Blog
The Easiest Hello, The Hardest Goodbye
This post was written by Elyse Friedman, Camp Chi Counselor My parents decided to send me to Camp Chi because they wanted me to join a Jewish community and make Jewish friends. I remember going to the bus stop my first summer and not knowing a single person there. I was scared, nervous and didn’t […] Learn More ›
6 Sensory Activities to Try at Home
As human beings, we’re hard-wired from birth to explore the world through our senses. The way we receive and respond to sensory stimuli has a powerful impact on our experiences. Creating opportunities for children to explore sets them up for long-term success with essential skills including problem solving, decision making, curiosity and perseverance. Long before they […] Learn More ›
30 Questions to Ask Your Camper to Learn More about J Camp
Has this conversation happened in your house? Parent: How was your day at camp? Camper: Fine. Parent: What did you do today? Camper: <shrug> After spending hours having fun, going swimming and playing with friends, you know that the day was more than “fine” and filled with activities and lessons learned. The tough part is […] Learn More ›
5 Types of Letters to Send to Your Camper–And 2 to Avoid
I was a very lucky overnight camper. When I think back on those five summers, I can’t remember a day when I didn’t receive a piece of mail. This was in an era before we knew what email was, and average people didn’t have personal computers and printers in their homes. Instead of typed notes, […] Learn More ›
How to Nail a Job Interview
Summer has begun and our J Camps are getting ready to have their best season yet. At the same time, JCC Chicago is already looking ahead to fall. Before you know it, our Early Childhood and J at School programs will be back in session and, with that, comes a lot of great employment opportunities. […] Learn More ›
I Lead, I Motivate, I Inspire
As a camp director, I interview dozens and dozens of staff each year prior to the start of camp. It is one of my most favorite parts of my job. I like to hear firsthand about the person who will be working directly with the campers and know they have the same goals as I […] Learn More ›