Chai-Lights

VOL 2, ISSUE 5

TAM M U Z — E LUL 5773

SUMMER

Chai lights

2013

a monthly publication of the JCC Family Programs department

Family Programs is dedicated to young families with children ages five and under, offering classes, programs and events specifically designed to help families grow and learn together. Family Programs holds Jewish holiday celebrations, parenting and pre-natal classes, Move & Learn parent/caregiver classes and events and celebrations.

Shalom Family Sunday Family Adventures Sundays, June 23—Aug. 18 (no activity on July 7) Various Times

Do you want to connect with other young families? Do you want to take advantage of all that Colorado has to offer this summer? Do you like going on new adventures? If this is you,we’d love for you to join the Family Programs Department for our new Sunday Family Adventures series.A program for families with children 3 months to 6 years, created and led by families who currently participate in JCC Family Programs or are graduates of our programs and classes. Costs will be limited to the fees for the activity itself (Zoo, Botanic Gardens, hike).

Please watch for more details about each week’s activity.

Poolside Playdates Return June 18!

Tuesdays, June 18—Aug. 27 10—11:30 a.m.

JCC Pool FREE for JCC Sports & Fitness Members; $5/child for JCC Community Members & Guests

Join JCC Family Programs by the baby pool for bubbles, chalk, snacks and fun with friends! If you want more food choices or want to stay for lunch, the JCC Snack Shack will also be open.This event does not require pre-registration.Great for families with children ages 3 months to 5 years.

Contact Melanie Gruenwald with any questions, or to register, at mgruenwald@jccdenver.org or (303) 316-6325. This program is eligible for a $250 MazelTot discount for families with children under the age of 5, at www.mazeltot.org.

Summer Concert Series 2013 Summer Solstice Pre-Shabbat Concert: Rocky Mountain Jewgrass Friday, June 21, 4—5:30 p.m.

Denver Jewish Day School (2450 S Wabash Street Denver, 80231) Free for Camp Shai families; $10 per guest in advance, $12 at the door (children under 3, FREE)

Rocky Mountain Jewgrass® is the original Jewgrass band combining bluegrass and Jewish music.Come with your family and your blankets,and prepare to rock out on Denver Jewish Day School's Allon Family Quadrangle, as we welcome summer and Shabbat together!

Special guest opener: Ten Shekel Falafel Ask about our Shabbat Dinner-To-Go. Poolside Concert: Julie Geller Tuesday, July 23, 10:30 a.m.—Noon JCC Outdoor Pool $5/ child; free for Sports & Fitness members

Folksy and soulful, Julie Geller, a mother of three, knows how to speak the language of children through music. Julie will share her incredible spirit and tap into your imagination as she spends the morning with us.

Back to School New Year’s Concert: FACE Vocal Band

Saddle Up For a Weekend of Fun at Family Camp!

Aug. 9—11 JCC Ranch Camp

Cap off your summer with a Jewish dude ranch experience at the JCC Ranch Camp, located in the mountains of the Black Forest, Colorado. Families will experience Shabbat with singing, dancing and a community celebration. Enjoy activities throughout the weekend including horseback riding, crafts, hiking, ropes course, swimming, campfires, Jewish learning and more. This weekend long session,from Friday at 10 a.m.until Sunday after breakfast, will be jam packed with family fun for all ages.

Sunday, Aug. 25, Doors open 3 p.m.; Concert 3:30—4:30 p.m.

JCC, Phillips Social Hall In advance: $10; $50 max/family; At the door: $15; $60 max/family; Children under three, free.

Face is a nationally recognized vocal rock band based out of Boulder, Colorado, bringing a new edge and attitude to the human voice.Using just five singers and a vocal drummer, no instruments and no special effects, Face creates a rockmusic phenomenon that has to be seen to be believed. Join us as we mark the end of summer, the beginning of school and the Jewish New Year!

Summer Concert Series package: $75, includes admission to all three shows for your immediate family, non-transferable. MazelTot discount available, up to $100, for families who qualify. Visit MazelTot.org for details.

All classes and events require advance registration. Please contact Jill Katchen (303) 316-6336 jkatchen@jccdenver.org or register online at www.jccdenver.org/families

Chai Lights Prenatal and Parenting Programs

Dad’s Night Out – Apre Work Bike Ride!

