Surf's Up!

Grab a towel and some sunscreen and head on over to our Beach Party! Today, our campers went down to the "beach" where they made pictures out of sand as well as beautiful sand art in shell shaped bottles and necklaces of various other shapes. Across the field by the volleyball court, campers also played in the sand with shovels and pails, building tall sand castles. Afterwards, beach bags slung over their shoulders, they walked through the field, hunting for shells of various sizes and colors that were scattered throughout.

The Shpitz's went into the "woods" behind the field where they had paintball! Campers were given guns filled with different colored paint balls that they had to shoot at wooden animals that were set up. Said a few of our Shpitz campers "it was awesome!" Now we're off to lunch and then to a carnival in honor of Deal Day!

How Do You Spell Victory???

Well folks, today's big Super Bowl Bash was quite momentous! After lunch and the completion of commercial making, everyone gathered onto the tennis court for the big game! Our camper stars sported blue jerseys while counselors and staff wore red. Music blasting, crowd cheering, our game began! Touchdown after touchdown was scored by our campers as the crowd went wild! During half time, our spirited cheerleaders had us chanting,cheering and dancing with them. Despite the tremendous heat, the energy on and off field never stopped!

After our victory, everyone made their way to the dining room for a big celebratory dinner where we became re-energized. Afterwards, we headed off to the social hall for commericial viewing! Everyone laughed and cheered upon watching the hilarious commercials advertising tamiflu, purell, microphones, bandanas, and transporters, among a few.

Everyone (with the exception of our Israeli bunch who tie-dyed by Roofy Roofy!) then made their way across the road to the gym for the last part of our after-party featuring Steve Max, Simon Sez! This show is one our camp looks forward to every year as Steve never fails to be amusing while involving all the campers and staff in his performance. The campers as usual managed to outlast the counselors in the game of Simon Sez by not falling for Steve's tricks! Among those campers called up from the audience were Mushka and Rachel.

As night activity ended, everyone made their way back to their bunks, tired from a long day, but in high spirits from such a fantasticly enjoyable one!

Here We Go...Simcha's Going To The Super Bowl!

Welcome to the second annual Simcha Super Bowl! This is Tamara reporting live from Glen Spey, NY where preparations for the big event have begun since the early hours of the morning. We started off our day to the sound of helicopter engines circling overhead...that's right, today our annual helicopter rides came to camp! What better way for our camper stars to kickoff (pun intended) their morning than to relax and gear up for tonight's big game by enjoying a nice, serene sky ride around camp?

After the rides were finished, our Simcha filmmakers began producing their own commercials for the Superbowl, which are still in progress as I report to you. The commercials will be screened tonight during the after-party. Looking forward to previewing all the different and original ideas! Now it is almost lunchtime where our young team of athletes must load up before the game!

We shall be back with more updates live from Simcha Field!

Congratulations Class of 2009!

"We need you on our graduation breakfast. Everyone please make your way to the graduation breakfast. . ." The announcement came over the P.A. system. Already, CSS'09 graduates were lining the hallowed hall of the dining room. Dressed appropriately in cap and gown, campers and staff gathered at the podium under a banner of graduation streamers for a final after-breakfast dancing session. What's to come on this day of graduation?

Simcha Family Reunites

This is Leah reporting to you from the scene where Camp Simcha has gathered for a "Family Reunion."

Campus is swarming with Bubbes and Zaides, Aunts and Uncles, and of course, the family dog. Grandma's friend Bubba SueSue (Pia L.) is in attendance. We are also getting reports of spottings of various members of the Addams Family. The Simcha family is large and that means that we've got some strange relatives too. A fair share of hippies, people sporting extremely large hair-dos and all manners of fantastic garb, are in from the Four Corners of The Earth.

Party of a Lifetime

Hi, everyone, this is guest blogger Chavie reporting to you from the most beautiful party yet: a double bat mitzvah for two of our special campers, Alexis and Kylie. The pair missed having a bat mitzvah at home, but they were thrilled to celebrate among their Simcha Special friends. As Kylie said in her inspiring speech,

"In Simcha Special, it doesn't matter if you're different on the outside or the inside. Everyone is accepted, everyone loves you, and everyone is special."

Alexis said that she and Kylie felt fully prepared to take on adulthood, and she shared with us some of the good deeds that the girls have done already.

