Category: Summer 2019 - Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp

Tweens Update, Weeks 5-6

8/9/2019

Here at HJC Day Camp, the Grouchy Tweens' fifth week was filled with lots of fun, seeing the sky-scraping views at the Freedom Tower, gaming at Laser Bounce, and climbing/swinging from incredible ropes and zip line courses at the Long Island Adventure Park. This week took off with an amazing day at Splish Splash. All campers truly enjoyed the wave pool, Lazy River, milkshakes, and exhilarating water rides. Our Tuesday was full of swimming, Drama, Arts and Crafts, and more! Unlike other weeks, we experienced an indoor barbecue on Wednesday and loved having our activities all together at the HJC building. We enjoyed Thursday’s strikeouts at the batting cages and holes-in-one at mini golf, as well as Friday’s Fishing trip!

This week's Campers of the Week are Eve Miller and David Borukh. Eve is one of the sweetest and most respectful people you can ever meet; she has a funny personality and loves to have fun with everyone around her. David’s love for conversation never gets old, and we enjoy seeing him practice his part (The Lion) for the Drama Show, featuring The Wizard of Oz.

Looking forward to the coming weeks at camp has turned our Grouchy frowns upside down! The Grouchy Tweens' summer is soon coming to an end, but that doesn’t stop us from making the best of what we experience every day at camp! Our whole group is getting more and more excited for Color War next week!

10/11s Update, Weeks 5-6

8/9/2019

10/11 Girls

This summer, the Ms. Piggies are giving it their all. The girls have added taking a dive at Splish Splash, seeing the sights at the Freedom Tower, riding riveting rollercoasters and zapping around at Laser Bounce to their list of Fun Adventures This Summer! Along with the amazing things the camp provides, the girls have also found a love for making lanyards! They all work together, sharing string and helping each other out with the designs. Their teamwork is admirable, from creating strategies in Gym or with learning the Family Day song that they sang so well! Even though camp will be coming to a close soon, the girls are determined not only to have a great time, but also to do it hand-in-hand with others.

Our Camper of the Week is Ella! She’s an inquisitive and curious girl who is willing to put her friends' needs ahead of her own! She is always smiling and ready to participate in whatever fun comes her way. Ella has bloomed tremendously since the beginning of camp. She’s confident in her work and her abilities. In Arts and Crafts, Ella creates without any worry of what others would think of it. She also compliments her fellow campers on their own creations and abilities! Ella is always ready to have a great time; her constant smile and good mood is so contagious!

10/11 Boys

On the very first day of the second session, not only did we get a whole group of new campers joining us, but we also went to the Freedom Tower! The Mr. Noodles, along with the rest of the Upper Camp, took a trip down to Manhattan, where we went up to the Freedom Tower and enjoyed an amazing view of the whole city. On Tuesday, we had another day in camp where we had a blast in activities like swimming and Jewish Culture, where we went on a Jewish holiday-themed scavenger hunt. On Wednesday, we had our first barbecue of the second session! Some of the boys got to enjoy an amazing nature walk with Howie, while others stayed back and enjoyed our usual activities like playground or Volleyball. On Thursday, the 10/11 Boys went to Laser Bounce. The boys enjoyed a variety of arcade games, as well as competed in huge games of Laser Tag. Friday was another day at camp full of fun, such as the Oneg Shabbat services and Krav Maga. Monday was a late-night trip to Splish Splash, where we went on some amazing rides and water slides, and ended the night off with some pizza for dinner.

Our camper of the week is Max Pinkhasov! Max is a favorite within the entire camp. He is extremely kind and respectful, and is not afraid of anything. He will go on any and every ride on trips, and never has any doubts. All of the staff and campers love him and he never gives anyone any trouble.

6/7s Update, Week 4

7/29/2019

6/7 Girls

The Abby Cadabbys have just finished the first session of camp, and we've been having an amazing time! Last Friday, we went to the New York Hall of Science Museum Park. The park had so many fun things to play on, climb on, and learn from. We then built houses out of PVC pipes, drew grid pictures out of rubber bands, and so much more. On Monday, we remained indoors again, but we still had a great time in our various activities. On Tuesday, we had a blast at Laser Bounce; we had a "snowball" fight in the ball pit, played arcade games, and jumped in bouncy castles and gyms. On Wednesday, we had a burger barbecue, and we were dressed up as fairies for Group Theme Day. We all looked super cute! On Thursday, we enjoyed more indoor activities and went to gymnastics with Morgan and Charlize. Friday was Family Day, when we finally showed our families all the cool things we have been doing.

