Legendary children's TV personality, Fred "Mr." Rogers, once shared with his listeners how his mother helped him deal with frightening situations when he was a child. Rogers said, “When I was a boy, I would see scary things in the news. My mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

In the Jewish tradition, we call the impulse to help others gemilut chasadim. Acts of loving kindness and helping others is at the heart of our camp program.

We promote values such as caring for the environment, honoring the elderly, and using kind words through activities, storytelling, and in the ways that we interact with one another at camp. Charitable giving, tzedakah, is encouraged throughout the summer and during special events like the Day of Caring and Sharing, a special day on which our campers help raise money for children with cancer, families in financial need, and others.

Moreover, at our weekly Shabbat celebrations, children are selected by camp staff for being the “Mensch of the Week.” A mensch is a person whose thoughts and actions make our world a better and more compassionate place. In the Jewish tradition, it is the highest compliment one can bestow upon another. Week after week, it is inspiring to witness our campers being honored for doing things, large and small, that make a difference in the lives of others such as welcoming a new camper to their group, being a compassionate listener, and offering words of encouragement to a fellow camper.

Written on the back of the Mensch of the Week shirts that the honorees receive is the phrase, “One Good Deed Leads to Another.” These children—with their kind hearts, contagious smiles, and thoughtful compliments—brighten everyone’s day and inspire all of us to do the same.

Similarly, during this pandemic, many members of our camp families are helping the community in a myriad of ways. Whether they are doctors, nurses, health care workers, first responders, caregivers of the vulnerable or other helpers in the community, we are inspired by their acts of selfless kindness. As Mr. Rogers said, we would be wise to focus on their efforts.

​This story, shared with us by Camp Co-Director Stephanie Feldman, has a powerful message that resonates with all of us who know that JCC Day Camp is a very special place.

This story speaks powerfully of the idea that we often need to find a place, situation, or environment for self-transformation to occur within us.

At our summer camp, we strive to create just such an environment. From the moment children arrive at our camp, we want them to feel a sense of warmth and welcome. We seek to foster an environment where children are valued, respected, and included so they feel confident someone will listen. Moreover, we strive to establish and maintain positive interactions between our children and counselors that are characterized by respect, a non-judgmental attitude, and open communication.

Our 100-acre campground nestled in the Greenbelt is also a place where “city” children connect with our natural world. Lush green trees, the presence of animals, hiking trails and ponds are part of our campground’s natural beauty. Additionally, we offer weekly animal appreciation shows from animal lover Brian Wild and ongoing nature activities that connect the children to nature. We know that, especially after these challenging months of staying inside and social distancing, children will be eager to get outside and experience nature with their friends.
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Stories are an important part of the human experience. They help us connect with people who are different from us, learn more about ourselves and our place in the world, and unlock our imagination to take us to places we’ve yet to discover! We all love stories and that’s why we’re so excited about this year’s camp theme: The World of Stories.

​Each week at camp, we will delve into a different type of story, including folktales, science fiction, fairy tales, mysteries, comics, and fantasy. Because we pride ourselves on helping our campers grow up to be kind, caring adults, we will connect each type of story with values like responsibility, giving, family, and unity. We all know that reading is FUNdamental, and we hope that our study of stories will spark a love for books in all of our campers!

We can’t wait to explore the World of Stories this summer!

​Our camp prides itself on not only providing kids with a summer of fun and adventure, but simultaneously preparing them to be compassionate, well-rounded adults. In all that we do, we focus on relationship-building and universal values like respect, perseverance, and kindness. While we strive to live out these values every day at camp, we also have a special day devoted to them— the Day of Caring and Sharing!

​We are so excited to announce our new Core 24 Summer Basketball Camp, under the direction of Mike Reape, our Director of Sports & Recreation!

​Core 24 Basketball Camp will help kids become well-rounded basketball players through drills that develop game IQ and skills like ball handling and shooting. Our program includes activities tailored to every child’s age and skill level. When they’re not practicing or having friendly competitions, campers will have fun playing board games and swimming! Learn more HERE!

