On Monday, all four groups travelled back to Deer Hill Base Camp (after a stop in Cortez, CO for most people's first shower of the trip). Each group considers itself a family, but has gained a great deal from hearing about the other groups' experiences. On Monday evening, each group presented a short song/story/presentation that gave a glimpse into the highlights of their experience. After the presentations, we had small group discussions involving two participants from each group. The depth of the learning, sharing, and process of the various experiences was amazing. Tuesday and Wednesday is dedicated to some outdoor fun (hiking up a mountain and rafting down a river) as well as reflection and wrap-up discussions . On Tuesday night, Rabbi Sidney Schwarz, the founder and president of PANIM addressed the entire group, leading a conversation about the Jewish values that the participants advanced during their time on PanimWorks. Tuesday night also marked the first clear night sky in the entire program -- it was worth the wait! The stars were incredible & many of us opted to sleep outside in the open sky to enjoy the constellations and the shooting stars. Tonight is our final closing -- hard to believe that it's already here, yet it is incredible to see both the closeness of the groups and the growth in so many of the participants in such a short period of time. It has been great! Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block PanimWorks Director

It was exciting to meet all the teens from all over at DHE base camp. I was happy that it did not take long for our group to mesh. After packing, we drove 4 hours to Vanderwagon, NM - 20 minutes south of Gallup. We arrived to meet our hosts, the Bilentes. It was a very warm welcome. They live in a very beautiful pinon & juniper forest - great for camping. Over the course of the next week, we have engaged in a variety of work projects, including re-shingling a roof, digging latrine holes, mixing cement for a ceremonial veterans monument, collected sandstone rocks for the monument, plastering a straw bail house with mud (for an elder woman who spoke only Navajo), & planted hollyhocks.

Surprisingly it has rained every day here. We wouldn't have expected that for a desert. We had an interesting adventure on Friday. We headed to a canyon area where both our truck and our van got stuck in the mud multiple times - so deep that we had to empty out the vehicles and collect branches to put under the tires to we could skid along.

We had one of the most fascinating Shabbts I have ever experienced. Our Navajo hosts invited us to attend several ceremonies and attended our kabbalat shabbat service, Friday night dinner, and havdalah service. On Saturday afternoon we attended a Navajo baby-naming ceremony & later that evening we attended a healing ceremony for a married couple who were seeking help (conducted by our host Merle). I have found the Navajo ceremonies extremely interesting, full of symbolism and beauty. I admire the fact that the ceremonies are not constrained to a fixed amount of time. Rather, both the facilitators and the participants were committed to seeing the process through, no matter how long it took. We were honored that they went to added effort to include us. Among the most moving was one host's decision to form a Star of David in the center of the teepee prior to the havdalah ceremony. The Navajo community here has graciously opened their hearts and lives to us during our stay. The do regard us as family now. For our last evening, the whole extended family came out for our final dinner here. They prepared special foods for us, including fry bread and blue corn mush. I feel that we have been the recipients of much wisdom and love & feel that our offerings of work and ourselves were similarly appreciated.

Jerry
PanimWorks Staff (PANIM)
Group 1

After 4 days of work near Ganado, AZ, Panimworks group 2 has accumulated a lot of stories and experiences that we will never forget. We have worked at 2 ranches and historic landmark Hubbel Trading Post owned by the National Park Service. Milton Bluehouse, former President of the Navajo Nation, is our host and he has spent hours with us teaching about Navajo culture and issues, not to mention engaging us in deep political and cultural discussions. We have skirted wool (which means removing matted, dirty parts of sheared wool and preparing the wool for sale), repaired a fence, haul rocks and logs, maintained a field by clearing invasive species and more! Our most exciting adventure, though, was an unforgettable van pushing experience through extremely slick mud that left us all laughing hysterically and cheering as we pushed the van up hill after hill!

Lauren
PanimWorks Staff (DHE)
Group 2

"The world we live in has the ability to pull us away from the circle", the medicine man told me yesterday before we entered the traditional Navajo sweat lodge. Leaving me to unpack this heady idea, we were shephereded into the lodge. Sitting in our small circle, I could see the faces of everyone of the males in our group, both Jewish and Navajo most of whom sat at the threshhold of adulthood. We prodeeded to introduce ourselves, some in English, some in Navajo, and others in Hebrew. Before long the first round of our sweat was well under way, each of us meditating on both the heat and the energy of support and community that bound us together. As we were guided through the experience through song and prayer, the medicine man spoke of the importance of expressing love for our families and of connecting ourselves to the wisdom of our traditions. I believe what I saw in the faces of our group's circle, was the process of setting down roots into the fertile soil of tradition that had been tilled by generations before us. Each of us, Navajo and Jewish were connecting ourselves back to the circle of our people in a way that was at once both individual and collective. In sum, I believe what the medicine man was trying to tell me before the sweat began, was that we must be on a continual path of teshuvah, of return, to something deeper, to something that centers us in a way that is relevent and fosters both the growth of the individual and the circle of one's community. As the week draws to an end, we are looking forward to preparing for shabbat, and sharing with our Navajo hosts the beauty of this central Jewish communal experience.

