Night activity last night was a fantastic show by Brent from “Comedy that Works.” A mix of a comedy and magic show, it featured balancing acts, juggling acts, optical illusions, and various forms of comic relief. In one great act, Brent balanced a measuring tape on his forehead. Little did he know that staff member Michal could do just as much! Brent did a cool optical illusion: the audience stared at a black and white revolving circle for ten seconds and when he took it off his face it looked like he was getting smaller. The next time it looked like he was getting bigger! Brent showed us some tricks with a Chinese yo-yo, over the shoulder, under the knees, behind the back, and of course, freestyle version. He juggled sharp knives and safety cones. Danielle, Hindy, and Tila were called up to toss rings to Brent, and he caught them all, on his arms or even with his head! Sol was also a great volunteer on stage – Brent threw balls to her and she caught them all in Brent’s hardhat. For his grand finale, he stood on a board balanced on a huge ball. Brent called on Dr. Vann and Dr. Rosen to help him balance the ball while he got on. We all enjoyed watching our favorite doctors up on stage!

Watch that angry bird! In our real-life version of an Angry Birds game, there were Angry Bird stuffed animals flying across the gym. Each team had to build a fortress of boxes around its division head. The object of the game was to knock down the boxes to get to the DH, the “pig” of Angry Birds. The counselors stood in front of the fortress, ready to catch the Angry Bird stuffed animal balls so it wouldn’t get to the boxes. In the first tournament, the Wacko Rackos won against the Chumee Checkers. In the second tournament, the Hungry Hippos won against the Poker Jokers. Finally, in the championship game between the Wacko Rackos and the Hungry Hippos, the Hungry Hippos won! Everyone had a great time!

Its a good thing we’re not afraid of the dark because exciting things are happening in the darkroom. The workshop begins outside the actual darkroom, where, using foam pieces, campers can write their name or make a cool design on a piece of plain white paper. They’re taught the whole process of developing photos out of paper, including all the many special machines and chemicals. First, they switch on the dial, which puts the light on, and creates the shadow, which ultimately makes their photo. Then they put their project through the stopper, the fixer, and the water, and then through heat. All through the process, the paper looks blank, but when it comes out, it is a masterpiece!

Meanwhile, heads of the darkroom workshop take pictures of the campers and counselors. They get the proofs and the next time the campers have the workshop, they can choose which picture they like and and get the developed photo!

Who’s that whizzing by on a motorcycle? Its a CSS camper! A special activity this morning is motorcycle rides with Chai-riders. Waiting patiently for their turn, campers are given helmets, and they make sure to hold on tight to the rider’s back! Campers in wheelchairs are able to ride in a special seat alongside the motorcycle and still have a blast! Everyone enjoys the cooling breeze they feel when riding on the motorcycle. Chayala, Mottie, and Sol are speeding through Camp Simcha grounds, having tons of fun!

Delicious cookies are being professionally decorated in the Sweete Shoppe bakery today! Campers are designing them as farms since today’s game is Farmville! With cookie cutters, they are able to shape really cute animals, and they are even making other things like trees by hand. Using colorful fondant, a play-dough-like edible icing, they are making roosters, ducks, and bunny rabbits to put on their farms! The cookies look and surely taste great! Bon appetite!

Today is Farmville / Hello Kitty day so it makes sense that there is a world of animals out on the baseball field! Campers are riding around on ponies and wallabies. Chaya Liba had so much fun riding the pony and touching its soft mane. Blimie is holding a rattle-snake and shaking it in front of her friends, trying to scare them! There’s a really cute monkey that everyone is petting. Plus, a live Hello Kitty is walking around camp taking pictures with everyone!

It’s hot here in Camp Simcha but we’re cool down by the lake. The water glistens in the sun and so do the campers’ faces. Everyone loves sailing down the water in kayaks, bumper boats, paddle boats, speed boats, and even a pontoon!

Geist didn’t have to say a thing to make a great show. He was funny and absentminded, and we watched as he did so many unexpected things which kept us all on our toes. He pretended to toss a pie in someone’s face but it turned out to be a fake pie on a string! Then he took out what looked like a real, moving animal, until he threw it at the audience and we realized it was just a toy! Frannie was called up to stage and Geist dressed her up in clothing until she looked just like him. Then he even went to sit in the audience while she performed a cool trick for the whole camp! Geist also entertained us with some awesome magic tricks. One trick he called “split the hares” and he pulled one bunny out of another. His hilarious performance kept the audience roaring with laughter!

Mr. Monopoly raffled off prizes and the bunks were able to buy them based on how much money they had earned throughout the day. All of the bunks won amazing prizes. Bunks 7 and 8 won night swim; bunks 11 and 14 won a “throw-your-DH-in-the-pool-party;” bunks 5 and 6 won a mystery prize which turned out to be really cool magnets! Among the other prizes were a pontoon party, bunk photo-shoots, morning spa for the entire bunk, breakfast in bed, a pizza dinner, and an ice cream party!