Latest news from BBYO Naples and Fort Myers

By Cayla Schreier, BBYO Southwest Coordinator

We hope you are ready for an exciting fall season because the BBYO teens are ready to jump into the 2023-2024 school year. The teens had a busy summer, with summer camp, extracurricular activities and summer jobs. Some BBYO teens attended a couple of Naples BBYO Ice Cream Socials at Sub Zero Ice Cream and Yogurt, which creates ice cream in front of customers using liquid nitrogen. The teens were excited to connect over the summer while learning about nitrogen and seeing ice cream creations being made in front of their own eyes.

The teens plan to hold a BBYO Naples kickoff called the Macabeach games on Sunday, Aug. 27. They will have volleyball matches, bracelet making and spike ball matches. This event is open to all Jewish teens attending eighth through twelfth grades whether they are a BBYO member or a prospect.

Our region, the North Florida Region, is hosting a regional kickoff on Sunday, Sept. 10 at Andretti Indoor Karting and Games in Orlando, Florida. Naples and Fort Myers teens will travel with Tampa teens to this event. They are excited to see their BBYO friends again.

September will be a busy month with Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur — the High Holy Days. Our Naples and Fort Myers teens; Naples BBYO Advisor, Ben; myself; and BBYO wish everyone a wonderful, happy, healthy and sweet new year! L’Shana Tova!

What is BBYO?

It is extremely important to engage teens post-B’nai Mitzvah age in Jewish activities. Having teens get involved in BBYO and be eager to create and confidently continue their own Jewish community within their Greater Jewish communities is critical to our future.

The BBYO chapter of Naples has entered its 11th year of partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, Temple Shalom, Chabad of Naples and Beth Tikvah. Each of these organizations provides financial support, volunteers and community involvement opportunities for the BBYO teens. We thank each and every one of our BBYO alum, friends and other supporters for making this a safe and positive environment for the teens of BBYO Naples and Fort Myers.

If you know of someone who has a teen who might like to join BBYO Naples or Fort Myers, or someone who might like to be an advisor to our chapters, please email me, Southwest Coordinator, at cschreier@bbyo.org. You can also follow us on Instagram at Mishpacha_BBG and Negevaza.

Scholarships to attend BBYO conventions and summer programs are available through both Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and the Temple Shalom Men’s Club. For more information regarding scholarships, please contact me. If you are a BBYO alum and would like to be included in our Friends and Alumni of BBYO mailing list, please email us at mjs0821@aol.com.