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Category: Family and Youth

EIGHT REASONS WHY SENDING YOUR CHILD TO JEWISH SUMMER DAY CAMP IS A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Posted on by Greg Feitel

From spinning dreidels to lighting the menorah, Hanukkah is a time of joyful celebration, family traditions, and connecting to our Jewish heritage. These same values are at the heart of Pozez JCC’s Camp Achva, where children create their own traditions, build lifelong friendships, and deepen their connection to Judaism. This Hanukkah, as we light the candles each night, we’ve illuminated eight reasons why sending your child to Jewish summer day camp is a gift that keeps on giving.

1. Embrace Diversity: Children learn to appreciate and respect individual differences, fostering empathy and understanding towards others with diverse abilities and backgrounds.

2. Build Confidence: Inclusive environments promote a sense of belonging and acceptance, encouraging children to step out of their comfort zones, try new things, and develop self-confidence.

3. Develop Social Skills: Camp Achva provides opportunities to interact with a wide range of peers, improving communication, cooperation, and conflict-resolution skills.

4. Experience Personal Growth: Inclusive settings challenge children to overcome obstacles, adapt to different needs, and discover their own strengths and abilities. In 2025, we are thrilled to announce that we will be installing a community challenge course which will be part low ropes elements and part ninja warrior/parkour elements! We believe the course will enhance our ability to deliver on creating connections, fostering personal growth, and be downright awesome to experience!

5. Cultivate Leadership: By interacting with and supporting campers with diverse needs, children learn to become patient, understanding leaders and advocates for inclusion.

6. Strengthen Jewish Identity: Immersing in Camp Achva’s environment – teaching Jewish values – fosters a strong connection to their heritage through traditions, stories, songs, and Hebrew language.

7. Lifelong Friendships: Camp friendships create bonds built on shared experiences, acceptance, and understanding that can last a lifetime.

8. Fun and Engaging Activities: Camp Achva offers a wide range of activities adapted to all abilities, ensuring everyone can participate and enjoy the classic camp experience.

Camp Achva 2025 registration is open!
Click here to register your child(ren) while space in their age group is still available.

ECLC = Kindness. Compassion. Engagement. Encouragement.

Posted on by Dina Backer

When families come for a tour of our ECLC, parents often remark that the children look so happy. I am always glad to hear this and can confirm that most of the time this is true. I can also share that this doesn’t happen by accident. Carefully planning an environment where children are happy is important. To be successful, we need to look at why the children are happy.   

In our ECLC, our children are happy because they feel safe and loved. They have formed positive relationships with their Educators and with their classmates. Children know that there are people around them who care for them, will protect them and will watch out for their best interest. And, Educators demonstrating care and love to children is contagious. Watching one young friend comfort another young friend with a hug, a pat on the back or a simple ‘are you ok?” is beautiful –and it means we are doing something right! Kindness and compassion are traits we all need to always keep in our pockets.

From these relationships, kids then feel safe to explore the world around them: try a new toy or learn and practice a new skill (have you ever watched a small person figure out how Legos® or bristle blocks fit together? It’s fascinating!). They also feel safe to experiment. What happens if I drop the acorn from the top of the slide? What happens if I mix red and blue paint? What happens if I spin around holding the tulle fabric? Educators are there to help engage and encourage the experiments. Our best learning is done through trial-and-error experiments. 

Of course, we all know that children are not happy all the time (neither are adults for that matter). There are certainly some (ok …many) moments where not everyone is happy.   Children have feelings, emotions, and experiences like the rest of us. Sometimes they are tired, sometimes mad, sometimes feelings get hurt. These are all normal, AND, with the caring and loving environment around them, we get through these feelings together. We can help children figure out what to do with their strong feelings and how to resolve them so that happiness returns.    

It is not as simple as it sounds; it happens over time. It happens as relationships strengthen and it happens as kids grow, day after day surrounded by people who love them!  The world around us can be big and filled with uncertainty. I’m glad that for a while, our kids can be embraced by our ECLC family and feel the love and warmth that we are have to offer.

