tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33144506925060692892024-03-14T09:45:41.955-07:00Jefunira CampA cool way to spend your summer!Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-61981829948096539332014-04-27T13:14:00.002-07:002014-04-27T13:14:59.666-07:00Interesting Article on the Summer Camp Can Aid in College Admissions<div class="story-top" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 214, 219); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: klavikar, Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto; overflow: hidden; width: 940px;">
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Summer camp may improve college admissions odds</h1>
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<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100770389" rel="author" style="color: #2d648a; text-decoration: none;">Kelli B. Grant</a> | <span class="twitter-url" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://twitter.com/kelligrant" style="color: #2d648a; text-decoration: none;">@kelligrant</a></span></div>
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6 Hours Ago</div>
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How you spend your summer vacation isn't just fodder for first-day-back-in-school essays. It could provide a boost on college or job applications—especially if you went to camp.</div>
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Colleges have been getting more selective in recent years. In 2012, the average four-year college accepted 63.9 percent of applicants, down from 69.6 percent in 2003, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Many are even more selective. This year, Yale University accepted just 6.26 percent of applicants, down from 6.27 percent a year ago and 11 percent in 2005, according to educational consulting company IvyWise. Cornell University accepted 14 percent, versus 31 percent in 2005.</div>
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Grades and standardized test scores are still the top factor for admission, but educational counselors say colleges are starting to take a harder look at extracurricular activities, particularly those over summer vacation. "Parents assume their kids need to be even more competitive on grades," said Eric Greenberg, founder and director of education consulting firm Greenberg Educational Group. "What has happened, ironically, is the opposite."</div>
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To colleges, summertime is like the hiatus between jobs a prospective employer would ask about, said Mark Kantrowitz, senior vice president and publisher at Edvisors Network. "Colleges want to understand, what have you been doing with yourself?" he said. "What happened during that gap?" The answer can be telling of what a student will do on campus.</div>
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<strong>Standout camp experiences</strong></div>
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Parents shouldn't immediately race for the nearest camp sign-up sheet. While there are surely college admissions officers with fond memories of lake swims and archery, the camp experience that is more likely to stand out is a specialized one that speaks to a student's interests, experts say. Summers at soccer camp can help show a would-be college athlete's dedication, for example, while theater camp can be an edge for someone applying to the acting program—especially if the high school's drama program is so-so (or nonexistent).</div>
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Focused camps aren't that difficult to find. Half of day camps have some kind of academic activities or areas of study, and one-third offer a STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering or math) program, according to the American Camp Association.</div>
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"By being stronger on the extracurricular activities, you can actually make up somewhat for weaknesses academically," Kantrowitz said. It's no slam dunk, though. "Not everyone is going to yield a benefit, but it's something that distinguishes you," he said. (Considering, however, that some camps can cost upwards of $1,000 per week, it's worth pointing out that extra experience in a student's areas of interest could just as easily come from a summer course at a local college, volunteer experiences or work, he said.)</div>
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Steven Infanti, associate vice president for admissions at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, said a STEM camp experience is something that makes him take a closer look at a student's application. "When I look at an applicant who has a 2.5 [GPA], which would be kind of a borderline admit for us, but I see on his application, I participate in this camp…that shows a lot of initiative and someone who has a passion," he said.</div>
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For higher-achievers, relevant camp experience may put them in the running for the university's fellowship program, which pairs 15 incoming freshmen with faculty for research projects, among other advantages.</div>
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Colleges may also find longer camp relationships interesting, even if the camp isn't academically focused. "The regular camper who becomes a counselor is a good type of continuity," Greenberg said. That kind of camp experience can indicate positive qualities such as leadership, resilience and good social skills, he said.</div>