Our camper of the week is Keila. Keila is very clever and sweet! She's never down and is always eager for the day. This past week, she was super helpful as we practiced our Family Day song and dance.

6/7 Boys

With the end of the 4th week of camp comes the end of the first session. It feels like the weeks went by so fast, and we can’t believe it’s already halfway over. Camp has been action-packed with trips and activities, and the Super Grovers have been having a super great time. The campers all learned how to swim, and had a fun time splashing in the pool every day. We've had fun in Arts and Crafts, creating amazing and creative projects to bring back home. In Drama, we've all learned dances, and have played so many fun games together. We’ve learned so much in Jewish Culture, and have ran all over the gym. The trips have been so much fun. Along with the weekly barbecues, we have had so many fun times. We learned about animals at the Green Meadows Farm, learned all over the NY Hall of Science Playground, and had the best time at Laser Bounce!

Our camper of the week is Michael R. Michael is the prime example of a great camper. He listens when given instructions, and is always having a good time. He is an amazing addition to the Super Grovers this year!

Nursery/Kindergarten Update, Weeks 3-4

7/24/2019

The Cookie Monsters can't believe the summer is halfway over! Each day is packed with fun and exciting activities. The campers have become great swimmers, as some of them have started to go into the pool without their floaties. Sometimes, we go into the pool with the 6/7 Boys and Girls, which is another opportunity for them to interact with other groups in the camp. In Jewish Culture, we have learned different Hebrew songs and played Purim bingo. In Gym, we did relay races and played Duck, Duck Goose, which is a favorite of the Cookie Monsters. In Drama, they learn how to act out different emotions and characters. They have also been working very hard on their routine for the Drama show at the end of the summer. On Fridays, we have been going on short trips such as the New York Hall of Science Playground, and cooled down with Ralph's Ices. Last week, we went to the Green Meadows Farm, where the children went on a hay ride, had a chance to feed different animals, and even got to milk a cow. Yesterday, we went to Laser Bounce, where we played arcade games and went in the bounce house. The Cookie Monsters love going to Valley Stream State Park for our barbecues. We are looking forward to more fun activities and trips in the upcoming weeks!

The camper of the week is Samantha. One of the children had trouble putting on his book bag, and Samantha showed him how to put the straps on both of his shoulders; it just goes to show that you are never too little to help out a fellow camper!

Tweens Update, Week 3

7/23/2019

Our Grouchy Tweens' summer is nearly halfway through! Since the beginning of camp, there have been many amazing trips: the movies, Jones Beach Pool, a Cyclones baseball game, bowling, and more. Fridays are our favorite day of the week because we go on our Grouchy group adventures, such as a tour of Madison Square Garden, Kayaking, and the Beast speedboat! Our bus rides are filled with laughter, music and fun. We are a large group of thirty two, old and new, and we love to have a good time! Although we are out and about most days, we definitely love to come and enjoy our Tuesdays at HJC filled with Jewish Culture, Arts & Crafts, Gym, Swim and more!

The campers of the week are Leah Katzap and Nathaniel Babayev! Leah brightens up the room with her exciting, bubbly personality and makes an effort to be inclusive to all around her. Nathaniel is very respectful and outgoing and always has a smile on his face. Leah and Nathaniel set a great example to those around them and make our group a little less "Grouchy."

We had a blast at SkyZone yesterday and can’t wait for what’s to come! See you on family day!

10/11s Update, Week 2

7/17/2019

10/11 Girls

The 10/11 Girls, also known as the Ms. Piggies, are definitely having a blast this summer! The girls have been singing, dancing, playing and all around having a great time. So far, the girls have seen Toy Story 4, took a splash at Jones Beach Pool and had a ball at the Cyclones game. They’re so full of energy throughout swimming at the pool, playing Gaga and doing their creative crafts. They even sit quietly and respectfully during Oneg! Nothing can stop their impenetrably good moods or their strong friendship. They’re always there for one another, accepting everybody no matter what! They’re so kindhearted to one another and so well-mannered, taking the time to say thank you during lunch and to the bus drivers during trips.