L’Shalom,

Dina

Celebrating the Jewish High Holidays at ECLC

Posted on by Faith Plavchan

At the Early Childhood Learning Center’s (ECLC) Fairfax location, the fall Jewish High Holidays—Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah—have infused our classrooms and outdoor spaces with joy, exploration, and learning. Guided by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, our educators have designed engaging activities that enable children to connect deeply with these significant traditions.

One particularly memorable experience featured a visit from Ms. Zina, the Senior Director of Community Impact & Engagement at the Pozez JCC. During her visit, she introduced the children to the captivating sounds of the shofar, allowing them to touch and even blow two beautiful shofars. This interactive session helped the children understand the shofar’s importance in heralding the new year, thereby enhancing the celebration of Rosh Hashanah.

Additionally, we explored the customs of Rosh Hashanah through various sensory activities involving apples. The children were presented with a diverse assortment of apples—red, green, large, and small—and encouraged to observe and interact with them. One child remarked, “It smells like honey!” illustrating the joy of shared experiences and the lasting impressions these rituals create. To further enrich their understanding, educators read books about Rosh Hashanah, emphasizing the symbolism of apples and honey.

Food played a prominent role throughout the holidays, with numerous cooking projects that filled our halls with delightful aromas. The children participated in making round challah, honey cake, fruit salad, vegetable soup, apple sauce, and even apple ice cream.

In another enriching activity, Miss Sarah guided the children to the atelier, where they created watercolor paintings reflecting their interpretations of the apples and shofar. As we prepared for Simchat Torah, she introduced a small Torah to several classrooms in the atelier space. The children were captivated as they examined the Hebrew letters under a microscope, uncovering the intricate details of the text. This hands-on exploration not only sparked their curiosity but also allowed them to express their creativity by crafting their own story scrolls.

All our classrooms enjoyed the beautiful weather as we spent time in the sukkah, where we shook the lulav, smelled the etrog, and shared meals together.

The introduction to these holiday traditions has not only enriched our children’s understanding of the High Holidays but has also fostered a sense of belonging and community. At ECLC, we cherish these moments of celebration and learning, nurturing a love for our traditions that will last a lifetime.

Bring your community and everyone benefits!

Posted on by Sarah Braesch

Refer a Friend & Get a Free Month of Membership

If you have ever thought about bringing a friend to the J to show them why you love it here, there is no time like the present.

Maybe you’ve seen the Refer a Friend posters around the building or maybe you’ve seen me pop into one of your group classes to share the offer. I am really excited about this new program to build our community. If you refer a friend (or a family member, or a colleague, or an enemy, or some rando you met at a grocery store) and they join the Pozez JCC, you will get a free month of membership! Whatever you are paying now, you will pay zero membership dues for the month after your friend joins. Simple as that!

This is a win-win-win situation. You get a friend to work out with, or someone who will come play Mah Jongg with you, or attend a great speaker program. Your friend gets to be a part of our welcoming JCC community. The J gets more members! Everybody wins!

“But Sarah!” I can hear you say, “My friend doesn’t want to join until they see the place or can experience our yoga class.” I say to you –  No problem! Come see us in the membership office and we are happy to give you a free day pass for your friend to come in with you. (Make sure you also talk to us about reserving them a spot in that class, so it doesn’t fill up).

We are always happy to give member’s friends a tour. You are welcome to leave them with us or you can tag along and point out all your favorite things about the J.

If you need reasons to convince them to come check us out, here are just a few:

  • Be part of a thriving community: By becoming a member of the JCC they can join a close-knit “family” no matter their age, faith, or background.
  • If health and wellness is important: Maybe they would be interested to know about our sparkling indoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness center with energetic and dedicated personal trainers (and we hear we’re cheaper than Lifetime)
  • Do they have special interests? Perhaps hearing interesting speakers, or attending Jewish family programming, adult day trips, or an affinity group that meets regularly.
  • Maybe they want to give back to the community by engaging in our volunteer programs. Opportunities abound at the J and in the community.
  • You can tell them about

Need more reasons to share? Our inclusion and disability programs, day camps, and Early Childhood Learning Center are cherished by the families. And our Israel programming has helped educate, build unity, and gather the community together during a very difficult year.

