Stepping Back and Lovin’ It
Stepping Back and Lovin’ It
You may have seen the above photo of a sign posted at a boys’ high school that went viral on Facebook. Personally, I agree! Most parents are guilty of something in the above photo. Perhaps we’ve shown up at school to deliver our kids’ forgotten lunch. With our heads hung low and lunchbox in hand, […] Learn More ›
Groundbreaking Girls Empowerment Program Set to Launch at JCC Chicago
As the mother of a teenage girl, I have a front row seat to the issues and ideals that are shaping the bright minds of our future leaders. I see their passion. I see their frustrations and their desire to better the world. That’s why I am so proud that JCC Chicago has created a […] Learn More ›
Summer Reflections from JSC Teens
Take a moment to learn about how some JSC teens spent their summer working, learning, volunteering, giving back and becoming informed, engaged young Jewish leaders. Maya Eingal Counselor at Apachi Northside Being a Jewish teen in a public high school has inspired me to continue to connect with my Jewish roots by working at JCC […] Learn More ›
Friendship and Inspiration: What One Camp Counselor Learned from his Campers
By: Noah “Tennessee” Isenstein, Camp Chi Counselor, 18-years-old As a camper at Camp Chi for seven years, I never had a camper with significant disabilities in my cabin. This summer, however, I had the pleasure of being a counselor for a great group of campers, which included two amazing children who needed one-on-one support to […] Learn More ›
Start the School Year off Right: The ABC’s of Communicating with Your Child’s Teachers
At the beginning of each school year, I am often reminded of the saying, “It takes a village.” I have come to learn that my children’s successes are not a direct result of the lessons taught to them by my husband and me, but rather from the love and guidance given to them by the […] Learn More ›
J Camp ‘16 by the Numbers
When you add it all up, summer 2016 may be the best summer yet. We can’t count all of the smiles and accomplishments, but, when we break down some of the J Camp numbers, it’s hard to deny that this summer was truly outstanding. 9,350 landyards made in all colors, shapes and sizes by […] Learn More ›
4 Days. 3 nights. 1 Magical Camp Experience
Try Chi is an amazing opportunity for first time campers to experience the fun and friendship of overnight camp over 4 days and 3 nights. Try Chi 2016 was jammed packed with the best of Camp Chi—cooking, swimming, water sports, cove time, field trips, evening programming, camp fires, the high ropes course and more. We […] Learn More ›
Reflections on a Beautiful Summer Evening: Shabbat on the Lake
When nearly 700 people come together on one night to celebrate Shabbat, we know that this community is truly something special. Shabbat on the Lake took place on Friday, August 5, and this year we expanded this beloved annual event to two locations. 600 young adults gathered on the lakefront at the Waveland Clock Tower […] Learn More ›
Gaga: The (Un)Official Game of J Camp
Long before gaga referred to a pop singer with outrageous fashion taste, gaga had a different association at Jewish camps. Ga-ga, which means touch-touch in Hebrew, is a kinder, gentler form of dodgeball. Our campers (and staff) can’t get enough of it. Supposedly, gaga originated in Israel and made its first appearance in the United […] Learn More ›
The Top 5 Reasons to Attend Shabbat on the Lake
I love Shabbat on the Lake because it’s a community wide event that celebrates the things that unite us. It’s the only event of its kind that brings together a multitude of Jewish organizations, representing a variety of people with varying beliefs and missions. This is the 6th year of Shabbat on the Lake and […] Learn More ›
Areivim Hebrew at Camp
Reflections on Starting a New Program: Hebrew Immersion at Day Camp I do, we do, you do, can do… and so goes the “mantra” for developing, planning and presenting a program that teaches, inspires and excites, even the youngest members of our community. These words are the progress indicators for language learners. In theory, it […] Learn More ›
How Wonderful It Is
How good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to sit together. Hinei ma tov uma na-im Shevet achim gam yachad. -Psalm 133:1 When I am at our J Camps or Camp Chi, I love listening to campers sing Hinei Ma Tov. They belt it out with a tremendous ruach (spirit) at music specialties, song […] Learn More ›
So Much More than Fun
Sometimes, I wish that I could travel back in the time. What would it be like to go back to the beginning? Revisit 1972, which was my first summer at camp as a counselor? Or maybe back to 1975, my first summer as a camp director? Though 45 years have gone by since my first […] Learn More ›
9 Ways to Deal with Your Kid’s Whining & Tantrums
Of all the things people warned me about before having children—the lack of sleep, the drain on our bank account, and the endless worrying that would inevitably happen—no one thought to tell me about the whining and countless tantrums that could occur on any given day. I mean, how could people remember to tell me […] Learn More ›
Here Comes the Big Yellow Bus!
This year marks the 18th summer that the big yellow “Z” Frank Apachi Day Camp bus has pulled up in front of my house to take my children to camp. When you see a picture of my children today, now 21, 18 and 14, it is hard to imagine that they still wait in the […] Learn More ›
The Easiest Hello, The Hardest Goodbye
This post was written by Elyse Friedman, Camp Chi Counselor My parents decided to send me to Camp Chi because they wanted me to join a Jewish community and make Jewish friends. I remember going to the bus stop my first summer and not knowing a single person there. I was scared, nervous and didn’t […] Learn More ›