“My favorite ice-cream flavor is chocolate with chocolate syrup on top. I don’t like sprinkles so much.”
Stars of Simcha Special: Blima Z.
When Zaidy Was Young…
Hold onto your hats, (your newsboy caps, of course) because we’ve stepped through a time portal to Zaidy’s time. All those tales our grandfathers told us have come to life in the Dining Hall. It’s been decked out to resemble the Lower East Side from the early 1900s. And of course, there are plenty of costumed vendors selling their goods in the convincing market place. While breakfast was going on, campers lined up to ride a trolley stationed in the center of the Dining Hall. We danced, and made a train of campers and counselors which snaked its way across the whole room.
Activities are in full swing. Hammers are banging away in the leather room, and there is beautiful art being created in Canvas Painting. In the Sweet Shop, campers are creating beaches on cupcakes. We are taking full advantage of the awesome costumes and holding bunk photo shoots – 1900s style. Don’t worry, we will bend the laws of time and bring you more digital updates while we are here in the 1900s, hanging with Zaidy.
Stars of Simcha Special: Liat S.
“I’m a cheerleader… I live in a small town, and I make beeswax lip gloss from the bees in my backyard. My dad takes care of our chickens. We’re going to get rabbits and comb them, spin their fur into yarn, and crotchet it into sweaters.”
Stars of Simcha Special: Rebecca
“We found matching Alice in Wonderland costumes in the costume room. We’ll try to match every day. We probably won’t be able to, it’s hard to find matching costumes. But we’ll try.”
Welcome to Wonderland
Today’s fictional universe: Alice in Wonderland. When we arrived at the Dining Hall this morning, we really did feel like we were lost in an enchanting Wonderland! The Dining Hall has transformed overnight, and is now home to white rabbits, large (and small) ticking clocks, a mad tea party, and a rather menacing (somehow also adorable) red queen. Campers raided the costume closet overnight, so there are plenty of Alices and playing cards roaming the room as well. The Cheshire cat is very invisible (honestly, no one can find him), and the mad hatter looks positively mad, so the day is off to a great start.
Some of the next activities include arts and crafts, candle making, pottery, leather workshop, canvas painting, and swim/lake. Stay tuned for more!
Arabian Nights
We’ve got a palace, we’ve got princesses, and at dinner we had a royal banquet. There was a delicious buffet of steamed rice, sesame chicken, franks in blankets, egg rolls, and vegetable lo mein – there were even carving stations set up were in Aladdin’s palace, and Italian ices served for dessert. Then princess Jasmine along with all her fellow royals hopped onto the magic carpet and flew to a magnificent night activity. The excited campers filed into the Social Hall where an emotional Thank You presentation took place. Both staff and campers cheered to individually thank each staff member that made CSS 2014 possible. We thanked lifeguards, maintenance, specialty, division heads, medical staff, head staff, and so many more…
We listened to a song written by Henny, and then we excitedly settled in for an entertaining video that covered the past two amazing weeks. We all cheered and laughed as we remembered the good times. The Queen of Hearts, a petting zoo, pirate capture the flag, and a paint fight and lots of smiles were just some of the images that flashed across the screen. After the video everyone headed to the fire-pit to roast s’mores and watch a slideshow. The happy memories illuminated the screen. Sitting around the bonfire while remembering the good times was a beautiful close to a beautiful day, and a truly amazing session. Tomorrow, CSS 2014 will come to an end, but the memories will last forever.
Reunion Weekend in Wesley Hills
Last weekend, our campers and counselors enjoyed an awesome reunion complete with horseback riding, ATVs, fun and games. Many thanks to Menny and Basya Schwab for generously hosting!
Friends N’ Fun Weekends are dedicated in memory of Sari Ort, a”h.
Austin Mahone’s Message for Tallie
Childhood cancer warrior Tallie was scheduled to see an Austin Mahone concert but had to cancel because she wasn’t feeling well.
Austin sent her this message!
Many thanks to our incredible volunteers for making this possible.
A Letter from a Team Lifeline Runner
In the weeks leading up to February 2nd, whenever I told anyone I was running a Half Marathon with Team Lifeline, I was met with looks of awe, amazement, and for the most part, confusion. You are running how far? Why??? And in a few words, I would try to explain about the journey I was embarking on but it was never enough.
On Sunday February 2nd, together with over 300 runners from all over the US, Canada, and even Israel, I ran in the Lifetime Miami Marathon with Team Lifeline. Our goal: to raise money (over $2 million!) for the incredible kids of Chai Lifeline, to give our warriors battling illness a summer of magic in Camp Simcha. My goal: to once again run 13.1 miles, beating my own personal time, and rock the blue and yellow with pride.
From the start of the weekend which began with dinner with the Team Lifeline runners, Chai Lifeline families, supporters, Camp Simcha staff and volunteers, I knew I was in for a memorable weekend. Friday night was one of inspiration, meeting runners and reconnecting with friends.
And then came the pre-race pasta party. In the uproar of the music to pump us up, the cheering that couldn’t be silenced, and the singing, things were starting to get real.
We are here. All of us together.
Ari Weinberger, Chairman of Team Lifeline, spoke about his journey with Chai Lifeline. Round one of tears and cheers.
We watched the Camp Simcha boys video from Time Square (Wall of Fame) and another video about the journey of two campers. Round two of tears and cheers.
Then a mother of a Camp Simcha camper came up. Keeping my eyes from totally blurring, I listened in awe to her family’s story and how Chai Lifeline was a part of it. Round three of even more tears, and even louder cheers.
We heard about Team Power Players, the team of counselors and campers who ran to raise money to rebuild their lost bunk house.
It was an intensely emotional evening, capped off by the excitement of knowing on Sunday, we would run. For our collective cause. For personal reasons. For Chai Lifeline.
Sunday morning met us bright and early at 4 a.m. Team Lifeline boarded the buses to the start line. We took a group photo and then we took off for our corrals.
With much anticipation, we waited for the starting gun…. and then we were off!
Throughout the course, Team Lifeline runners could be seen in their yellow and blue running shirts, with pictures of campers pinned to their backs. I was fortunate enough to pace with two Chai Lifeline parents. Seeing them, knowing their struggle and knowing they were here with me for the cause, propelled me throughout the race.
One of the highlights was the mile seven cheering squad. Staff, volunteers, families, all in yellow and blue cheered on the runners as we passed.
Following the race, as we all smiled through our aches and pains, we enjoyed a much deserved victory meal and got to listen to personal accounts of some of the runners.
Team Lifeline 2014 was an experience that will stay with me for a long time. The camaraderie, happiness, devotion, motivation and most of all, love, has left an incredible impression on me.
I cannot wait for the 10th Anniversary of Team Lifeline in 2015. See you all there!
Samara, Childhood Cancer Warrior
See what this incredible warrior has to say about camp, Chai Lifeline, and her story:
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