I could go on and on, but this is about the referral program. If you refer two families, you’ll get two months of free membership. If five people list you as a reference on five applications, you will get five months free. If you convince 10 people or families to sign up, we’ll probably approach you to work here (LOL), and also, you will get 10 months of membership dues free!

There are of course terms and conditions to receive the free months:

  • You must have an active J-Family or J-Journey monthly membership
  • A new member or family can only use one person as a referral
  • The free month(s) is not retroactive
  • The current member will receive a free month at their current rate and membership level
  • The current member will receive a free month for each membership unit sold (a family membership is one unit)… no limits. We want you to get free months of membership because if your friends sign up it makes us a bigger, happier community and we all win!

If you have any questions, feel free to call or drop by the membership office. We are usually here Monday – Friday from 9:00am-6:00pm and Sundays from 11am–4pm.

Luke and I look forward to meeting your friends and welcoming them to our mishpacha (family)!

A Day with the J

Posted on by Michelle Pearlstein

Join us for a day of commUNITY on Sunday, September 22!

Building, supporting, connecting, and enriching this vibrant COMMUNITY is our primary mission here at the J. Our programs and activities are available for all ages and are designed to meet a wide range of interests. There’s something for everyone!   

If you are reading this, you probably already know that at the J, you can learn something new, make new friends, and take time to invest in yourself. You may also know that families appreciate the opportunities we provide to engage with other families via programs throughout Northern Virginia. They also value the warm and caring environments of our Early Childhood Learning Center and our programs for school-age children.   

Spend YOUR day with the J next Sunday and get a taste of it all! 

  1. Open House – 10:00am-1:30pm @ Pozez JCC 

Whether you’re a lifelong local or new to the neighborhood, join us for a fun community-wide event! 

Are you a member? Bring a non-member with you to be entered into a special raffle! 

Interested in becoming a member? Sign up at the event for a special promotion!  

Activities include inflatables, face painting, FREE hotdogs and popcorn, BINGO, volunteer opportunities, fitness demonstrations, a vaccine clinic, tours of the J and our Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC), and more. While this event is free and open to the public, there will be a fee to purchase raffle tickets and Bingo cards. 

  1. Ladies Loving Laughter and Learning/4Ls Lunch Out – 11:00am-1:00pm 

An afternoon of fun and camaraderie for members who connect through the 4Ls Facebook Group 

  1. Apple Picking – 1:00 pm @ Stribling Orchard in Markham, VA 

Apple picking is fun for everyone! Meet at Stribling Orchard – a gorgeous drive west, about an hour from the Pozez JCC. Bring your own picnic blanket or camp chair and look for the Growing Jewish Families sign and banner to find us. 

  1. “A White House Correspondent Remembers: Jewish Experiences and Other Adventures with Six Presidents” Featuring Peter Maer, Veteran Journalist – 2:00pm @ Pozez JCC 

We are thrilled to welcome veteran journalist and local community member Peter Maer to share his personal photos and stories from his many years of encounters with world leaders. 

Whether you spend significant amounts of your time at the J, participate in programs occasionally, or anything in between, we want to thank you for being part of our community and look forward to creating many more memories together this year! 

How a Camp Created a Community

Posted on by Shirley Waxman

As with many beginnings, it all started over a cup of coffee. Well, two cups of coffee to be exact. Fifty-five years ago, in 1969, three Northern Virginia suburban moms got together one morning for coffee. But the one who served as host of the event then walked out of the room.