Andy
PanimWorks Staff (PANIM)
Group 3

Stepping out of the van it was clear I was a long way from home. The buildings had turned to trees, the grass to sand, and the stress of city life turned into relaxation. I find myself in a situation that I have never been in. I have never had to worry about conserving water or cooking my own food and over here it is essential. I have already made some great friendships that I think will last for a while. The Navajos that we met are nice peaceful people and I learned that we have a lot more in common than I expected. We are working hard and it is very hot. Tomorrow we will prepare for Shabbat and that should be a lot of fun.
Josh B.
Chicago, IL
Group 3

I was driving with Gino, the father in the family that was housing us on the reservation, to the sweat lodge where we were going to prepare the wood and stones for the cleansing ceremony that takes place there. As we drove, Gino pointed out the irony of how the street that led to the lodge's holy site was named Kit Carson Drive after the man who forced many American Indians to walk endlessly towards a new homeland, despite the injuries and disease that plagued them. He explained how the government thought of their problems as ceaseless bickering, even though the issue was important to them. He compared the problem to the idea of the street to my Jewish High School being named Hitler Road.
American Indians have never been a large aspect of my life but listening to their issues made me respect their ability to survive and maintain their traditions as we Jews have done for so long.

Daniel
Philadelphia, PA
Group 3

Hi this Matthew and PanimWorks is the most awesome experience I have had in years. Being here has truly shown me how sacred water and showers are and next time I use either I will remember to use both in moderation. Ant hills are very sacred because if you step on one like I did then you will get told that you will get sick in the near future! But anyway, you truly learn a new culture and way of living life within our own USA.
Matthew
Boise, Idaho
group 3

Ya-a-teeh! (Navajo for hello). PanimWorks has been an incredible experience that will change our lives forever. While here, we've slept outside through thunderstorms, gone without showers for days, discovered a whole new meaning for the word 'grooving', and learned to face our fears of bears/scopions/snakes. We've learned so much about the Navajo culture and have met amazing people that will be in our hearts forever. We are loving every second of this experience!
Stephanie
Great Neck, NY
Sam
Ashburn,VA
Group 3

Wednesday Morning
Today three of us wrote one sentence on a separate piece of paper. The sentence could be about anything, but most were about our trip. We passed around the piece of paper, and each person wrote another sentence on the same subject. However, they could only see half of what the person before them wrote. This is one of the pieces:

I am here to work the land and to serve the land...This is why we do the service projects, to give back to the earth and dedicate it to the Lord and...Moses walked down the hill and saw...It's hard to believe that the rain can pass over us by heavy winds...There is something spiritual here...I was lost in awe, lightning struck around me like a battle-cry sensation. The world was at war with the heavens...with great gusts. The war lasted for many years ending with neither side a victor...Wars, fighting, and misunderstanding only bring hardships and heartaches...That's why I'm glad we are learning about another culture, encouraging peace and understanding.

Group 4

Wednesday Morning
Well it's morning on day 4 with group 4, and things are fantastic. Yesterday we hiked up to a natural arch near where we are staying. The view from under the arch was breath taking. You could see for miles, it was picturesque. Of course everyone took lots of pictures (which of course all you family and friends will see these eventually). We also painted our hosts house and starting building a fence (nothing like good old manual labor). Well that ends all I have to say so, except that I can't wait for what is to come.

Zach
Manlius, NY
Group 4

Tuesday Evening
We hiked through ubiquitous red rock, sand, and sage brush up to the arch. The path back down was in complete silence, time meant to think and not do or say, a shabbat of sorts for our senses. Upon reaching the road again we sat down for circle and reflected on our five senses (plus a memory) that were sparked during the hike. I don't think any of us will ever forget the smell of sage brush after that.
Anna
PanimWorks Staff (PANIM)
Group 4

Tuesday Afternoon
I'm one of the group leaders from Deer Hill on PanimWorks. I'm having a wonderful time interacting with this great group of students. After undergoing the usual amount of nervousness associated with new groups these students have come together so wonderfully. I've spent the morning with a group erecting a chain-link fence around a propane tank at a Navajo Senior Center. You have not experienced physical labor until you've dug 8 holes 3 feet deep into the hard desert soil. But that's exactly what these students accomplished this morning. What I am seeing is a real appreciation by the students of how their service directly impacts life here on the reservation. A hike up to the natural arch this evening to watch the sunset.

Jim
PanimWorks Staff (DHE)
Group 4

Tuesday Mid-Day
Monday night was quite interesting between horse naying and the dogs barking it was very hard to sleep. But tuesday's work was very fun and rewarding when we painted the King's house. Feet hurt. The landscape and view is beautiful, with red rocks and diatrenes like Shiprock.

