For our Mystery Trip 2026 — we officially graduated!
We’ve been running this special one-day “Mystery Trip” for the past three to four years, and just
like our summer enrollment, it continues to grow! Starting as a small adventure of 8–10 kids then
growing to 16-17 campers – fitting comfortably in a van and maybe one extra car. This year we
grew to 36 campers and reached our long-time goal… we filled a bus!
Yesterday truly felt like camp. We loved seeing our down-to-earth parents at drop-off and, of
course, spending the day laughing, connecting, and making memories with our campers.
The fun started right away on the bus with icebreakers, games, and a few new camp cheers.
Before we knew it (it felt like two minutes!), we arrived at our first stop: Apex Entertainment in
Marlboro, MA. As soon as the building came into view, the kids started chanting, “Apex! Apex!”
— clearly a fan favorite!
We split into small groups and kicked things off with laser tag. The glow-in-the-dark obstacles
and ramps made it extra exciting, and the kids jumped right in. After that, the boys rotated
through arcade games and the ropes course, where they were safely harnessed as they navigated
the elevated obstacles. They showed great courage and teamwork up there!
By lunchtime, we made our way to the bowling lanes. After the adventure of figuring out
everyone’s shoe sizes (no small task!), we bowled a few strings while enjoying lunch. The kids
were all in — cheering each other on and celebrating every spare and strike. The staff was
incredibly patient and accommodating, and we’re proud to say the boys represented Avoda
positively — even if things got a little messy along the way!
We wrapped up with more arcade fun and a few rounds of bingo before heading back to the bus
for our second mystery destination.
Next stop: Bertucci’s! The boys put on aprons and became chefs for the afternoon, shaping their
dough, adding sauce and cheese, and creating their own personal pizzas. Watching them take
pride in their creations was such a fun way to end the day — and yes, everyone left very full!
We returned to Temple Beth Elohim for pick-up, tired in the best possible way.
Reflecting on the day, it always warms our hearts to spend time with such wonderful kids.
Watching them learn, grow, challenge themselves, and simply enjoy being together makes it all
worthwhile. Experiences like this make us even more excited for summer — and we truly can’t
wait for it to begin.
Be sure to mark your calendars for our next event: a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on March
22nd. More details coming soon!
Thank you for being part of our Avoda community.
Ready to prepare your son for an unforgettable summer? Explore our website, and feel free to reach out with any questions. Let’s make this summer one for the books!
To learn more about what we do, and our mission to make Jewish Summer Camp accessible for every child, explore our website or book a tour today at https://campavoda.org/tour/