Judy Frank had invited Adele Greenspon and Shirley Waxman over to meet. They barely knew each other. When they arrived, they found the table set only with two coffee cups. Upon seeing their puzzled looks, Judy explained the premise of the meeting: “I am so sick of listening to the two of you complain because there is no Jewish day camp in Northern Virginia for your kids. If anyone can create a camp, it’s the two of you. Adele, you handle the business end; Shirley you do the programming! Make a camp for your kids and mine too. I’m leaving.” And so she did!

At that time, there were four synagogues in Northern Virginia but not a cohesive community center. How to begin to create something from nothing? Fortunately, Judy had chosen the right two people to ignite this idea. Adele was a whiz at organizing and had a real head for business management. Shirley had an extensive background in youth movement and camping. She had grown up attending the JCC camp in Hamilton, Ontario. She had worked there as a counselor and also had been totally immersed in Hashomer Hatzair, the vibrant Zionist youth movement. Her summers at their Camp Shomria in the Canadian wilderness were steeped in Israeli folk dance, culture and leadership training.

Without hesitation, Adele and Shirley decided to accept Judy’s challenge and they immediately got to work.

The first necessary piece of this new endeavor was a location. Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria gave them the use of their building and there were 70 excited campers that first summer. Over time, the camp moved to Beth El Congregation also in Alexandria, Temple Rodeph Shalom in Falls Church and finally Congregation Olam Tikvah in Fairfax, before finding their “forever home” at what would later become the Pozez JCC.

They next turned their attention to personnel matters. They persuaded Shirley Grossman, an accomplished composer and creator of musicals, to join them. They knew art was a must and they hired a very talented artist, Alice Neukirk, who created the camp logo.

Next they needed a name. Shirley turned to her youth group friend and Hebrew University professor for inspiration. Dr. Ted Friedgut told her: “You are creating a community of friendship and brotherhood. Call it Camp Achva.” And so it became.

Their founding philosophy was to instill a love of Jewish culture in each child. Everything revolved around that. Each place, object, program or activity would have a Hebrew name and signs were posted everywhere. Shirley drew strongly upon her camping days to create a Jewish environment in the Northern Virginia suburbs.

They created a central meeting site where each morning, the campers raised the flag and sang Hatikvah, and ended each day with Taps sung in Hebrew. There was a campsite for each group with a Hebrew name. The campers decorated it to make it their own and illustrate that name. Sports were certainly not overlooked. Gaga, the Israeli game of Dodge Ball, was played everywhere. There was to be total immersion in Hebrew and Judaism. 

 Friday, of course, was the most special day of the week. The day would begin with a flurry of cleaning, decorating and rehearsing. Then, everyone changed into their Shabbat white clothes and the magic began. Adele and Shirley would begin the procession to each camp site collecting the kids and singing Shabbat songs along the way. It was such a thrill to watch and be a part of this. Everyone would gather in a circle on the social hall floor, light Shabbat candles and welcome Shabbat with song and much joy.

Each week had a theme and each group prepared a skit or some sort of presentation to be presented for the Shabbat program. Following the skits, Shirley would lead the entire camp in Israeli folk dance. There was total participation with never a bystander.

About the third summer, Adele and Shirley, the camp directors, hired the Tsofim Friendship Caravan, a group of Israeli musicians to perform at camp.  That was when they met Amnon Shiloh, a veritable Israeli pied piper, and a very special person who sang and played the accordion. Everyone was mesmerized by him and he was promptly hired for every summer after that.  He taught Hebrew songs and instilled the joy and spirit of Israel in everyone.

Everyday each group would have a session with Shirley Grossman, learning their part for the original musical that would be the end of year program, and meet with Shirley Waxman to learn Israeli folk dance. And there was always a special session with Amnon.

All the parents were invited to the final program of the camp season. It featured the campers in the big musical performance, an art show, along with much song and dance. It was the highlight of the summer. And of course, there were tears – tears of joy and sadness – upon leaving this special “Brigadoon-like” Jewish community.

