The JCC has the perfect cure for your kid’s cabin fever. Let them start counting down the days to spring and summer camp.
Camp Open House is 1-4 p.m., Sun., March 23. That’s when families can tour the JCC’s facilities, ask questions, meet camp staff, register and see what a day in the life of a camper is like. There’s a presentation at 2 p.m. for new campers.
Spring camp is March 31-April 4, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with care before and after for additional cost. This year, there are exciting new camp options to choose from including Wiley Brown Basketball Camp, Mocking Bird Soccer Camp, CenterStage Academy’s Musical Theatre Camp, Artful Child Camp, Nutty Scientists Camp, J-Tots (1 and 2 year olds) Let’s Get Messy and J-Tots (3 and 4 year olds) Travel the World and Explore Art.
For summer campers, there are also lots of new offerings to look forward to. The program for children entering kindergarten has been restructured to better meet their needs.
“There’ll be more developmental opportunities, with fewer transitions, while keeping all the best parts of camp,” said Angie Hiland, Early Childhood Assistant Director.
Swimming, field trips, specialty areas like art and crafts, will be taught by pre-school teachers who will make sure the little ones are getting lots of lessons to help them prepare for school.
There’s also a new program for infants through 23-month-old children who might have siblings at camp.
“While it’s not quite camp, it’s still a nice, safe environment,” Hiland said.
There’ll be more specialty camps, particularly in the busiest weeks. And, there are pre-kindergarten through K4 camp options for the first time ever, like soccer, tennis, cooking and art.
The Yachad program received a grant this year through the National Inclusion Program that will fund the chance for 20 children with special needs to attend camp. The Yachad program ensures kids with special needs are assigned assistants and advocates to help them enjoy a full, immersive camp experience.
Hiland said the JCC is hiring for camp staff, too, especially for people who can work with special needs children and for pre-school teachers. College students could even work out an internship.
Lastly, Betsy Schwartz recently took the helm as the new camp director. Schwartz worked in a number of integral roles at JCCs in Massachusetts and Florida, but always enjoyed camp the most.
“I always said the perfect job for me would be camp 24/7,” she said.
To register, contact Mary Dooley at 502-238-2718 or mdooley@jewishlouisville.org.