NCJW BCS GOES TO YCS CAMP

On July 1, several NCJW BCS members went to camp and had a wonderful time! Each summer, YCS (Youth Consultation Service) offers a two week summer camp session for children who live in YCS residential facilities.

Ruthie Harper, Vice President of Development and Fran Spiegel, Assistant Vice President of Development, greeted us when we arrived and paired each of us with a young girl camper for crafts, games and fun, one-on-one. Richard Mingoia, President/CEO was also there to greet us. Owen Broomes, Vice President filled us in about the camp program over lunch with the children, and told us how important NCJW BCS is to them and thanked us for our support and love of the children of YCS.

Happiness is Camping, located in Hardwick New Jersey, provides YCS children with an opportunity to get out of the inner city, swim, play games, and have fun. Seven NCJW BCS members visited with campers and spent time playing and having lunch with them. Next year we will bring even more volunteers to share in the joy!

Impressions from our members:

• “Loved the camp, loved the kids, found it a very rewarding experience.”
• “I was reminded how important a hug can be. When my camper asked for a hug before we left I was happy to hold her tightly and wish her a great summer. Her smile was powerful.”
• “My camper was polite and enthusiastic. She cared more about what I wanted to do than about herself and glowed when I let her decide what we would do.”
• “For me, it was a most enjoyable day. The camp is beautiful and spending time with a delightful little girl was an added bonus. It makes me proud NCJW BCS supports such programs.”
• “It was a pleasure to visit the YCS camp. I was impressed with the facilities, the way it was run, and particularly enjoyed having a one-on-one visit with ‘my’ camper.”
• “My visit to the YCS camp was very rewarding.  I was matched up with a young camper.  She gave me a glittery manicure and was my lunch partner.  My camper and I also made tiaras from a kit.  We were introduced to the YCS leaders/counselors. Before we left, we were given YCS t-shirts. The day was special.”
• “I had a wonderful day at the Camp with a delightful young girl who enjoyed showing me her creativity with crafts and liked to have her finger and toe nails brightly polished.  This is a project that NCJW BCS can be very proud of as it makes a difference in the lives of these very special young children.”
• “After I had painted every tiny finger and every tiny toe of my “partner” with dazzling colors and glitter, she filled a little bottle with layers of colored sand, and proceeded to pretend to dial as if it were a phone, so I picked up my phone and she shared with me about her amazing days at camp.”

Click each photo to enlarge
L-R: Barbara Simon, Gloria Lieberstein, Richard Mingoia, Carole Benson, Elizabeth Halverstam, Ruth Seitelman, Ilene Wechter, Phyllis Betancourt

L-R: Carole Benson, Gloria Lieberstein, Elizabeth Halverstam, Ruth Seitelman, Ilene Wechter, Phyllis Betancourt, Fran Spiegel, Barbara Simon, Ruthie Harper