Looking back with much nostalgia, the founders set out to create a camp and ended up laying the foundation for a strong and vibrant Jewish community. Camp Achva paved the way for what later became the Pozez JCC. And in so doing, created a new generation of young people steeped in Jewish song, dance and Jewish values. It is a testament to that founding vision that these values continue at Camp Achva to this very day.

Shirley Waxman, July 2024

Beyond Camp: 5 ways to stay connected with Horizon Day Camp after summer

Posted on by Shana Medel

“Are we going to camp?”

The camp season may be over, but Matias Zurita, 3, asks his mom this question almost every time they get in the car. When they drive past familiar street signs, Matias will usually point in the direction of Pozez JCC, knowing fun is nearby. He often tells his mom, “No no, this way.”

Little Matias was one of the youngest children to spend his summer days at Horizon Day Camp, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings. He was diagnosed with liver cancer last year, and since then, has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy and a major surgery. 

For Matias, camp made fun possible again. He could do all of his favorite activities — from swimming to playground fun to dancing — with the help of adaptive equipment and trained professionals. 

“He could forget what he was going through. And he loved every day at camp. I could see that,” said Neshmy, his mom. “From the very first day, as a mom, I knew this was the right place for Matias and for all children battling cancer.”

For many children and their families, Horizon is a magical experience, one that continues with year-round engagement opportunities beyond camp.

These five programs and events offer regular touchpoints to remain involved with Horizon, a community that exists long after summer is over. Each experience is adapted to meet every season and need, ensuring families can face one of their biggest challenges with the support they deserve. 


Go to a family fun day, made safe for children with cancer

Experience the joy and safety of camp with family fun days, monthly happenings made just for Horizon families. To protect immunocompromised children, every program is private, only open to families registered for Horizon Day Camp.

Annual favorites include exploring and experimenting at the Children’s Science Center, where families have the entire, freshly-sanitized museum to themselves. Another is Golden Boot Soccer with Coach Tamir Linhart, who formerly played for Hapoel Tel Aviv. For one day, children run and kick around adaptive, safe balls with Tamir and his team. All players go home with soccer jerseys and trophies.

“So many of our kids and their siblings have to miss parts of childhood because of a compromised immune system,” said Ilana Adler, Assistant Director and Family Support Specialist of Horizon Day Camp at Pozez JCC. “We create activities for them so they can experience life outside of cancer.”

And while children have fun with their friends, parents socialize with one another, often sharing experiences over coffee and snacks. This has been meaningful for Hani Attar, who has two daughters, Julia, 8, and Ayla, 3. His youngest was diagnosed with cancer last year.

“For so many of us, Horizon Day Camp came through when we were stumbling,” Hani said. “They gave us joy and comfort and relief.”

Hani could focus on caring for Ayla knowing Julia was safe at camp, her happy place. She used to tell her dad not to pick her up a minute before the end of the day.

Now, with family fun days, Julia has an opportunity to relive camp. She and her father have been to a number of them, including a movie screening and a wintertime event with crafts and games.

“She loves this camp and this community,” Hani said. “She said, ‘Sign me up every year. I want to go there.’”

Family fun day attendance has been steadily rising each month, at most reaching 40 families. The increase is largely because parents know their children can be in a space with friends without compromising their health. Keep an eye out for details on the next event, which will be Golden Boot Soccer from 10 am-1 pm on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Bring camp fun to your child as they undergo treatment

Horizon on Wheels brings the magic of camp to children undergoing treatment at Children’s National Hospital and L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital, both of which have top-ranked pediatric oncology units. Patients are as young as 3 and as old as 16. 

Inside a rainbow-colored trunk, wheeled around by staff and volunteers, children get to choose their fun. There are toys, games, and crafts for all ages. Some may build Lego towers or color printouts of their favorite superheroes while others play a game of UNO or do an art project.

These one-on-one activities accomplish three goals: patients have fun, their siblings feel recognized, and their parents get a much-needed reprieve.

Every year, Horizon on Wheels engages more than 6,000 children in 21 hospitals. On their scariest days, there are bright moments of camp-like fun, created by people who care about them.


