ParentSpace Blog

Orientation is well underway, and we are gearing up for a fantastic first session!

Before the session begins, we would like to clarify some things about our Facebook galleries, public galleries on our website, and ParentSpace galleries.

First, if your child is photo-release “in camp only”, he or she will only appear in the ParentSpace gallery. Your child will not appear on Facebook, nor on the public side of the site. So if your child is a camper, go ahead and sign up for ParentSpace. Not only will you see more pictures (2x more pictures than on FB), but you will also be privy videos that are produced special for you every day, a special blog, the daily camp newsletter, camp schedule, and more exciting features.

Second, please follow the instructions below for the proper way to log in to your account. If you haven’t applied for an account, please go ahead and apply for an account. You should be verified within 24 hours.

To log into your ParentSpace account, go to campsimcha.org and click LOGIN in the top right corner.

Then type in your username and password.

You are now in ParentSpace!

From this page you can access a special blog just for parents, the daily schedule, and daily pictures and videos.

A COMMON PROBLEM: If you attempt to visit campsimcha.org/parentspace directly, and login there, you will be bounced to another login page. If you type in your username and password there you, will be granted access to ParentSpace. However, until we correct this glitch, we ask that you instead login by going to campsimcha.org and clicking login in the top right corner.

If you are still having trouble with ParentSpace, or if you have any questions, comments, requests, or suggestions for the blogs, please contact zahavah@campsimcha.org

You can also follow us on twitter @CampSimcha

With less than two weeks left until Camp Simcha Special, our campers and counselors are counting down the days! Can’t wait to see YOU in Camp!

Happy Mother’s Day from Camp Simcha!

The musical event of a lifetime came true for a Chai Lifeline Canada teen battling cancer and a group of deserving warriors. Jewish music superstar Mordechai Ben David joined Sheya Mendlowitz, Abie Rotenberg, Rivi Schwebel, Baruch Chait, Shlomo Simcha, Yanky Briskman, and Yochanan Chait for a private home concert that delighted, inspired, and uplifted our campers.

“When I saw Mordechai Ben David show up, I could not believe it. Then spending time with him…that was crazy, crazy, crazy awesome!” exclaimed cancer warrior Avi.

Dear Simi and Traci,

Thank you for coming to Toronto to visit me. I am so happy that you meet my whole family cause I love them so much and I am sorry for throwing up and crying if it made you sad. Please come again. I love you forever and I’m so happy Traci is my new friend!

love,

becky

Dont get cancer it hurts.

By Adina Levitin (Staff, Camp Simcha & Camp Simcha Special)

Although the sky was cold and grey, our reunion in camp was warm and colorful! On Friday the 1st, we boarded buses, planes and cars and returned to the happiest place on earth- Camp Simcha. The dining room was decorated in an array of colors with all kinds of delicious candy. After arrivals and lunch, we had a colorful fashion show. Teams in different colors of the rainbow designed gowns and showed off their creations down the runway. Then we had races with jellybeans. It was a sweet time!

Friday night was uplifting and joyous with delicious food and stunning singing. We even met a few new friends! After the meal we had division activities where campers had to create skits using random objects in a bag. One group had to use a potato!

Shabbat day was a blast! Our campers performed different skits to display the concept of “judging one another favorably.” In a humorous way, we learned a powerful lesson.?Next came lunch and then…. BINGO! It was intense! Every camper was a winner and won an awesome prize (thanks to all of our wonderful sponsors!) At dinner, we heard some of our campers speak about their challenges and triumphs. It was certainly inspiring.

After Shabbat ended, the excitement started again with DJ Yitzy rocking the Social Hall. Everyone danced and danced and had a blast!

When we returned to the dining room, we barely recognized it! Ginormous inflatable race courses filled the middle. A huge smorgasbord lined one side, with activity booths along the other. In one night we had enough workshops to match a week in camp! There were booths for lipgloss and eyeshadow making, candied apples, jewelry making, cookie decorating, picture frame decorating, and flower pot pen holders! There was even a professional portrait studio set up where we got to take awesome pictures with hysterical backgrounds! A favorite all around was the crayon melting booth. Using a canvas, a bunch of crayons and a blow dryers, we made colorful artwork! After a long night of creativity and color and time with friends, it was time to go to sleep. Wow, we did a lot!

Sunday morning welcomed us with a yummy breakfast and then… A Simcha style gameshow! Using trivia about camp, we competed for points and prizes. (Do you know how many acres Camp Simcha is?) Before we knew it, it was time to go home, but we went home refreshed and rejuvenated and only more excited for the upcoming summer. Summer 2013- the girls are ready!!!!

Thank you to all the campers, staff, colorfest coordinators and of course, our beloved Rivky for giving us a colorful Shabbat we will never forget!

Team Lifeline’s ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon experience combines fantastic family fun with a breathtaking course along the streets of Miami and Miami Beach. This incredible race weekend experience includes three nights at the brand new, luxurious beachfront Eden Roc Resort and Spa in Miami Beach. Proceeds that are raised by our runners go toward Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha. Thank you to all our 2013 runners!

Find out more at TeamLifeline.org

Joel and Iris Friedman generously hosted the Camp Simcha Midwest girls for a spectacular slumber party.

They enjoyed an indoor basketball court, floor hockey room, and a great movie with a delicious pizza and salad dinner. In the morning, the girls were treated to waffles, pancakes, and ice cream for breakfast.

Chai Lifeline’s annual trip to Israel is sponsored by the Hartman Family Foundation and is organized by the Midwest region. It includes ten incredible days in Israel for teens who have completed their treatment for cancer or who have learned to successfully manage complex chronic illnesses.

Last week, families battling childhood cancer gathered for a weekend of support at the LH Financial Services Annual Winter Retreat at Holiday Inn East Windsor. Thank you to all the families and volunteers who joined us for this fun-filled, healing, and uplifting weekend.