Welcome to Camp Simcha

Camp Simcha & Camp Simcha Special

Simcha Magic: Feel It In The Air!

About ParentSpace and our Galleries

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Before the session begins, we would like to clarify some things about our Facebook galleries, public galleries on our website, and ParentSpace galleries.

First, if your child is photo-released “in camp only”, he or she will only appear in the ParentSpace gallery. Your child will not appear on Facebook, nor on the public side of the site. So if your child is a camper, go ahead and sign up for ParentSpace. Not only will you see more pictures (2x more pictures than on FB), but you will also be privy videos that are produced special for you (almost) every day, an exclusive blog, the daily camp newsletter, camp schedule, and more exciting features.

Second, please follow the instructions below for the proper way to log in to your account. If you haven’t applied for an account, please go ahead and apply for an account. You should be verified within 48 hours.

To log into your ParentSpace account, go to campsimcha.org and click LOGIN in the top right corner.

Then type in your username and password.

You are now in ParentSpace!

A COMMON PROBLEM: If you attempt to visit campsimcha.org/parentspace directly, and login there, you will be bounced to another login page. If you type in your username and password there you, will be granted access to ParentSpace. However, until we correct this glitch, we ask that you instead login by going to campsimcha.org and clicking login in the top right corner.

If you are still having trouble with ParentSpace, or if you have any questions, comments, requests, or suggestions for the blogs, please contact zahavah@campsimcha.org

Behind the Scenes: CSG 2013

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Behind the scenes, the puppet-masters pull the strings together, and the hidden workings of Camp Simcha come alive. Bright papers, ribbons, and funky designs overtake every visible surface as counselors pool their artistic abilities to create personalized, individual decorations for every camper. The passion is palpable as the anticipation builds with every snip of scissors and every dab of glue. Piece by colorful piece, the staff members create funky signs, hang decorations, and the finishing touches all fall into place.

The camp’s resident band, Faux Real (check them out on facebook!) rocks out in preparation in the cafeteria, shaking the floorboards (and quite possibly the ceilings, the walls, and the rooftops as well).

I don’t want to give too much away, but… be prepared for the TIME of your lives!!!!!

Planet of the Apes Day/ Color War Breakout

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Dembi wasn’t seen much last night or this morning around camp since he wasn’t feeling well. –or so he claimed. Today’s theme is ‘Planet of the Apes,’ and based on the theme the props team constructed a makeshift forest around the stage in the dining room. Plenty of people were ‘monkeying’ around today and one suspicious gorilla didn’t attract too much attention. During lunch today when the gorillas were dancing on the stage, one unmasked itself, which turned out to Dembi! As he did so, he yelled, “COLOR WAR!” and Color War became officially unleashed in Camp Simcha Special 2013. He repeatedly told camp that there will be no Color War this year, but he always has something up his sleeve!

Following the breakout, the teams and captains were announced. The two teams are ‘Blue’ – Tzahala, and ‘Green’ – Rina. We are awaiting a staff basketball game in the gym sometime today, including a special halftime show. I’ll keep you posted on the special events…

Native/Colonial American Day Part II

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Continuing our journey today, we had the privilege to attend a live concert in the Social Hall, featuring not one, but TWO singers! Shloime Gertner and Shloime Dachs both came all the way to entertain Camp Simcha. We were on a high as we all became involved in the concert and the energy penetrated the air.

A short while later we had a unique show: Freestyle Repertory Theatre. It involves two teams of actors/actresses which compete in skits acted on-the-spot. The show starred professional actors/actresses, but some of the campers were called up to participate in the acting. The camp votes for the best skits and some of them are timed, aside from being acted without any practice.

Due to the weather, night swimming wasn’t a very practical option for late-night activity, so Despicable Me 2 was played in the Social Hall for anyone interested in watching it.

That was a very busy day, even in the rain! Looking forward to tomorrow…

Native American/Colonial Times

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This morning, it felt like we walked through a time machine! Oh, wait. There actually is a time machine in our dining room! Firstly, the stage is decorated with heavy shipping ropes, nets, and broken barrels. It looks like it just got pulled out of an old shipwreck. Next, there is an actual teepee in middle of the floor which we are able to climb into and out of. Tons of campers and staff members are running around with bongos and feathery Indian Chief hats like a bunch of American Indians. It felt like we went back five hundred years. Some people wore colonial American costumes with all the works: toupe`, hat, outfit, etc.

A highlight of the props is a huge time machine sitting in middle of the dining room floor. Now, don’t get me wrong, it will actually send you back in time!! Try it as you may, its exterior is built with wooden boards to mock iron sheets bolted together and has pipes and tubes coming out from all over. Upon walking inside, you will be astonished to find yourself sitting in middle of a man-to-man combat war in middle of the 1600’s!! It’s dark inside with light coming from only a green web-light and blue tree light. It is equipped with a large mixing board with working buttons, a sound system, and most of all, a screen playing native/colonial American scenes. An additional, much larger screen is atop the craft playing the same scenes for everyone else to see. The entire craft was built right here in camp, and everyone appreciates the hard work which went into building it.

The camp is now in the Social Hall for some theme activities and awaiting a surprise. I’ll definitely keep you posted on what it is…

Shabbos in Simcha Special

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A special Shabbos it was, here in camp! On Friday night, we sang, danced, and enjoyed some of Duvie Becker’s entertainment.

Shabbos morning began with a delicious, hot Kiddush in the dining room/porch for everone to enjoy. After, the campers were divided into groups to hear exciting stories.

Following the division groups the camp proceeded back to the dining room for the meal.

In the afternoon we played a game of Bingo with razzle pieces, hosted by Duvie Becker, during which amazing prizes were won, including some sport jerseys, Coby iPod, Coby iPad, rocket launcher kit, and more.

When Shabbos was over, we had some more awesome food and lively dancing. But the day/night was STILL not over!!

For night activity, the divisions split up for some fishing by the lake, s’mores by the lake, and night swimming.

WOW!!! That was one packed Shabbos!! Can’t wait for another long day ahead of us tomorrow…