Camp Blog

Campers speed through the grounds on full sized motorcycles. There are standard bikes, bikes with three wheels and bikes with side cars.  There are people handing out helmets to all the campers waiting in line. Everyone is excited to ride the motorcycles. Anna zooms around on a three wheeler while Sharon waits for her turn to ride. Noam dismounts saying “it was so much fun!” Camp Simcha loves riding motorcycles!

Wands are waving and cloaks are flowing as everyone heads towards the dining hall for breakfast. As campers walk into the building they step into the wizarding world. There is Honeyduke’s Sweet Shop, Eyelop’s Owl Emporium, Zonko’s Joke Shop, The Hog’s Head,  Platform 9 and 3/4, and the Great Hall of Hogwarts. When campers finish eating they all sit in front of a stool with a shaggy hat propped on top. Dumbledore arrives and begins to sort campers into houses. Reagan is the first to be summoned to place the sorting hat on her head. “Gryffindor!” the hat exclaims, to a roar of cheering from the crowd. Among the many to be sorted is Tom Marvolo Riddle (aka Anna K.). A chant of “Slytherin, Slytherin,” begins until the sorting hat is forced to comply. “Slytherin!” the hat shouts and Anna bursts into an excited grin. Once everyone has been sorted it is time to head to the first activity of the day.

Hammers pound, volcanoes explode, and bubbles fly at the Camp Simcha science fair. There are many different booths all around the gym. Campers are busy excavating for dinosaur bones, constructing exploding volcanoes, making slime and goop, shooting bubbles out of a bubble gun and even making icecream in an ice cream maker shaped like a ball. Zoey is having fun playing kickball with the ice cream maker as Rochel Leah drops mentos into Pepsi causing it to explode. Judges walk around handing out ribbons to the winners.

Today, every camper has the chance to soar.  Everyone gathers in the dining hall to receive an official Camp Simcha helicopter shirt. When it is their turn, campers cross the road to the heliport and board the helicopter. Everyone wears special headsets in order to block out the noise of the helicopter. The door is closed and they take off! The helicopter flies in a circle around camp. Campers have fun looking out the window to see all the little people running around camp.

Tonight, all of the campers who have recently celebrated or will soon celebrate their Bat Mitzvah were honored with a party and ceremony. In the social hall there was several booths with activities. There was cupcake decorating, jewelry making, sushi making, washing cup decorating and a photo station. A staff member was walking on stilts and handing out balloon animals. Then, everyone was told to take a seat and all of the Bat Mitzvah girls were called on stage. Dana, Arianna, Bekkie, Zoey, Sydney,Tess, Michelle, Dina Sara, Yuval, Gali, Ilanna, Eden, Sophia and Rivka presented a poster that they made together then each said one line of a poem about becoming Bat Mitzvah. Ilanna gave a speech about prayer and then Rebbetzin Feiner spoke about the beauty of everyone coming together from different backgrounds to share in this moment. Then Gali sang a song in both English and Hebrew. Once the ceremony was complete everyone headed to the dining hall were there was a dessert reception waiting. Waitresses were walking around serving hors d’oeuvres. There were tables of different pastries, fruits and candies and a cotton candy machine. After, a few minutes all the campers sat in a giant circle and played a game of pass the present where there was a prize on every layer. Then, a silk acrobat showed some of her tricks then taught campers how to climb up a silk rope. Last, but certainly not least, it was time to cut the cake. All the girls gathered around and Sydney and Dana cut the cake. Mazal Tov to all of the Bat Mitzvah girls!

Official Video:

Campers are lined up and waiting for their turn to enter the room. Inside there are tables filled with all sorts of toys. Campers have fun taking a massive bag and filling it with as much stuff as they can. There are sunglasses, watches ,pillows, towels, nail polish, lip gloss, t-shirts, pajamas, socks, pillow pets, bubbles, slinkys, silly bands, binoculars, camera cases, mp3 players, and digital cameras. Thank you to all the members of the Deal community who make this possible!

It is campers vs. counselors in an intense game of baseball. Each division has their chance to go up against the counselors. The first pitch is thrown and the game begins! The campers are hitting fly balls and home runs while the counselor can not manage to score. There are hot dogs, popcorn, and candy for all the campers. During the second inning stretch a drumming group  performs. The game continues and the counselor still can not manage to score. Congratulations to the campers for winning!

It is nine in the morning and campers are eagerly awaiting the buses that will take them on the major trip of the summer. The buses back in and everyone excitedly boards the six giant coach buses. Attendance is taken and the buses pull out.

The first stop is Paramount theater, in in Ausbury Park New Jersey, to see the talented Cirque Ziva. This theater is located along a pier. So, while campers wait for the doors to open they are busy mini golfing, surrey riding, or exploring the shops along the pier. Bekkie drives a surrey, easily navigating around the pedestrians. While Sari pedals quickly to help move the bike along. Eventually the doors open and everyone files into the theater. Everyone is pleasantly surprised to discover that Pepsi is handing out free drinks to anyone from Camp Simcha! Campers and Staff find their seats, lights are dimmed, the curtain is raised and the show begins! Cirque Ziva is a group of acrobats whose skills are unbelievable. Among the many acts is a lady who balances a glass lantern on the sole of her foot while twisting her body into different shapes and a man who holds himself in a one-handed hand stand on top of stacked chairs that almost touch the ceiling! When the show comes to a close the entire audience gives the performers a standing ovation.

Everyone leaves the theater and walks across the pier to the convention center for lunch. Waiting on stage is none other then Shalsheles. They begin to play and everyone cheers. Everyone is jumping and dancing to the music. Dana and Arianna are dancing together from on top of their counselors shoulders. A massive conga line begins to form and people are giving each other high-fives as they pass. Sari, Gali, and Noam come on stage and sing beautiful solos. Then, to end the amazing concert, Shalsheles sings a slow song and everyone forms one giant circle. At the end of the song they begin to sing ‘Waving Flags’ and everyone joins in. The concert comes to a close and it is time to board the buses again.

The buses pull into Cocoa Keys Water Kingdom, an indoor water park. There are inner tube slides, a swimming pool, and a massive water jungle gym. There is a pool with five round floating platforms and rope handle bars on top. The goal is to make it across without falling into the water. Anna made it all the way to the end but  her counselor fell in three times before giving up.

After a day of fun it is time to head back to camp. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible!

In a jaw dropping spectacle Eric, Magician Extraordinaire, preformed stunts and tricks that left campers and staff speechless. First, his assistant went inside a box which he split into four smaller boxes, took them apart, then reassembled the boxes and she was still inside! Then, Samantha wrote her name on her counselors twenty dollar bill and it reappeared inside a sealed lemon. Shiran floated five feet in the air and Bekkie helped handcuff and lock Eric inside a box that he successfully escaped from. Everyone stared in disbelief as he caught a paintball in his mouth! Thank you to Eric and the entire Extreme Magic of Eric crew for a spectacular show!