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That's the kind of story Oberlin College freshman Talia Rodwin expressed in her application essay. Rodwin, 19, has been attending Habon Dror Camp Moshava in Silver Spring, Md., since 2006 and plans to return this summer for her second year as a counselor. (The youth movement camp emphasizes sharing, leadership and communal responsibility.) "I wrote about my camp experiences and community," she said. "I explained how I think of myself as a community builder…and I think that had an impact."</div>
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<strong>Broader camp-to-college benefits</strong></div>
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While camp as an application booster isn't a guarantee, it could have other benefits for a college-bound student. Overnight camps can offer a taste of independent living (or at least, living away from mom and dad). The right camp could even help solidify a career path, reducing the chance of a five- or six-year stint at a four-year college while an undeclared student explores options.</div>
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"If you go to summer camp and you decide because of the camp that this is what you want to be, you're going to be much more focused as a student," Kantrowitz said.</div>
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When he was in middle school, Simon Solis-Cohen, now 23, signed up for a magic camp through Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs in Pennsylvania. He liked it so much that the next year, he tried one of the group's business camps. Then, in the summer leading up to his freshman year of high school, he discovered cooking camp. "It really opened my eyes," Solis-Cohen said.</div>
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He was so enamored with cooking that he started working weekends during the school year at the camp chef-instructor's restaurant, then attended college at the Culinary Institute of the America. "I ended up using this as my launching pad," said Solis-Cohen, who is currently with Grgich Hills Estate in Rutherford, Calif., after a stint at renowned Napa Valley restaurant The French Laundry.</div>
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As Solis-Cohen discovered, camp can even be a kick-starter for jobs down the line—provided the experience backs up other bona-fides. "Camp is about the social experience of working with other young people in a group setting that's outside your comfort zone," said Chad Oakley, president and chief operating officer of executive search firm Charles Aris, Inc. "That in itself is 50 percent of success in a business environment."</div>
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But it's no job shoe-in. "You might get the interview because you went to math camp, but you'd actually get the job because of your ability to interface with people during the interview," said Oakley.</div>
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<strong>Conveying camp experiences</strong></div>
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Showcasing a camp experience during the college admissions process can be done in a handful of ways. It might be listed as extra-curricular activities on the college application, or a particularly meaningful experiences worked into the essay portion.</div>
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"If you had a transformative experience at the summer camp or a big impact on others, that tells them more about who you are as an individual, especially if you can write about how it set you in a particular direction," Kantrowitz said. "If something is of interest to you, you're more likely to write a passionate essay."</div>
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Favorite counselors or camp directors should also be considered for letters of recommendation. "Relatively few students submit letters from outside [school] or that are job-related," said Greenberg. "That can be enormously valuable."</div>
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<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100770389" style="color: #2d648a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" src="http://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/img/editorial/2013/07/08/100870893-kelli-grant.60x60.?v=1376935740" height="60" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" title="" width="60" /></a><br />
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<span class="name" style="clear: right; color: #457293; display: block; font-size: 16px; margin-top: -1px;"><a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100770389" style="color: #2d648a; text-decoration: none;">Kelli B. Grant</a></span><span class="title" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px;">Personal Finance and Consumer Spending Reporter</span></div>
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</section>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17188701212702213788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-88339389082838670572014-04-26T11:13:00.000-07:002014-04-26T11:13:46.724-07:00How Kids Benefit from Attending Summer Camp Here is the Jefunira Camp Mission Statement:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Jefunira Camp is committed to providing a
premier camp experience by creating a safe and inclusive community where
campers can develop self-esteem, self- confidence and have fun through