Participate in our biggest charity walk of the year

Lace up your shoes and walk with purpose alongside 200-some camp families and community members. 

HorizonWALKS is an annual fundraising event featuring a 1-mile lap around National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Every dollar raised helps children with cancer enjoy a summer camp made just for them, meaning all funds go directly to Horizon Day Camp at Pozez JCC.

All are welcome to walk — family, friends, colleagues. Participants can register as individuals or as part of a 5-10-person team. Those who cannot physically be there can become sponsors or make donations. The event also features fun, kid-friendly activities, including face painting, bracelet making, dancing, and games.

“When they see you, they knock you over with these huge hugs because they’re so excited to be around camp people again,” said Joellen Kriss-Broubalow, Director of Horizon Day Camp. “That’s how you know what you’re doing really matters.”

In April, at the third-annual walk, participants raised $133,000, surpassing their fundraising goal by about $7,000. The next event is slated for Sunday, April 27 in National Harbour and is looking to be an even greater success. 

Donate life-saving blood, right here at Pozez JCC

The American Red Cross holds four blood drives per year at Pozez JCC. Many of our donors are regulars, who stick their arms out again and again to help those battling pediatric cancer, among other diagnoses.

Over the past eight months, Red Cross has collected 150 units of blood, saving approximately 450 lives. And just a few weeks ago, at the most recent Pozez JCC blood drive, all 38 donor slots were filled, helping to exceed a goal of acquiring 25 units.

This is a small and important victory, as the Red Cross is witnessing the lowest number of people giving blood in the last 20 years. Cancer patients use nearly a quarter of the blood supply in the entire country, more blood than anyone fighting any other disease. 

Donors of all blood types are critically needed, but especially those with O negative blood. To qualify for whole blood donation, you must:

  • Be in good health
  • Feel well
  • Be at least 16 years of age, with signed parental consent
  • Weigh at least 110 lbs
  • Meet this additional eligibility criteria, which covers medications, medical conditions, traveling to certain countries, and personal history 

The entire donation process, from arrival to departure, takes about one hour. The donation itself is only 8-10 minutes on average. For more information on upcoming blood drives, visit our events page at thej.org/events. 

Enjoy a casino night while supporting children with cancer

For one night only, Pozez JCC transforms into a casino with a cause. Playing table games, eating delicious food, and dancing to music all happen at Casino Night, an opportunity to raise funds for Horizon Day Camp and year-round programs for children with cancer.

All community members are welcome, no matter your level of involvement with Horizon. You can attend or become a sponsor of the next Casino Night, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Pozez JCC. More details will be released over the coming weeks.

Impact beyond summer camp

Fun days, blood drives, fundraisers — Horizon Day Camp is more than a summer camp. There are so many creative and meaningful ways for families to remain engaged, and for our entire JCC community to support children with cancer. Every program and event is an opportunity to strengthen parents and their little ones, giving them what they need and deserve. 

In the ECLC, a Year of Possibilities Lies Ahead

Posted on by Hillary Gile

The ECLC kicked off a new school year this week after spending the prior week preparing the classrooms, attending professional developments, and getting ready to welcome the children back!

We began the staff orientation week by reflecting on the Jewish value of Kavod, which centers on respect. This theme of respect permeated our interactions during team gatherings, where we discussed the Rights of the Child, the concept of Co-Regulation, and the importance of honoring children’s boundaries. Additionally, we dedicated time to exploring one of the “100 languages” by defining mark-making and engaging in a mark-making experience using a wide variety of materials and tools. Educator teams selected a Jewish value to represent their class name, collaborated on a unique tradition to honor each child’s birthday, displayed family photographs of the children, and worked tirelessly to create rich learning environments filled with intention. In alignment with the Jewish principle of Hiddur Mitzvah, which emphasizes enhancing rituals with beauty, educator teams arranged flowers and decorated vases to use for Shabbat in their classroom. 