Jewish Baby University

Monday, Aug. 5 6—8 p.m. $12/JCC Members; $15/JCC Guests

Summer 2013: July 14, 22, 26, 28 and Aug. 5 Fall 2013: Sept. 29 and Oct. 7, 13, 21 $180/couple Rose Medical Center and the JCC

Designed for expectant parents, this innovative program combines childbirth education with an exploration of the Jewish traditions and rituals connected with pregnancy, birth and parenting. Instructors, Rabbi Jeffrey Kaye (Judaic) and Sue Geissler (prepared childbirth), lead this program created by the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education and co-sponsored by the JCC and Rose Medical Center.Participants will also join the Boot Camp for New Dads and Miracles and Mayhem classes to discuss the anticipated post-partum experience, communication skills, parental expectations and changing identities.

Kick back after work and join us for an evening ride down the Cherry Creek Trail. Your hard work will be rewarded with a beer and some appetizers at the Bull and Bush. Come one, come all!

Warm Welcome Visits We offer caring support, a connection to community resources, a way to meet other new parents, and a gift basket that includes cds, books, other fun gifts, and information on child development and parenting skills from Colorado Bright Beginnings. If you are a new parent and would like a FREE Warm Welcome visit, please contact Jill (303) 316-6336, or jkatchen@jccdenver.org

JBU Plus

Bloggers Needed!

Summer 2013: Thursdays, July 18, 25 and Aug. 1, 6:30—9 p.m. at the JCC Fall 2013: Thursdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 6:30 – 9 p.m. at the JCC $250/couple

Are you a blogger or imagine yourself becoming one? The JCC Family Programs Department is looking for people who currently blog for young families or are interested in becoming active bloggers. Please contact Melanie Gruenwald at mgruenwald@jccdenver.org or (303) 316-6325 if you would like more information.

The complete package… Jewish Baby University PLUS Breastfeeding,Baby Safe and the ABC’s of Financial Planning. JBU and JBU Plus are eligible for a discount up to $100 off through MazelTot.org.

• Or sign up a la carte, $50 per class ABC’s of Financial Planning: July 18 or Oct. 3 Breastfeeding: July 25 or Oct. 10 Baby Safe: Aug. 1 or Oct. 17 Miracles and Mayhem: The Realities of Motherhood: July 22 or Oct. 7 Bootcamp for New Dads: July 22 or Oct. 2

Move & Learn Classes (Newborn to age 5) Summer Move and Learn classes begin the week of June 17!

June 17—Aug. 18, 8 weeks (no classes July 1—7) Cost: $112/JCC Member; $134/JCC Guest; $18/Drop In * Extra costs associated with Sticky Fingers and Artistic Tots

Babies (8 weeks—Pre-crawling) • Boogie Babies Music, Infant Massage/Post-Natal Yoga

NEW CLASS! L’Dor v’Dor: Jewish Grandparent University

Younger Toddlers (Crawling—17 months)

Summer: Monday, July 22, 6:30—8:30 p.m.

Fall: Monday, Oct. 7, 6:30—8:30 p.m. $18/person

Older Toddlers (18 months–3 years)

Helping grandparents and grandparents-to-be learn techniques and‘best practices’ in supporting your children in becoming parents for the first time while passing on family values and traditions.Facilitated by Dr.Daniel Hettleman,Ph.D.,P.C.

Mixed Age (Newborn—4 years)

Sibling Prep Class

Pre-School (3—5 years)

Sunday, Aug. 4, 10 a.m.—Noon $15/family, JCC members; $20/family, JCC guests JCC, Room 203

• Mini Tumbling, Jammin’ Tots music, Parent/Tot Zumba • Kinder Kixx Soccer, Maxi Tumbling, Artistic Tots, Sticky Fingers Cooking, Parent/Tot Zumba, Jammin’ Tots • Mixed-Age Music, Parent/Tot Zumba, Stroller Bootcamp, Sunday Family Adventures, Poolside Playdates • After School Kinder Kixx Soccer, Outdoor Art Experience , Sticky Fingers Cooking and Hip Hop Dance.

