Blog
How to Give Meaningful Praise
“Great job!” “Way to go!” “Nice work!” “You are perfect!” “That is the most beautiful picture!” “You’re so smart!” “You’re so beautiful!” As parents, we want our children to feel good about themselves so we try to give them as much praise as we can, but are we overdoing it? How much is too much? […] Learn More ›
Trees, People and Even Camps Have Birthdays
Last week we celebrated Tu B’Shevat, a holiday commonly referred to as “the birthday of the trees.” Tu B’Shevat offers us a time to come together and celebrate trees, the fruits of their labor and reconnect with Israel and the environment. There are several ways in which we may honor the trees’ birthdays, including eating […] Learn More ›
Why is Legacy Giving So Important? Here’s Why.
As a kid, I spent every day at my J in Milwaukee. I would swim, I would play basketball. I loved being there. My summers were all about JCC day camp and, eventually, Camp Chi. The J was my place to play sports, have fun, and be with friends all summer long. It was an […] Learn More ›
The Self-Portrait: How we build self-awareness, identify, individuality and normalize differences
Conversations with children can be many things: enlightening, funny, creative and thoughtful. Children notice differences around them all the time. They notice changes in their environment, changes in themselves and they absolutely notice when someone doesn’t look or act like them. These are important skills children develop as they mature. How do we as teachers, […] Learn More ›
Camp Fun All Winter Long (Yes, it IS Possible!)
In case you missed the horns and confetti, it’s now January. Camp ended 5 months ago, and camp will start again in 5 months. Do you know what that means? We’re half way to summer! We live in Chicagoland. Large amounts of snow and brutal temps mean we may not want to leave the house. […] Learn More ›
Because of Apachi J Camps
Some of the best moments of my summer actually happen at the end. It’s that time when parents thank the staff and share just how important the camp experience was for their child. They can’t believe how much they have really changed over the eight weeks and they are excited to let us know. We […] Learn More ›