With live music supplied by David Delaney and friends and an open bar, the stage was set for a great night. Friends came together to hang out, shmooze, all while supporting Jewish day camping in New York.

A highlight of the evening was the restaurant raffle. Nine gift certificates for dinner for two were raffled off. We thank the Ainsworth, Cafe Wha?, Empellon, Estancia, Greenwich Street Tavern, Lure Fishbar, Pietro’s, Spasso, and Tao for their contributions and the Hill for hosting the event.

Thanks to the Friends of HKC Committee for a fantastic night: Geoffrey Adler Andrew Blechman Tony Eisenberg Lindsay Krauss Aaron Mazor Evan Weinberg

Online ticket buying is closed, but you can still get in at the door. Hope to see you tonight!

Currently under construction at the Alice N. Proskauer Day Camp on Long Island is the Alan and Kathy Greenberg Pavilion. This new indoor facility is the first of its kind for the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds. Available for year-round use by UJA-Federation Agencies, affiliated summer camps, and local businesses, this 10,000 square foot complex is designed by the Spector Group.

Features

• Gymnasium
• Party room
• Lobby
• Bathrooms
• Climate Control

Gymnasium

• 8000 square feet with 25 foot high clearing

• Full sized high-school basketball court and 2 cross courts
• Ability to convert basketball court into a full-size volleyball court with in-floor stanchions
• Retractable bleachers that can seat approximately 400
• Equipped with a sound system, score board, and projection screen
• Outfitted with wall padding and synthetic sports flooring

Party Room

• Equipped with a smart board
• Attached kitchenette for food preparation

A Night with Friends at Citi Field:

Wednesday night 75 young men and women gathered in a beautifully appointed Empire Suite at Citi Field (another 60 people convened in the Owner’s Box) to cheer on the Mets in support of HKC and the Scholarship Fund.

The weather was great, the atmosphere was energetic, and the ball game was… oh well, we can’t win them all.

The food was fabulous! We had our Crackerjacks and peanuts, beer and hot dogs, and some other Citi Field goodies. It was just a great evening for friends to get together, relax, AND support the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds at the same time.  Even Mr. Met joined us for a short while.

“I want to encourage you…you’re the next generation”

The Co-Chairs, Geoffrey Adler, Igor Biselman, Andrew Blechman and Evan Weinberg, did a fabulous job in pulling off this event.  We all gathered for a few minutes to hear some remarks by co-chair Evan Weinberg, CEO, Lenny Silberman and our special guest John Ruskay, Executive Vice President and CEO of UJA-Federation, New York.   Each speaker thanked everyone for coming and said a few words about HKC.

I want to share with everyone John Ruskay’s message.  Hopefully his words were intriguing and inspiring to everyone who heard them:

“I want to encourage you…you’re the next generation,” he said.  You can “take [HKC] from where it is now… and transform it.” There is only one Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, and the opportunity for “what it can be for the Jewish Community and all of New York” is boundless. He ended his words with resounding encouragement: “You can make it happen!”

For more photos, check out the photo gallery.

Photos by Jonathan Levine

Join the Friends of HKC at Citi Field on Wednesday, Sept. 14th for a Night with the Mets to benefit the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds! Watch as the Mets take on the Nationals! DINNER:  6:00 PM, Wedesday, Sept. 14 GAME TIME:  7:10 PM TICKET DONATION MINIMUM: $180 TO PURCHASE TICKETS: http://camphkc.org/friends/ COMMITTEE: Scott A. Jaffee, President David M. Katz, Chair Gregg Reuben, Co-Chair Kyle Solomon, Co-Chair Geoffrey Adler Igor Biselman Andrew Blechman Evan Weinberg Lenny Silberman, CEO Jeff Coopersmith, Executive Director

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Every day at camp is fun!

Whether campers are participating in special events or rotating through the creative and exciting activities that happen on a daily basis; they are hanging with friends, playing with their favorite counselors, acquiring new skills and anticipating what comes next. The variety of activities and choices are endless.

counselors and campers play together in the pool	arts & crafts is always a favorite.  Here campers get creative designing their very own camp t-shirts
paddle boating is a relaxing and fun activity; something the campers can’t do on the streets of NY	and who doesn’t love basketball! How many baskets do you think he’s made?
climbing to the top of the wall takes courage and patience. But when you get there you are on top of the world!	tetherball is a camp favorite

Walking around camp you can feel the excitement as you see happy faces and hear laughing, singing, and cheering as campers go about their daily activities.

Ask your child, “Of all the activities you did at camp today, what was your favorite?”

Wildlife Zoo at the Flora Haas Campground

Special Activities at Camp

Camp is a constant hive of activity – filled with sports, swim, crafts, and more – there is plenty to do. Even so, camp directors are always finding ways to spice things up by bringing in special guests or entertainment. These different activities turn a routine day into something special and give the campers plenty to look forward to.

Mildred Goetz Camp Site, Pearl River

During the second week of camp, the JCC in Manhattan’s Day Camp @ Pearl River brought in specialists from Hobby Quest to teach the campers about aviation and model airplanes. Campers built their own model airplanes from scratch and then flew them, exploring the world of aviation. Through games and activities associated with aviation the campers got to be familiar with the world of flight.

