As summer fast approaches, children may be gearing up for camp, swimming, and a change of scenery.
For some children, like Noah, new situations can create anxiety and dampen an otherwise joyful season. In Noah’s Swim-a-Thon, a re-release from Apples & Honey Press, Noah loves summer camp, including kickball, arts and crafts, and singing Shabbat songs. But he does NOT love the pool ... until he learns about the camp swim-a-thon, and how he can help other kids enjoy camp, too. Noah’s Swim-a-Thon is a great way to introduce the following ideas to children:
* Courage in the face of fear
* Perseverance to work toward a goal
* Tzedakah
Noah’s Swim-a-Thon was inspired by swim-a-thons run at Ruach Day Camp in support of Chai Lifeline, a charity that helps kids and their families cope with pediatric illness, loss, or trauma. We've also created a companion educator page help you use stories effectively in your community.
Introduce older students to Olympic swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg, who emigrated from the Soviet Union to the United States. In our teacher resource Krazy About Lenny Krayzelburg, students can explore the themes of freedom and independence through several Jewish texts and gain a greater appreciation for the freedom they enjoy in the United States or Canada.
