With our first blast of winter behind us, it’s a great time to start thinking warm thoughts- thoughts about swimming pools, outdoor games, sunscreen and summer camp. JCC Camp Shai (day camp) and JCC Ranch Camp (overnight camp) have just what your children, ages 5-16, need to satisfy their summertime fantasies. And if you register for our 2012 summer camps before Dec. 30, you will be able to take advantage of early-bird discounts. “We are pleased to announce early-bird registration for Camp Shai beginning Wednesday, Nov. 2 which offers families the opportunity to get a head start on planning their summer schedules,” explains Melissa Hoch, director of south, day camp and youth programs. “We also understand that the decision for families to register their child for camp involves a financial commitment, and by offering this discount it is one way for the JCC to help.” Camp Shai is a multiple-week, full-day dy camp. Rooted in Jewish values and traditions, Camp Shai is open and welcoming to families of all religious and cultural backgrounds. Since the 1950s, the JCC has been providing day camp experiences, each year evaluating its camp programs to meet the changing community needs. “Our priority is families,” adds Hoch. “We value parent feedback and, as a result, have made specific changes this year to address families’ needs, such as creating distinctive age-appropriate camp groups and activity offerings.” These four new age-specific groups are described below.
Chaverim (Friends) for grades K-2, is designed to give Camp Shai’s youngest children an introduction to a diverse mix of recreational activities and traditions, including sports, Jewish life, Israeli culture, daily instructional swim and free swim once/week, music, nature, and specialized arts. Campers will enjoy in-camp guests and theme days throughout the session.
Tze’dim (Footprints) for grades 3-5, will give campers the opportunity to develop interests and skills in particular areas, while also exploring their independence and strengthening their self-confidence. Campers are given a choice of two different chuggim (electives) each week. Daily instructional swim or water sports activities plus free swim once/week, Jewish life, Israeli culture and music are part of their morning schedule, while chuggim are their own special afternoon activities.
Sababa (Cool) for grades 6-8, takes camp “On On The Road.” Campers are empowered to challenge themselves as they embark on recreational, adventure and community-based field trips each day of the week. Example activities include hiking, swim trips to Pirates Cove and Apex, X-treme Challenge Sports Arena, indoor and outdoor rock climbing, swimming at the JCC and mountain biking. Overnights include river rafting, horseback riding and are designed by current and former OTR campers and staff at JCC’s residential camp, Ranch Camp, in the Black Forest.
Chabonim (Pioneers) for grades 9-10, blaze the way for future generations of campers. This Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program is a leadership development program that provides hands-on learning experiences and is designed to prepare older children to become future leaders and camp counselors. CITs serve as assistants in Chaverim and Tze’dim cabin groups and mentors throughout Camp Shai.
Additionally, the JCC has incorporated the highly acclaimed JCC Safe Swim Academy as part of a new Camp Shai tradition. Swim lessons for younger children and water sports activities for older children have been included in the daily camp schedule. The success of last year’s new Camp Shai South has proven there is a desire for a Jewish camping experience in south metro Denver, so we look forward to building on the inaugural year and welcoming more families to the south campus. We have opted to continue using the same two Camp Shai locations in summer 2012 as we did in 2011 – Camp Shai North at Denver Jewish Day School (DJDS) in Denver and Camp Shai South at Ames Elementary School in Littleton. “Campers really enjoyed the large fields, spacious classrooms, outdoor trails and multi-purpose spaces at these locations, and families shared with us that the locations were convenient,” states Hoch. For more information about Camp Shai and its early-bird registration, visit http://www.jccdenver.org/camps/ to register or contact Melissa Hoch at mhoch@jccdenver.org. Early Bird registration is also open for JCC Ranch Camp, our overnight camp for children entering grades 2-11. The Ranch Camp sits on 400 acres of ranch land in Colorado’s beautiful Black Forest, about 50 miles southeast of Denver and welcomes over 500 campers each summer – and the early bird gets the best rate. “Each year camper spots fill faster than the year before,” according to Miriam Shwartz, who co-directs the camp with her husband, Gilad. “Because over 60% of registration for Ranch Camp comes in by the end of the year, families are wise to register now to ensure that their campers are secured a spot at camp and take advantage of discounted early-bird rates while they are at it.” The JCC Ranch Camp provides a resident camping experience that enables children to strengthen their Jewish identity, become more caring members of society, and connect with the natural world through challenging, fun, growth-oriented activities. In fulfilling this mission, the JCC Ranch Camp provides:
- Innovative learning opportunities for children in a “Western Judaic” environment that challenges children to grow in mind, body and spirit.
