To learn more about Camp JCC or to hear about year round opportunities for teens in the community, contact Dave Flagler, director of Camp and Teen Engagement, at DFlagler@UJFT.org or 757-452-3182.

Courtney Krutoy is Eastern Region BBYO’s Tidewater city director.

Camp JCC Tidewater

5000 Corporate Woods Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-452-3182
www.campjcc.org

Camp JCC Tidewater welcomes children of all faiths and backgrounds, offering a safe and inclusive environment for campers and staff to grow, connect, and embrace traditions infused with Jewish culture.

This traditional day camp provides enriching experiences for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, emphasizing values such as friendship, courage, responsibility, and community-mindedness. Campers enjoy a wide range of activities, including daily swimming (instructional for younger groups), arts and crafts, gaga ball, fishing, sports, spirit days, Fun Fridays, and much more.

Camp JCC runs weekly sessions from June 16 to August 8, with two additional “Last Blast” weeks, August 11 – 22. Registration is available for single, multiple, all, or any combination of weeks to fit summer schedules

For more information or to register, visit www.campjcc.org or contact Dave Flagler, director of camp and teen engagement, at DFlagler@UJFT.org or 757-452-3182.

Capital Camps

12750 Buchanan Trail E
Waynesboro, PA 17268
301-468-2267
www.capitalcamps.org

Overnight camp offers children a unique opportunity to grow, build resilience, and develop independence in a supportive, fun environment. At Capital Camps, enrollment is soaring among younger campers, and middle schoolers are matriculating even at 13 and 14 years old.

It’s never too late to experience the joys of camp—making friends, engaging in outdoor activities, and gaining life skills. With a village structure tailored to each age group, Capital Camps provides a nurturing, immersive Jewish experience where every camper can thrive, build confidence, and create lasting memories in a welcoming and inclusive community.

For more information, contact Penny Hartzman at info@capitalcamps.org.

Chesapeake Bay Academy

821 Baker Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-497-6200
https://cba-va.org/summer-enrichment/

All students, from public and private schools, are welcome to attend CBA’s Summer Enrichment Program. Intensive reading, summer learning, and academic therapy programs are available to children in first through eighth grades with full and half day options available to help children improve skills and build confidence.

Academic mornings offer small group and individualized instruction while afternoons feature recreational activities including culinary and science experiments, arts and crafts, and makerspace projects to support a well-rounded camp experience.

Register online at cba-va.org/summer or contact Elizabeth Waranch, director of institutional advancement, at 757-497-6200 x1414.

Summer at the Cape

Cape Henry Collegiate
1320 Mill Dam Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
757-963-8241
https://www.capehenrycollegiate.org/student-life/summer-programs

Spend the summer learning, growing, and having fun at Summer at the Cape. Cape Henry Collegiate offers day camps for children ages three through 12, featuring plenty of outdoor play and activities. Age-appropriate weekly themes keep kids active and engaged while helping them avoid the “summer slide.”

Specialty camp options allow children to explore a huge variety of interests, from chess, art, and line dancing to coding, surfing, and cooking — it even offers two Taylor Swift fan camps.

Run by championship-winning Cape Henry coaches and other seasoned staff, the Cape’s athletics camps are a great way to develop skills and techniques in baseball, soccer, lacrosse, cheerleading, wrestling, and more.

Summer at the Cape weekly sessions begin the week of June 9 and end August 1.
Children do not have to be current or prospective Cape Henry students to participate in summer camps.

Register online at capehenrycollegiate.org/summer or contact Mark Hall at 757-963-8241 or markhall@capehenry.org.

It’s in the air, summer is within reach

Dave Flagler
Even though it is only Passover, there are many hints that Camp JCC is right around the corner.

Some signs are unmistakable: warmer weather, spring break, and a greener looking outside. Other hints are more subtle. Camp stealthily sneaks its way into many conversations throughout the year. For example, a mention of camp could pop up during complaints about cold weather and longing for summer days. Another mention might come at the end of a basketball practice after having fun with familiar friends. Sometimes, excitement about camp is expressed directly, whether it is excitement to be at camp or something that triggers a reference to a happy memory from a previous summer.

As the weather continues to warm, an increase of camp references will certainly be sprinkled into conversations, building excitement for the summer ahead.

To learn more about Camp JCC, or to hear about year-round opportunities for teens in the community, contact Dave Flagler, director of camp and teen engagement, at DFlagler@UJFT.org or 757-452-3182.

Role Models Wanted:

By Dave Flagler
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” “Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!”
Dr. Suess, quoted above, must have known exactly what it means to work at Camp JCC. Staff members are hired because of WHO they are. They stand out in so many ways, but mostly, by simply being themselves. They help campers to discover and empower them to become their true selves. They, being who they are and leading by example, are the role models that campers want to emulate.

Camp JCC is seeking to add a few more role models to its already amazing summer team. This is a chance to go make a difference, positively shape the future, while having fun “being true and you.”

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”

To learn more about becoming a Camp JCC staff member, or to hear about year-round opportunities for teens in the community, contact Dave Flagler, director of camp and teen engagement, at DFlagler@UJFT.org or 757-452-3182.