Josh
Group 4
River Forest, IL

Monday Night
After a 3 hour car ride we arrive in Cove and are very excited to meet the King family. Wilson, our Navajo host, greeted us with funny jokes. We all ate our brown bag dinner and set up our tents. While we were setting up our tents a HUGE gust of wind came by and the tents were blowing everywhere. I can't even fully describe how intense this sandstorm was. We had to squint from the dust blowing everywhere and we felt pellets of rocks on the back of our calves. It was so bizzare and different because I had never experienced a sandstorm before. I think through these conditions is when we got closer and all helped each other. More later.
Natalie
Group 4
St. Petersburg, FL

Monday Evening

We started off the day bright and early getting ready for our service activities. After a breakfast of delicious french toast and fruit we packed our most essential supplies, divided into our groups, and set off for our service sites. Our friendly host family, the Kings, welcomed us graciously onto their beautiful land, surrounded on all sides by majestic mountains of red and purple rising out of the plains. After dinner we worked as a team to battle fierce winds whipping up flying earth to set up the tents where we will sleep for the next week. Before bed we had our first circle where we reflected on our strengths and weaknesses, relationship to the group, and excitement for next week's adventures!

Reuben
Group 4
Bethesda, MD

Today everyone arrives, and the adventure begins! After days of preparation, the PanimWorks staff members are ready to welcome students to Base Camp outside Mancos, Colorado. Down the road to Weber Canyon, snuggled in a valley between cliffs of Point Lookout sandstone, Base Camp is where the participants make their temporary home in “tent city”. The collection of orange shelters, arranged by group on the grassy areas out the main house and “the shed,” is representative of both the unity of our group –bound by shared goals and anticipation of a common experience – and the individual nature of each of subgroup, one that will certainly manifest itself within the next few days. With students drifting in to camp between 11:00 am and 8:00 pm, there is plenty of time to get acquainted, stash one’s bags, and eat the delicious Kosher food prepared by Hillary and Liz. With Paul leading games and activities, students can choose to hang out or burn off energy before dinner begins. At 8:00 this evening, Doug Capelin, founder of Deer Hill, and Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, PANIM’s Director of Education, will address the group. The official welcome and opening comments will frame the students’ experiences and launch the expedition. Before bedding down for the night, students will convene in their small groups to be introduced to each other and the concept of Ma’agal (Circle), a time to reflect, connect, and share. A good day . . . a good start . . . Shalom! Melanie PanimWorks Staff (DHE)

Staff Orientation began this morning and everything is going great . We have an incredible collection of group leaders with a wide range of experience & backgrounds. I am struck by the incredible quality of each staff person and the breath and diversity of experiences that have brought us together to PanimWorks. I knew this was the case ahead of time, but I'm always energized by the magic that happens when amazing people begin to work together. We are all looking forward to bringing together these great staff teams with the participants and our Navajo hosts . We have been spending the morning getting to know each other and reviewing the plan for the program. This afternoon we are packing gear and preparing for the participants arrival on Sunday. We will have a nice Shabbat dinner tonight & are enjoying the near-perfect weather. We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!

Hi everyone. This is the first of regular updates on the inaugural PanimWorks program. After boarding a 6am flight from DC, I arrived in Durango, Colorado at 11:30 Mountain time. The weather today is perfect -- clear in the low 70s with a little breeze -- couldn't ask for better.

After picking up a rental car I drove the 45 minutes to Mancos, CO - the site of Deer Hill's Base Camp, where both orientation and the wrap-up days of PanimWorks will take place. Base Camp is bustling with activity -- Deer Hill runs programs for several hundred teens each summer. The first things you notice when coming from the East Coast are the wide open views and the clear sky. Base Camp is a beautiful place and has a great view of the Rocky Mountains on one side and Mesa Verde Nationl Park on the other. "The Mesa" was the site of cities and cliff dwellings the date as far back as the 9th Century CE.

The rest of the PanimWorks staff arrives tomorrow. I am here a day early to do some set-up for the staff orientation & to kasher the cookingware that we will be using during the program.

It's hard to believe that in just 4 days all of the participants will be here getting settled and meeting each other for the first time.

Over the course of the next 2 1/2 weeks, I will post written updates and photos to this blog. Some will be written by me, some by other staff & some by participants. The frequency of postings will vary depending on my cell phone coverage (all posts are being made from my Treo cell phone). You may want to either check this blog periodically or register to be informed when updates are posted. I hope that this will give a taste of PanimWorks 2007 to the countless people who said "I wish I could go!"

Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block
PanimWorks Director

Hello everyone and welcome to the PanimWorks blog. In this space, you will find the most up to date information about what's happening on PanimWorks. If you are attending the program, be sure you've looked closely at the packing list and have everything ready for your trip starting on July 29th!

While the program is happening, we will post entries and photos every 2-3 days. Your friends and families may want to register with the blog to be informed when new updates are posted.

Enjoy!