Can YOU describe Camp Simcha in just one word?

Who’s excited for Camp Simcha Special?
Watch Blima and Malka Bracha talk about their experiences at CSSG 2013!

This has got to be the best finale I have ever seen!

With the theme of ‘Back To The Future,’ we had four DeLoreans giving campers rides around camp. We also got rides in motorbikes and jet skis. And just to go ‘full-throttle’ crazy, we also all got a helicopter ride! With the amazing views of the mountains around, it was cool to see our ‘home’ (AKA Camp Simcha) from the sky! And that was all just the morning!

After lunch we had a spectacular play, written and directed by our very own Duvie ‘The Legend’ Becker, showing how the continued existence of the world is dependent on our nice behaviour to others, with Camp Simcha being the prime example of this.

After packing our suitcases (where do I stuff in all the gadgets I got on Deal Day, and the projects I made in the workshops?) we headed to the hill for a rocket launch. All the rockets we made in camp were blasted off into the sky beyond.

After a special goodbye dinner, where we got to chill over a meal for the last time this year, we went to the social hall. We saw a video flashback to the last 11 days, with all the crazy, fun and exciting events, as well as the workshops and generally chilling together. We also saw a pictorial flashback (you may have seen the pictures on the website/on Facebook.) Loud cheers and shout-outs of names as they appeared on the screen!

With some slow, stirring music playing, all the campers got one minute to hug their counselor. After all that we have shared during camp, and the care & dedication the staff have shown, there were tears in many peoples eyes. Being a boys camp, most guys tried to conceal their emotions, with greater or lesser success. But, visible or not, the emotions were definitely there!

When that was over, we all got special black ‘Simcha Style’ t-shirts, and had our final camp-wide dance. The floor was literally bouncing up and down with us, we were dancing so much!

The last bedtime came. As most of the campers fell into bed exhausted, the staff met, to sit and absorb what happened over the last few days. The floor was open (this time not literally;) and many staff stood up to say a few impromptu words on their impressions of camp, and inspiration they received.

As the famous saying goes “This Isn’t The End. It’s Only the Beginning.” I hope to see you all next year in camp. But until then, stay in touch, and join in the programs Chai Lifeline does throughout the year. “United we stand, divided we fall.” Know that there are always people who care, and are happy to lend (or even outright give 😉 a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on.

So good bye, until next time
Yaakov

8th Day (Marcus Brothers) came on Friday morning. They had us dancing like we never danced before. Between Yalili, Shabbos Now and all their other songs, they kept us going, despite the exhaustion from yesterdays trip to NY.

All around camp, guys are finishing off their projects. Sunday will be so busy, we won’t have enough time then, so this is our last chance!

In the afternoon, we had a stupefying MAGIC SHOW. Pigeons appearing out of nowhere, a shoe being filled with liquid and coming out dry and a grand finale of water changing colors with the snap of a finger, had us spellbound for an hour straight!

Shabbos was a day for bonding, with deep conversations going on all around camp. Stories shared and compared, tips offered and inspiration given. We even had a few campers tell their story to the whole camp! As a staff member, the stories and the positive attitude despite it all really inspires us all.

There were also the BINGO with iPods and iPads galore, the prizes for campers with exemplary behavior to others.

If yesterday sounded awesome, it had nothing on what happened today! We went to NYC for the trip of our lives!

We arrived at the NYPD (New York Police Department) Air Operations base. After a pizza lunch, we were treated to an once-in-a-lifetime display by the NYPD special-ops. All sorts of police vehicles you don’t normally see were there, from jet skis all the way to an APC! We were then shown the skill of the police dogs in catching and holding criminals.

The Search-And-Rescue helicopter team did a display for us. They did a few fly-bys and cool stunts, ending of with a team fast-roping off the helicopter to greet us. They then repeated this performance, this time rescuing someone from the sea! When the frogmen landed on the shore, they were greeted by loud cheers and many requests for pictures, to which they happily obliged.

