Camp Blog

A Final Wave of Magic…

July 25, 2016Leave a Comment

Tables caped in black, layers of cards decked out, only to be matched by red spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds centering each table, that was the dining room decor tonight in honor of our very last magician’s dinner here in Camp Simcha. Our banquet was transformed by the lingering sense that this was almost “Goodbye Time,” but Simcha knows how to put up excellent distractions. With a concert scheduled for later on tonight and fireworks by the lake at midnight, there might just be a wedge of time tomorrow morning for goodbyes…but for now, we are just letting one final wave of Simcha magic wash over us…

A Hand for Our Staff Members

July 25, 2016Leave a Comment

Our Great Big Thank You Ceremony is underway as we share our appreciation for the greatest, most incredibly committed staff of any camp in the East! From the counselors who accompanied each of our girls through every special activity, artistic workshop and moment by moment memory made up of color-crazed paint dabs and the stirrings of mid-day helicopter propellers, to the specialty staff complete with lifeguards, waitresses and workshop aids. A round of applause for our media staff, snapping photos and working all session to produce a memory laden video capturing every day flash-backs of the summer. Last, but certainly not least, our wonderful head staff deserves the greatest Jumbo-Sized Simcha Thank You ever! Their planning, scheduling, organizing and then rescheduling in the face of rainstorms and other most wonderful surprises, is what makes our head staff the most valuable Camp Simcha asset.

After a Thank You Ceremony topped with cheering and musical introductions, our campers relived some of their past two weeks of Color-Crazed madness watching the camp video put together by our Media Staff (Thanks again guys!) and then it’s on to banquet, a last festive farewell before the goodbye waterworks really kick in…

White Gloves and Magic Dust

July 25, 2016Leave a Comment

Pick a card, any card, yeah that’s right take that one right over there. Look at it and memorize it very well…

Black capes are swaying mysteriously in a windless fog, top hats are bowing and revealing pale, white rabbits appearing unexplainably from beneath red, velvet folds. Camp Simcha has entered a world of Magic and Mystery on our very last day of Simcha Girls 2016! The dining room drapes thick black and red curtains and endless piles of cards, just waiting for a quick pair of hands and a willing audience to amaze.

Have you memorized your card yet? Stick it back in the deck if you will, yes anywhere is fine, there you go, that’s marvelous. Now watch as I shuffle the cards, mix them well. First, I’ll turn these down and push those up. Are you watching carefully? Because you know, it’s all in the illusion, the hidden motion, the misdirection!

Our girls have slipped on white, magicians gloves and are ready for a day of Hocus Pocus on this very last morning of camp…and……….

VIOLA! Is this your card?

Working in Show Biz!

July 24, 2016Leave a Comment

Sounds like Simcha has hit Broadway with out talent show debut this afternoon! All of our talented performers and first time stars impressed us with gymnastic routines, intricate dance steps and singing solos. We loved to watch each other in the spotlight and the cheering support from the crowd was absolutely exceptional!!!

Some of our spectacular moments on set included the very talented Norma and her balancing act and Moriah’s singing kickoff. The “Gold Diggers performed a dance routine and Miriam impressed us with a masterful musical performance. NYC’s Broadway has never seen such a plethora of talent all in one place before, but Simcha sure is a Company of dancing, singing, drawing, cheering starlets ready to hit the stage whenever entertainment is called for. Thank you to all of our performers today and our wonderful audience who provide the chaotic thrills of a NYC style show today.

And remember folks, it’s a booming city and ANYTHING can happen…!

City Girls

July 24, 2016Leave a Comment

We’ve been flagging down taxies at breakfast and posing for pictures with sidewalk characters all morning. It’s Red Day! Which means that the Big Apple has come to Camp Simcha and Time Square is flying! Donning all shades of Red and all hues of excitement, our campers are off to begin their activities.

It’s NYC Day and who knows, anything can happen in the Big City…!

Riding in Fashion

July 22, 2016Leave a Comment

As it turns out, running around playing royalty with all these public ceremonies, teas with the plebeians and charity appearances can be very tiring. Naturally, we were getting just a little burnt out. Suddenly, amidst the blur of thick robes and admiring cries from the peasant crowds, our very own Limousine showed up, Chauffeur and all! We all took turns re-energizing in the back of a stretch limo at the front of campus before hurrying off to the next affair.

Preparations for tonight’s banquet are underway as we await the arrival of our esteemed, royal guests.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Calling All Soldiers!

July 22, 2016Leave a Comment

You have been royally challenged by order of the King!

…To a “Wild ‘n Wacky Challenge!”

Yes indeed folks, for our first special activity of the day we watched as fellow campers and staff members daringly rose to the test. While some of us raced in ring tosses and hula hooping, the best was reserved for the unfortunate losers…

It’s what you might call the royal way, “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!”

Nah, we’re just kidding, since we’ve discovered that Face-Pies are much more dramatic! So, for all our wonderful contest losers out there, a “pieing” was definitely in order. After “Wild n’ Wacky Challenges” in the gym, a royal cleanup was called for and our girls rushed to hair appointments, spa dates and gown fittings. Only the best for our Simcha Royalty!

“By Order of the King!”

July 22, 2016Leave a Comment

The trumpets are blaring. Scrolls are being unrolled. Knights are marching, flags waving and Camp Simcha campers are looking absolutely Royal in Purple! It’s Royal Purple Day and all the majesties are rising to the occasion. Gown fittings for every member of the royal family will take place this afternoon in the royal costume hall and then it’s on to hair and makeup appointments for the royal Shabbat banquet tonight. Gosh, but Royal people always have such full schedules!

We’ve got TWO special activities planned for today and challah baking for all campers in honor of Shabbat. While it’s our last weekend in camp and the days are winding down, we are making every second count!

Simcha Dare Devils Hit the Flags!

July 21, 2016Leave a Comment

We apologize for the late updating this afternoon, it’s just been so hard to blog from…SIX FLAGS, New England!!! We were on the road from Camp Simcha central for three hours early this morning to enjoy a day long outing to the Greatest Amusement Park in the World! Following a Pizza Fest lunch, we hit the rides hard with our bravest troops trying out “The Wicked Cyclone,” “Bizzaro” and “Thunderbolt,” some of the top roller coasters in the country!

Then it was a sandwiched dinner and on to the next stop to Six Flags WATER PARK! Tonight promises to be a Wet ‘n Wild Adventure before we finally head back to camp for a much needed good night’s sleep.

Going Once…Going Twice…

July 21, 2016Leave a Comment

Tonight we mingled with the finest of high class society, enjoying an evening at the auction and viewing some of the greatest works by our avant-garde artists. After a round of champagne and a walk around the art displays, the auction officially began with our hosts Rivka and Aviva. As the night drew on, ten pieces from our personal collection were sold at auction, tipping the scales at over $500 for individual paintings!

To our most dedicated and “sophisticated staff,” we would like to thank you for your participation this evening as the esteemed “cultural patrons” of tonight’s event. You clearly all have superb taste in high quality artwork. All the proceeds contribute to the Camp Simcha Cause and family.

To our crew of artists who worked their way through years of art school this morning, months of last-minute tweaking and late nights spent brain storming creative ideas for their magnificent creations featured tonight, we thank you for your contributions and your talents. Tonight’s success would not have been possible – or nearly as beautiful – without you all.