Intrepid hikers discover a synagogue under the stars

For nine local young people, nothing could be better. The group trekked six days through the mountains of Lake Tahoe National Forest last month on a backpacking trip sponsored by the Bay Area Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. They learned about Judaism, environmentalism and wilderness skills in the world's largest synagogue -- the great outdoors.

"The Jewish element was really fun; the first night was Shabbat and we lit two little white candles, which we melted onto a rock and they dripped all over," recalled Anna Waldman-Brown, a 13-year-old from Mill Valley.

COEJL Director Rena Shachar "brought the wine in a Calistoga water bottle. We had a bagel as challah."

The hike marked COEJL's first collaboration with a non-Jewish organization, in this instance Lifeschool, a Bodega Bay nonprofit, which takes groups of young people on wilderness trips.

In addition to lessons on first aid, orienteering and outdoor skills, Shachar led discussions on Jewish ethics and environmental notions, such as baal tashchit (literally "to not destroy"), tzar be'alei chayim (animal conservation) and shmirat ha'guf (caring for one's body).

"The goal of the trip was really to bring kids out to the wilderness, gain wilderness skills, learn backpacking and be together as a group," said Shachar, whose organization is housed at the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay.

"Our idea was to bring a Jewish twist to Lifeschool's wilderness experience. I believe when you bring kids to a challenge like this, it's a fantastic learning opportunity."

The hiking portion of the trip was serious business. The group of 11- to 14-year-olds covered as much as eight miles a day and packed in all their own food and equipment -- including the aforementioned hand-shovels.

The tough ascent up Mt. Bowman and across the dusty trails was not without reward, however. The impressive altitude led to a rare July snowball fight.

"When we got to the top we were all tired and hot and sweaty and right over the top of the hill was a huge field of snow," said Waldman-Brown.

"That was really funny. It's the middle of July and there's snow all over. So we went sledding."

The group tackled questions as weighty as "What is God?" and "What is prayer?" and as specific as what they thought about proposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.

"I really enjoyed just trudging along the trail, watching the beautiful scenery with the backpack on. And I really enjoyed singing Hebrew songs with all the people," said 14-year-old Shira Butler of Mendocino County. "Out in the wilderness, you're in a place God made, [not] humans. You're just out in the open."

While nine young people took the trip, an additional visitor managed to mooch a meal late one night -- a hungry bear.

"We had oatmeal every single morning. Then the last night we got robbed by bears," said Waldman-Brown.

"They tore through all of our food. I didn't see it -- I wish I saw it -- but I only heard it happening. There was a lot of rustling and tearing up. I was half-asleep. We put the food into a tree, but not so high.

"But one good thing about it, we didn't have to have oatmeal that last morning."