- A safe place for children to be cared for by qualified professionals, with a commitment to safety, supervision and Judaic programming.
- Opportunities for children to experience a nurturing community based on fun and challenges.
JCC Ranch Camp offers a heated outdoor swimming pool, a technical rock-climbing wall, a low-elements challenge ropes course, a high-elements challenge course and zip line, a sports fields, basketball court, nature and crafts center and miles and miles of beautiful trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Amenities also include facilities for over 40 horses each summer; Ranch Camp hosts one of the most extensive equestrian programs to be found in a Jewish camp setting nationwide. In addition to our program activities, Ranch Camp strives to connect children — mind, body and spirit — to their Jewish heritage, Jewish friends and the natural world around them. The Ranch Camp provides children with spiritual and experiential Jewish programs, including:
- Kabbalat Shabbat services in our outdoor amphitheatre
- Saturday morning services in our sanctuary in the forest
- Havdalah in our newly designed Havdallah garden
- Spirited song sessions
- Israeli music, dance and culture
- A supervised kosher camp kitchen
Campers from more than 25 states, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Israel join us at Ranch Camp for a Colorado Jewish summer. Our staff comes to us from the United States, Australia, South America, the UK and a large annual contingent comes from Israel. All staff members are selected based on their experience with children and their commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of campers. Ranch Camp is a special place where Jewish children form bonds with their heritage and with each other — for a lifetime. It is a place where Jewish identities are formed, Jewish friendships are created, children are challenged to grow and where the seeds of life-long involvement in the Jewish community are planted. And Ranch Camp is a place where children are free to laugh, sing and celebrate to joy of being a kid.
Mini Camp, for grades 2-4, gives our youngest campers either a 7 or 12-day camp experience to ease their first transition from home to camp. They become familiar with the rhythm and flow of camp life and prepare for the full Ranch Camp experience next year by getting a taste of all that camp has to offer.
Ranch Program, for grades 3-7, is jam-packed with non-stop high-energy fun from the minute campers wake up in the morning until long after the sun goes down! Through familiar activities and those they never even dreamed they might try, campers test their personal limits. Campers participate in three scheduled and two chuggim (elective) activities each day.
EQ Camp, for grades 5-9, is a specialty camp that treats campers to an intensive dose of horsemanship. Each EQ camper has his or her own horse for the entire session. Campers learn to ride and care for their horses throughout the session. Campers also participate in trail rides, a horseback riding campout, mounted games and horse instruction. Although EQ campers spend the majority of their time at camp riding and learning about horses, they still have the opportunity to experience the other Ranch Camp activities.
Ninja Acrobats, for grades 5-9, is a specialty camp that combines martial athletics and gymnastics. This camp offers formal instruction in self-defense, acrobatic tumbling, aerial trampoline skills,confidence building games and physical activities that are safe, FUN, and transformational.
Teen Adventure Trips for grades 7-10: Ranch Camp offers the 8th Grade Ranch Program, Rock-n-Ride, Pack-n-Ride and Teen Village trip camps for older campers with a sense of adventure. Trips range from 4-21 days in length and take campers backpacking, mountain biking, horse riding, whitewater rafting and dipping in Colorado hot springs. TASC offers programs which focus on repairing the world through community service work.
For more information go to the Ranch Camp website: www.ranchcamp.org or contact Miriam at miriams@jccdenver.org To take advance of lower Early Bird rates for both Camp Shai and JCC Ranch Camp, visit http://www.jccdenver.org/camps/ for rates, dates and to register
