information about

planning retreats as well as curriculum and sample activities. planning retreats as well as curriculum and sample activities.


Retreat ConciergeRetreat Concierge

Business Model & Staffing Business Model & Staffing Staffing is the core of this program and would consist of an educator with Staffing is the core of this program and would consist of an educator with

skills in informal education and event planning. Would most likely be run skills in informal education and event planning. Would most likely be run at the community level.at the community level.

Sample Pilot programsSample Pilot programs Community wide retreats for grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 and/orCommunity wide retreats for grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 and/or Partner organizations (schools) are given option for particular institutional Partner organizations (schools) are given option for particular institutional

retreatsretreats A retreat can be a Shabbaton, school breaks, Sundays, daytime or A retreat can be a Shabbaton, school breaks, Sundays, daytime or

overnight; and they can be focused on a learning topic, building overnight; and they can be focused on a learning topic, building community, environmental education, etc.community, environmental education, etc.


Merit Badge – Social AppMerit Badge – Social App

We’re dreaming of…We’re dreaming of… A learning model that allows for student/family flexibility to work more/less A learning model that allows for student/family flexibility to work more/less

independently depending on their interest, that provides activity based independently depending on their interest, that provides activity based learning and grounds a portion of their learning outside the classroom.learning and grounds a portion of their learning outside the classroom.

Incorporating technology into the learning and assessment activities so Incorporating technology into the learning and assessment activities so that Jewish learning in the realm where students today are already living that Jewish learning in the realm where students today are already living or are soon headed.or are soon headed.

The Main Idea:The Main Idea: Similar to scouting model - curriculum of activities and learning Similar to scouting model - curriculum of activities and learning

topics clustered into “badges” that progress over years.topics clustered into “badges” that progress over years. Allows for an independent pace mixed with group activities.Allows for an independent pace mixed with group activities. Internet programs or social apps are utilized to incorporate Internet programs or social apps are utilized to incorporate

activity and location based learning.activity and location based learning.



Business Model & Staffing Business Model & Staffing Can be run as a community alternative, collaboration of institutions, or Can be run as a community alternative, collaboration of institutions, or

adopted by interested congregations/institutions.adopted by interested congregations/institutions.

Staffing is needed for curriculum development and for student oversight.Staffing is needed for curriculum development and for student oversight. Sample Pilot programsSample Pilot programs Establish for one grade (e.g. grade 3) or limited number of topic Establish for one grade (e.g. grade 3) or limited number of topic

badges for several grades (e.g. holidays for grades 3-5).badges for several grades (e.g. holidays for grades 3-5). Sample: Complete 12 activities with at least one in each category Sample: Complete 12 activities with at least one in each category

(visual arts, ritual, language arts, knowledge assessments, (visual arts, ritual, language arts, knowledge assessments, practicum activities, Hebrew, creative arts and group activities).practicum activities, Hebrew, creative arts and group activities).

Regular meetings for learning programs, community building, Regular meetings for learning programs, community building, group activities and assessment of progress. group activities and assessment of progress.


First Ideas for Grades 3 – 5/6First Ideas for Grades 3 – 5/6


Retreat Concierge Retreat Concierge


Documents

WOW Columbus Three Ideas Presentation