The party was magnificently arranged, with gold table linens and a mouth-watering birthday cake. Our favorite musician, Aviva, filled the room with her lively keyboarding as the girls and their counselors danced the night away. Then, the Van family singers entertained us, our head counselors Rivky and Zahava sang a moving song, and bunkmates read acrostic poems in tribute to the bat mitzvah girls.

It has been an evening full of friendship and happiness, dancing and music, and beautiful, beaming smiles all around.

Where there's a fire drill, there's a (bon)fire!?

Camp Simcha gets an A+ on a perfect regularly scheduled fire drill. All was in order. But what was that smoke rising from behind the pool?

It's Leah here, investigating from the scene. There appears to be a small fire surrounded by stones and wood. Expert witnesses tell me this is called a bonfire. The natives are dancing in a circle around this structure. They're holding hands and swaying back and forth, singing to the music. Aviva Honickman and others are strumming away at their guitars. The natives are cooking hotdogs, popcorn and smores on long sticks. Other campers are busy decorating masks in honor of the Purim party. The sun may set and the fire may die down, but memories of tonight will flicker on.

Venahapoch Hu!

Where is the head staff table? Why are we eating dinner for lunch? Why do our division heads look different today? Because it's Purim, of course!

Camp Simcha Special woke up this morning to a topsy-turvy world in which campers are counselors, head staff, and maintenance, and Purim music is heard in the middle of the summer. Our new head counselor for the day, Henny O., made all of the morning announcements over the loudspeaker, and Stephanie, dressed as Bill Cosby, entertained us all with her hilarious jokes.

After an inspiring learning group led by Liliya, we couldn't wait to see what other topsy-turvy surprises Purim Day holds in store!

Acrobatics Team Delights on This Superbowl Sunday

Chicago Boyz Acrobatics Team drove all the way in from Chicago to amaze us with their awesome stunts. They performed jaw-dropping flips, turns, jump rope tricks and even jumped over very brave campers and even Shaindy Lowenthal. One of the gymnasts, nicknamed Superman because he flew so high, leapfrogged over seven campers in a row. Rena stood on top of Head Lifeguard Rachel's shoulder and then one of the gymnasts jumped over them.

Simcha Scores Major Victory in Superbowl

Welcome to the first annual Simcha Superbowl. It's Simcha Swines (campers) vs. Simcha Staff. The social hall became a field with taped down foul lines and goals. Alexis opened with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem. The game was on!

The half-time show featured the Lovely, Lively Lifeguards in an exclusive performance. Another two of our staff member performed skateboard stunts.

Of course our very athletically inclined campers won scored touchdown after touchdown as the staff fumbled over their feet and tried to steal the balls from each other.

And the crowd went wild! Dressed in their favorite team's colors and face paint, everyone was cheering with horns.

We re-energized with a celebratory Superbowl dinner of subs, heroes, chicken wings and chips and salsa. Then we relaxed for the after-dinner commercial break. Simcha filmmakers really enjoyed producing the commercial from thinking up the concept to directing their fellow bunk-mates to acting out and shooting the final product. The screening of the advertisements had us all laughing all the way to night activity.

Hut! hut! hut! Hey Simcha!

We are the champions - my friends. . .

This is Leah reporting from Party City, NY where preparations for the first annual Simcha Superbowl are in progress. This morning expert cheerleaders taught us a stretching and dance routine set to sports songs. Out on the field (who knew the dining room could have so many faces?), the Simcha Swines (homage to the H1N1 virus) are getting in formation. Campers and counselors are in uniform with whistles and eye black.

Simcha filmmakers are now are producing their own commercials for the Superbowl. The categories for the different advertisements include Tamiflu, Maayim Chayim water, Pizza and camp's famous Gem Carts. The commercials will be screened tonight during the after-party. The Simcha Academy Awards committee will be attending.

Stay with us for more updates straight from the field.

Shloime Dachs Concert !

It's Erev Shabbos and there's just enough time to fit in ... a concert ?! Surprise, Camp Simcha Special, Shloime Dachs is here for the first concert of the summer.

