Next week, instead of seeing the usual sun-hungry students and their many pets on the South Oval, prepare instead for a camel sighting on your way to class.
No, this isn't a zoo escape or a science experiment gone wrong. These camels are one of the ways Israel-Palooza hopes to bring the culture of Israel to students at Ohio State.
Israel-Palooza is a week-long festival dedicated to Israel's honor on May 1 through May 5 on the South Oval. The festival, one of the biggest pro-Israel events at OSU, is being put together by a large group of volunteers supported by the Schottenstein Chabad House and OSU Hillel, both Jewish organizations at OSU.
"The beauty of it is that it's so many students coming together for this huge, week-long, campus-wide event. It's unique. There has never been anything like this before, with so many students who have come together to work on this with the support of Chabad and Hillel," said Sarah Deitch, program director at OSU Chabad House.
More than 40 volunteers are working hand-in-hand to create a week full of culture, religion, food and fun, Deitch said.
Melissa Glazer, one of the volunteers, said all the volunteers were divided into different projects for the week.
For many involved in the project, the week is not just about having fun in the springtime weather, but instead about shattering notions about modern-day Israel.
"Really the point of this whole program is to show OSU a different Israel then they see in the media - to show a beautiful Israel, a fun Israel full of culture and rich heritage," Deitch said.
For Glazer, it is a chance to teach students who might not know much about Israel while having fun.
"Quite often, Israel and the Middle East in general is shown in a very poor light," she said. "People don't really understand it. (The program will) show people that it's a great country and there's so much it has to offer. (Israel is) not what you see in the news, there's a whole different side to it."
There are different activities each day to promote Israel in a positive light, including Israeli jewelry making, Israeli music and food, community service projects, a bone marrow drive and camel rides.
Today is the only day when events are not being held on the South Oval. Instead, there will be an opening ice cream party on 15th Avenue and High Street with Israeli music.
On Tuesday, there will be a chance to participate in a community service project making care packages to send to Israel for people who have been victims of terror. There will also be a presentation titled "What would the world be like without Israel?"
Glazer said Wednesday, which is Israel's Independence Day, will be the biggest and most exciting day. On Wednesday, the South Oval will be transformed, with the building of mock Israeli cities across the lawn. Each "city" will have activities and food unique to the culture in that area of Israel.
There will be camel rides on Thursday. The week will end Friday with a party at Panini's Bar & Grill and a free dinner that night with a special guest speaker at the Chabad House.
"It's just going to be fun, we're all really excited about it. How often will you get to have free Israeli food and listen to great music and just have fun?" Glazer asked.
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