Shabbat Music & New Sensory Room Enhance the JCC Camps at Medford

On Friday, July 18, representatives from the Jewish Community Foundation, Inc. visited JCC Camps at Medford to enjoy two fantastic new initiatives:

1.

To welcome Shabbat each Friday this

summer, visiting musician Rory Michelle joins with campers and counselors in singing interactive, upbeat songs as they wind down the week. Multiple bunks of campers in the same age group and their counselors sing along, dance, and unite to celebrate Shabbat.

These performances are generously funded by community members Sue & Eric Baelen, who also visited camp with JCF representatives to enjoy Rory's music.

Thank you, Sue and Eric, for your philanthropic support!

Pictured after the last of Rory's three Shabbat gatherings during the day were (from left to right) JCF Assistant Director Mike Staff, JCF President Andi Levin, Eric Baelen, Rory Michelle, Sue Baelen, and JCF Executive Director David Snyder.

2.

Prior to the start of summer, Camp installed a new Sensory Room to accommodate children who may benefit from a quiet, separate space so they can wind down from overwhelming situations.

To make this room possible, the JCF provided a JCF Grant to cover expenses for the new furniture, decorations, and sensory equipment.

JCF's group visited this cozy, relaxing space after Rory's performance. It's a delightful asset to help children cope and better enjoy their camp experience, and it's thrilling to see a JCF Grant-in-action and how it can help campers.

Visiting Camp while it's abuzz with summer activity is always a joy, but even more so in witnessing unique initiatives like Rory's Shabbat performance and the new Sensory Room that make camp an even better place for the 1,600+ campers who smile and have a blast each day.

Last but not least, thank you to JCC Camps at Medford Jared Kaufman for hosting us and sharing with us two new initiatives that are benefitting campers this summer!