I had the luck to attend ILTC this summer. Here’s why you should be next!

Friendships: This year, I had the luck to attend ILTC. I was really scared to go; I didn’t have any international friends, there were almost no people from my region going, and I am not a super social person, so I didn’t know how it was going to go. On top of all of that, I arrived a day late because of climate reasons. So yeah, I wasn’t very hopeful about what I had ahead. However, when I arrived, everything changed. At the airport, I met another teen who was arriving late. He was my first international friend. When I arrived at camp, everyone was so nice, and everyone was very welcoming. After a few days, I made so many new friends, and I met people who became my best friends, with whom I still talk almost every day.

Experiences: ILTC offers a great variety of experiences, including leadership, arts, sports, and more. From blueprint sessions (shoutout to Dime’s disciples!) to small one-hour workshops, you get to learn so much about BBYO and get so many chances to gain leadership abilities. At Perlman, you also get the chance to participate in Sivuviim and Chugim, which are workshops that adapt to different hobbies you may have, mostly leaning toward artistic things like acting, painting, singing, and salsa dancing. However, there are many other options to fit your interests, like Krav Maga, yoga, swimming time, and chess. BBYO Summer has so many experiences that you get to be a part of. One of my favorites, Maccabiah (Go BLUE!), is a whole day dedicated to sports. There are also other cool options like “Anytown,” which is a group trip to a nearby town where you run programs there!

Jewish Experiences: Some of my favorite memories are Shabbat and Havdalah at Perlman. It is a magical moment, Havdalah around the Perlman tree, singing together. Perlman Shabbatot are incredible too. I was never too keen on Shabbat until I had my first Shabbat there. It was different from any other Shabbat I had ever had. It really matched the energy everyone wanted for Shabbat, offering religious options, including a more traditional Shabbat with Jewish educators, and non-religious options like a Rikudim party! I found a connection with Judaism that I hadn’t gotten from any of the other Jewish spaces I participated in prior to BBYO.

This and many other factors make Perlman my (and hopefully yours too) ideal plan for the summer. I definitely recommend ILTC (or any other summer program) to anyone who will listen to me talk about it. If you’re on the fence or just considering going to Perlman this next summer, my biggest advice is to do it. It’s going to be THE summer of your life! If you want to learn more about summer, check the BBYO page here for more info!