Disco lights on overhead, the social hall was shaking underneath our feet from the frenzied dancing. In Simcha spirit, the concert was a perfect prelude to Shabbos. Many campers were able to come out of their wheelchairs and dance with their counselors in a circle on on their counselor's shoulders. Everyone sang up a storm -- literally. It rained outside, but we barely noticed. Bracha sang us a solo. We love Shloime in Camp Simcha Special. As Shloime Dachs said, "Thank you so much. I'm so glad to be back here in Camp Simcha Special. . . I was so happy that I came."

Carnival of the (Party) Animals

Reporting to you from the front lawn where a water carnival is visiting Camp Simcha Special, we're cooling off with water activities. There are awesome rides like a fun slide and a moonwalk; but on this scorcher of a day, the dunk-your-counselor booth is definitely the hit. We're having a ton of fun at the booths where we are playing ring toss, count the pennies, bowling. Jessica O. won a Dora the Explorer towel that she can't wait to use at the pool. Prizes for the lucky include Elmo hats, plastic cell phones, stuffed animals, sunglasses, bangles, wristlets, lip gloss, decks of cards, bubbles.

I just watched a paraplegic camper, her face ecstatic as she slid down the slide with her counselors at her sides. Where else but here could something like that happen? It was gratifying to see the counselor and campers bonding and everyone enjoying themselves.

Beach Party

"Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone."

From deep inside the blogosphere, somewhere in the middle of Glen Spey, Party City, New York, this is your host Leah reporting live on an important new development.

We're getting reports of Camp Simcha camped out at the beach. But this is no lazy day at the shore. It's a Beach Party. We're heading out on the ocean into new adventures on the high waves of Camp Simcha Lake. Decked out in leis, hula skirts, floaties and even towels, campers showed up for breakfast ready for the first full day of camp.

Simcha's aspiring filmmakers are getting their start right here at Simcha Studios. This morning after breakfast, Rivky announced the Each camper has one day to document her experience in camp on film. At the end of the session, she is handed her film to take home for her family.

Next, we headed into learning groups. The theme for learning groups this season is charity and good deeds. I sat in with Bunks 6 and 7 for their session in the movie room. Led by shiur counselor Esti, campers told us about the good deeds they have recently performed. Libby said "today this morning I gave two people soda." Jessica L.'s counselor told us that Jessica "always cares about everyone and texts them all the time." Evelyn woke up early this morning and didn't even wake up her counselor. She just waited in bed until her counselor got up by herself. Jessica O. brought water for other people who needed it. During lunch, campers had the opportunity to practice what they had learned in the morning and give tzedakah [charity].

Official Division Meetings followed Learning Groups. If you are not sure which division your camper is in, here's a handy list.

Rockers
Jesters
Party Animals Bunks 6,7, 8, 9 and 10
Crashers Bunks 21, 22, 23 and 24
Shenanigans 25, 26, 29 and 30

Batsheva's Party Animals went around the circle introducing themselves to the each other. Here are some interesting soundbites:

My name is Chani and I like fruits and vegetables and I'm from Argentina.
My name is Ahava and I'm from Toronto.
My name is Rena and I'm from the City of Angels.
My name is Alexis and one of my favorite things to do is knit scarves. I knit for my twin sister. We're identical. I'm from Allentown, PA. I love to draw.
I'm Liat and I'm from California.
My name is Leah Chaya and I'm from Israel.
My name is Stephanie and and I just graduated elementary school.

At the Beach, we're surfing USA. We would not have known that we were on the the volleyball court if not for the net on top of all that sand. There was a sand art painting and keychain making. We built a city out of sand in our sand castle building contest. After dancing through the sprinklers, we went on a seashell hunt.

Lunchtime at the beach and Camp Simcha is lounging around on beach chairs in the dining room. From their cabanas and grass huts, campers ordered smoothies and special mixed drinks. Chief Lifeguard Rivky Schwartz presided a contest in which five visiting beach bums (division heads) were in a hula hooping contest. But the catch was that the campers had to squirt water in their mouths at the same time.

Campers are going to pick out party favor: visors, Hallmark cards and hand sanitizer. [Sings: "Wash your hand, wash your hands, wash your hands with soap! Tra la la..."]

Until next time.

Welcome to Camp Simcha Special 2009 !

Hello Camp Simcha Special!