non-competitive, non-skill based play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I believe that summer camp and play in general provide a great foundation for the healthy development of children. Summer camp is a place where children can develop self confidence and more importantly self esteem. We make that a central part of our mission statement. </div>
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Below is an article that appears in the January 2014 edition of MetroKids. It speaks nicely to the benefits of attending summer camp. </div>
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The Benefits of Summer Camp</h1>
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The summer camp experience builds confidence and other values that last a lifetime.</h3>
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BY ELLEN WARREN</div>
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Log on to any camp website and you’ll be greeted with countless images of sunny, smiling faces, tangible proof that kids enjoy being at summer camp in any given moment. What you can’t see, however, may be even more important — the intangible benefits of the summer camp experience that youth development experts say can positively impact a child for life.</div>
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“Camps prepare kids for success in all walks of life by giving them the opportunity to develop skills and social relationships and work as part of a team, both as a leader and a follower,” says Dave DeLuca, executive director of <a href="http://campmason.org/%E2%80%8E" style="color: #a11c37; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">YMCA Camp Mason</a>, which has operated day and overnight camps in Hardwick, NJ since 1900.<span style="background-color: white; color: #283885; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span></div>
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The ongoing value of camp In 2004 the <a href="http://www.acacamps.org/" style="color: #a11c37; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">American Camp Association</a> (ACA) published the first-ever national research project on camp benefits, validating long-held beliefs about the positive outcome of the camp experience. Results from 5,000 families and staffers of 80 camps over a four-year period showed that even two weeks at camp led to gains in kids’ positive identity and values, spirituality and social, physical and thinking skills. Seventy-two percent of parents reported, “My child gained self-confidence.” Ninety-two percent of campers said, “Camp made me feel good about myself.”</div>
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At <a href="http://www.camporchardhill.com/" style="color: #a11c37; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Camp Orchard Hill</a> in Dallas, PA, executive director Jim Payne says the Christian day and overnight program seeks to create a quartet of positive outcomes via opportunities to “stimulate [campers’] development; appreciate their natural surroundings and take an active role in environmental stewardship; set goals and challenge their own abilities; and experience living in a community.”</div>
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<a href="http://www.dragonflyforest.org/" style="color: #a11c37; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dragonfly Forest</a>, a traditional camp for children with autism and medical needs in Valley Forge, PA, has measured the growth of 2,500 one-week residential campers in eight areas: exploration, health, responsibility, independence, success, teamwork, confidence and friendship. <span style="font-size: 9pt;">“We believe that camp is the ‘genie’ </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">that lets these benefits out of the bottle </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">for campers, and once out, these benefits </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">continue throughout their lifetime,” says </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Dragonfly Forest president Fred Weiner. </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Confirming his hunch, 63 percent of </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Dragonfly Forest parents have reported </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">seeing a “permanent” (at least six </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">months) change in their children’s </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">behavior after a camp experience.</span></div>
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The secret of camp success</h3>
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“Camp differs from school in that positive outcomes are experiential and not in a classroom setting,” Payne says. “Life is about overcoming obstacles, and camp provides challenges that exist in a safe environment, where kids can learn to succeed and fail and try again, for example, on the climbing wall or challenge course.</div>
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“You can’t fail summer camp,” he continues. “In school there is inherent failure, but camp mitigates that. If you strike out in baseball, you can succeed in swimming or arts and crafts.”</div>
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Camper confidence</h3>