Ever been inside a shark? We were… sort of. The Shark Speedboat gave us a wet & wild ride, as it showed us the various sites of Manhattan, from the aquatic perspective! We passed Statue of Liberty, the Freedom Tower and Brooklyn Bridge.

Time Square, here we come! We filled the bleachers on Time Square, and preformed our special dance. The video should be out in the next few days, but it was awe-inspiring! Everyone, campers, counselors and specialty staff all performing the same moves at exactly the same time. With our green T-shirts and blue caps, we really stood out, and the whole plaza cheered along with us.

Now that we’re finally back in camp, it’s straight to bed! I’m exhausted, it’s been a busy and incredible day.

In keeping with the crazy customs of Camp Simcha, the dining room today was decorated as a Roman palace, down to the last detail, including drapes, pillars and even a [realistic] flame. With settings like that, it felt only appropriate to dress in togas, helmets and shield, and march around the hall chanting, finishing up with a mock war!

“Oh yes we love DEAL DAY.” For the uninitiated, who don’t know what that means: you are missing out. I’ll try to describe it as best as I can: The community from Deal, NJ, come here every summer for one day, and we show them what camp is all about. We have great fun, and so do they! Part of that is the “Big Deal Gifts.” They bring along all sorts of cool stuff, and we get to take home one of each! There’s backpacks, headphones, crocs, crazy T-shirts and much more!

COLOR RUN kicked off the evening! We sprayed each other with paint powder and water, which turned us all into one big colorful mess!

If you thought the day was over by now, you obviously need to spend some time here to see the wild stuff we do. After some heavy dancing (while still very ‘colorful’) we had a FIREWORK SHOW! With themed music and glow stick glasses, we enjoyed every minute and cheered at every ‘POP’.

DANCE PRACTICE concluded the evening! Sorry I can’t let out any details yet, but tomorrow we’ll be in NYC, and there’s an incredible song and dance there. I’ll keep you posted!

After such a busy day and an early start for tomorrow, I bid you good night for now. Come back tomorrow to find out about the trip!!

I must say, the dining room is a very professional chameleon. Every morning it magically transforms based on the day’s theme.

Being that today’s theme is Planet of the Apes, when we walked in, the stage was filled with grown bushes and ivy. All the mike stands had inflatable monkeys hanging on.

After a full morning of activities, games, all-round fun, and a great lunch, we had a game of “Monkey Says, Monkey Do.” Steve Max, professional Simon Sez player and leader, had us rolling with laughter as he tricked us time and again. With his 5-second challenge for all the campers, and Josh singing his name, we thoroughly enjoyed the game.

After that, the fun continued, with more games and activities all around.

As we came into the dining room this morning, the room had been transformed into a prehistoric scene, with a full-fledged cave, complete with a bonfire for warmth, tree stump seats and a screen playing a documentary teaching us all about the cavemen. There was also a dinosaur hanging around, and a cart made from wooden logs. Did you know the cavemen had cars? I didn’t.

After breakfast, the workshops started. All around camp, projects were started, games were played and skills were learnt. We even had someone teaching us how to build a caveman-style fire.

Before lunch we had a serious dance. In keeping with the theme of the Stone Age, we sang and danced, and really ROCKED THE HOUSE.

After lunch, we continued with some more great activities. We had some more caveman-themed workshops, and the younger divisions had their own talent show!

Supper was just another excuse for us to dance. We continued going all the way through supper. Non-stop dancing, for an hour straight! We danced till the floor was wet with sweat, and we just continued going!

After supper (dancing) was over, we went to the social hall for night activity. The Twin from France came to amaze us with the crazy stunts he pulls. Between juggling knives while blindfolded on a table, driving a 7-foot-tall unicycle around and very nearly crashing into everyone around and jumping over 5 people lying down in one giant leap, he had us laughing and cheering the whole time.

When that was over, and we thought we were finished for the day, Meir and Moshe taught us the moves for a special dance. Details to follow…