Overview

Tzivos Hashem, in cooperation with head camp staff, introduced last year a new achievement and recognition program for use in the summer camps. The program consists of two parts: Rank Badges and Skill Badges.

Purpose:
The purpose of this program is to encourage camper involvement in both learning and activities. The Badges program will do this by giving campers:

. An opportunity to take responsibility for their learning;
. Incremental goals which can be achieved within a short time (generally 1-2 weeks);
. A method to continually track their progress;
. Immediate recognition for their achievements;
. Recognition in presence of their peers;
. A method of displaying their achievements at all times.

Rank Badges:
As in past years, through learning and reciting various material (from the Tzivos Hashem Handbook, or camp's Torah B'al Peh program), campers can accumulate points, earning ranks from Private to General.

This year, Tzivos Hashem will make available rank Badges, one for each of those ranks, to be presented to campers and worn on their camp hats or shirts.

Mitzvah Badges:
The Mitzvah Badge program is designed to encourage campers to learn various skills in a way that is more thorough, active, and hands-on, as a separate incentive program for participation in the existing camp curriculum.

Each skill has three Steps. For completion of Step One of any Skill, the camper is be presented a Badge for that Skill, which can be worn on the camp hat or shirt. Upon completion of Step Two, the camper will receive a colored ribbon, to be added to the corresponding Badge, and completion of Step Three will be recognized with a second ribbon of a different color.

Step One includes basic knowledge requirements, which campers of all ages and backgrounds can learn.

Older or more knowledgeable campers will be able to continue to Steps Two and Three. Previous Step(s) will be a requirement for completing higher Steps, but a camper should be allowed to work on any of the Steps simultaneously. Step Two will involve more demonstration of skills and a higher level of knowledge. Step Three will be aimed at older, experienced campers, and will require teaching of skills to fellow campers.

Requirements for the Mitzvah Badges will consist of the campers displaying their knowledge with a combination of the following methods:

. reciting orally;
. singing;
. writing;
. drawing;
. demonstrating;
. doing;
. teaching.