Color War has officially been broken — and Despicable MAC! is off to a wild, purpose-filled start.
At lunch today, the chadar was taken over by mayhem: minions, music, and full-blown villain chaos. Campers were sorted into two teams and given a mission not just to compete, but to redeem:
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Team Red will guide Scarlet Overkill — the queen of chaos.
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Team Blue will work with Balthasar Brat — the moonwalking mastermind stuck in the ’80s.
The story? The Anti-Villain League has secured the legendary Diamond of Community, an artifact with the power to unite even the most divided world — but it’s cracking. The only way to save it? Real acts of change, fueled by real values.
Scarlet and Balthasar have been given one last chance to prove they can turn good. But they can’t do it alone. It’s up to the Camp Coleman community to guide them through a journey of redemption using Jewish values, teamwork, and a whole lot of minion madness.
What’s Happening Today
After getting into team colors and meeting for the first time, campers are spending the afternoon in fast-paced, high-energy rotations. Activities like Operation: Splashdown at the pool, Gru’s Gauntlet on the sports fields, Minion It to Win It in the Harris Center, and more are giving each team a chance to shine in different ways. Later tonight, we’ll gather for unit T’fillah, then head into our first major evening event: the Minion Muscle Match — an all-out tug of war showdown. We’ll close the night with Story Update #1, where we’ll learn the first twist in the villains’ journey toward redemption.
Jewish Values Driving the Challenge
Teshuvah (תשובה) – Return (to the path)
Redemption begins with recognizing we’ve gone off course and choosing to return. Teshuvah teaches us that change starts from within — but it doesn’t happen alone. Our community plays a powerful role in helping each other find the path back to good.
Lomed m’kol adam (לומד מכל אדם) – Learn from everyone
Every camper, counselor, and villain brings something valuable to this challenge. Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Our villains (and teams!) can only improve if they open their minds, learn from the strengths of those around them, and lead by example.
Tzedek tirdof (צֶדֶק תִּרְדּף) – Pursue justice
Doing what’s right isn’t always easy — but it’s worth it. This value reminds us that true goodness means chasing justice consistently, not just when it’s convenient. Even villains have moral compasses. This week is about learning to follow them.
Hatmadah (התמדה) – Persevere
Change is hard. Redemption takes time. Hatmadah encourages all of us to keep going — even when it’s uncomfortable, messy, or uphill. With the support of our community, every small step becomes a part of something bigger.
Our Goals This Week
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Show that everyone has the power to grow, change, and make better choices — no matter where they started.
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Empower each camper to contribute in their own way: whether they’re loud or quiet, athletic or artistic, leading or learning.
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Encourage each other to look in unexpected places for help — because sometimes the ones we least expect are the key to real connection.
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Most importantly? Spread joy, kindness, and good old-fashioned camp magic. Because when we choose to pursue goodness, life gets brighter — for all of us.
The Redemption Challenge is on.
Team Red. Team Blue. Two villains. One diamond.
Let’s see who can make the biggest transformation — and who will help save the world along the way.
