This Week We’re Talking to… Simcha Day Camp

The Jewish Home | AUGUST 4, 2022 THIs Week, TJH speaks WITH… Simcha Day Camp

By SuSan Schwamm

Two months of amazing summer fun! For the last few weeks, our children have been basking in the sun, swimming, singing, and soaking up the fun every day. How are they spending their time away from their desks?

In this series, we speak with camp directors and head counselors to learn more about our community’s amazing, spectacular, incredible, marvelous, unbelievable (you get the point!) camps.

Nestled iN the heart of far rockaway, simcha day camp is where huNdreds of boys eNjoy their summer, splashiNg iN the pool, swiNgiNg their bats, shootiNg their hoops, aNd smiliNg aNd siNgiNg the whole seasoN through. with NiNe acres of fuN – complete with ballfields, a huge iN-grouNd pool, aNd aN air-coNditioNed gym – the boys are coNstaNtly oN the go. this week, we spoke with rabbi avi taub, camp director, to hear more about the fuN aNd ruach that permeates the campus each day.

Rabbi Taub, hundreds of campers enjoy Simcha Day Camp each summer. How many are there in camp this year?

Simcha Day Camp is home to over 1,000 campers, hailing from Far Rockaway/Five Towns, Brooklyn, Queens, and West Hempstead. Some campers travel from as far away as Eretz Yisrael, Florida and Boise, Idaho. a break from the sun at arts and crafts, computers, and our state-of-the art indoor jungle gym.

Tell us about your different divisions and what makes each one stand out?

Our Juniors division, led by the world

famous Morah Etty Slansky and her energetic daughter Morah Estie Samet, is an amazing oasis of smiling faces, eagerto-learn swimmers, playful future sports stars, and campers who are eager to learn about parsha.

The MIDZ Division, led by Rabbi Shaya Samet, Rabbi Hildeshaim, Donny Rudansky and Dovid Orrin, is always full of pumping geshmak! Whether it is a fun color day or a lunch challenge, there’s bound to be some hype in the MIDZ!

The Senior Leagues Division, led

by Rabbi Polter, Chacham Zedner and Yaakov Shapiro, just wants to play ball. Though we do have trips and overnights, shows and more, the Senior Leaguers live

That sounds like a handful! How do you manage do keep all your campers happy each day?

Our campers couldn’t be happier in our 9-acre campus, replete with luscious grass and shady areas. We are able to find something for every type of camper. With 4 massive baseball fields, 8 basketball courts, a hockey rink, a huge gaga pit, volleyball and soccer fields, the massive air-conditioned gym and crisp, delicious pool, there is not a minute of downtime in Simcha Day Camp. Campers can also get we used to ruN aN ad years ago that said, “simcha day camp, made from the best staff oN earth,” uNtil sNapple threateNed to sue us aNd we had to remove it. but it is true!

by the mantra, “Have ball, will play.”

The CIT Division, led by Avromi Meyer and Rabbi Leyton, are our Counselors in Training. They have a choice to work in a bunk for part of the day or play sports with their friends.

Each division sounds amazing! Tell us more about your amazing staff.

Our staff is handpicked from nature’s finest. We used to run an ad years ago that said, “Simcha Day Camp, made from the best staff on Earth,” until Snapple threatened to sue us and we had to remove it. But it is true! Our staff is so dedicated and positive that it is really humbling to be at the helm of such a beautiful camp.

Simcha Day Camp has been around for years. How has the camp changed since you took over the reins?

Simcha Day Camp has always been known as an extremely professional, safe and warm camp. We have many safety protocols in place, and staff is trained in basic CPR. We are constantly doing bunk checks and reminding staff to count campers. We pride ourselves in trying to accommodate campers’ and parents’ needs and requests. We operate in a loving and inclusive manner to all.

Since I have come on board, it has been a real bracha to watch as more and more campers flock to our amazing camp, all while being able to provide that stability, professionalism, and respect that each and every camper and family deserves.

What would you say are the campers’ favorite activities?

I would say that baseball is the alltime favorite American sport, followed closely by basketball and swimming. Our newly refaced Olympic-sized pool, with its brand-new concrete deck and experienced lifeguards led by Mr. Eric Maslin, is second to none.

You’ve been camp director for many years. What’s your favorite part of camp?

This is my ninth year in Simcha Day Camp. My favorite part of camp is the carnival. Second place would be Grand Sing.

Is sports a very big part of the day? How do you balance menschlechkeit and healthy competition?

We are mainly a sports camp. Every morning, our counselors meet after Staff Shiur to plan the day and discuss how to pump up the activities while keeping the achdus and comradery at the forefront. Simchabucks are constantly used to help keep that in focus.

Is lunch more than just bagels and cream cheese? Does the fun spread into lunchtime, too?

Whoa there! Just bagels and cream cheese!? At Simcha Day Camp, we have the zechus of having our very own Chef Mordechai Bijam, who caters fresh hot delicious meals daily! From pan

simcha Day Camp by the Numbers

1,000 amazing campers 1,000 freeze pops eaten daily 50 tables in the lunchrooms

48 bunk rooms 120 staff members

8basketball courts

4baseball fields 2 air-conditioned gyms

1Hashem that watches over us daily!

pizza to crispy chicken nuggets, to 7-layer triple-cheese lasagna, to delicious heimishe cholent, there is no meal that is boring.

And yes, the fun spreads like wildfire at lunch! The daily challenges and mini games are earthshattering and get the whole dining room on their feet!

Your campus sounds like a great place to spend the day, but trips are always fun. Do you take the campers on trips?

With a huge campus like ours and a group of campers who just want time to play more and more, trips are not the focal point of our camp. Who wants to spend 4+ hours on a school bus, even if it is air-conditioned like ours are? At the same time, a change of scenery is OK. We have gone to places like QZAR, Bowling, the Mets Game, Aquatopia, American Dream, Gravity Vault and Luna Park, to name a few. campers, keeping them safe and happy, a campus that is designed to give campers an amazing experience, and Hakadosh Baruch Hu, who wants nothing more than His kinderlach to grow and enjoy! Do you have a “slogan” or theme at Simcha Day Camp?

Simcha Day Camp, the place to be!

What sets Simcha Day Camp apart from other camps in the area?

Each camp has its own unique flavor. Our camp has a great mix of great rabbeim who teach Torah in the morning, staff who connect to their