Two oncology doctors, 4 nurses and a staff of 60 counselors and program coordinators escorted the children 24-hours-a-day during the course of the 11-day camp which was run in Israel, Holland and France. The staff underwent a pre-camp training period in order to be best prepared to care for the children’s special needs. A mobile hospital unit equipped with a complete blood products lab was at the disposal of the medical staff, accompanying the campers everywhere they traveled. Resuscitation equipment, a pharmacy-on-wheels, intravenous medicines and antibiotics were all on hand. It should be mentioned that most of these campers are at the height of their treatment to fight cancer, including chemotherapy and radiation treatments. According to ZM’s long established “tradition,” children who are extremely ill are considered the most welcome to join the Adventure Camps as campers.

This camp, ZM’s 46th in a row since 1990, managed to cross over 3 international borders! First, from Israel to Holland, then from Holland to France, and then from France - to go back home to Israel! There were no “borders,” however, in the tremendous amount of giving that this camp experience entailed: giving so many children such a wonderful time, at such exciting attractions and at so many recreational venues. Everything was given with total love, absolute attention, and the most special of caring and care.

The logistics for this Adventure Camp require several months of advance planning. The Israel Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and Israeli Embassies in the various countries we visited, as well as government agencies of the foreign countries we visited, and also airports, police, and customs offices - were all involved in preparations for this camp - just to give you an idea of the camp project’s very complex and wide scope

The group of campers and their escorts stayed in hotels with the highest level of service and comfort. Catered food (kosher, of course) was prepared for us in Belgium. The meals were transported from the caterers to every place we went - be it to small towns, or to the heart of a large city. We had to arrange an array of chartered buses, emergency medical vehicles (to be “on call” - just in case) and rescue vehicles, which also had to transport our mobile hospital unit. These were all part of the ZM camp’s “entourage”.

The campers – despite all these advance preparations – were not allowed to sense or feel the complexity of this project. Every place they went, their passports did not require individual stamping. The campers were treated like royalty at every park and tourist site they visited. At every point, an air conditioned room was readied with food, drinks and a local medical crew who were prepared to help in every way possible. Local hospitals coordinated and co-operated with this elaborate project. They stood ready to render any sort of professional assistance which might be needed.

The Adventure Camp started – of course – in Jerusalem. On the 1st day of camp, the children visited the “Kotel” (Western Wall) and the nearby Kotel Tunnels. The first night of the camp came to a close with a riveting fireworks display and a lively concert by Yishai Lapidot of the “Oif Simchas” band. The campers were taken to the nearby Jerusalem Forest to enjoy a drumming circle using “darbuka” drums. The well-known singer and composer, Rabbi Baruch Chait, joined in the drumming circle and told the children about his musical connection with the late Menachem Ehrental, in whose memory “Zichron Menachem” is named.

The 2nd day of camp was spent in the Israeli resort town of Netanya. The campers went horseback riding next a beach along the Mediterranean Sea. The children and their escorts floated on paragliders, which was a very memorable experience! At the end of this part of the camp - the Israel experience - the children took part in a “karaoke” evening which did much to help them to get to know each other, and to form themselves into a cohesive group of child campers.

On the 3rd day of camp, the group flew to Holland – a land of summertime flowers and greenery, quite different from Israel at the same time of year. The children had a hearty welcoming ceremony at the “Amsterdam Sail” aboard a luxury boat belonging to the Red Cross organization. The children sailed in between thousands of sea vessels – boats, ships, ancient and modern sea craft - which converge once every 5 years for this special event held on waterways surrounding the city of Amsterdam. This “happening” was a most unique experience - in every meaning of the word.

The 4th day of camp found the children at the “Six Flags” Park – Europe’s “speediest” amusement park. The entire ZM camp was treated like royalty, as V.I.P.s. Here - at the height of the tourist season - none of us had to wait in line. We all were able to enjoy absolute fun, every moment of the day.

We then enjoyed the rest and relaxation of a different type of royalty – the arrival of the “Sabbath Queen.” On Saturday, during the Sabbath, everyone rested, joined in singing, and reveled in the beautiful forest that surrounded our hotel.
On the 6th day of camp we visited Europe’s largest dolphinarium – an amazing and enormous sight. From there we traveled to Volendam, Holland’s picturesque fishing village which has working windmills, a factory that makes Holland’s famous wooden shoes, and factories that produce cheeses, spices and other “Zaanse Schans.” That night we had a barbeque party with members of the local community in Holland who are friends and supporters of Zichron Menachem. The children danced and sang -- everybody rejoiced together!

The 7th day of camp took us to Enkhuizen, where a gigantic automobile center, special racing car track, laser-action games and “Sumo” wrestling awaited us. That evening we enjoyed a huge concert given in Amsterdam by the legendary singer, Avraham Fried.

On day number 8 of the camp, we made our appearance at Amsterdam’s international train station, from where we journeyed on the rapid “Euro-Star” train to Paris. The “City of Lights” awaited us, together with a personal escort by policemen and security guards who welcomed us as an honorary delegation. We went on a pleasurable tour of the city, sailed on the Seine River and – of course – visited the landmark Eiffel Tower. Our hotel accommodations were again “out of this world” in their level of comfort and luxury. The hotel was located at the edge of an enchanting lake, in a quiet and relaxing environs.

Camp day number 9 – how could it be otherwise? – we went to Euro-Disney. If you know what a royal reception can be, then we can report that at Euro-Disney we were again treated as if we were members of a royal party! The Zichron Menachem campers and their escorts – doctors, nurses, counselors and program coordinators - were the first to be let inside at all the attractions and performances, and once inside, we were given front-row seats!

On the 10th day of camp we went to the popular “Astrix” Park, where once again we were received as if we were kings and princes. All the campers got a chance to go on as many rides as possible. The camp’s final celebration and party took place at the Paris airport, where singer Yishai Lapidot entertained the entire group in a night filled with many other enjoyable performances. We then flew back home on a special EL AL flight.

On the 11th and final camp day, the campers were welcomed at the airport by their parents and families with countless hugs and kisses. It was a truly unforgettable sight, which capped off a very memorable Adventure Camp experience.

128 children returned home with renewed strength and increased motivation to fight their cancer and to, G-d willing, overcome their disease.

Zichron Menachem would like to express its immense gratitude to everyone who took part in this special effort, to all who contributed towards its financing and to all who assisted us during the preparation and operation of this major Zichron Menachem event. All of this assistance and support enabled us to succeed in our very unique project: the 2005 overseas “Zichron Menachem Adventure Camp.”