We were so excited to open our doors and welcome families to the 2024-2025 school year on Monday! This first week of school has been busy as the children are settling into their new classrooms, getting to know their teachers and peers, learning daily routines and schedules, engaging in learning provocations, and cultivating important and foundational relationships.

Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, placed significant emphasis on the value of relationships within early childhood education. In this approach, relationships are seen as the foundation of the educational experience, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. Malaguzzi advocated for an environment where children, educators, and families are co-constructors of knowledge, each contributing to the learning process through dialogue, mutual respect, and shared experiences. This interconnectedness not only supports cognitive development but also nurtures emotional and social growth, making relationships central to the work and learning that takes place each day within the ECLC.

We are so grateful for our ECLC community, and are looking forward to a new year brimming with possibilities!

Jewish Values are at the Heart of Pozez JCC’s Summer Camps

Posted on by Shana Medel

When school is out and the sun is up, kids of all ages enjoy a summer favorite: camp.

This is where they give all kinds of activities a try — archery, painting, ultimate frisbee, woodworking, theatre. And with the freedom to explore comes the opportunity to figure out what they like and who they are. No pressures or expectations allowed here.

Most importantly, every one of Pozez JCC’s camp experiences is fun in nature and laced with meaning. We have four summer camps, each offering a different experience with one common thread: age-old Jewish values are infused into the everyday, making them relevant and relatable over and over again.

“Summer camp has long been a part of the Jewish communal experience,” said Jeff Dannick, Executive Director of Pozez JCC. “Here, we put extra effort into making sure everyone can be together and make memories that impact their lives.”

As we near the official end of summer, a bittersweet time for all camp lovers, we’re taking a look at the magic and memory of each of our camps whose impact runs multi-generational here in Northern Virginia.

Camp Achva

Who: Rising K-10th graders
When: Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm between June-August, in total 3-6 weeks
Where: Gesher Jewish Day School

At Camp Achva, Judaism is intentionally boundless, existing outside of synagogues and classrooms. And oftentimes, in the great outdoors. Kids may be on the soccer field or around the campfire as they sing Hebrew songs or learn Israeli dances. Everywhere you look, they’re doing Jewish — and having fun.

Such a casual space, where shorts and sneakers are the norm, creates one of the most elemental aspects of Achva: connection. From playing Gaga to creating pottery, campers do everything together. They have the freedom to lean into fun — all day.

The emphasis on connection, and being surrounded by counselors who meet every child where they are, has been life-changing for Jodi Enos, a first-time camper at Achva. Finding the right camp for Jodi, who has a complex medical story, has been a yearslong challenge, said her mother, April.

“In the past, other summer camps we tried would tell us they ‘weren’t a good fit’ for our child,” April said. “I had almost given up hope of ever finding a place where she wouldn’t be treated as a burden on a system never designed for kids like her.”

And then, she found Achva, one of the most inclusive Jewish day camps in the region. Here, kavod (respect) and simcha (joy) are social imperatives.

“While the rest of the year our lives are dominated by medical appointments, for six precious weeks, I got to watch my child just be a kid, go to camp, and have fun,” April said. “Camp Achva was clearly engineered from the ground up with kids like our child, and families like us in mind. We’ve found our community.”

Horizon Day Camp

Who: 3 ½ to 16 year olds in the greater metro D.C. area who have cancer and their siblings
When: Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm between June-August, 6 weeks in total
Where: Pozez JCC

Horizon Day Camp, a partnership project between Pozez JCC and Sunrise Association Day Camps, is the only free day camp for children with cancer and their siblings.

The camp is designed to run on “yes” for children who so often hear “no.” Soccer and dance and playground fun — activities that can harm a fragile body — are all possible again because of adaptive equipment and skilled professionals. There are specially trained staff and on-site medical support, which includes a team of nurses supervised by a pediatric oncologist.

Because participants are undergoing treatment, every day of camp is created to stand alone, ensuring they never feel left out when they miss one or more days. The entire Horizon experience is made for children facing one of the biggest challenges of their little lives — and the very existence of this camp is an act of chesed (loving-kindness) and r’fuah (healing).

