Summer is Here!

Summer is here!

Note from Andy: This month, in place of my regular column, I invited Denise Wolf, JCC Executive Director, to share her thoughts. 

Summer is here! The sun is certainly shining at Logan, the JCC’s summer campus, AND at our main campus on Gypsy. Step out into the sun and join us for so many fun programs outside and in, for families, kids, adults, and more!

Opened on May 28, Logan’s pool is ready for, among other programs, our monthly Family Movie Nights, Adult Karaoke, Bingo, Live Music, and Late Night Swim. Weekly, join us for Thursday Trivia Nights, Sand Volleyball for Teens and Adults, Catchball, and S’More Saturday Nights. We also have added a handful of special events throughout the summer: BBQ’s celebrating Independence Day and Labor Day, Sip & Paints, and a season-ending Pool Pawty for our four-legged friends. And you can even enjoy a beer, wine, or cocktail at the pool this summer! We do have some serious swimming going on, too: our Logan Ducks swim team, swim lessons, and early morning Lap swim in July and August (swim at sunrise!). We also have a Youth 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament next to the pool.

June 6, Camp JCC will begin our best summer yet! From our returning Camp Director Tiffany and Assistant Camp Director, Marissa, and our new Program Coordinators, Kori and Kevin, our Camp Leadership Team (all of whom are educators at Akiva Academy during the school year) has been planning a summer to remember for months. Some new activities this summer include field trips, archery, tennis, and trips to Logan pool multiple times a week!

If the inside is more your speed, our main campus will be buzzing too. Our 5 STAR Early Learning Center has more little learners than we have had for a few years. Our Infant/Toddler classes are at capacity and our preschool classes still have some space available. There is also plenty of opportunities to get healthy! Try working with a personal trainer or a nutrition coach.  Or try Pickleball - we have organized open play and a Ladder League. The J. Newman Levy Speaker Series returns this summer with a variety of exciting presentations. The Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Art Gallery will host fascinating exhibits that you can enjoy while joining us for a poetry workshop, the Susan Kanterman Book Club, or one of our Aging Well programs we offer in conjunction with Jewish Family & Community Services. Music and dance, too!

I have to give a big shout out to the JCC’s Advisory Board Chairman, Alan Mirkin, and our board members for their support and direction. Our lay leadership is the best! Thank you!

As you can see, there is no being bored when you are part of our JCC community. Work hard, play hard, and then get a massage. Don’t miss our JCC Open House at Logan Campus and Main Campus June 18 and 19. Check us out, you won’t be disappointed. And when the summer is over we still have our Dash & Splash 5K Family Fun Run/Walk in August. I hope to see you in the Art Gallery, the pool, in the Fitness Center, or anywhere at the JCC soon. Happy Summer 2022!

Denise Wolf
JCC Executive Director