This Camper of the Week is Ariela! She’s a sweet, considerate person who always looks out for the well-being of her fellow campers. She always puts 110% into what she does and has a great time doing it. When it was time to write the camp song, Ariela was full of ideas! Always with a smile on her face, you can tell Ariela is always ready to have fun!

10/11 Boys

Last week, the 10/11 Mr. Noodles enjoyed a variety of activities inside and outside of camp. While we didn’t have a trip on Monday, the boys had plenty of fun inside of camp, from learning new dances with Nell in drama to playing gaga. On Tuesday, once again, we stayed in camp, but that did not stop us from taking pleasure in other activities. For the first time this summer, the boys did Krav Maga, as well as were one of the first groups to ever do drone training in the history of Hillcrest. Wednesday was our second barbecue of the summer, where we had hamburgers and played soccer, basketball, softball, and went to the playground. On Thursday, the whole Upper Camp went over to Jones Beach Pool, where all the counselors and campers had their share of excitement in the pool. On Friday we were back in camp for Oneg Shabbat services, as well as took part in activities such as Gym with Greg and Arts n’ Crafts with Angela. This past Monday, we had the biggest trip of the summer so far, when we went up to Coney Island's MCU Park and watched the Brooklyn Cyclones defeat the West Virginia Black Bears in a thrilling baseball game. Monday was our third barbecue of the summer, during which we enjoyed Hot Dogs for lunch.

Our camper of the week is Ethan Belluzzi. Ethan is extremely kind and respectful and always willing to help, he sets an example for many campers to follow, and is always eager to participate in the next activity.

8/9s Update, Week 2

7/15/2019

8/9 Girls

Our week started off full of fun activities. Our group had so much fun in Arts and Crafts, where we painted butterflies to hang on our walls. On Tuesday, we went to the park, where we played Basketball and ran around with our friends. Wednesday, we had the best day at Valley Stream State Park for the weekly BBQ. We played Softball and played on the playground. When we got back to camp, we all cooled off in the pool. On Thursday, we headed out to Jones Beach Pool. Everyone had a great time swimming and spending time with friends. We had our first gymnastics class on Friday, where everyone learned how to do tumbles and cartwheels. This week started with a trip to Brooklyn to see the Cyclones. Everyone had so much fun! We can’t wait to go to Rye Playland on Thursday and to spend time in camp.

Our camper of the week is Maya A. She always comes to camp with a smile on her face and is excited to start the day. She is always willing to help the other girls with her positive attitude and fun energy.

8/9 Boys

This week, the 8/9 Boys had tons of fun. To start out the week, we did some fun in-camp activities such as swimming, Teen Lounge, and video games. On Wednesday, the whole camp took a campwide picture with all the staff and campers, and then we took individual group photos. After that, we had a great day at our weekly barbecue with fun activities such as Basketball, Softball, and playground activities. On Thursday, we went to Jones Beach Pool and had a lot of fun and swam. To close out the week, we had a fun-filled Friday with our energized Oneg Shabbat services and plenty of fun activities.

The Camper of the Week is Benji. Benji showed a great example for his fellow campers on how to behave and set a good example on how the kids should act at any time.

6/7s Update, Weeks 1-2

7/10/2019

6/7 Boys

Hillcrest 2019 only started last week, and our campers have already created bonds with each other! So, what’s camp like at HJC? In Drama, the Super Grovers learned to express themselves with dance and with imagination exercises, such as making up an imaginary friend and describing what they look like. We also had Arts and Crafts, where the campers created frames for pictures, drawings, and firework paintings for the 4th of July. We then had Jewish Culture, where we learned about Jewish holidays and traditions such as Hanukkah and the lighting of the Menorah. We’ve played Bingo to win prizes, and played in the Teen Lounge and Wii Room too! In addition, The Super Grovers have been on so many fun trips. First, we went to the movies and got to see Toy Story 4, which was SO AWESOME! Then we got to go to the Carousel for a fun ride. This week, we went to Glaze-A-Riffic and made our own bowls, and painted them too!

Our Camper of the Week is Jeremy. Jeremy has shown such amazing manners and has been so well-behaved over the past week. He listens to instructions, helps other kids with water fountains and holds doors for everyone as well. He has truly been a super camper.

