Camp Blog

What a day! Today’s activities were fun, educational, and meaningful, all complementing each other to make each other truly great.

It was so cool to see the amazing creation that went on in the gym. Thousands and thousands of different colored Lego bricks were brought in for the campers’ creative enjoyment. The children sat in the gym and built and shaped and constructed a whole assortment of different things out of their Lego bricks, eventually coming together to represent a city chosen at random by the children. Given the current state of affairs in Israel, Jerusalem was picked to be built out of the bricks, and everyone had a great time re-creating the city together.

Here are some of the highlights from today’s intense baseball game. Noah S. made an amazing diving catch, Max R. and Noah G. teamed up together and pitched two perfect innings. They even managed to strike out our head counselor, Ari Dembitzer! Tomas got his first ever hit in a baseball game, a major milestone in any boy’s life, as it surely was in his. And last but certainly not least, Bruce got himself a base hit!

Usually Camp Simcha is just B-A-N-A-N-A-S, but today we were MAD! Mad scientists that is, as we were treated to an awesome scientific show. The big hit of the day was the dry ice, (frozen carbon dioxide, for anybody who doesn’t know) which our performer put into different types of cups and containers and made all kinds of crazy steam. Several campers, including Yam, Adan, the 3 Noahs, Max, Danny, and more, were called up to assist.

All in all, it was a great day, an exhausting day, and all of our campers went to bed nice and early in excitement and expectation of tomorrow’s major trip! We can’t wait!!!

Wow! There’s nothing like sitting around a bonfire, linking arms together with your friend, singing your heart out. And that’s exactly what happened tonight in camp. At around 10:15 P.M. or so tonight, Bentzi Brown and Co. set up a tremendous bonfire behind the pool area in camp, around which all of the campers and counselors were able to sit, link arms and truly release their emotions through slow, melodic song, as opposed to the usual wild n’ crazy dance party music that we are used to listening to. Our head counselor, Ari Dembitzer, spoke about our innate instincts to help one another in a moment of need or a situation of danger. It was really a great way to bond with each other, and to emote outwards to others, as well as feel and commiserate with everyone else’s emotions at the same time.

Superman! Batman! Spiderman! Even Captain Underpants was spotted roaming around camp today. The theme of the day is superheroes, and I have to say, everyone did a super job dressing the part.

We had some super activities as well today. In glass fusion the boys made pendants, plates, necklaces, cuff links, and anything else the mind can “imagine”. In leatherworks the Israeli boys made key chains, belts, etc. Candle-making was exciting as always, with crazy things from regular candles to enormous blobs to hand molds being made out of hot, melted wax.

Today’s highlight though was the incredible show featuring Steve Max, world-renowned for his difficult and confusing Simon Says challenges. A total of six campers were called up to be a part of the show, as well as two counselors to be stumped and bamboozled time and time again. Luckily, one of our counselors Dovid S. managed to overcome the challenge and win the title of Camp Simcha Simon Says Champion 2010. When Adan and Simon got called up for their turn, Steve got totally mixed up about Simon’s name, and kept saying it wrong! Adan wouldn’t stand for such injustice, and made sure to correct Steve until he got it right. Steve was so impressed with Adan’s concern for his friend, and made a point of showing everyone how a person should behave toward his fellow. We’re all looking forward to tonight’s bonfire-side sing-a-long.

Tonight the Yeshiva University Maccabeats stood on stage in front of us, Camp Simcha. Before they began the night, Dovid H., one of our Campers, opened up his voice to us, and what an opening it was. When the hands went up and the feet began to move, we knew the night would be ruled by the beat of our feet, and so it was.

The Maccabeats had expected to play their usual A Capella style, casual crowd, proper dressed procession…but we had other plans. The first words out of the mouths of the crowd roared “untuck your shirts! Untuck your shirts!” and the proper dressed entertainers untucked, and so began the night.

The entertainers started slow, with a few of their first songs. However the pump up of the crowd made it something more, something body moving, and the crowd in the Social Hall of Camp Simcha made a mosh pit to A Capella music. After a little body surfing, the group brought back Dovid H. to join them and as his backup, they quieted the crowd and the night so we could all listen and be uplifted.

Before their close the Maccabeats brought up Staff member Mordy T. to help beat box on stage. They finished with the song the crowd had been demanding all night, their version of Matisyahu’s “One Day.” This hit single rocked the crowd. And as we shouted and jumped to the beat of the song, the crowd gathered toward the Maccabeats to close the night.

