At the leather workshop this year we are busy at work. Campers especially like making bracelets, siddur covers and, new for this season, picture albums. They love personalizing their crafts with stamps and then painting the leather. Keren is making a keychain for her friend Naomi back at home. Shana is making a headband. Samarra is working on a keychain. Francesca is making a bracelet with her name on it.
It’s a Bird – No, it’s a Plane!
That’s right! This morning helicopter rides came to Camp Simcha. We went on rides around Gley Spey. The aerial views of the campgrounds and lake were beautiful. Some of us have been looking forward to this special activity all year.
Francesca said, “It was amazing. It was the best experience and I hope that I get to go on next year. And I always like to go in the air.”
Chaya Fraidel said, “It was a lot of fun. My favorite part was when we were up in the air. I could see everything in camp.”
Thanks to Ponytail Shlomo (it’s fake) and Bob the Pilot.
Venahapoch Hu!
Where is the head staff table? Why are we eating dinner for lunch? Why do our division heads look different today? Because it’s Purim, of course!
Camp Simcha Special woke up this morning to a topsy-turvy world in which campers are counselors, head staff, and maintenance, and Purim music is heard in the middle of the summer. Our new head counselor for the day, Henny O., made all of the morning announcements over the loudspeaker, and Stephanie, dressed as Bill Cosby, entertained us all with her hilarious jokes.
After an inspiring learning group led by Liliya, we couldn’t wait to see what other topsy-turvy surprises Purim Day holds in store!
Acrobatics Team Delights on This Superbowl Sunday
Chicago Boyz Acrobatics Team drove all the way in from Chicago to amaze us with their awesome stunts. They performed jaw-dropping flips, turns, jump rope tricks and even jumped over very brave campers and even Shaindy Lowenthal. One of the gymnasts, nicknamed Superman because he flew so high, leapfrogged over seven campers in a row. Rena stood on top of Head Lifeguard Rachel’s shoulder and then one of the gymnasts jumped over them.
Workshop Watch: Roofy Roofy
For the first Roofy Roofy project of the summer, we are making beautiful wax creations. Kyle from Allentown, PA says making candles has been her favorite activity so far. The candles I’ve seen are multi-layered with concentric scales that resemble palm trees arranged around a center cylindrical candle base. They’re purple and red and yellow and give off a light sweet scent when they burn. Look for these in your campers’ suitcase when she comes home. The candles are beautiful addition to a havdalah set. Shifra, the pottery director, has also told us that some campers have made their own pottery candle holders and then taken them to Roofy Roofy to fill with brightly colored, sweet-smelling wax.
Party Favor: Caps
Party City is reporting that popular athletic hats have been completely sold out. In a related news story, in honor of the Simcha Superbowl, campers received athletic hats for party favors.
Simcha Scores Major Victory in Superbowl
Welcome to the first annual Simcha Superbowl. It’s Simcha Swines (campers) vs. Simcha Staff. The social hall became a field with taped down foul lines and goals. Alexis opened with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem. The game was on!
The half-time show featured the Lovely, Lively Lifeguards in an exclusive performance. Another two of our staff member performed skateboard stunts.
Of course our very athletically inclined campers won scored touchdown after touchdown as the staff fumbled over their feet and tried to steal the balls from each other.
And the crowd went wild! Dressed in their favorite team’s colors and face paint, everyone was cheering with horns.
We re-energized with a celebratory Superbowl dinner of subs, heroes, chicken wings and chips and salsa. Then we relaxed for the after-dinner commercial break. Simcha filmmakers really enjoyed producing the commercial from thinking up the concept to directing their fellow bunk-mates to acting out and shooting the final product. The screening of the advertisements had us all laughing all the way to night activity.
Hut! hut! hut! Hey Simcha!
We are the champions – my friends. . .
This is Leah reporting from Party City, NY where preparations for the first annual Simcha Superbowl are in progress. This morning expert cheerleaders taught us a stretching and dance routine set to sports songs. Out on the field (who knew the dining room could have so many faces?), the Simcha Swines (homage to the H1N1 virus) are getting in formation. Campers and counselors are in uniform with whistles and eye black.
Simcha filmmakers are now are producing their own commercials for the Superbowl. The categories for the different advertisements include Tamiflu, Maayim Chayim water, Pizza and camp’s famous Gem Carts. The commercials will be screened tonight during the after-party. The Simcha Academy Awards committee will be attending.
Stay with us for more updates straight from the field.
Gut Voch !
I’m Leah and this is Letters Home from Simcha Special live from the basement of the dining hall. We’re getting reports of post-Shabbos dancing already taking place above ground. In fact, I can feel the floor shaking above me. Camp is bringing in what will certainly be a week of excitement.
Nechama S. and Tali H. inspired us with their divrei Torah on the parsha.
We spent Shabbos afternoon in our famous Bingo games, relaxing in the library and taking luxurious shabbos walks around camp.
Rabbi Scholar addressed staff and campers after Oneg Shabbos on Friday night.
Stay with us for more updates from the Happiest Place on Earth.
It’s Time to Say Good Shabbos
Another week’s gone by, become a memory . . .
Camp is preparing for Shabbos. Kabalas Shabbos is in less than ten minutes. After that we’ll have seudas shabbos and zemiros. Tomorrow morning after davening is the kiddush in honor of the baby shower and then after seudas shabbos, we’ll have special learning groups and a shabbos play.
We’ll be back here after Shabbos with updates from the weekend.