The Jewish Community Center is ready for another summer of J Camp, which was recently voted as the Best Summer Camp in KC Magazine’s 2021 Best of KC list.
“We were excited to be awarded Best Summer Camp,” said DD Gass, J Camp Director. “We are fortunate to have a great outdoor swimming pool, splash pad and slides, as well as good outdoor spaces for sports and games. It makes it possible to offer a variety of programs for our kids.”
Elements of Jewish culture are included in camp programming. Each morning, Barney Goodman Summer Day Camp campers start the day with traditional songs and cheers. Prayers are said before lunch, and campers and staff gather on Friday afternoon to celebrate the end of the week and the beginning of Shabbat. Candles are lit, prayers are said, songs are sung and challah is shared.
J Camp is also planning to bring two Israelis to Kansas City this summer as J Camp Staff. The J Camp shlichim (Israeli emissaries) will add Israeli and Jewish cultural activities to the camp experience. J Camp will be looking for host families to house the two shlichot this summer.
The Ma’asim Tovim Camp provides a unique experience for building community. Each week, youth help others through community service in the mornings and participate in fun day camp or recreational activities in the afternoon.
Youth are encouraged to be good and ethical people — mensches — and to improve their community. Some past activities include helping prepare food donations at Harvesters, weeding and harvesting the B’nai Jehudah Mitzvah Garden, and exercising the pets at Wayside Waifs.
“The kids really enjoy helping out. It gives them a sense of pride knowing something they were a part of making a difference in someone else’s life,” Gass said.
Every camp program aims to enrich campers’ minds, bodies and souls by exercising the body or educating the mind. Triathlon Camp enriches the body by emphasizing goal-setting, self-respect, and personal best along with healthy lifestyles and competition. The STEM Camp enriches the mind by providing fun, hands-on learning and focuses on concepts in science, technology, engineering, and math. Campers can learn all about the science of robotics or exploring outer space.
The Jewish Community Center’s J Camp will strive to live up to the “Best Summer Camp” award again this year by providing a summer full of activities for children ages 2 to 13 years. There are 12 premiere and specialty camps where campers will learn new skills with structured recreational and educational activities while enjoying art, sports, swimming, tennis, archery, field trips, special events and more.
Enrollment opens Feb. 10. Visit TheJKC.org/Camp or call 913-327-8000 for more information.
