BBYO Summer Leadership Training in Montreal Unites Jewish Camps, Lays Groundwork for School-Year Program and Offers New Summer Options for Jewish Teens

MONTREAL, CANADA— On the heels of a successful collaboration with two prominent Jewish camps in Montreal, BBYO is seeking to significantly expand its year-round AZA and BBG programs, while preparing for the launch of its leadership training program at Camp B’nai B’rith of Montreal in the summer of 2018.

Through its partnership this summer with Camp B’nai Brith (CBB) and the Harry Bronfman Y Country Camp (YCC), BBYO offered elements of its renowned teen leadership development curriculum at both locations, enabling teens who aren’t members of BBYO to experience a “taste” of these programs. The curriculum offered this summer at CBB and YCC, which was designed and facilitated by BBYO, focused on the following elements:

• If I am not of my values, what am I? Enables teens to identify the way they spend their time, and consider whether their time is reflective of their most important values. 
• What kind of leader am I? Empowers teens to understand the way they naturally handle situations in large groups or where opinions don’t always line up. 
• Acharai, After me.  Allows teens to experiment with the notion of being an active leader by showing others the way, modeled after the well-known IDF directive ““Acharai.”

BBYO is now inviting those campers, as well as area 8th graders and high school students, to join local AZA and BBG chapters in the Cote St. Luc area and in the West Island. Teens there participate in local programs and activities once or twice a month, which are planned by their peers, and programs include service, social, and educational components as well as larger BBYO regional conventions (in Toronto) and international programs. 

"BBYO’s leadership sessions from this past summer were really inspiring for teens involved in the program at Y Country Camp, and we’re excited about expanding our program there next summer,” said Gab Dadoun, Coordinator of Youth Engagement and Jewish Programming: Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA. “Beyond the wonderful summer we experienced, BBYO Montreal looks forward to a successful year ahead filled with fun and meaningful programs, and an exciting kickoff event at the end of October!”

BBYO’s Chapter Leadership Training Program (CLTC), a twelve-day summer program for 9th to 11th graders, will be offered, for the first time, at Camp B’nai Brith of Montreal next summer as well. CLTC, one of BBYO’s core summer leadership experiences, enables participants to form a community where teens develop a sense of Jewish pride, greater self-confidence, and a diverse set of leadership skills, in addition to making new friends, participating in sports, exploring hobbies, and celebrating Shabbat.

“CBB is very excited to host our first ever BBYO camp in the summer of 2018,” said Josh Pepin, Executive Director, Camp B’nai Brith. “We are looking forward to a long, fruitful relationship with BBYO.”

BBYO is a safe and welcoming teen community where young men and women develop their own personal Jewish identity. The teen-led programming is always fun, with an emphasis on connection to the local and global Jewish community. Teens emerge with precious friendships and useful leadership skills that will serve them well into the future. Committed to a pluralistic experience, BBYO welcomes all Jewish teens regardless of background, denominational affiliation, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or abilities.

To learn more about BBYO in Montreal, including upcoming events and kickoffs, contact Gab Dadoun,Coordinator of Youth Engagement and Jewish Programming: Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA | Ben Weider JCC | Harry Bronfman YCC [T. 514.737.6551 ext./poste 234]. 

About BBYO

BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. For more than 90 years, BBYO‘s leadership programs the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA, high school fraternity) and the B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG, high school sorority) have been providing exceptional leadership programs and identity enrichment experiences, shaping the confidence and character of more than 400,000 alumni who are among the most prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts and Jewish communal life.  Now, BBYO’s network of Jewish teens, alumni, parents, volunteers and philanthropists serves as the Jewish community’s most valuable platform for delivering to the post Bar/Bat Mitzvah audience fun, meaningful and affordable experiences.  With year-round activities in hundreds of local communities and inspiring world-wide travel experiences, BBYO’s broad program menu enables teens to explore areas of leadership, service, civic engagement, Israel education and Jewish values.

Please note that BBYO should not be referred to as the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, but rather as “BBYO.”

For more information on BBYO, please visit bbyo.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.