Stay Informed! 

We are very excited to wish safe travels to all the Chi alums traveling to Israel next month as part of the Alexander Muss High School semester in Israel experience -- Jamie Weil, Carly Levin, Hannah Waldman, Stephanie Wilson, Andy Devries, Mead Solomon, Melanie Ginsburg, Robby Guerrero, Alana Woolley, Samantha Brenner and Kara Watkins.  Have an amazing trip! Make sure to send us some pictures.

Did you know that Camp Chi is offering an Israel trip this summer for entering 12th graders? Check out www.campchi.com/israeltrip for the details.

In even more Israel news... Courtney Rohrbach, former Chi Program Coordinator, finally made it to Israel on Birthright. While there, she saw other Chi alums, Robyn Epstein, Jason Sear and Neta Fluksman. She also bumped into Maya Kosover while walking through Jerusalem and saw Jake Dermer on Masada.

Jack Rubinstein has recruited Ben Bellick to be part of his musical performance this summer at camp. Jack will be strumming his guitar while Ben does the drumming. We can't wait to hear you guys play!

It's almost spring sports season. This week Marti Pine is trying out for the Niles North Softball Team while Olivia Lerrick is participating in lacrosse tryouts at Highland Park High School.

We've heard a rumor that Arielle Weinstein and Steph Wilson are going on a road trip to Ohio.  Watch out, Ohio, here they come!

We are so proud of Danielle Serlin. Danielle received a Jewish Federation Teen Leadership Award recognizing her leadership in various activities and her qualities as a role model for her peers. This is a huge honor for Danielle who will be a Junior Counselor at camp this summer. Mazel tov, Danielle!

Do you have news to share for April? If so, please submit it here.

Molly Yeh

Dear 14-year-old Molly,

How lucky you are to be at camp right now, and to have Robyn Epstein as your counselor for the second year in a row!! I'm so glad that you are having your best summer yet (oh, and wait, it gets better!). You are going to have a blast at the Fourth of July dance tonight. Don't worry about not knowing how to do the Cha-Cha Slide- Holly will teach you. And don't forget to bring a sweatshirt to the fireworks, it's going to get chilly! 

Also, you're probably worried right now that your Splash Bash shirt that you sent to the laundry will come back white again, but don't worry, the paint stays. I promise!

14-year-old me, you have met some wonderful friends at camp, and you will be happy to know that you still keep in touch with them. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Josh Lipman came to New York to visit you (oh yeah, you go to college in New York City!) And, shhhh, don't tell Josh, but next week, he is going to be named Mr. Noar. You still talk to Holly, but you have yet to visit her at Syracuse (...bad girl). I still think about those hilarious times that you and Holly had in indoor cooking, eating all of those sprinkles! Just remember to clean them up from the cabin floor, you don't want to get bugs.

I know there's only a little while left at camp, but I want you to take advantage of all that Chi has to offer. Go on the high ropes course, even if you're a little scared, play gaga, because I don't know of anywhere else in the world with a gaga pit, play rugby with the international specialists, learn archery, and go on the camp out!! Do everything Camp Chi-y that you can because, unfortunately, this is your last year as a camper :-(

But don't worry... because guess what?? In seven years, you are going back as a staff member! I'm not telling you what your exact job will be, but it sure is cool, so get excited!

Ok, now go rest up for tonight!

xoxo,
20-year-old Molly

P.S. Next Tuesday, in the dining hall, when you're dared to eat as many grilled cheese sandwiches as you can, DON'T DO IT. trust me.

P.P.S. Don't be freaked out when your auntie sends you a care package filled with tissue boxes and band aid boxes (there's candy hidden in there).

Molly Yeh is making her return to Camp Chi this summer as an Outdoor Cooking Specialist.  She is currently a percussion student at Julliard.

If you have something to share on Winkle's Blog as a Guest Blogger, just email Jamie Lake for all the details.

It takes the average parent 15-20 minutes to complete all forms. It's really easy - we promise! You can find the forms and instructions at www.campchi.com/camperforms.