Flora Haas Camp Site, Staten Island

Campers having fun participating in the Brain Show.

The Lillian Schwartz Day Camp is a flurry with activity. Twice a week the campers get to spend time getting to know a variety of animals when the “Animal Guy” from the Wildside Zoo comes. Other entertainment is brought in as well.

This past week the Brain Show came to camp and entertained the campers with a hot new interactive trivia game show.  The campers loved it!  They were all excited to be a part of the show and eagerly raced up to the “stage” area to participate.

Brian and turtles from the Wildside Zoo also made an appearance at New Country Day Camp. The campers spent time learning about turtles and all had a chance to hold them.

Alice N. Proskauer Camp Site, Long Island

The Friedberg JCC Family of Camps was treated to an exciting week long drumming program with expert musician and drummer, Bashira Naddaf from Israel. All through the campgrounds you could hear the happy sounds of campers beating to the sounds of their own drums.

Tzofim Israeli Scout Friendship Caravan

Campers had a great time learning about Israel through singing, dancing and interactive activites with the Israeli Scouts.

This past week the Tzofim Israeli Scout Friendship Caravan made an appearance at the Alice N. Proskauer Campgrounds on Long Island where the Friedberg JCC Family of Camps hosted them on July 20th. The caravan consists of 5 male and 5 female Tzofim (Israel Scouts) who are entering their senior year of high school. The Caravan travels throughout North America each summer as emissaries, sharing their lives in Israel through song, dance and story.

The Caravan danced and sang in both Hebrew and English for the campers entertaining them while giving them just a little taste of Israel. There were plenty of smiles, clapping and cheering. Not only did the caravan perform, the scouts also did fun activities with the campers sharing their love of Israel with them. The Lillian Schwartz Day Camp will play host to them during their 6th week of camp on August 1st.

 

With all these examples, there is no doubt that camp is a very special place where special things happen. Want to find out more? Just ask your child, “What was special about camp today?”

Photo credits: HKC 2011

The Mildred Goetz Camp Site in Pearl River Gets a New Playground!

On July 25, HKC dedicated a beautiful new playground at the Mildred Goetz Camp in Pearl River. This state-of-the-art playground was built in honor of Ann Kahan, the long-time Assistant Executive Director of Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds.

After 50 years of exemplary service Ann is retiring. Ann has been a vital part of the organization since she began working for us in 1961. Throughout the half-century she has been affiliated with HKC, Ann has been an influential presence for thousands of children. Her warm heart, sharp wit, and unwavering devotion to providing an exhilarating summer experience for children have been an integral part of the success of HKC.

The playground was designed by Raymond Michael, Ltd., using components from one of the world leaders in imaginative commercial playground equipment, Playworld Systems. Paid for through a grant from the Sports-for-Youth arm of UJA-Federation and donations from HKC board members, the playground is a testament to the career of Ann Kahan.

No matter what, Ann will always be a part of HKC!
]]> http://www.camphkc.org/archives/hkc-dedicates-a-new-playground-on-july-25/feed 0 http://www.camphkc.org/archives/spotlight-shabbat-at-camp http://www.camphkc.org/archives/spotlight-shabbat-at-camp#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:00:04 +0000 Charlene http://www.camphkc.org/?p=1176 Shabbat at Camp

Camp friends celebrating the Jewish Sabbath

Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath} is a very special time at day camp. Every week it is a time to take a deep breath, relax, think over our week and count the many blessings in our lives. At camp that could mean being thankful for our counselors, for the new friends we have made, for learning something new, or for just being able to go to camp in the beautiful natural setting of HKC.

Camps celebrate Shabbat in many different ways. At some camps, the campers begin preparing for Shabbat during the week, others designate Friday as a special day.  The campers may make special decorations in Arts & Crafts or learn about challah, the special braided Shabbat bread, and bake some of their own.  Still other

Baking challah for oneg shabbat

campers learn Shabbat songs and dances and are taught the special blessings.  Each week there is something new to experience.

Some camps use weekly themes based on Jewish values and culminate their programming with Shabbat activities related to the theme. Camp Yomawah of the YM-YWHA of Washington Heights has a different theme for each 2 week session. The theme for the first session of camp is friendship.  New Country Day Camp of the Educational Alliance/14th Street Y has a theme for the entire summer. The theme is Heroes.

Each week the campers will meet different Jewish heroes,

Campers bless the sabbath candles

each representing a core value. The first week of camp, the hero was Queen Esther, who chose her words wisely.  The second week the camp hero was Noah, and he taught the campers about safe spaces.

At other camps, campers wear something special for Shabbat – maybe their camp T-shirt or a special colored shirt. Almost all the day camps go through the tradition of lighting and blessing the Shabbat candles, making Kiddush over the grape juice and blessing and eating challah. Singing and telling stories are part of the Shabbat fun.

Each camp at the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds has its own traditions and ways of differentiating and making Shabbat special. Ask your kids, “How did you celebrate Shabbat at camp this week?” to hear about what they did.

Shabbat Shalom! Have a restful and peaceful Shabbat.

Photo Credits: top – SI JCC, middle – SI JCC, bottom – HKC archive