This year for the first time, we're having live blogging straight from camp. This is Leah here and I'll be your source of news and developments from our headquarters in Glen Spey, Party City, New York.

I'm only on the bus up to camp, but sources close to camp tell me that camp this year is going to be quite a party. I'm heading up from Monsey. The trip is about an hour and a half so by the time I look around we should be right there. . .

And here we come up the road, I can see the signs. Camp Simcha Special, we have arrived. WELCOME TO THE CAMP SIMCHA SPECIAL PARTY!
A huge banner on the front gate ushers campers into what will be a spectacular two weeks.

We are greeted by droves of clowns and entertainers -- whoops, I mean staff members -- already there. They are singing and dancing and look there's Aviva playing away at the piano. From the window, I can see Rivky Schwartz and Esti Kleinkaufman buzzing about. I recognize my friends from last year and a host of new faces.

I grab my bags and head to the office to get my room assignment. Then off to Room 604 of the Hotel, where I will be staying for the next two weeks. My bunk is neat and clean and comfortable as always, and I quickly put everything away so I can head back outside, into the action. It's almost time for supper, but before then I descend into the lower level, past the library and arcade room, past the computer room where I notice a line of shiny new computers, and into our Headquarters. It's from that I'll be compiling the newspaper and keeping you posted on the latest news exclusively from CSS.

Top officials from the newspaper office, including a new staff member named Nechama, met today to discuss top secret information about this summer's newspaper. The content of that meeting will be revealed tomorrow around lunch-time. When asked about the theme of the newspaper, the newspaper office declined to comment. This leaves no choice but to wait anxiously until then.

In the meantime: dinner and then dancing! The excitement in the dining room is palpable and the floor is almost shaking beneath us as campers and counselors dance to the beat.

GIVE ME A "C"
GIVE ME A "A"
GIVE ME A "M"
GIVE ME A "P"
GIVE ME A "S"
GIVE ME A "I"
GIVE ME A "M"
GIVE ME A "C"
GIVE ME A "H"
GIVE ME A "A"

What does that spell? CAMP SIMCHA ! ! !

Please don't stop the music ... but the Rebbe's Tisch is about to begin in the social hall. And now for the first night activity of the summer. What's it going to be? You guessed it -- more dancing! Disco lights on overhead, CSS got into camp spirit as the video screen dropped down from the ceiling. We watched the CSS '08 video. This summer promises to be even more fun, with even more jaw-dropping activities and surprises.

Each specialty made a presentation. The waitresses reminded us that "I'm a fork, spoon and knife -- spatula." Aviva contacted the American Academy for Arts and Crafts to find the best arts and crafts heads. In an interview, these experts told us they were trained in the best schools. Among our staff members are graduates of TAG and FIT.

The camp-famous tenor Libby sang us a solo. The song is her original composition. "If we weren't here we would be really sad. Now that we're here and having fun let's say a a cheer with everyone!"

After this introduction, the specialties performed a dance number set to a song recorded exclusively for CSS. The lyrics are perfectly appropriate to the theme for the summer.

It's your party, you'll make it. We're waiting, come on. Yes, you got it. Let's rock it, don't wait around too long. Now you're invited, don't miss it. Step up. Come on. Dream. Dream. Dream. Dream. Life is but a dream.

The main activity for tonight was a "Get to know you" game. Everyone split into their camp divisions and assembled in circles. The game showed us how we are all connected: The object of the game was to get to know our bunkmates. A ball of yarn started in one camper's hands. Then, description was called out and the ball was tossed to the girls who fit the requirements. The first girl still held on to the end of the string, making a connection between the two girls. Then another description is announced and the second girl threw it to the third. At the end, there was a whole web of yarn, connecting everyone to each other.

Who has green eyes?
Who has five kids in her family?
Who is the only girl in her family?
Who is the middle child?
Who is wearing a pink shirt?
Who plays an instrument?

The game was going well until they asked "Who loves Simcha Special?" There simply not enough string to go around for that question. When all the string was gone, we saw a slideshow of campers from last summer. Off to the canteen, the arcades, the gym or bed.

Good night, everyone! Can't wait to speak tomorrow.

After hours at the canteen: A dozen campers were spotted at the canteen after night activity. After filling up on their favorite hot pretzels and knishes, some campers headed over to the gym for a karaoke session.