One Happy Camper® grants available

Through Tidewater Jewish Foundation, in partnership with the Federation for Jewish Camps, local Jewish children may be eligible for a one-time, need-blind grant up to $1,000 toward a Jewish residential camp experience. Only campers who have not attended Day School are eligible.

More than 150 traditional and specialty overnight camps qualify for this stipend. Jewish federations, foundations, individual camps, Small Community Incentives and PJ Library all sponsor the One Happy Camper® grant for their communities and provide help, support, and local perspective so families can find the right camp for their child.
According to the website, jewishcamp.org, Foundation for Jewish Camp invests in young people because they are the Jewish future. “Study after study confirms that Jewish summer camp remains one of the most effective tools for changing lives – providing opportunities for individual growth, building community, and strengthening connections to Judaism, the Jewish people, and Israel. Simply stated, Jewish camp works!”

For more information about a One Happy Camper grant, contact Dave Flagler, director of camp and teen engagement, at DFlagler@UJFT.org or 757-452-3182. To apply for One Happy Camper in Tidewater, visit https://foundation.jewishva.org/one-happy-camper

The young men and women from Tidewater teamed with other communities to compete in several contests: girls 16 and under (16U) soccer and boys 16U and 14U basketball. One athlete, 13-year-old Oliver Scolnick, competed in Access games for Jewish athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Families travelled to the Lone Star State, too, to cheer on these local athletes despite Texas’ summer heat. In the spirit of the coinciding Paris Olympics, the Tidewater athletes brought home several medals. Along with her FTL United teammates from Ft. Lauderdale, San Diego, and the Virginia Peninsula, Shanny Zach’s first soccer game for girls 16U ended in a 6-1 victory over Argentina; her team later won the gold medal by beating Dallas 3-1 in the finals. Henry Scolnick, Ashten Konikoff, and Leo Gottlieb, along with one player from Stamford, Conn., combined to create the 16U boys three versus three (3v3), basketball VB-STM team. During tournament play, these four teenagers battled teams from Houston/ Ukraine, Boca Raton/Orange County, Nashville/VA Peninsula, and Moise Safra of New York City. Wins were elusive, but the boys fought hard.

The NashVB entry for 14U boys 3v3 basketball, led by Coach Chris Queman, had two local players, Eli Lomogda and Caleb Bailey, and two players from Nashville. Along with a great win over Springfield/Stamford on day 1, the team earned the #5 seed before upsetting the #4 seed, Houston, at the start of the tournament. The #1 seed, powerhouse Kansas City, with a monstrous teen playing center, underestimated NashVB in the semi-finals; the teams battled the entire game, and NashVB almost pulled off a huge upset.

Oliver Scolnick brought home TeamVB’s first medals in the games, with two silvers in individual and team basketball. He continued to dominate in the Access competitions, including a perfect score of 10.0 to win the gold medal in the vault. His team earned silver in the floor exercise relay before Oliver claimed the gold medal in base-tennis, and he even ruled the pool, with an individual gold and a relay silver.

Henry Scolnick, who has never met a stranger, earned two distinctions outside of athletic performance. First, the JCA Jacksonville delegation gave him an honorary bronze medal in recognition of the camaraderie he brings to their experience at JCC Maccabi. Second, the 3v3 basketball sports commissioner extended a Midot Medal (for individuals or groups who epitomize the ideals of sportsmanship and character) to Henry for the palpable influence that his sportsmanship and kindness had upon the entire venue. Henry also earned a silver medal in pickleball doubles play.

The 2024 games closing party ended in Texas style with bull (and shark) riding, armadillo racing, DJ music, dancing, Kona Ice, photos with a live Texas steer, and delicious brisket.

Onward to the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games & Access in Tucson, Arizona!

 Although Parent Connectors have been in PJ Library communities for years to help make meaningful connections and create fulfilling programing for parents and children, Military Parent Connectors specialize in creating a Jewish home for military families in just three areas throughout the U.S. Tidewater is one of those areas.

Acting as a concierge for families new to the area or those ready to establish connections with the local Jewish community, the program strives to connect families with established Jewish institutions, plan military-friendly events, and help families develop relationships with other PJ Library families stationed alongside them.

With more than 100 Jewish military families in Tidewater, programming with the local community has included monthly Jewish-themed story time at Van Wyck Library in Ghent, a Havdalah experience, Baby & Me on select Fridays, an afternoon at Surge Adventure Park, women’s workout class at Ascend Bungee Fitness, a Jewish Family Brunch and Shooting Range with the men’s group, Nadiv, watercolor painting class, and a women’s class led by Amy Lefcoe. 

 Ongoing experiences include select Friday Baby & Me’s at the Simon Family JCC with special guest speakers, weekly Parsha class on Tuesdays with Amy Lefcoe, and monthly Jewish themed story times at Van Wyck Norfolk Library. 

 Next year, plans include building off of Ohef Sholom Temple’s Wiggles and Giggles program for children up to four years old on a rotating monthly Sunday at various venues, as well as considering a Jewish-themed book club for middle schoolers, among other potential programs. 

Jewish Military families who are interested in connecting should email Arielle Ross at PJTidewater@gmail.com and join the local Facebook group.

Arielle Ross serves as the Tidewater Military Parent Connector.