For siblings Toby and Alex Loewy, the culture and spirit of camp has followed them home, said their mother, Saskia.

“Toby has been singing camp songs each afternoon. Alex repeats values like, ‘We all win when we have fun,’” Saskia said. “The wonderful counselors and chaperones made the magic happen.”

Camp Kesher

Who: 9th-12th graders and 18-27 year olds who are neurodiverse
When: Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. between July-August
Where: Pozez JCC and all over DMV area

So many summer memories are made at Camp Kesher, where neurodivergent teens and young adults gain independence, make friends, and have hours of outdoor fun.

Field trips and hands-on activities happen in a warm, structured environment. On Mondays, campers may do yoga or go paint. Tuesday may focus on sports or music. No matter the activity, every day is built to be different and engaging.

To meet participants where they are, Kesher is staffed by experienced educators and trained volunteers. They, and all who make camp possible, uphold the Jewish value of adam yehidi nivra (every person is a unique creation).

“When my son would come home, he would talk about the friends he made, all of the fun places he visited, and the interesting activities he participated in,” said Caroline Pak, who sent her son Ryan to Kesher for a third summer. “I am so glad he could spend part of his summer just having fun with supportive peers and staff.”

Camp Gadol

Who: Adults of all ages
When: Monday-Friday from 9:30am-1:30pm in August, 1 week total
Where: Pozez JCC

Missing the good old camp days? When summers were spent making friendship bracelets and learning Israeli dances? We have a summer camp for kids at heart: Camp Gadol.

This mini-camp experience includes all your favorites: color wars, slingshot archery, singing, dancing, art. Our participants have learned Yemenite basket weaving, participated in a scavenger hunt, explored Jewish wisdom on living, made s’mores over a fire, created Havdalah candles from beeswax, packed Shabbat boxes for Jewish hospital patients, and so much more.

By doing, Camp Gadol has been fostering kehillah (community) for many campers, including Marcia Lawson.

“I was impressed and thankful that Jewish study was incorporated into the camp experience,” Lawson said. “Having someone to guide us through studying with a partner was a deeply satisfying intellectual and religious experience that reminded me of how much I enjoyed Jewish group study in the past.”

Echoing a similar experience, Judy Douglas shared, “Community is so important to Jewish culture. The camp experience was a great way to connect with people in the community. It also allows the time and space to explore facets of Jewish culture in an innovative and fun atmosphere… I do hope to join again next year!”

Highlights from Pozez JCC Summer Camp Experiences

Posted on by Shana Medel

Camp is where children, and in our case, adults, give all kinds of activities a try — archery, painting, ultimate frisbee, woodworking, theatre, and more. And with the freedom to explore comes the opportunity to figure out what they like and who they are. No pressures or expectations.

This summer, while school was out and the sun was up, people of all ages leaned into camp fun at Pozez JCC.

At Camp Achva, Judaism was intentionally boundless, and oftentimes, existing in the great outdoors. Children spent time on the soccer field and around the campfire singing Hebrew songs and learning Israeli dances. Everywhere you looked, they were doing Jewish — and having a good time. 

Children with cancer and their siblings spent their summer at Horizon Day Camp, designed to run on “yes” for those who so often hear “no.” Soccer and dance and playground fun — activities that can harm a fragile body — were all possible again because of adaptive equipment and skilled professionals.

So many memories were made at Camp Kesher, where neurodivergent teens and young adults gained independence, made friends, and had hours of outdoor fun. There were day trips and hands-on activities, including yoga and music.

At Camp Gadol, our space for adults, participants learned Yemenite basket weaving, participated in a scavenger hunt, explored Jewish wisdom on living, made s’mores over a fire, created Havdalah candles from beeswax, packed Shabbat boxes for Jewish hospital patients, and so much more. 

Every one of these camps hold magic and memory. Each is a place of experience, where moments matter in the spaces created. And there is much more to come.

Until next summer!