The sweeter side of Simcha in Camp Newsletter
Once again, I had the privilege of writing and producing a newsletter for Camp Simcha Special. Now I can share some information about what this camp is really about.
Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special are the biggest projects of Chai Lifeline, an organization that supports families with a child (or in some cases more than one child) who is sick with a chronic illness or cancer. Close to 880 children go to camp in Sullivan County or have the camp experience by attending Camp Simcha Without Borders.
The theme for this summer was “Let the Games Begin.” Each day when we played another game — including Candyland, Codenames, Monopoly, Battleship, Twisted Kichels, and Ticket to Ride — life-size sets and decorations were built in the camp dining room.
This year, the girls performed the play “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory,” giving it their all and putting huge smiles on everyone’s face.
As for the newsletter, last year one of the counselors told me about a camper who wouldn’t stick with reading or listening to something that didn’t interest her, but that “something caught her eye about the newsletter. She got to see the pictures and graphics. Once she was listening to me read it to her she wanted to hear more. She made me read her the entire thing and she loved it!”
This year, a counselor recounted that her “camper was sitting at a table flipping through the newsletter and couldn’t stop reading and looking at all of the graphics, she was so excited to be reading it and couldn’t put it down. She wanted to see more and she did when the next newsletter came out. She was even more excited to see the second, as it recapped all of her favorite days in camp.”
I was so moved by these stories that I would stay up late at night or get up early in the morning, putting the newsletter together, making sure I got everything done. From writing, the correct details and information, proofreading, editing, pictures, formatting and printing. It was very time-consuming but all worth it.
It’s the little things that really make an impact on the campers. While my newsletter was one aspect of camp and it was small, knowing that the campers really enjoyed it made all the difference.
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There’s a lot that goes on in camp, from the meals to all of the activities. The days are long (and when I say long, I mean really long) but the weeks are so very short. What a regular, standard sleep away camp does in a month, Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special do in about a week.
As a staff member I know (and not only me but everyone around me) that I am doing my job for the campers. Everything we do is to better the lives of the campers each day we are in camp, not just in camp but outside camp as well.
There are a few extra special activities that the camp plans for the campers to enjoy. It could be anything from a shooting range, helicopter rides, motorcycle rides, and riding in Lamborghinis (and other stylish cars). They even had a cybertruck as one of the stylish cars. Additionally, camp has great Jewish music concerts that are always something that not only the campers enjoy but the staff as well. Being able to bring joy and smiles to the camper’s faces while also enjoying the concerts was a blast.
One of the highlights of the summer was witnessing the campers interact with the runners at the finish line of Tour De Simcha. Tour De Simcha is a major fundraising project for Chai Lifeline, where women run a 5k or 10k, ending the race at the entrance to Camp Simcha, the “world’s greatest finish line.” Seeing this was truly inspiring.
For more information about Chai Lifeline and their programs visit www.chailifeline.org
For more information about Tour De Simcha, visit www.tourdesimcha.org
