Weeks four and five have been a blast! Last Wednesday, we went on our weekly barbecue. Activities like newcomb, soccer, basketball, and softball were offered. Hamburgers, corn, and watermelon were served. On Thursday, we went to adventureland. While not an overnight, our campers went on many rides, like the Frisbee, Big Dipper, bumper cars, and the lauded Turbulence. Friday was Family Day. Parents and other family members joined campers in the sanctuary for Oneg Shabbat services led by Rabbi Kogan and Rabbi Romano. At the end of services, every group went on to the bimah (stage) and performed their group song. Our group performed a song to the music of Detroit Rock City by Kiss. Chicken nuggets and French fries were served for lunch, along with the usual eggs, salad, sandwiches, etc.

The long awaited trip to Splish Splash finally arrived on Monday! The day began with two periods followed by a pizza lunch in camp. Afterwards, we boarded the bus. We spent over four hours at splish splash. Campers enjoyed a variety of exciting rides, such as the Mammoth River, Alien Invasion, Shotgun Falls, and the more relaxed Lazy River. Some campers enjoyed up to 10 rides, like Aidan A. Macaroni and cheese was served for dinner outside Splish Splash, and ice pops were served upon late arrival to camp, a sweet culmination to the day's excitement. Tuesday was spent around camp, save the trip to 73rd Ave playground. Campers enjoyed double swim, gym, and Krav Maga. Wednesday was our fifth barbecue. (Summer is flying by!) Campers participated in such activities as soccer, basketball, newcomb, and playing in theplayground

Michael B. is our camper of the week.   Why does he deserve this recognition? Michael is an example for other campers. He speaks respectfully to his fellow campers and to staff. He embodies good sportsmanship and athleticism, and his soccer and basketball skills are fantastic! It's a pleasure to have Michael in our group!

The camper of the week is Tatyana because she helped push another camper on the swing at the park. 

   This week at camp the children had an awesome time in art making slime; we also made paper plate ghosts.  On Tuesday we went to White Post Farms where they went on a pony ride, and fed all kinds of animals. Some examples of the animals we saw were camels, goats, pigs, monkeys and bunny rabbits. Their favorite part was the bird aviary where they were given feed sticks and fed the little birds that were in the aviary.  On Wednesday we went to the bbq and did sack races, and went on the swings. When we got back the children cooled off at the pool and went swimming, At Jewish Culture we listened to a story about shabbat, and learned about the Torah. The children also sang a song about shabbat. At music we showed off our best dance moves for freeze dance. Afterwards we played follow the beat. Ilan our music teacher took wooden sticks and would tap them together;  and the children had to clap out the amount of times he would tap the sticks.  We are all looking forward to our next trip to Pump It Up. 

The camper of the week is Christopher because he gave Lavi's book bag to him when we were getting ready to go home

Wow it's already the end of the first session; we don't want the summer to end. In art we made lava lamps. At Jewish culture we listened to a book called "The Tower of Babel" and then tried to make our own tower using different materials. In gym we played tag, and duck duck goose.  On Tuesday we went to build a bear. The children picked out the type of bear they wanted, it was stuffed, and sewn up. Afterwards they had a chance to pretend to give the bear a bath. Each child named their bear and was eager to take them back to camp so they can have nap time with them. Wednesday we went to the bbq and played different games with the parachute, and had great hamburgers. Thursday the whole camp went to Adventureland; where the children went on many rides. They also climbed, jumped and slide their way all over Pirate Island. 
It was nice to see all the families at family day; and the children did a great job with their song. Only four more weeks of camp left; but we know there is much more excitement and adventures to come at Hillcrest Day Camp. 

Week four was a blast for the girls!

On Monday, we went to Laser Bounce. Our original plan was to head to the Country Fair, however, the weather prevented us from doing so. Thus, Susanne did some magic and we ended up at Laser Bounce. The kids had so much fun playing the arcade games, winning tickets, picking out their prizes, and playing laser tag.

On Tuesday, we stayed at camp. we went to Jewish Culture, swam in the pool and made slime with Angela at Arts and Crafts!

On Wednesday, the whole camp went on a BBQ at Valley Stream Park. We had hamburgers and some girls played volleyball while most girls had fun in the playground

On Thursday, we all went to Adventure Land! The girls were split into two teams with two counselors on each. The girls rode on the Pirate Ship, the Lady Bug ride, the Turbulence, the Haunted House and Bumper Cars! The girls got the chance to buy candy and ice cream at the end of the day

Lastly, Friday was Family Day! The girls' family members stayed and got to watch the girls perform our own version of Im the One by DJ Khaled. The lyrics were rewritten by our counselor, Melissa. After the family left, the girls went to hip hop and swam in the pool

Our camper of the week is Ella. She comes to camp with such enthusiasm that is spread throughout all the girls. She follows every instruction and respects her peers and counselors.

The camper of the week is Lavi because he pushed the button on the water fountain to help his friends get water.

     Another great week at Hillcrest Day Camp. On Tuesday we went to Laser Bounce, where the children played games at the arcade and received prizes. We also went into the Ballocity Arena and climbed though mazes, went down slides and played with the soft foam balls. In arts and crafts we made lions. At Jewish Culture, the children learned about Shabbat and the items related it it; such as the challah bread, wine, and the candles. The children had a chance to explore with the play items. The Rabbi then hid the items and the children went on a scavenger hunt to find them and pretended to have a Shabbat dinner. We love going to the pool but we also had a great time going under the sprinklers in our backyard playground. At the bbq we did parachute with the 6/7 boys and girls, and ate hotdogs for lunch. Thursday we went back to our favorite gymnastics place, Progressive Gymnastics, where we did more tumbles, walked on the balance beam, and bounced on the trampoline. Afterwards, each child got a ballon and threw it up in the air; they tried to see how long they could keep it in the air without it touching the floor. The summer is flying by but there is more fun to come during the coming weeks.