And off we are with Color War! Props are being built, streamers hung, and signs posted in the dining room. “Green and blue” are all over camp, as the camp is now in Color War mode.

To kick it off, there was a ‘sneakerless’ basketball game in the gym, of members of the two teams versus each other. It was amusing to see players running around in their socks and trying to score points for their teams. Some of the players were wheelchair-bound campers who joined the game, scoring points for the game, which Blue Team eventually won.

The theme of the day still being Planet of the Apes, Dembi hosted a banana-eating competition during supper. Two sets of two competitors, one from each team were called up to compete. The one to down 10 bananas first won. Okay, that is not something I would try at home…and it isn’t easy,either!

Following one action-packed day came another…

The day began with the much anticipated helicopter rides over Camp Simcha. The excited campers got a chance to hop into a helicopter just outside of camp and go for an exhilarating ride over the campus. They said it was WAY COOL looking down at the camp from so high up. Everything looks so small! It was a bit scary, though, when the pilot made some sharp turns in mid-air, but it was a lot of fun.

To add a touch to the theme of the day, Biblical Times, Camp Simcha brought in ‘Noah’s Ark,’ a mobile ark from which a pony and sheep emerged and everyone got a chance to check it out. Additionally there was a rabbit, snake, monkey, and fish! There were also some fun games and hands-on displays and exhibits which we had a chance to experience.

The dining room featured some exciting displays, too, in relation to the theme of the day. There was a well, Egyptian pyramid, Pharaoh, wagon, and more.

Throughout the afternoon we got a chance to participate in some of the many fun workshops and activities camp has to offer at all times, and go for a swim or boat ride.

Wow, that was another fun day here in camp. There’s so much more to come…

The least I can say right now is…WOW! The amount of activities packed into today is enough to fill an entire week!

Peace, Dude! Today was a rather colorful one (when is it not?!) – colorful T-shirts, bandanas, tie-dyed outfits, etc. to match the theme of the day. Following the morning activities and a pumping lunch, the camp was treated to the first special surprise today: a fleet of fancy luxury sports cars, including a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Mercedes, two Audis, and an Infinity, some of which are convertibles. The campers had the privilege to get a chance to go for a spin in them around camp. Those mighty engines made the cars sound like race cars…or perhaps they are…

Following the cars the camp was led into the Social Hall for yet another surprise: half of the Twins from France (as Dembi put it). Being that his twin is away, the remaining twin put on an equally as exciting show. The twin captivated the audience as he rolled around the room on unicycles (including a 7 ft. one!), dodging the front rows by mere inches! He jumped over some campers laying on the floor while he was riding to make it even more scary. He even had some brave campers on his shoulders while he was riding around. Too bad riding atop the table didn’t work, as it buckled beneath him in the beginning of the act, but that only added more excitement to the show. He also rode a bike upside down, and juggled fire and razor-sharp knives. He then proceeded to swallow a knife and blow fire out of his mouth. Camp Simcha Special proved to him that we can indeed blow out the flaming torches, which he challenged us to blowing out.

If you think that was enough for one day, it was actually far from over. For night activity we were led back into the Social Hall for ‘Simcha Stock,’ which turned out to be a live Yehuda Green concert, for good ol’ times’ sake, and to ‘throw-it-down’ on the dance floor. While the camp enjoyed the music and dancing some campers and staff members organized a protest in response to Dembi’s “No Color War” announcement. Signs went up after the concert declaring that camp cannot happen without a Color War. Well, we’ll see about that…

Outside the Social Hall there was a tie-dye station in connection with the theme of the day–Hippie 60’s. Whoever participated was able to take a bandana and tie it several times while twisting it around, and then spray some colorful paint on it at the end of the table in order to transform a simple bandana (or shirt) into a bright, colorful one.

The day is STILL not over!! A short while later, following marriv, the older divisions along with the staff joined in the annual simcha of a siyum hashas in honor of the seudas hodaah (celebration of thanks) for the miracle that occurred 12 years ago in camp when a fire burned down the main building and miraculously everyone (and everything else) was safe throughout camp. The camp has rebuilt even stronger since and the siyum was made by R’ Yitzy Muller in honor of the miracle.

Whoa! That was a ton for one day of camp! Well, stay tuned for even more on the way, along with plenty of surprises…

Camp Simcha Special has just begun with a bang! Pumped-up staff members welcomed in the smiling campers as they arrived in the happiest place on earth. Each and every camper received  a personal welcome by the entire camp, accompanied by pumping music by Camp Simcha’s band.

Following the exciting welcoming ceremony we were treated to a cool night activity – a group of trampoline acrobats–but not just any. Their acts included jaw-dropping feats, such as double and triple flips in mid-air after nearly (or actually) hitting the ceiling! Some of the flips and jumps were even done while wearing snowboards, wakeboards, skis, and who-knows-what-else. What a way to start off the session!

We are all looking forward to the best summer here in Camp Simcha Special! Stay tuned for more as the fun never ends here…