Blog
My Future Is In The Hands Of Chi Winkle
For the last decade of my life, my summers have been one thing. Summer Camp. I would spend my time amid the forest and the lake, soaking up the summer sun and my voice would be shot from cheering so loudly. My summers were meant for camp. You see, summer camp is in my blood. […] Learn More ›
No Need To Fear, The J Is Here
It was March 16, 2020. I got an email from the Florence G. Heller JCC: “School will be closed for the next 3 weeks.” Panic set in. Two full-time working parents with two adorable, BUSY kids and no family in town – how would we survive the next 3 weeks without the J? Florence G. […] Learn More ›
Becoming Miss Barnett
Teachers have always had a great impact on me, but there is one teacher in particular who has had the most profound influence on my life. That teacher is Mrs. Barnett, a preschool teacher from JCC Chicago Early Childhood at Am Shalom – and she just happens to also be my mom. I grew up getting […] Learn More ›
Community, Togetherness and Teamwork
As a summer camp director, my family and friends ask, “isn’t it stressful planning for camp during a global pandemic?” This question always catches me off guard, because the first emotion that comes to mind when I think about summer camp is not stress; it’s gratitude. When I started as director for Apachi Rogers Park […] Learn More ›
Choosing Jewish Camp
Among our four kids, only one is a product of Jewish camp. When the older three were of camp age, they were enrolled in a Jewish day school and we chose a secular camp for its diversity and the opportunity to broaden their circle of friends. For a series of reasons, we shifted course to […] Learn More ›