For many of us growing up, summer was a time to run through sprinklers, play sandlot baseball or go for long bike rides and maybe even sit outside under a tree reading a book.
But not when the temperatures reach 110-115o. Summer in Arizona is a different animal. While residents are not willing to trade the heat for the bitter cold and snow of other places, they do have to figure out just how to manage during the summer months, particularly for the kids.
Fortunately, day camps abound. Camp Shemesh at the Valley of the Sun JCC in Scottsdale offers a variety of camps for children from kindergarten through eighth grades, with a counselor-in-training program for those in ninth and 10th grades.
The ever-popular, all-round camp is broken into age groups and available weekly from May 27-Aug. 1. Each week offers a wide variety of indoor activities as well as swimming. In addition, the VOSJCC offers specialty camps. The Sports Specialty Camp also runs every week from May 27-Aug. 1, with a different sport highlighted each week. Other specialties are offered by the week from June 2-July 18. Among these enticing theme camps are interest areas such as cooking, ballet, science and acting.
New this year is a special one-week camp serving campers from 5 to 13 years old with mild to moderate disabilities. Offered May 26-30, this half-day program is specially designed, according to the camp’s brochure, “to enhance social, motor, language and other vital life skills that promote greater independence. Campers’ days will be filled with traditional summer camp activities like adaptive physical education, movement, music, adaptive art, swim lessons, socialization and free swim.”
Also new this year is the enthusiastic camp director, Harry Rubenstein. “Combining my background in education and a true love and understanding of camp, I know this camp experience will be one of the best the campers have ever had,” Harry promises. Parents making decisions should note that the early- bird deadline for discounts is March 21. Prices go up after that time. The Valley of the Sun JCC is located at 12701 N Scottsdale Road. The brochure is online at vosjcc.org, or call 480-483-7121, ext. 1277.
At the Tucson JCC, plans are also under way for a fun-filled summer at Super Summer at Camp J. The Early Childhood camps are offered for 2- to 5-year-olds in two-week sessions from May 27-Aug. 1 on a half- or full-day basis. Programming is also available May 22-23 and again Aug. 4-6 to help fill out the summer.
There are general, all-round camps for grades K-2 and 3-5 that are also offered in two-week sessions, as well as a specialty sports camp for grades 2-5 that includes a trip to Phoenix for a Diamondbacks baseball game. For grades 6-9, there is a travel camp that takes a wide variety of field trips, and also a “back by popular demand” athletic conditioning camp.
While all of these camps require JCC membership, there are several offerings that do not. One is a leader-in-training program for those in grades 9-12. There is also a half-day, weekly tennis camp for those in grades 1-9. And from May 26-July 25, the JCC offers a program designed for young adults (16+) with special needs.
The Tucson JCC also partners with two sleep-away camps. From June 9-13, returning for its 12th summer, is a full-week experience at the Shalom Institute in Malibu, CA, for those entering grades 3-9. New this year is a week in July at JCC Ranch Camp in Black Forest, CO, for those entering grades 5-8.
Scott Zorn is serving his ninth year as head of the camps.
“I’m super excited about camp this year and creating great experiences and memories for the kids through the comic and super hero themes,” says Scott. The early-bird deadline for discounts at the Tucson JCC camp is March 31.The JCC is located at 3800 E River Road. tucsonjcc.org, 520-299-3000
At the East Valley JCC in Chandler, camp for children ages 2 through kindergarten will be offered in three, three- week sessions, from May 27-July 25. Camps for first- through ninth-graders will be available those same dates, but can be registered for on a weekly basis. New this year is the JCC Youth Coordinator and Camp Director Brandon Welner, a graduate of Arizona State University. Though the JCC facility at 908 N Alma School Road doesn’t have a pool on its premises, the children are bussed to a nearby site for swimming. Registration is under way. There is no definite cutoff for discounted prices, but families are encouraged to register soon to ensure spots. evjcc.org, 480-897-0588.
Many temples and synagogues hold their own preschool day camps, and some have programming for older children as well. High schoolers may want to check on available jobs as counselors-in-training or assistant counselors.
If you will be experiencing your first summer in Arizona, please remember that water safety and swimming lessons are a must and that children should never be left unsupervised near a pool – not even for a second. Add sunblock and a little common sense, and you can start building great summer memories for your kids to remember as wistfully as you remember yours.
