By Elijah Y. age 14

The dust slowly fell to earth as Streetlight threw a ball into the pit. 1, 2, 3 bounces. We all held still, waiting to rush in as we chanted “gaga ball.” Chaos erupted with the third bounce and the game began.

Gaga ball is a game played in an octagonal pit where the goal is to be the last one standing. Any hit from the waist down with the ball results in an elimination. A person is allowed to hit the ball once with their hand until it hits the wall or another player. The only other way to get out is to hit the ball out of the pit, which is about four feet tall. The real fun, however, when multiple balls are in the gaga pit. Suddenly, instead of having to keep track of one ball, you have two or three to be aware of and dodge. It becomes much harder to be in the middle but the walls are just as perilous. An unwary camper has dodged a gaga ball only to have it bounce back and hit them from behind. One has to be prepared to dodge a ball twice when seeking solace at the wall. My favorite strategy is to be halfway between the wall in the middle and simultaneously jumping and straddling the ball when dodging. More dodging is required than the wall but the threat of the wall is avoided and I think it makes it more fun. To get a broader outlook on the game I asked Stephen, a first-time player and our first winner what he thought of the game. It was a really fun game, he said, and he especially liked attacking other campers. Steven was a real surprise this year. Straight out of junior camp and not looking to be much of a threat, he rose to the challenge and managed to take first place in the first game this year.

All in all, gaga ball will hold a special place in all of our memories and hearts. And that special place in us is just Camp Gilgal. And so, the dust settles around the gaga ball pen, a lone ball rests and memories of the moment before the third bounce floats around, waiting for the next group of campers to play.