Camp Simcha & Camp Simcha Special
Simcha Magic: Feel It In The Air!
Nathan, one of our Camp Simcha campers wishes a Happy New year to the whole Chai Lifeline family:
Dear Chai Lifeline,
Happy New Year!
I want to thank you for being there and creating fun times for me. I love Camp Simcha and Shlomo is the best! I am so inspired by you guys so I am donating $36 from my birthday money so other kids that are sick can enjoy their lives too.
Love,
Nathan Lev
Camp 2012 just ended, but we are already gearing up for Camp 2013! Want to know when your Camp Simcha 2013 session is scheduled for? Check out our calendar page!
As the summer season comes to a close, we want to wish all of our campers a happy and healthy year. We hope to see you all at Camp Simcha reunions and events throughout the year!
If you were a camper or a staff member this past summer, we would love to hear about your experience! Please send anything you want to share to webmaster@campsimcha.org.
Gumdrops, lollipops, jellybeans…you guessed it, today was Candy Land day! With a giant size gingerbread man, and girls in candy costumes, camp is a tasty sight. This morning our campers put on a Peter Pan play. Peter pan was played by Jordan, and Tinkerbell by Tzippy. My favorite part of the play was when Tinkerbell was jealous of Wendy, and Peter Pan appeased Tinkerbell. He broke out in One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful”, and sang it to Tinkerbell.The play was a hit! Later in the day, eight of our campers won iPod nanos in a raffle. Our banquet was Candy Land themed, with buffet-style candy platters. Yum! After the banquet, head counselor Rivky thanked everyone individually. The heartfelt thank yous were followed by a tear-jerking video, recapping all of our amazing times here in camp. The night literally ended with a bang, while we watched fireworks. The fireworks lit up the night sky, and our faces. Although camp is over, I will not say goodbye because in Camp Simcha we never say goodbye. I will not even attempt to describe my experience here because, anything I say will not do it justice; it will just belittle it. However, I will tell you that it has changed my perspective on life. Not even in a cliche “live life to the fullest” or “live everyday as if it is your last” way. But rather in a, give everyday all that you can give, in every opportunity you have, to anyone who needs it, kind of way. Chai Lifeline’s slogan is “Fighting Illness With Love”. I can assure you that here at Camp Simcha we honor that slogan, and we fight cancer by loving our campers to our fullest capabilities. I also can assure you that every single one of our campers feels our love.
Our last Shabbat in camp was beautiful. We began Friday night with heart-warming prayers. Campers Miriam and Shilat spoke during the meal. Both shared their love for Camp Simcha. The meal was followed by a motivating speech from our camp Rabbi, Rabbi Finer, and some Jewish chulent. Today, the Israeli and English speakers put on a bi-lingual skit. After the laughs, the whole camp enjoyed a game of Bingo. Throughout the day, campers stocked up on goodies from the canteen. Ayelet, an Israeli, said that her favorite part of the day was “chilling on the grass, and making friends with the American campers”. The campers mesmerized us with their voices, during the Simcha Choir. Annie, Avishag, Shayna, Sarale, and Miriam all had solos. This is Esther’s last summer here at Camp Simcha. Estehr told us that even if you feel sick, you are never too sick to attend Camp Simcha. Tonight, we will dance until we can’t feel our feet. That’s how we do it here at Camp Simcha.
Welcome Deal friends to the Camp Simcha family! Today we were fortunate to have the Deal community visit, and they sure did pick a great day to come. The theme of the day was cards. Our dining hall was decorated like a Las Vegas casino. Girls dressed up like the queen of hearts, wearing giant cards and crowns. During lunch we taught our Game On and Waka Waka dances to our new friends. The dancing was followed by even more dancing at an Avraham Fried concert! Some campers got up on stage to join. After the concert, each girl got to choose from a large variety of presents donated by our Deal friends. Presents included flip cameras, makeup, clothes, and more. To follow the Las Vegas theme, campers participated in a game show, The Wild’N Wacky Challenge! Tzippora said that her favorite part of the show was pie-ing her counselor. At dinner, we celebrated the Bat Mitzvahs of a few of our campers. Bat Mitzvah cake flew through the air as campers smashed slices in their counselors’ faces.
Night activity ended the day with a bang. The social hall was transformed into a casino with slot machines, poker tables, and blackjack. Strawberry daiquiris were served with cherries and olives. Sari said her favorite part of the day was playing blackjack. Reagan said “getting a flip camera.” We all say “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” I say, “what happens in Camp Simcha, stays in Camp Simcha.” You must experience it for yourself!
Today’s game…clue! Big glasses, blazers, magnifying glasses, camp is full of detectives. Inspector Specty’s study is set up in the dining hall. This morning the girls had to use clues to find their breakfast. Our great detectives all found their food and no one went hungry. They were asked to solve the mystery of why all the campers are so happy. Dina Sarah replied that it is because Camp Simcha is the best camp in the world. In the afternoon, the girls had to find magnifying glasses which were hidden all over camp. The scoring method went according to the color of the magnifying glass. The Chumee Checkers division won! Water sports today were a blast. The girls went scuba diving and jet skiing. After dinner, Rivka Chaya Yitty, Mushka and Leora all competed in a game of set. To conclude the fun-packed day we had a bonfire. Hot dogs, smores, and songs galore! Camper Dana played the ukulele while Aviva, a staff member, played the guitar. The fire flames rose up into the night sky, and after today so did our spirits.
I love New York! An unbelievable amount of energy combined with an incredible amount of smiles, New York trip was a day to remember. The day began with a double-decker bus tour of the city. The campers held up signs and cheered to all the city goers below. Following the rides, we marched through times square until our destination, Bowlmor Lanes. During the march, campers chanted “We can-cer vive”. Fellow sightseers and city residents joined in on the cheers, and held up “I love Camp Simcha” signs. In Bowlmor Lanes our girls had their hair, makeup, and nails done. They also each chose from tons of beautiful gowns. Wigs were donated to girls who did not already own one. Two of our Israelis, Shilat and Yifah, received brand new wigs. They could not hide their smiles as they brushed each others new hair. The girls went bowling while waiting for their makeovers. After everyone was ready, we headed down to watch the broadway show Newsies! The girls all loved the show. With all of our energy, Camp Simcha lit up the city of lights!
