The Blue Star Campers In Your Neighborhood

The Blue Star Campers In Your Neighborhood
By Jennifer Cohen

Blue Star Campers come from all around the country. Some campers live in nearby Georgia. Some come as far away as California. Many spend their summers at Blue Star because their older siblings or their parents and grandparents came when they were young. However they find Blue Star, and no matter where they come from, no one ever wants to leave.

Many campers come from the West Broward area of South Florida. Maybe it’s because that’s where the camp’s winter offices are located, or maybe it’s because  campers want a change of scenery and weather. Or maybe it’s because they (and their parents) know that Blue Star Camps is the best!

Senior 1 camper Tara Zionts is going into 7th grade at Falcon Cove Middle School in Weston, Florida. This is her fourth summer at Blue Star. Tara, age 12, started coming to camp because her older brother came here. “I like being with my camp friends,” said Tara. “We have so much fun and the activities are great.” Tara’s options for the first two weeks are Web News and fishing.

Katie Friedman, 13, is from Miramar and attends David Posnack Jewish Day School. She is 13-years-old and will be starting 8th grade soon. This is her second year at Blue Star. “I love being able to do all of the things I want to do at camp. The friends I have made here have become like sisters to me,” said Katie who is a Senior 2. “My dad and my aunt came here when they were kids,” said Katie. “I have a lot of school friends that come here.”

Katie takes pottery, drama and yoga and the thing she likes the most about camp is the friendships she has made. “These are friendships and bonds that you can’t find anywhere else. I have other friends but it’s just not the same. I really can’t explain it,” said Katie. ”I definitely recommend Blue Star. People say Walt Disney World is the most magical place but it isn’t. Blue Star is.”

Nikki Chussid, 13, is from Weston and will be starting 8th grade at David Posnack Jewish Day School. This is her second year at camp. Nikki who is in Senior 2 takes arts and crafts, library and walk, jog, run. Nikki knew Katie from school and this is their first summer together at Blue Star. Nikki has two sisters Samantha, age 10, and Cali, age 14, who also attend Blue Star Camps. “At first I was a little nervous to come to camp but then I knew my older sister would be here and I’d be there to take care of my younger sister so that was reassuring to me,” said Nikki. “The memories she has made a Blue Star will be with her forever.

Daniela Schwartz is also from Weston. “My mom came here and she wanted me to come here too,” said Daniela who has come to Blue Star Camps for four years. She takes archery and video. “I love the activities, counselors, and being with my camp friends and I’m lucky so many of them are from Broward County because we get together when we are home.”

Maia Haims is from Davie and will be going into the 6th grade at David Posnack Jewish Day School. This is her second year at camp and she is in Pioneer.  “My brother Elan is also here. He’s a Senior 2.” Maia takes nature and ancient arts. “It’s fun to go away to a new place in the summer,” said Maia, who will turn 11 in July. “I’m always so excited to come to camp.”

Jackie Jaffe, 12, is from Plantation. She will start 7th grade at Nova Middle School soon. This is her sixth year at Blue Star Camps and this year she is in Senior 1. She likes fishing and tennis.

“The friends you make at camp are different from the friends at home. You live with them so you really share more of a bond,” said Jackie. “Blue Star is so much fun. There are so many activities to do and you are never bored. I love my Blue Star summers.”

Marni Rosenblatt, 9 ½ is from Davie. She will be going into fifth grade at David Posnack Jewish Day School. This is Marni’s first year at Blue Star. “Everyone in my family came here. My mom and dad, my aunt and uncle, and my nana and my grandpa came here and were counselors a long time ago,” said Marni. “Now my mom said I was old enough to come.”

Marni is in Pioneer 2 and takes tennis and ancient arts. She likes meeting new people from different places and trying new things. “It was a little hard to be away from home at first but now I feel more independent.” She knew a few of the other campers from school and that made her feel better.

Marni especially enjoyed getting a package from home on the first day of camp!

Jennna Marks lives in Hollywood. She will be starting 9^th grade at David Posnack Jewish Day School. This is her fourth year at Blue Star Camps. Jenna will be 14-years-old in July and she started coming to camp when she was 10-years-old. Jenna is in Senior 3 and enjoys horseback riding, walk-jog-run, ropes and arts and crafts.

“My sister came here and her mom works at camp so that’s why I started coming here,” said Jenna.

“I had a few friends from school when I started and now I have all of these amazing camp friends. Camp is an experience you just can’t get anywhere else. Coming to camp has made me feel proud to be Jewish. It is nice knowing that this whole community is Jewish and I feel more connected to these friends because not only are we connected in our friendships, we are connected as a people,” said Jenna. “Some people have vacation homes but for me, Blue Star Camps is my summer home.”

More stories about Blue Star Campers from different parts of the country are  coming soon! Stay tuned!