Can you believe it is summertime already? My staff and I have been planning our summer program for months and it’s finally time for our campers to arrive! Our first day of camp is this Monday, June 18th at Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center. Please remember that the camp day starts at 9am, but we also have extended care that morning starting at 7:30am. Our camp phone number is 626-340-5890 if you need to reach us.

A few friendly reminders about camp procedures. You will need to sign your campers in and out each day, which means parking rather than just dropping off your children. Also, in order to uphold Kashrut at camp, we are dairy only. Please make sure not to send any meat in your campers lunches (even if it’s kosher). Fish is okay. Some ideas for dairy lunches include: tuna sandwich, mac n cheese, bagels with cream cheese, yogurt and fruit, hard boiled eggs, and spaghetti. The lunches are not refrigerated at camp, but we do keep them in a cool, air conditioned room.

Our first week has a ton of fun packed into five days. Our first field trip of the summer with be to the the California Science Center on Wednesday. We will be seeing Pandas 3D at the IMAX theater, exploring all the fun exhibits, and getting to see the Endeavor space shuttle. Campers need to wear their camp t-shirts for all field trips. These will be distributed on Monday and Tuesday of camp. Also please remember to send campers with a throw away sack lunch on field trip days (no tupperware or reusable bags that you don’t want thrown out!). The theme for our first Friday of the summer is Mad Science Day! Campers will be experimenting and creating throughout the day, having a blast as we see all the fun things we can do with science! We encourage our campers to come to camp that day dressed as scientists and don’t forget to pack a white shirt in their backpack to change into for Shabbat. Parents are welcome to come join us for our Shabbat celebration on Friday from 3:00-3:30pm.

Our Manheegim (6-9th grade) campers also have an amazing first week ahead! They are headed to Griffith park, an escape room, mini golf, paddle boating, and an awesome community service activity just to name a few of the fabulous activities planned for week 1. Get ready for an awesome experience!

While we have had a Parent Orientation meeting the week before camp in the past, we have only been getting very small numbers and have decided not to have one this year. All of the information we typically go over is in the parent handbook that was sent to you when you registered your campers. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email me at aheller@jewishsgpv.org or call the Federation Office at 626-445-5977.

I cannot wait to see all of your kids’ friendly faces next Monday morning! Camp is my favorite time of the year and I hope it’s a highlight for your kids too!

 

See you all soon!

 

Aaren Heller

Director of Youth and Camp Programs

Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys