Camp Essman Gadol
Camp Essman Katan
Nature
Camp is going by so quickly! This week our theme was USA. We got in the spirit of Independence Day by creating the American flag, camp-style, by painting twigs and sticks and arranging them like the flag. Patriotic wind socks were fun to make, as were our red, white, and blue beaded bracelets. The gaga pit was completed, and our campers have loved playing gaga! We had a visit from the police department, and the officer brought Olla, his police dog. She was full of energy, showing off while the officer talked about her and the great things she does.
Week Five went by as fast as the fireworks! We had so much fun this week. We picked purple beans from our garden. They were magic! When we put them in boiling water they turned GREEN! On Friday, we cleaned and cooked a big pot of the purple beans. They tasted really good, too! We have other vegetables growing in our garden. Everyone is looking forward to cooking and eating them, too!
It seems as though the natural world is enjoying the cool weather as much as the humans are. Birds are singing and other animals are more active.
In cooking, we made yummy Fourth of July sparklers with pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate, and rolled in red, white, and blue sprinkles. We finished off our week with a field trip to Purina Farms, and then came back to camp for some swimming, and “Duct tape for Oklahoma.” The campers are having fun with this fundraiser for Oklahoma tornado victims. Matt Stern (counselor, aka Fuzzy) and I were on The Big 550 KTRS radio Wednesday morning talking about what the campers are doing to help Oklahoma. We strive to have fun here at camp, and also to instill in our campers how important and wonderful it is to help others. The campers get it, and we are so proud of what we do!
In swimming, we are having a great time. The campers are really becoming good swimmers. We looked at flowers in our garden in Nature and then made flowers in Art. We love singing under the big tree with Miss Sally. We had Sports inside this week because it was raining. The gym is so much fun to play in. Next week we are looking forward to learning about Israel.
This being St. Louis, at some point our summer is bound to get hot and dry. Some groups made insect oases. Beneficial insects need water, so we can help them out when it is dry and hot. Bees drink from puddles; butterflies drink and get minerals from mud in the puddles as well. Our oases have stones so the insects can land, and mud at the bottom for minerals. For the time being, though, there is plenty of water for wildlife. Some groups saw woodpeckers and American goldfinches at the bird feeder, but the real sight this week was the discovery of two patches of trilliums, along with a lot of moss and ferns, back in the woods. Trilliums have an interesting way to propagate: ants take the fruit back to their ant hills, but do not eat the seeds. Each ant hill has a section where the ants toss their trash, and the seeds wind up there. The loose, fertile soil is perfect for growing another plant. Until next week, enjoy the outdoors!
2013 JCC Day Camp Splatter July 5, 2013 / 27 Tamuz 5773 Vol. 7 - Issue 5
Sixth Annual Tiyul for Hunger Summer 2013 marks the sixth annual Tiyul (March) for Hunger program, sponsored by the J Day Camps and the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. The event will take place on Wednesday, July 31 at 1:15pm, starting at the J Day Camp Pavilion and ending on the shelves of the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Our goal this year is to exceed 14,000 food items to be delivered by our campers and staff. Over the past five summers, we have delivered almost 12,000 food items, so we need more than 2,000 items to reach our goal. All summer camp staff members, campers and families collect food at both JCC campuses in a fun competition to see which group can collect the most. This Tiyul or march, with more than 400 campers and staff, streams across the campus and Schuetz Road, in an effort to illustrate to the community and our campers that giving to the less fortunate is an important value. We have decided to focus our collections on canned fruits, vegetables and macaroni and cheese this summer. According to Marcia Mermelstein, Volunteer Coordinator of the Pantry, “we are looking for healthy/hardy items; these can be the most important foods for children and families.”
Over the next three weeks, we hope our storage areas at both campuses will turn into “mini” food pantries themselves, but WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please bring macaroni and cheese or a canned vegetable or fruit item to help replenish the shelves of the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. Then on July 31, our campers and staff members, arms full of healthy food, will march down the street with a “swagger,” feeling great about giving back to the community. For every 10 items a camper brings, he/she will receive a raffle ticket. On August 2, we will draw winners who will get to choose a counselor to “pie” in the face. There is no limit on how many tickets a camper can receive, so keep bringing in food. More tickets means more chances to win and the more cans and food the better! And, the winning group will receive a cookie cake. Happy Camping, Joey Boime, Director J Day Camps
Shabbat Shalom
Staenberg Family Complex 2 Millstone Campus Drive St. Louis, MO 63146
Marilyn Fox Building
16801 Baxter Road Chesterfield, MO 63005
314-432-5700 jccstl.org
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