No School? No Worries! We’ve Got You Covered.
No School? No Worries! We’ve Got You Covered.
JCC Chicago makes Monday’s day off from school easy for you and awesome for your kids. We have programming for Presidents’ Day taking place throughout the Chicago and suburbs. Presidents’ Day Mini Camps Elaine Frank Apachi, Lake Zurich K-4th grades | $35 Spend a day off from school at camp! There are 3 Mini Camps to […] Learn More ›
How to Give Meaningful Praise
“Great job!” “Way to go!” “Nice work!” “You are perfect!” “That is the most beautiful picture!” “You’re so smart!” “You’re so beautiful!” As parents, we want our children to feel good about themselves so we try to give them as much praise as we can, but are we overdoing it? How much is too much? […] Learn More ›
Trees, People and Even Camps Have Birthdays
Last week we celebrated Tu B’Shevat, a holiday commonly referred to as “the birthday of the trees.” Tu B’Shevat offers us a time to come together and celebrate trees, the fruits of their labor and reconnect with Israel and the environment. There are several ways in which we may honor the trees’ birthdays, including eating […] Learn More ›
Why is Legacy Giving So Important? Here’s Why.
As a kid, I spent every day at my J in Milwaukee. I would swim, I would play basketball. I loved being there. My summers were all about JCC day camp and, eventually, Camp Chi. The J was my place to play sports, have fun, and be with friends all summer long. It was an […] Learn More ›
The Self-Portrait: How we build self-awareness, identify, individuality and normalize differences
Conversations with children can be many things: enlightening, funny, creative and thoughtful. Children notice differences around them all the time. They notice changes in their environment, changes in themselves and they absolutely notice when someone doesn’t look or act like them. These are important skills children develop as they mature. How do we as teachers, […] Learn More ›
Camp Fun All Winter Long (Yes, it IS Possible!)
In case you missed the horns and confetti, it’s now January. Camp ended 5 months ago, and camp will start again in 5 months. Do you know what that means? We’re half way to summer! We live in Chicagoland. Large amounts of snow and brutal temps mean we may not want to leave the house. […] Learn More ›
Because of Apachi J Camps
Some of the best moments of my summer actually happen at the end. It’s that time when parents thank the staff and share just how important the camp experience was for their child. They can’t believe how much they have really changed over the eight weeks and they are excited to let us know. We […] Learn More ›
2016 Was Awesome!
You may not know it, but one of the best parts of my job is hearing from you. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing the life-changing impact of a new experience, new friend or new mentor. I take tremendous pride in knowing that within JCC Chicago camps, classrooms and across our community, magical moments happen […] Learn More ›
Honoring Tradition and Building New Ones
With the holidays right around the corner, families are beginning to prepare for a season filled with togetherness and festivities. While this time of year always tends to be packed with an abundance of food and presents, sometimes it can be missing the important lessons shared through the passing down of traditions. Traditions remind us […] Learn More ›
Outdoor Celebrations Connect Friends, Nature and Community
With winter officially upon us, our time spent outdoors can dwindle. But at the J, where we know that good weather in Chicago is rare, we try and take advantage of every opportunity by hosting events outdoors in the spring, summer and fall, especially programs that enable families to come together, unplug and enjoy time […] Learn More ›
Mensch on a Bench
Thanks to everyone who came out and met the Mesnch on a Bench! Learn More ›
Get Moving This Winter
Written by Erica Hornthal, CEO of Chicago Dance Therapy As the winter weather makes its way to Chicago, it may seem appealing to brace for the frigid cold and snow by hibernating. A word of caution: as inviting as that may sound, it is imperative that we keep moving. Not just exercise, but moving our […] Learn More ›
Stepping Back and Lovin’ It – Part 3
Written by Amy Hertzberg Social Drama! Remember the helicopters that hover during homework time? Those are the same ones that get over-involved in the social lives of their children, often swooping in to rescue their kids from the day-to-day heartache of typical social drama. When we entangle ourselves in our children’s social lives we are unable […] Learn More ›
The Secret’s Out
In the Chicago area, it’s no surprise that JCC Chicago and high-quality day camps go hand-in-hand. But, did you know that we have one of the best kept camp secrets in the northern and northwest suburbs? We didn’t mean for it to be hush-hush, but we hear time and time again from parents that they […] Learn More ›
There are places I remember…
Written by Becca Keene To my Camp Dad, Ron: We all knew this day had to come. Selfishly, I’ve been dreading it for so long. You’ve unknowingly taught me so much about life, happiness, hard work, and family. You taught me to breathe even if the world seemed to be crumbling around me. Your leadership […] Learn More ›
The Daily Practice of Being Thankful
It’s very American to be thankful once a year around Thanksgiving. But, it’s profoundly Jewish to be thankful daily. Being gracious and thankful brings me such joy…not happiness…joy (which is different), and it enables me to reflect on the preciousness of my life right now, how beautiful and special my family is and how lucky […] Learn More ›