Moving from being an only child to a big brother or sister is a BIG deal to you and to your child. Please join us for a morning of activities, making gifts for the new baby and big brother/sister and learning what to expect when the new baby comes home. Facilitated by family therapist,Amy Topelson,MA,NCC.

Mother Runner Party Monday, July 8 6-8 p.m.

FREE, but please register in advance.

Join Dimity McDowell, co-author of Run Like a Mother and Train Like a Mother, for an easy two mile run followed by a reception at the JCC. Not (yet!) a mother runner, but looking for a chance to be inspired? Please join us!

Co-sponsored by JCC Family Programs and the JCC Sports & Fitness Center.

Summer 2013

For class descriptions and to register,please visit www.jccdenver.org/families.You can also contact Jill Katchen at (303) 316-6336 or jkatchen@jccdenver.org.

Don’t forget, you can receive up to receive up to $100 off the cost of our classes if you are eligible for a MazelTot discount at www.mazeltot.org.

Chai Lights Save The Date: Fall Holidays Grandparent High Holiday Experience, Shabbat Sing and other fun activities: Sept. 13, 9:30—11 a.m.

Stay on top of Shalom Baby & Family happenings by “Liking” us at www.facebook.com/JCCFamilyPrograms.

Sukkah Building 101: Sept. 16, 6—7:30 p.m.

For information or to register for all of the above programs, events and classes, please contact Jill Katchen at jkatchen@jccdenver.org or (303) 316-6336 or visit www.jccdenver.org/families.

Help us reach our goal of 200 “likes” and then “share” it with a friend!

SHALOM BABY MOVE & LEARN CLASSES June 17—Aug. 18 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Babies

Jammin’ Tots (Crawling—3 yrs.)

9:30—10:15 a.m.

Toddlers Crawling—17 months

18 months—3 years

Mixed-Age Newborn—4 years

Pre-School 3—5 years

Thursday

Kinder Kixx Soccer (2—3 yrs.) & (4—5 yrs.) at Robinson Park 9:30—10:15 a.m.

Sticky Fingers Cooking (2–3yrs) 9:30—10:30 a.m.

Sunday Family Adventures NEW! (Hiking, biking, nature Parent/Tot Zumba walks, zoo...)

10:45—11:30 a.m.

Times to be set by group leaders.

Sticky Fingers Cooking 12:45—1:45 p.m.

3:30—4:30 p.m.

Artistic Tots (17 mo.—3 yrs.)

9:30—10:15 a.m. or 10:45—11:30 a.m.

Poolside Playdates 10—11:30 a.m.

Outdoor Arts Experience (2—3 yrs.)

12:45—1:30 p.m.

Hip Hop Dance 3:30—4:15 p.m.

Kinder Kixx Soccer (2—3 yrs.)

12:45—1:30 p.m.

Friday Infant Massage/ Post-natal Yoga 12:30 p.m.—1:30 p.m.

Boogie Babies 11:30 a.m.—12:15 p.m.

8 weeks— pre-crawling

Toddlers

Wednesday

Mini Tumbling 10:30—11:15 a.m.

Maxi Tumbling 9:30—10:15 a.m.

Sticky Fingers Cooking (2–3yrs) 10—11 a.m.

Stroller Bootcamp 9:30—10:30 a.m.

Mixed-Age Music 10:30—11:15 a.m.

Kinder Kixx Soccer 3:30—4:15 p.m.

JCC Gym

Kinder Kixx (2—3 yrs.)

10—10:45 a.m.

Sticky Fingers Cooking (2–3yrs) 10—11 a.m

CONCERT

SERIES

FAMILY SUMMER

PRESENTED BY JCC FAMILY PROGRAMS Summer Solstice Pre-Shabbat Concert:

Rocky Mountain Jewgrass June 21, 4 p.m.

Poolside Concert:

Julie Geller July 23, 10:30 a.m.

Back to School New Year’s Concert:

Face Vocal Band Aug. 25, 3:30 p.m.

www.jccdenver.org/familyconcerts 350 South Dahlia Street • Denver, CO 80246 • (303) 399-2660 • www.jccdenver.org •

Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center 350 South Dahlia Street Denver, CO 80246-8102