Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp

The camp was born in 1958, the idea of Dr. David Abramson, chairman of the HJC Youth Committee. After presenting the idea to the Board of Directors, Director Bert Rosenberg launched the Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp.
Throughout the year history, there have been five directors and seven assistant directors. The previous Directors were Bert Rosenberg, Al Weiner, Barry Shmerler, and Mike Levine. The previous Assistant Directors were Hank Blumenthal, Gary Feldman, Carl Derenfeld, Sidney Bernstein, Hope Rothstein, Jeremy Bernstein.
The current leadership of the camp has Howard Seidman as Director and Matthew Resnick as Assistant Director.
On July 16, 2010, the Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp Office was renamed "The Bert Rosenberg Memorial Day Camp Office" in memory of the camp's founding director. According to the plaque unveiled that now hangs adjacent to the entrance to the office, the "office always serve as a place to celebrate love of the children of Hillcrest, and as a place to celebrate the tradition he brought into Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp."
Divisions
Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp has programs for children ages 4-14, and is split into various divisions. The Preschool Division is for children entering Nursery School or Kindergarten. The Junior Division is for those entering grades 1 and 2, the Senior Division for those entering grades 3-6, and the Tween Division for those entering grades 7 and 8, and the CIT Program for those entering grade 9 and 14 years old.
Each division receives activities such as a Red Cross Swim Program in the large indoor pool on campus, Drama Instruction, Arts and Crafts, Jewish Heritage, Gym, Video Games, Pool/Ping Pong/Foosball in the "Teen Lounge", Gymnastics, and daily hot kosher lunches. The Preschool and Junior Divisions go on trips once a week, the Senior Division twice a week, and the Tween Division three times a week. In addition, the entire camp goes on a BBQ each week at Valley Stream State Park, and the CITs go on two special late-night trips each summer.
Trivia
* One week of camp is Color War, a favorite to most who attend the camp. During Color War, the camp is split into two teams which compete in athletic and creativity competitions. Recent Color War winners include the White Ants 2007, led by General Daniel Bacharach and Captain Amy Onorato; the Green Giants 2008, led by General Michelle Wolf and Captain Nicholas Lupo; the Blue Vaders 2009, led by General Daniel Bacharach and Captain Lauren Russell the Blue Vikings 2010, led by General Joseph Manginelli and Captain Jennifer Kanarek; the Blue Jays 2011, led by General Erin Snyder and Captain Brian Haggerty; the White Wizards 2012, led by General Brian Haggerty and Captain Sharon Weiss; the White Wildcats 2013, led by General Brian Haggerty and Captain Daniela Kogan; the Blue Bears 2014, led by General Javen Williams and Captain Brianna Manginelli; the Blue Roadrunners 2015, led by General Brianna Manginelli and Captain Cole Reiss; and the Green Lightyears 2016, led by General Serena Vanchiro and Captain Zachary Elyshevitz during the first three-team Color War.

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