1, 2, 3…8 weeks of amazing summer fun! For two months of the year our children bask in the sun, swimming, cheering, and soaking up the fun every day. How are they spending their time away from their desks? In this feature, we speak with camp director and head counselors of Apachi Rogers Park to learn more about our community’s amazing, spectacular, incredible, marvelous, unbelievable (you get the point!) camp.
TCJH Speaks with Apachi Rogers Park
Although this is not the first year that Apachi Rogers Park is providing our children with an amazing camp experience, Apachi Rogers Park gives the campers something to look forward to each day. With a beautiful campus, energetic staff, outstanding activities and nonstop fun, a summer in at the J builds memories for a lifetime. We spoke with camp director Mrs. Wendy Singer in middle of her busy schedule to learn a bit more.
Wendy, for those who may not know – Tell us a little bit about camp.
Apachi Rogers Park operates out of the Bernard Horwich JCC and is a camp for boys and girls from across the Chicagoland Area. The camp has been around for many decades but this summer is the thirteenth summer that I have been the head. Our mission is to create a high quality, professionally run, and an outstanding full summer experience for each child! We offer swimming, gymnastics, arts and crafts, sports development, Taekwondo , and so much more. We have a well-structured, loving, and nurturing setting which also allows the children to focus on life skills (whether it’s team building, problem solving, communication, etc.)
Tell us about your different divisions and division heads.
We have three dynamic units, each with its own director. Our Boys unit, Machani Sports, run by Mr. Ari Nussbaum, a third-grade public school teacher, is for boys grades 1-5, and they enjoy weekly trips, undernights, and activities. The Girls unit, Dimyonah, under Ms. Rayli Merzil, a recent TI graduate in Education, is for girls entering 1st through 5th grade. Our Early Childhood camp program is overseen by Mrs. Devorah Horovicz, REACH and Arie Crown teacher, and it is for our youngest cuties, Yedidem and Chaverim, for ages 4-5!
Can you tell us more about your campus.
Apachi Rogers Park at Bernard Horwich JCC is the perfect setting for an urban camp experience. We have two shaded playgrounds, a wonderful swimming pool, spacious gymnastics area, an air-conditioned indoor space for rainy or high heat days, a gym and beautiful outdoor field space for games and sports.
Your campus sounds amazing! What about activities? How is the day structured?
Every day is action-packed with specialties, water activities, trips or shows. Each unit has a unique schedule that caters to them. For example, our Early Childhood unit begins their day with circle time in their classrooms while the older boys begin with a long-standing tradition of Knock-Out. Our activities are unique and geared towards each age. Some of those activities include Creative Movement, Music, Gymnastics, swimming, sports, and so much more! We also pride ourselves with our two amazing Rabbis on Staff – Rabbi Benjamin and Rabbi Scott (as the kids refer to them). They have created a wonderful learning component that is scheduled into each day for the counselors to teach the children in their groups. Each day is different. Some days are based on parsha while others coincide with our theme for the summer- Israel!
Is there any specific activity that are your campers’ favorite?
The boys absolutely love Knock-Out! I tried once to tamper with it and received major pushback. I realized if they love it, it stays how it is! The girls love art and swimming. Something new we have added for our 4th and 5th graders is the addition of more choice time. This is where, for a few parts of the day, the kids can choose what their schedule is!
Did you do anything different for the Nine Days?
During the nine days, we have instructional swim. On a free swim day, we have swim safety sessions in the pool. This includes different topics on how to be watersafe whether it’s how to be in the pool, on a boat, at the beach, etc. If a child doesn’t want to swim, there is alternate programming at that time.
As you walk around camp, what are three things that you hear the most throughout the day?
The first most common thing is – “Hi Wendy!” which I love! It’s so nice to get to know all the campers each summer. The second, which always makes me giggle, is “What’s for lunch?” Last, kids love to share their latest and greatest accomplishments. Whether it’s that they scored a goal, swam the length of the pool, or did something nice for a friend, they love to share something that they triumphed with.
What are the kids’ favorite sports to play?
9 Square in the Air (similar to 4 square) and Gaga in the Gaga Pit!
Talking about favorites, give us the top five activities at Camp.
Our campers love swimming the most. Everyone loves Gaga, and 9 Square is a big hit! Trip days are definitely another favorite. When we ask the kids their favorite activities we get a long list, thank G-d, but everyone’s favorite part is Freeze Pops!
What about trips? Are there overnights? Or late nights?
Yedidim and Chaverim enjoy weekly performances each Friday by a different entertainer. Machani Sports and Dimyonah Divisions enjoy weekly trips each one to a new and exciting place. Dimyonah also has a very special opportunity called Taste of Chavayah. This is where the girls have a two-night overnight at the Chavayah grounds in Wisconsin. The boys and girls of 1st-3rd grade have separate late nights where there is additional swimming time, a hotdog supper, and an awesome Foam Party. Our 4th and 5th graders have a super late night at the Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp which includes outdoor swim and a chance to explore the Garoon Gateway to Science, the world-renowned outdoor science park.
You make me want to go back to camp! Is there a camp theme?
Our theme this summer is Israel at 70! We have incorporated our theme into our dress-up days, learning, and projects. We also have many, MANY, cheers that the campers sing but are not directly linked to theme but welcomed all day nonetheless. I have heard many stories of parents telling me that the cheers have been embedded into their summer bedtime routine.
Wendy, Apachi Rogers Park sounds like an unbelievable experience! I feel bad you weren’t open when I was going to camp! Thank you for your time – and enjoy the rest of the summer!
APACHI ROGERS PARK BY THE NUMBERS
39 Action-packed days of camp
3 Dynamic divisions
24 Groups
2 4th and 5th Elective Specialty periods each day
18,500 Freeze Pops purchased for the summer
2-3 Staff members per group
8 buses per week for trips
1 Amazing Summer to Talk About!
