Friendship requests

Campers can submit friendship requests in the spring and we will do our best to accommodate mutual requests as long as campers are the same gender and entering the same grade.

Our incredible specialty program encourages campers to explore and try a little bit everything – from flag football to fashion design and everything in-between. Immersed in Torah learning opportunities with our on-site Judaic Educators, everyone comes together for Shabbos celebrations, cookouts, theme days, field trips, as well as our own fantastic, high-spirited Color War games.

American Red Cross Swim Program

Boys and girls are taught to swim at Apachi Rogers Park in separate swim lessons using the American Red Cross’ Learn-to-Swim program, which focuses on building skills one step at a time. By giving campers the opportunity to master one element before moving on to the next, it makes it easy to build confidence in the water.

Safety is our priority and all members of our Aquatics staff are American Red Cross certified lifeguards with CPR training for the professional rescuer. We have at least two lifeguards safeguarding the pool at all times. Counselors are in the water with children and a swim instructor is assigned to each small group.

• Yedidim campers swim 2 times a week (coed)
• Chaverim campers swim 3 times a week (coed)
• Dimyonah, Sport and V’Od campers swim 3 times a week (separate swim times by gender)
• Chavayah campers swim 2 times a week (separate swim times by gender)

Testing, Placement and Progress Reports

Campers are tested at the beginning of summer and placed in an appropriate swim level based on their skills. They pass through levels based on both formal and informal testing. Progress reports are sent home at the end of the summer with a summary your swimmer’s skills and accomplishments.

Observing Swim Lessons

For the safety and security of our campers, Apachi Rogers Park is not open to visitors. If you are interested in observing swim instruction, please contact Wendy Singer, Camp Director.

Convenient carpool and drop-off and pick-up

Campers will be escorted to and from your car at the start and end of the camp day. Staff will help direct traffic and will assist campers with buckles. Please do NOT get out of the car. Enter our lot ONLY on Touhy taking the exit that’s the furthest west. Use only the drop-off zone when dropping off or picking up.

• Morning carpool line opens at 9:20am and closes at 9:40am
• Afternoon carpool line opens at 3:30pm and closes at 3:45pm
• If your child is dismissed at 2:00pm, you must come into the building to sign out your child.

Once your camper is safely in your car, please exit right onto Touhy. If you need to wait for an extended period of time, you will be asked to wait in the holding zone.

Walking? Children walking home without adult supervision or meeting parents who are arriving on foot will leave the building at the exit door and be walked to the Touhy/Sacramento intersection. Two JCC crossing guards will help children cross the street.

Camp groups

Your child will be in a group of approximately 14-16 children based on registration, age and friendship requests. Kids in Kindergarten and younger can be in a co-ed group. We mix grades, depending on enrollment, in our Dimyonah, Sport, V’od and Chavayah groups.

Our camper-to-staff ratios are:
8:1 for 1st graders and older
7:1 for four-year-olds and Kindergarteners

Food at summer camp

Campers work up a big appetite during their active days at Apachi J Camp! We ask campers to pack a diary or pareve sack lunch and a snack daily. Our 4 year-olds and Kindergartners receive a daily morning snack. We do offer an end of day freeze pop to all campers and optional Add-On for pizza day on Fridays. We keep sack lunches indoors; and please don’t forget to write your camper’s name on the bag.

Food allergies

Safety and inclusion are top priorities at JCC Chicago Day Camps. Our camps are committed to being allergy-safe. While our camps are not allergen-free, we strive to make our camp environments as safe as possible for children with food allergies using a customized approach and working closely with each family to develop an action plan for the child. More information can be found here.

Immunizations & Health Forms

To participate in camp, campers must have a completed health form signed by a physician on file. We also require documentation of immunizations.