We cannot believe that the 1st session is almost halfway done! The Super-Grovers cannot wait for the rest of the Summer.

6/7 Girls

The summer season has only just begun and The Abby Cadabbys are already having SO much fun. Camp began on July 1st; on the first day, we came to the lunchroom and listened to Howie as he explained the rules of camp. Then, we saw our home base and group poster, which features the magical Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street! Afterward, we played some ice breaker games like Popcorn. Throughout the day, we enjoyed lots of fun activities such as Drama, Jewish Culture, Gym, Arts and Crafts and Swim! On Tuesday, we saw Toy Story 4 at the movie theaters, ate some snacks, and had a great time. Then we had our first barbecue on Wednesday with hot dogs, corn, veggie burgers, watermelon, and chips. We also played at the park. On Thursday, we enjoyed even more fun at-camp activities, such as the park, swimming in the pool, bowling with the 6/7 Boys and playing Basketball, Pool, Ping Pong and Foosball. On Friday, we went to ride the carousel and the Abby Cadabbys had a fantastic day. We're all still getting to know each other and are super excited for what the rest of summer entails!

Our camper of the week is Mia Belluzzi, A.K.A Mini Mia! She is just full positivity, always ready to help out, and has super duper listening ears.

Nursery/Kindergarten Update, Week 1

7/8/2019

The Cookie Monsters are having an awesome summer so far. On the first day, we got to know each other and friendships formed fast. We played with the many toys we have in the Nursery/Kindergarten room, such as puzzles, legos, and blocks. On Tuesday, we went to the movies and saw Toy Story 4. The children laughed a lot, and even the counselors enjoyed the movie. In Arts and Crafts, the children showed off their skills by dipping pipe cleaners in paint and creating fireworks. To add some flair to their designs, they sprinkled on glitter and made bright fireworks for the Fourth of July.

Each day, the campers can’t wait to make a big splash at the pool. They are learning how to put their face in the water and kick their legs while holding on to a kickboard. On Wednesday, we had our first barbecue at Valley Stream State Park. Barbecues are great because our campers get to interact with the other groups in the camp. We did parachute with the 6/7 Boys and Girls and then went to the playground, where there were swings, a sand box, and all kinds of things to climb on. Time flew by and we were having so much fun; it was soon time to eat lunch. The campers enjoyed hot dogs, corn, potato chips and watermelon. The Cookie Monsters are looking forward to more trips, barbecues and other fun activities that await us this summer at Hillcrest.

The camper of the week is Jonah because he sat next to a camper that had just started today and asked him what his name was, and talked to him. We love when campers help make sure everyone is included in the group.

Welcome to Hillcrest 2019!

7/1/2019

Back when I was a camper at Hillcrest, today was the day I waited all year for. I was the type of kid to start counting down to “next summer” as soon as the last day of camp began—a countdown that usually lasted 310 or so days. It was an amazing feeling, then, when the countdown entered the hours instead of the days, and I started to pack my backpack for the first day of camp!

            To be honest, 24 years since my first Hillcrest summer, not too much has changed. Sure, I don’t actively count down the days until summer anymore – that’s what the camp website is for. But I find myself waking up this morning as excited as ever about it being the first day of another Hillcrest summer!

            Over the course of the summer, the Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp website will share the story of Summer 2019 with all of you. You should be sure to check the “Camp News” page for two-week updates, reminders, and digital versions of forms and flyers that get sent home with campers. Don’t forget to glance at the “Photos” page to view galleries of pictures from trips, BBQs, events, and more! And of course, keep your eye on this “Blog” page for and updates about everything that happens on your average day at Hillcrest! Links to all of these pages are right at the top of our homepage!

      In addition, be sure to follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/hjcdaycamp) and Instagram @hjcdaycamp! Throughout the summer, we'll be posting photos, videos, and even live streaming during the camp day from these accounts.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Melissa Amster, this summer's Director of CITs, in advance for her help in maintaining our website and social media this summer. We can't wait to spend another amazing summer with all of the campers at Hillcrest and to share our experiences with all of you here, at www.hjcdaycamp.org.

            Happy Hillcrest 2019,
Daniel Bacharach
Webmaster