Come to Texas & Be a Star!
Feel the heat with JCC Maccabi Games’ Colorado Delegation in August 2024, for this crucial, coming-of-age experience for young Jewish teens. With baseball, basketball, bowling, dance, girls’ volleyball, flag football, soccer, tennis, swimming, and star reporter to choose from, your child will join the Colorado Delegation to build lifelong friendships with thousands of teens from across the country during an unforgettable week that celebrates Jewish values and inspires teamwork and leadership.
JCC Board of Directors Vice Chair, Mike Kboudi has been coaching for the Colorado Delegation since 2010, when he led the Girls’ Basketball team to a bronze medal.
“The kids look forward to it all year. They love the independence they get from going to Games and being around other Jewish kids,” Mike explains of his own children’s participation over the years.
“There are lots of ways you can migrate into an association with Judaism that are not just about the religious part. One of the ways my kids have found connection to the Jewish community has been through sports.”
Mike, along with other Denverites like Levi Pollyea, 14, are heading to the 2024 JCC Maccabi Games in Houston this August for a week of inspirational programming, fun activities, and healthy competition with over 1,000 Jewish teens from across the country.
This summer will be Levi’s second year joining the Colorado Delegation. Yet, he has been involved with the J for much longer, having attended ELS and Camp Shai over the years.
“I met tons of people from other states who I still talk to, plus I got to know the Jewish kids at my own JCC,” Levi explains, the latter of whom Levi works out with at the JCC Fitness Center now.
“I definitely think the Maccabi Games showed me how fun I could have with other Jewish kids,” while being exposed to different facets of Jewish and Israeli culture. “I became more confident in my social skills.”
Levi is looking forward to connecting with his coaches and other returning teens this year, in addition to meeting new people. This year, his goal is to win a medal in Tennis.
“We were just so happy that Levi had a good time, and he was able to thrive in this social environment, surrounded by Jewish teens from all different parts of country,” his mother Jessica shares.
Teens typically apply and then are invited to tryouts in the earlier part of 2024. Then, they’ll practice periodically over the spring and summer – using the JCC Fitness Center’s facilities – before getting together for a 10-day intensive practice of 2-3 hours daily to finesse their teamwork and strategy under the guidance of Coach Mike, prior to trip departure.
Jewish-identifying teens ages 12-16 are invited to bring their team spirit this summer to Houston- the city without limits- August 4 – 9, 2024, for a week full of Olympic-style sports competitions, Texas-themed rodeo opening and closing ceremonies, JCC Cares community service projects, social and cultural programming led by Israeli Shlichim referred to as Hang Time, evening social events that include trips to Dave and Busters and Tyhpoon Texas Waterpark, and many more memorable moments.
Applications close in early February.
