Kids live for summer at JCC Chicago’s Apachi Day Camp. Especially now, children need some summertime magic outside and in-person. At our camps, kids unplug and connect with friends to make lifelong memories. And for young children, nothing’s better than being able to go to school with their camp friends with the J’s Camp + Early Childhood Combo program! This article is for anyone shopping for an opportunity that is enriching, engaging, formative and nurturing.
Words By: JCC Chicago
What sets JCC Chicago apart from the rest? The J offers a special Camp + Early Childhood Combo program. “Being able to experience firsthand how Apachi Day Camp and Early Childhood marry together to create a seamless experience is truly remarkable in terms of the friendships and community that is built,” said Jody Benishay, Director of JCC Chicago Early Childhood at Am Shalom and Apachi Village Northbrook.
With an endless array of programs and activities, campers age 3 years – 7th grade have the opportunity to discover new experiences in a safe environment. “We foster an inclusive community and our exceptional staff of specialists, caring counselors, social workers, inclusion aides and professional health staff are focused on making each camp day safe and fun,” said Stacey Skolnick, ‘Z’ Frank Apachi Director in Northbrook. “Watching relationships form and grow and seeing campers try a new activity or conquer a fear is what camp is all about!”
Expansive campuses with large, green open spaces provide endless opportunities for your child at Apachi Day Camps in North Park, Old Town, Hyde Park and Rogers Park in Chicago and Evanston, Northbrook and Lake Zurich in the suburbs. Apachi’s program intentionally grows with your child and each day is a mix of sports, arts & crafts, dance, STEM projects and more. Campers also participate in Apachi favorites including song sessions, games of Israeli gaga, theme days, a Maccabi competition, and Shabbat celebrations.
JCC Chicago also offers 7 Early Childhood sites in Lakeview, Evanston, W. Rogers Park, Northbrook, Glencoe, and Lake Zurich, with full and half-day programs for children as young as 6 weeks to 6 years. With a curriculum based on Reggio Emilia, a nature-based, child-centered approach to learning that relies heavily on the concept of outdoor classrooms, the fresh air energizes students and provides soothing sensory input which has been especially welcome during this pandemic.
Experiencing nature is critical to stimulating children’s imagination and curiosity so the J has prioritized year-round outdoor learning as a key component of the curriculum for years now, even prior to Covid. “Research shows outdoor learning improves self-regulation, advances gross motor skill development, increases concentration, and promotes self-confidence,” said Jen Rosenfeld, Director of Bernard Weinger JCC Chicago Early Childhood. “Therefore, a love of science and math is developed when students practice counting real objects that they find, such as rocks, acorns, or leaves. Their learning and literacy are strengthened when the same skills, ideas, and concepts are applied in new contexts.”
With registration for both programs open now, spots are filling fast. For more information on Camp visit apachi.org or schedule a virtual tour with an Early Childhood Director at jccchicagoearlychildhood.org.