8/9 Girls
Our camper of the week is Julia! Without being asked, she has stayed back with her counselors after activities numerous times in order to help out, including to clean up all of the Wii games and to help another camper put everything back into her bag after swim.
The Imagineers can’t wait to see what the next week of camp brings!
10/11 Boys
The 10/11 boys camper of the week is Luis. Luis is normally very polite and kind to everyone else including both staff and campers. He is very shy, but never a burden on anyone else. Luis has shown that he has an incredible memory. During a game of song quiz at music, he remembered the name of every song that was played, as well as the person or band who played the song.
8/9 Boys
Wednesday was barbecue day once again - only this time it was rained out! Fortunately, all the time we would have had to spend traveling to Valley Stream and back was used for exciting in-camp activities. We swam, played sports in the gym, and practiced our Family Day song. At lunch, we partook of hamburgers, veggie burgers, chips, corn, and watermelon. All in all the rainy day turned out to be a fun twist on the traditional Wednesday outdoor barbecue!
On Thursday, we traveled to the Bronx Zoo. We packed bagged lunches consisting of items like bagels, sandwiches, and apple juice. We split into small groups upon arrival, a staff member or two accompanying a group of approximately five campers. This allowed each group to move quickly and efficiently through each attraction, while simultaneously learning as much as possible about animals and wildlife conservation. Campers’ favorites included tigers, giraffes, and elephants. The most popular part of the zoo seemed to be the monorail, where we could sit back, relax, and view and learn about animals from above. Arlo S enjoyed the butterfly home, while Josh S was intrigued by the lions. Back at camp, the campers concluded a long day first in the Wii room, and then at dismissal with fruit and ices.
Friday was the long-awaited Family Day! After spending part of the morning at our final rehearsal, each group, from the nursery-kindergarteners up to the Tweens, filed into the sanctuary. The CITs MC’d the event, wherein each group went up one-by-one to perform their group’s song for their families out in the audience. As soon as the 8/9 Boys were called, our campers, unable to contain their excitement, headed swiftly toward the stage and began to perform our group’s unique rendition of All Star by Smash Mouth. The performance was met with applause! Beaming with pride, we listened respectfully to the remaining performances. Afterwards, we headed to lunch. After participating in the weekly Sabbath blessings led by Rachel, our Jewish culture specialist, we partook of a delicious chicken nugget lunch, along with French fries, challah bread, salad, sandwiches, etc. After lunch, we practiced self defense drills with our Krav Maga instructor, Patrick, who helped us understand how best to avoid dangerous situations and how to best defend ourselves when necessary. We also practiced different stretches to warm up and improve our flexibility. Then, we headed down to double swim to cool off. The week concluded in the Moreida where our campers partook of ice pops and fresh fruit. We all looked forward to Monday’s trip to Luna Park.
Monday did not arrive quickly enough for our campers - it was our late night trip to Luna Park at Coney Island at last. We started the day slowly with swim, Wii room games, and a pizza lunch, but the day picked up when we boarded the buses and arrived at Coney Island. Upon arrival, we split up into small groups of about five campers according to the types of rides the campers were comfortable experiencing. Five hours later, we gathered at the front. Our campers were happy they got to go on all the rides they felt comfortable with - such rides as the pirate’s ship, the swings, and the Tickler. Back at camp, we refueled after a very long, fun day with spaghetti and meatballs, along with salad. We cannot wait for what the rest of the week has in store!
Our campers of the week is Daniel B. Like one of our previous campers of the week, Daniel maintains a strong, infectious smile that helps him - and others - stay positive even in moments of frustration. While a relatively quiet kid, he’s not afraid to speak up if he needs help. Daniel can be most commonly found quietly laughing with a group of friends at nearly all times of the day!