The holiday of Purim is fun and joyful.  We're supposed to dress up in costumes, wind greggars and eat hamentashen to commemorate the story of Esther, who stopped Haman's plot to murder the Jews.

In addition to eating and having fun, we are supposed to give gifts to friends and charity to the poor.  Giving money or help to the poor is an important mitzvah to do on Purim.

Here's an easy way for you to provide for those in need; you don't even have to leave your computer to do it.  Visit www.thehungersite.com and click on the large yellow box that says, "Click Here to Give - It's Free."  Sponsors donate one cup of food for every click received each day. 

Purim begins Saturday night at sundown.  We hope you have a great holiday!

Summer is just around the corner. We can't get ready for camp without camper forms. All camper forms are due on Monday, March 1. (This includes medical forms.) You can find all the forms at www.campchi.com/camperforms.

Each camper who submits all forms by Monday will be entered into a raffle drawing for free canteen fee for the summer.

Campers, please remind your parents about the March 1 deadline and raffle. This weekend is the perfect time to fill out your forms.

Congratulations, Marti Pine!

Marti was the first of many correct answers to Alex's All Star Challenge. Marti knew that the first Prime Minister of Israel was David Ben-Gurion.

Marti's prize is on the way to her. Keep checking Winkle's Blog in March for the next Alex's All Star Challenge.

The SIT counselors for this summer, Sammi Barron, Ellie Chamlin, Jordan Eselevsky, Lauren Schmidt, Traci Shapiro and Jordan Sheiner, are already building the ruach with the SITs! (There are already 76 SITs registered!!)

They have started the Camp Chi's OH-ficial SITs of OH-TEN group on Facebook and want all of this summer's SITs to join.  They'll keep you posted on the latest SIT news and plans for the summer.

Also, don't forget to become a fan of JCC Camp Chi on Facebook.  It's another great place to read about what's happening at Chi.

Alex was so excited when he heard about the 2010 Camp Chi Israel Trip that he thought it another Israel trivia question was in order.  If you are the first camper to submit the correct answer, you will receive a special Chi prize.

Who was the first Prime Minister of Israel?

Email your answer to Alex.  Make sure to include your first namea nd last name so we can mail you the prize.

You can find more information about this summer's Israel trip for entering 11th and 12th graders at www.campchi.com/israeltrip.

 Jamie Horwitz

Camp Chi is honestly the greatest place in the entire world. The day I get home, I start counting down till the next summmer. Not only is Camp Chi a place to make new friends, but it is a place to be yourself and find who you really are. I truly believe Camp Chi has made me who I am today. If it wasn't for camp, I would definitely not be this outgoing or funny. I love to meet new people and make friends. Camp showed me that it doesn't matter what a person looks like or who they are friends with, but what is on the inside and how they treat you. Other kids should come to Camp Chi because it is the place where you find who you are as a person.

One of the funniest moments of my life was one of my sneak outs freshman year of Noar. It was when the Dark Knight movie was really popular. One of the counslers dressed up as the Joker and kept popping up and scaring us everywhere we went. when we went to the dining hall for food, the counsler who dressed up as the Joker was there and scared us all some more. It was one of the funniest moments I have ever experienced at camp.

I would also like to say that Jackie Shaps and I have been learning guitar just so we could show off our mad skills as song leaders this year. We love to learn new things to play. My main reason for learning guitar was so Icould play all that I know at my favorite place in the world.

Jamie Horwitz has been a camper for 6 summers.  She will be an SIT this summer.

If you want to share your thoughts on Winkle's Blog as a Guest Blogger, just email Jamie Lake for all the details.

It's been a few weeks, but we thought that you would want to see the pictures from the Habo, Noar, SIT Reunion in January. It was a fabulous weekend of Shabbat festivities, Song Session, games, hanging out and the indoor amusement park. Everyone had a great time. Check out all of pics in the Teen Reunion Weekend Photo Album.