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That type of accomplishment ultimately boosts kids’ sense of independence. “Parents value the self-confidence that comes when their children try new things and succeed,” says Payne. “And besides making new friends — which most campers say is the best benefit of camp — children grow with the independence they have to make choices about their activities, their meals, their friends.”</div>
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“Because of camp, my daughter walks a little taller, speaks a little clearer, laughs a little louder and shows a little more confidence,” says Pottstown, PA mom Laura Moravinski of her 11-year-old Dragonfly Forest camper, Hannah. “She wants to do instead of having things done for her. She wants to try instead of fearing the opportunity. She rises to challenges instead of retreating into her own space.”</div>
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“At camp,” concludes Weiner, “everything is designed around having fun — and the campers don’t realize the power of the experience.”</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17188701212702213788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-46752131186486442312014-04-25T16:01:00.001-07:002014-04-25T16:01:18.244-07:00We're Back!Well, it has been about five year since we last posted to our blog. But with our 23rd summer fast approaching, we have decided to finally take advantage of our blog and to start posting fun and useful material. <br />
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On Friday June 13, Parent Place will be presenting "How to Make and Keep Friends", a talk for parents of children with all ages. The talk is will start at 9:15A and is open to all. So after you drop off your camper, stick around and join us for what I am sure will be an interesting talk. <br />
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JeffAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17188701212702213788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-91017108795233237532009-02-19T01:01:00.000-08:002009-02-19T01:10:59.467-08:00Why enrollment opens Feb 1One of the questions I hear most often at this time of year is "Why do you open enrollment on Feb 1?". Some people want us to begin enrollment earlier so that our enrollment begins when some other camps begin theirs. Other people want us to start enrollment later so that they don't have to plan their summer in January. I have resisted opening enrollment earlier because I think it puts too much pressure on parents to make summer plans in December. And I can't wait much past Feb 1 to open enrollment because we need to make plans based on enrollment and we need time to do that. I would love to hear back from parents about their thoughts on when we should open enrollment. <div><br /></div><div>Jeff</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17188701212702213788noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-52240650229380827092009-01-29T00:46:00.001-08:002009-01-29T00:46:48.366-08:00<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DdG-Nd2LzK8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DdG-Nd2LzK8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-32011753164824584612009-01-26T23:20:00.000-08:002009-01-26T23:22:05.163-08:00Jefunira: Behind the Scenes<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ghf13VIYAd0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ghf13VIYAd0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />Directors Ben and Jamie: What REALLY happens in the office after campers leave...Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-16816210076014403182009-01-26T12:13:00.000-08:002009-01-26T12:36:50.177-08:00Importance of playAs you might imagine, given that I have chose to run camps as my career, I believe in the value of play. I think the discussion should probably be framed as "need for play" instead of "value of play". I see each summer how much kids enjoy coming to Jefunira Camp and playing. I can see how a child's self confidence and self esteem can grow in a really short amount of time when placed in a supportive environment where he or she can just play. <div><br /></div><div>I recently came across this quote, "Play is to the child what thinking, planning, and blueprinting are to the adult, a trial universe in which conditions are simplified and methods exploratory, so that past failures can be thought through, expectations tested." Eric Erikson, 1902 - 1994</div><div><br /></div><div>I see everyday how important play is to children, but I often wonder what others think. I am always asked by parents what kids get from Jefunira Camp. I would love to know what you think you children have taken away from their time at Jefunira Camp. </div><div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17188701212702213788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-1908218921482256412008-12-04T23:06:00.000-08:002008-12-04T23:07:50.063-08:00Jefunira Director Serenade 2008<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n90GJUpgshE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n90GJUpgshE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Directors Jamie and Ben serenade Jefunira campers with a Lion King classic...Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-51071889447268421322008-11-20T11:36:00.000-08:002008-11-20T11:39:12.878-08:002008 Counselor Lipsync<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YuNv7cSbYX0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YuNv7cSbYX0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />The Jefunira counselors take things back to the 80's and rock the house with this rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart"!Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-29016899339785003592008-11-20T10:03:00.000-08:002008-11-20T11:33:20.583-08:00Jefunira Campers in the news!We wanted to give a shout out and congratulate one of our very own Jefunira Junior counselors, Allie Coleman. Allie was recently awarded the <a href="http://www.paloaltoonline.com/sports/athlete_of_the_week.php?d=2008-11-14">Palo Alto Daily Athlete of the Week</a> in recognition of her performance in two volleyball matches against Los Gatos and Homestead. We at Jefunira have seen Allie's setting skills firsthand during games of Prisonball and they are truly impressive! And to everyone out there reading this, remember- If you had fun, you won!Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-72279717453500024872008-11-17T10:41:00.000-08:002008-11-17T11:06:32.748-08:00Welcome to WEB 2.0Hi All,<div><br /></div><div>With much prodding and hand holding from Director Ben, I am finally entering the world of blogging. I want to thank Ben for creating our fantastic Jefunira Camp blog and getting me started at a blogger. </div><div><br /></div><div>This weekend I was at the team party after my son's last soccer game. As is often the case, one of the parents asked me about Jefunira Camp. Their interest was piqued because every piece of clothing I wear has the Jefunira Camp name on it. After I explained a bit about camp and my role, another parent asked the inevitable question, "That sound like a great way to spend the summer, but what do you do during the year?" I said that running Jefunira Camp was my only job. That is what I do. People are always amazed when I say that. They ask what I do when it is not summer. My usual, tongue in cheek response, is "Relish my career choice!". But the truth is that running a top quality summer camp is a year round endeavor. The time between the end of summer and now is spend reviewing every aspect of Jefunira Camp and thinking about what worked and what we could do better. We are always thinking about how we can improve the quality of the experience for campers, counselors and parents. November 1 traditionally marks the point when we move from reflecting on the past summer to planning for the coming summer. So while finding ways to get rid of the last of the Halloween candy, planning for Thanksgiving and preparing for the holidays is probably more on your mind than summer camp, we are now spending our time getting ready for a fantastic Jefunira Camp 2009. </div><div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17188701212702213788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-77255094236044373392008-09-29T17:05:00.001-07:002008-09-29T17:05:24.342-07:00Another Successful Tip the Bucket!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31036094@N08/2900540482/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2900540482_56242690ca_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31036094@N08/2900540482/">IMG_3611</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/31036094@N08/">jefuniracamp</a></span></div>Jeff and counselor Eric high five after Tip the Bucket. They may have been defeated by the campers, but they had fun so....they won!<br clear="all" />Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-60647506089191538582008-06-10T15:00:00.001-07:002008-06-10T15:02:39.796-07:00I'll Make an Otter Pop out of you...<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q9i9yeaxBxg&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q9i9yeaxBxg&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Those unique and creative Jefunira counselors are at it again! To whet your appetite for the coming summer (and the amazing performances its sure to produce!) here is one final video from the summer of 2007...Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-61689777081471142642008-06-10T14:25:00.000-07:002008-06-10T14:40:38.950-07:00Less than 2 weeks till Summer!The countdown has begun..13 days and counting till the first day of Jefunira Camp begins! We can't wait to kick off another summer full of wacky relays, good old fashioned fun and games, and don't forget the Otter Pops! We have assembled, yet again, a group of some of the most talented and accomplished counselors around and are thrilled at all of the unique talents, skills and experiences they bring to the Jefunira experience. What Jefunira game or activity are YOU most excited for...???Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-7090304489821183472008-06-10T14:20:00.000-07:002008-06-10T14:25:37.146-07:00Kung Fu Panda?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Zmg3anUS8cg/SE7wfgK7LXI/AAAAAAAAAA8/tAFZ7rSKhmI/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Zmg3anUS8cg/SE7wfgK7LXI/AAAAAAAAAA8/tAFZ7rSKhmI/s400/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210366242916609394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Has anyone seen Kung Fu Panda? Jefunira took a trip to the movies this past weekend, in which an unfortunate coin toss resulted in the viewing of "Don't Mess with the Zohan" instead of Kung Fu Panda...We'd love to hear reviews and thoughts from anyone who made a wiser movie viewing choice...Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-69570198804741644602008-03-11T21:14:00.000-07:002008-03-25T15:51:18.539-07:00Family Movie: A Blast from the Past!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Zmg3anUS8cg/R9dZKLGAQQI/AAAAAAAAAA0/xgwAFJjmkYA/s1600-h/460207_DV_L_F.