In the words of one of the Maccabeats “We had so much fun!” Well we here at Camp Simcha are glad to bring those who entertain, here to be entertained.

Today in Camp Simcha we celebrate those things that go bump in the night…those creatures that give us a fright….and all the spook that is a delight!

We have ghosts, goblins and gremlins! Cob-webs and skeletons are the theme for today. Faces painted white and green, black clothes, and hair that is quite out of the scary zone of imaginationland.

The cauldrons are boiling and the witches are screaming in our all-out haunted house dining room.

Before lunch our campers took their precious time to “beautify” their counselors with paint, toilet paper and much more. The “Freakify Your Counselor Contest” in the social hall produced some scary looking creations.

Later, the Social Hall was transformed into into a haunted house laser tag hunt and a flour fight broke out after some delicious baked goods were made in the bakery.

Music, dancing and every sauce/cheese/pasta dish known to man were all a part of the party thrown in the dining hall Saturday night.

Before we begin special Mention goes to…. Coby B. for saving the helpless counselor Moshe D. drowning in the LAKE (even though he can’t swim)!! Noah E. for graciously giving his balloon to Correy, even though he REALLY loved it! Danny L. for cheering up a homesick camper! Who all received Giants hats and sweatshirts, and a Coby Ipod EACH! Wow you guys are amazing!

At dinner on Friday night we heard a superb speech from Ariel K. The meal was followed by the delivering of the awards for extraordinary kindness.

After a great lunch, we all gathered around the stage for some quality entertainment Camp Simcha style. The first play was a hilarious story about “Dudi” who clearly should have brought his underwear to the airport (no need for subtitles as we had translation in every language). The second play was something about chest hair. Division scores at this point Meir-2 Foxy-1 Dr. Scott- 1 Elad.

After the plays we went outside for an all new scavenger hunt in which we moo-ed, ribbit-ed, and quack-ed, as we found the treasure. Meir’s division took the win and increased their lead by one.

Then came BINGO, everyone’s favorite, in the social hall. There were so many prizes including jets hats and sweatshirts there was even a Lenox alarm clock. Our top winners were Adan who won an Apple Ipod Nano, and Bruce as well won a Nano and got his Division another point. That put Meir at 4!!! Congrats to our Leprechauns.

As the sun set, we went out to the porch to sing, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and enjoy the oratory skills of Mendel O. Binyomin Z. and Meir A. Then there was an awesome concert and late night pasta buffet for everyone. Basically, the day really rocked!

The social hall was filled with laughter and reverence for the antics of “The Twins from France.” The twin acrobats flipped, jumped with stilts, unicycled, threw fire, and shocked the audience with their talented act while forcing them to laugh at their professional bumbling.

Later, campers experienced what it really means to be covered in chocolate, and they realized it was delicious. The campers were almost able to build their chocolate wonderland, but the idea of a chocolate fight was too much fun to pass up.

And tonight, we begin our first Camp Simcha Shabbat 2010!

Today in Camp Simcha we celebrate the centuries old delight we enjoy in many forms. CHOCOLATE!

What if the world was a chocolate one? Full of Willy Wonka, edible environment-like creations.

We have Oompa Loompas, chocolate rivers, and flying elevators!…ok, some of that we don’t actually have, but we do have our imaginations, and today, they have a sweet tooth.

Howdy Partner,

Wild Wild West was the “What If” today in Camp Simcha Imaginationland.

The dining room was full of a saloon, corner store and full Wild West garb. There were cowboys in full get up-boots, big brimmed hats, bandanas, and, of course, the trusty Colt sidearm… reach for the skies!

The Genies division went on a treasure hunt as they rummaged through the Camp looking for some of that “California yellow,” and those 49ers found their gold. Afterward they gathered some s’mores around the fire, while our Israeli chevra set up a big bonfire behind the pool, and had some old style corn, fresh from the stalks.

Our first day at the lake involved high speed boating for those with adrenalin needs, canoes, and rafts for those wishing for something calmer, and bumper boats for those who love their own personal attack boats, loaded with the mechanized squirt gun. Some campers even caught a few fish.

At dinner, we heard from the Genie, Leprechaun, and Mahna-mahna divisions, each with their own cheer. Moreover, to top off the night, we were visited by the world famous Skyriders. With their trampoline and snowboards, they made great height as the eyes of the audience were opened, and our hearts pounded. Even a Staff member joined in on the action. Off we are to a great start…there is only one question to ask- ARE YOU READY FOR CAMP SIMCHA 2010?!!!