Rabbi Milton Steinberg told a story about stepping outside after a long illness that had kept him cooped up in his house. Steinberg said that as he crossed the threshold, sunlight greeted him. The sky overhead was very blue, very clear, and very, very high and everywhere in the great vault between earth and sky the golden glow of sunlight touched him with friendship, warmth and blessing. As he basked in its glory, Steinberg said the words of the prophet Malachi ran through his mind: "The sun shall some day rise with healing on its wings."

We remain hopeful that come June 29, JCC Day Camp will be up and running, providing the children with a safe, healthy environment where they can have the superior camp experience our camp families have come to expect and appreciate.

As we speak, camp directors continue to plan for the summer season. We are hiring and training staff, planning trips, creating programs, and designing schedules. After weeks of being stuck indoors, we know that kids are looking forward to so many camp activities like swimming in the pool, playing baseball, basketball, and soccer, exploring the Animal Kingdom with Brian Wild, competing in the Wild and Wacky Challenge show, and uniting as a camp community for Shabbat and the spirited Maccabi Games. We are especially excited about our 2020 camp theme, The World of Stories, and new offerings, including a Performing Arts Camp, woodworking, and a Teen Travel overnight trip to Virginia.

For nearly 90 years, our JCC has provided thousands of children with the summer camp experience of a lifetime. It’s a second home where the sound of children laughing fills the air and the colorful display of flowers and lush green trees, adventurous hiking trails, peaceful ponds, the soaring of birds, and the smell of freshly cut grass fill our senses. Times are undoubtedly difficult but we remain faithful that better days are ahead. We are certain that the sun will rise again with healing on its wings and thousands of JCC campers will again experience the touch of friendship, warmth and blessing.

Here at the JCC, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to create great summer camp memories. To us, camp is an essential part of the childhood experience, and one that everyone should feel included in, regardless of ability. Our Marvin’s Camp for Children with Special Needs is committed to providing an educational, creative, social, and safe environment for kids and teens with special needs.

We offer three Marvin’s divisions: Marvin’s Juniors, for kids entering grades K-8, Marvin’s Camp, for grades 9 and up, and Marvin’s On the Road Everyday (M.O.R.E.), for kids ages 15-21. All Marvin’s programs are led by highly experienced staff with degrees in special education, social work, and school psychology. We maintain low staff-to-camper ratios to ensure excellent care and attention for each child.

Children in Marvin’s Juniors and Marvin’s Camp participate in a wide array of fun and enriching activities, including swimming, sports, music, and arts and crafts. They also go on trips, such as going to the movies, bowling, and visiting the zoo!

M.O.R.E Camp provides campers with an opportunity to engage in and explore their community. Each day of camp, they will visit fun destinations like amusement and water parks, sporting events, arcades, and more!
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We have so much fun in store for our marvelous Marvin’s campers this summer. Learn more about Marvin’s Camp for Children with Special Needs here.

​When we think of summer camp, we tend to think about our experiences as younger children. However, at the JCC, we know that positive, safe summer camp experiences are just as important to older kids as they are to little ones. This is why we offer Camp Nesiyah, better known as Teen Travel, for kids entering 8th and 9th grade.
 
Recognizing that teens’ interests differ from our younger campers’, we tailor our Teen Travel program to include trips teens will enjoy most, while remaining true to the core principles of JCC Camp—friendship, discovery, and fun. Teen Travelers have the opportunity to adventure and try new things every day, while also building strong friendships with their fellow campers.

​Next up were Camp 365 and Middle School Madness, two monthly programs that allow campers to enjoy a variety of camp-like activities while their parents enjoy some quiet time on a Saturday night. Noting the chilly January weather, the kids made cute penguin crafts and some tasty penguin treats!

On January 19, the campers got together again for a Frozen-themed Sunday Funday. After watching the film, the kids were inspired by the catchy tune, “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?” so everyone built their own edible snowman out of donuts!