Women to ReJewvenate selves, canoe fleet
By Deborah Moon
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This September, the women heading for B’nai B’rith Camp for a weekend retreat will ReJewvenate not just themselves, but also the camp’s aging canoe fleet.
Organizers expect the fourth annual ReJewvenation to attract more than 100 women of all ages and affiliations to BB Camp Sept. 12-14 for a weekend packed with diverse activities ranging from boot camp to mah jongg. The weekend will again feature arts and crafts, a beach walk, campfire, canoeing, cooking demonstration, yoga, ropes course, shopping trip to nearby factory outlet stores, swimming and gourmet food.
But this year, women can “Complete the Fleet” and raise enough money to replace the camp’s aging canoes, some of which have traversed Devil’s Lake for nearly five decades. Last year the women raised money to buy three canoes—named Sarah, Rebekah and Leah—which this summer’s BB Campers already have put to good use. This year, organizers hope to complete the fleet by raising enough for eight more canoes, which also will be named after matriarchs.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to give back to the camp,” said Jordana Levenick, who is on the ReJewvenation committee with Amy Blauer, Becky Hornsten, Barb Gordon and Michelle Koplan. “When we started this event, it was for recreation and the chance to go back to camp. But we found women were excited to give back to camp and this is a tangible way to do that.”
“When we raise enough to buy a certain thing, we can really feel like we’ve made an impact,” agreed Hornsten.
Still, the main goal of the weekend is to bring women together for a relaxing social experience to ReJewvenate participants and build a sense of community among local Jewish women.
“We are trying to strengthen this community by giving women the chance to meet women from a range of ages,” said Blauer.
Some women come with a group of friends or relatives, while others come to camp not knowing anyone and leave with a new group of friends.
Each session on Saturday will enable participants to choose from an arts and crafts project, exercise or relaxation. One of the new offerings will be bra fittings.
In addition to the host of free activities, women also may sign up for a variety of spa services including facials, massage, reflexology, manicures and pedicures available at an extra charge. ReJewvenation Spa Robes will be for sale for $50 each, with some of the proceeds going towards completing the fleet.
This year the wide assortment of items donated by Jewish and non-Jewish businesses that support the event each year will be divided between goodie bags and door prizes as in past years, with some being raffled off to raise money for canoes.
Blauer said the timing of this year’s camp will make for an even more relaxing time for women.
“Rosh Hashana is not until two weeks after ReJewvenation, so it’s a more convenient time for women to take a break,” she said.
Cost for the weekend for those registering by Aug. 25 is $150 for members of the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, which owns and operates BB Camp, or $175 for non-members. Prices increase by $25 after Aug. 25.
Organizers are encouraging carpooling to the camp near Lincoln City. For help setting up a carpool or to receive an invitation, contact Becky Hornsten at 503-535-3533 or BHornsten@oregonjcc.org.
