Summer camp at the JCC has always been more than a break from school routines and homework. This year, however, playing outdoors, finding a best friend, singing songs together, and tackling new challenges at Camp JCC will be a reprieve from virtually everything and everything virtual.
As parents too, JCC leadership is aware that children have never needed summer to be ‘summer’ quite like they do today. And, Camp JCC has never had more to offer in the way of safe socialization and boundless summer adventures.
Eight ‘Adventure’ sessions begin June 15 and end August 14. Each five-day week adventure is dedicated to a theme such as Adventures in Art; Adventures in Science, Adventures in Kindness and Animal Adventures.
Adults have fond memories of camp from their childhood and shouldn’t be surprised to feel a tinge of envy mixed with anticipation and excitement for their kids.
“The return of Camp JCC in 2021 is going to be amazing! Under Sierra Lautman’s leadership as director of Jewish Innovation for the UJFT and Simon Family JCC, we are adding to our camp leadership and the team is hard at work on new ideas and activities,” says Betty Ann Levin, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater executive vice president/CEO.
This year has taught leaders what it means to create a fun camp experience. Kids have also learned so much. Camp JCC counselors are creative by nature and if anyone can make handwashing fun or social distance immersive, they can. Being outside—in nature—is not only the most fun, it’s the safest place to be. By providing shade tents, water stations, and more water activities, the Simon Family JCC has done the work to make play fun again.
As a social engagement tool, Zoom gets the job done, but it pales to the sense of togetherness campers enjoy singing camp songs and feeling part of something bigger. When a camper ends their summer after mastering a new stroke in the pool or catching a fish after weeks of trial and error, it’s not like a tree that falls in the forest. Everyone sees it, hears it, and cheers for them together.
“Camp JCC was a staple of both my childhood and my children’s,” says Levin. “I hope that our community embraces the opportunity for kids and teens to spend the summer on our Campus, with our amazing aquatics centers and new adventures and take advantage of all Camp JCC will have to offer!”
Register at www.campjcc.org.
– Lisa Richmon