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Zmg3anUS8cg/R9dZKLGAQQI/AAAAAAAAAA0/xgwAFJjmkYA/s400/460207_DV_L_F.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176704327997210882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />During the offseason, we love watching movies. Of course, Meatballs and Wet Hot American Summer are tops on our list, but our tastes run to the non-camp genre too. Today we thought we'd recommend a blast from the past that would make for a great family movie night- "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson. Mixing animation with live action, Angela Lansbury plays an amateur witch who takes 3 British children into her care during the Blitz of London. Looking for a long lost magic spell, these wannabe magicians travel with the aid of an enchanted bedknob. <br /><br />With some classic songs in the vein of Mary Poppins and other British musicals, and a good mix of adventure and comedy, this would be a very fun movie for kids aged about 8 and up. There is a battle scene in the end in which bewitched armor defends a village against a Nazi approach, which could be a little intense for younger or more sensitive kids.<br /><br />Jefunira Rating: <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Red group and up!</span>Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-70851382770192141302008-03-10T18:36:00.000-07:002008-03-10T18:52:02.646-07:00Games for the SpringAww- the balmy evenings, later sunsets of Daylight savings and sunny afternoons- spring is nearing! And with the extra hours of daylight, we thought we'd throw out a couple ideas of games for kids (and grownups too!) to play at home.<br /><br />Shadow Tag- This game is actually best played after sunset. A "home base" is chosen, typically the front drive or front steps of your house. One person is assigned to be the 'seeker' and counts down while the other players hide in the surrounding bushes/backyard. Once the countdown is finished, the seeker begins to look for the players in hiding. If they spot someone, the seeker must run back to the base and call out "1,2,3 on Joey (or whomever has been spotted)" before Joey runs and steps on the base. The players who are hiding must try to sneak their way back to base without being spotted- growing up, my friends and I would come prepared by dressing in dark cloths and covering our shoes with dark cloth! Once all players have either made it back to base without being called out, or have been caught by the seeker, the next round begins.. For variety, the seeker might be given a flashlight and the boundaries for hiding expanded.<br /><br />Backyard Treasure Hunts- All you need for this game is a few sheets of <a href="http://www.papermart.com/templates/72-6-10.htm?origin=froogle">different colored label stickers</a> and some enthusiastic treasure hunters! Hide the stickers in various spots around your yard or neighborhood (with the sneakiness level of the spots depending on the ages of the participants), then give each kid or team a sample sticker on a notecard and challenge them to find as many others as they can! If your treasure hunters claim your hiding spots are too easy, challenge them to reverse the hunt and re hide the stickers for you to find! (But be warned, you may be finding stickers hidden on the bottom of your patio furniture for months to come...)Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-69358261734281035402008-03-03T18:28:00.000-08:002008-03-10T18:34:21.428-07:00The Importance of PlayThe Feb 17 issue of the NY Times Magazine contained an article, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/magazine/17play.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&oref=slogin">"Taking Play Seriously"</a> which examined the developmental importance of play for children.<br />Examining both the potential dangers and rewards of play during the developmental years, several theories relating to the value of play are thrown out and discussed. I was particularly intrigued by experiments that hypothesize that rats neurological development in certain parts of the brain is affected by lack of play, and a project in which rats exhibiting behaviors similar to ADHD seemed to benefit from extra play time. <br /><br />The article also opened up a discussion on whether play is as important to development as many adults claim, or if our nostalgia for the good old days of Shadow Tag and Kick the Can is causing us to assume kids are missing out on the unstructured play of past decades. Certainly, we at Jefunira firmly believe in the value of creative, unstructured play for kids and have noticed similar dialogues in this area- <a href="http://playborhood.com/">Playborhood</a>, a local site was recently featured in the Palo Alto weekly, and local author Denise Pope has been sharing her "Stressed out Students" message through <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/SUSE/sosconference/index.htm">local lecture events.</a><br /><br />We would love to know what other parents/educators/community members think about this issue- comment away!Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-90102313929311209442008-02-27T18:31:00.003-08:002008-02-27T18:33:31.913-08:00Where are our counselors now?? Part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxrNz-f3GHLifWGtik0YH7a6OY_DomIdcCu6yYyz3IDk2j0pJkPs2N0FGFPX2PDg70R22c5CHFE6eLefspEXLIPGOmhVlYXNyP63oDOEAwgFFKsZOtgggJuSh4g4waBXFQQ5Vf-jt80g/s1600-h/n3227728_37321771_6012-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxrNz-f3GHLifWGtik0YH7a6OY_DomIdcCu6yYyz3IDk2j0pJkPs2N0FGFPX2PDg70R22c5CHFE6eLefspEXLIPGOmhVlYXNyP63oDOEAwgFFKsZOtgggJuSh4g4waBXFQQ5Vf-jt80g/s400/n3227728_37321771_6012-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171853525301254642" /></a><br />While Counselor Sheeftah was off on the beach in Mexico, Counselor Orlie has been busy training for the UC Davis Triathlon- Notice how she's wearing her Jefunira hat for good luck!Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-27436166050660910392008-02-27T16:52:00.000-08:002008-02-27T18:30:26.070-08:00Where are our counselors now??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sYetTlKIRONAs69BORXs7n2onF7ztTDZLEl_H1Xga4kPa5pkaAsHN6iCK7BF5gPAa0gey_qen9bu_XYaRg-dRdWwicrUqoZlvagVLr5SiURqKWGRpPenR3up5avgLeEZTq6ptTj1iZg/s1600-h/n6001808_36872198_6522.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sYetTlKIRONAs69BORXs7n2onF7ztTDZLEl_H1Xga4kPa5pkaAsHN6iCK7BF5gPAa0gey_qen9bu_XYaRg-dRdWwicrUqoZlvagVLr5SiURqKWGRpPenR3up5avgLeEZTq6ptTj1iZg/s400/n6001808_36872198_6522.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171852670602762722" /></a><br />For those of you wondering what our talented and accomplished counselors are doing in the off-season, we have some updates! Counselor Sheeftah sent us the above picture of her proudly showing off her Jefunira Tie-dye in Mexico!Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-76121501767476555482008-01-09T17:43:00.000-08:002008-03-10T18:01:05.217-07:00New Jefunira site Opening!It is our pleasure to announce the opening of a new Jefunira Camp site this summer (drumroll please...)! In addition to our Palo Alto site, we will be offering the original, old fashioned summer fun Jefunira experience in Mt. View! We'll be located at Huff Elementary school, which has a giant, jumbo-sized, fantastic field. We're already looking forward to the Capture the Flag games... We are very excited to expand, and to be able to offer the Jefunira experience to even more families this summer. Whether you're at Palo Alto or Mt. View, we can't wait to see all our campers this summer!Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-34348530296052741022008-01-09T17:37:00.000-08:002008-01-09T18:22:47.810-08:00Happy 2008!Happy New Years from all of us at Jefunira Camp! We hope everyone had a safe, restful and fun holiday season and that the new year is off to a great start! With the New Year of course comes....registration for Jefunira 2008!!!!! Thats right folks, our applications will be going live on the website as of February 1- you can download them, fill 'em out and mail them back to us. Some of the sessions filled up very quickly last year, so we encourage you to mail your application in early for another amazingly fun-filled summer! Starting Jan 15, the application forms can be found on our website <a href="http://www.jefuniracamp.com/register.htm">here</a> and registration opens Feb 1!Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-50379731624735827192008-01-09T16:59:00.000-08:002008-03-10T18:36:18.823-07:002007 Session 4 Lipsync<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hchqUAfyx3A"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hchqUAfyx3A" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br /><br /><br />As we enter 2008 and begin counting down the days until Jefunira Camp begins, we thought we'd get the memories rolling with <a href="http://ia360609.us.archive.org/0/items/JefuniraCamp2007COunselorLipsyncSession4/pachelbel.mov">this clip</a> of the final counselor lipsync of last summer...Feel free to comment and leave your own favorite memories and what you're looking forward to most about this summer!<br /><br />(And for those wondering- yes, that is water the counselors are spraying at each other!)Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-45876819238789840542007-10-09T23:12:00.000-07:002008-01-09T18:17:26.125-08:002007 Director Lipsync<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xt78c5IcM5c"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xt78c5IcM5c" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" heighhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gift="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Will Jeffumina join Ben for the <a href="http://ia360637.us.archive.org/3/items/JefuniraCamp2007DirectorLipsync_4/Breakingmyheart.mov">big cheerleading competition</a>? Watch to find out..Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314450692506069289.post-64061958607589934082007-10-09T19:20:00.000-07:002007-10-09T22:17:56.249-07:00Parent Education Event announcement!Next Wednesday, October 17, the Common Ground Speaker series is hosting a panel discussion featuring several well known academics in the education field. Entitled "GETTING SCHOOL RIGHT: Helping Kids Stay Healthy, Happy & Engaged" the panel will feature David Elkind, Ph.D., Madeline Levine, Ph.D., Denise Pope, Ph.D. and Brad Sachs, Ph.D. As stated on their website, <blockquote>Common Ground is a coalition of Bay Area schools that have joined together to enhance parent education. The goal of the coalition is to provide opportunities for parents and educators to learn from experts in a variety of fields, to share ideas with others, and to support each other's efforts to enrich our local communities</blockquote><br /><br />Wednesday, October 17, 7:00PM<br />Woodside High School<br />Performing Arts Center<br />199 Churchill Avenue<br />Woodside, CA 94062<br />(650) 367-9750Ben Grossman-Kahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01762258006497597484noreply@blogger.com0