You may know her from JCC Chicago's international sensation sing along video of The Hope, featuring Rick Recht, or you may simply know her as the Director of the Apachi Village Day Camp. Andi’s camp has been described as "the camp version of a hug.” Andi has been involved in Jewish camping her entire life and her passion for camp and kids shines thru during our conversation.

Jamee Smith is the Director of Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp. Jamee and Matt discuss how they both found their way to JCC camp and the life changing impact it has had on them, as well as thousands of campers and Counselors throughout the years.

This week on the Apachi Camp Cast, Matt speaks with Beth Miller, Director of City Camping for JCC Chicago Apachi Day Camps. Beth’s career in camping goes way back to her days as a Unit Head at Z Frank Apachi day camp, and even further back as a camper, including several summers at Camp Chi overnight camp. Matt and Beth discuss community and values at camp before getting into the important topics, like Mahjong and sneakers!

This week Abby Ashkenazi, Jewish Educator at JCC Chicago, speaks about her time living in Israel and her passion for Hebrew and building community through the JCC. Matt and Abby discuss our Apachi Ivrit Hebrew Immersion program at the Apachi Evanston Day Camp, as well as how Israel, Hebrew and Judaism are all interconnected. Abby has spent her career making Hebrew and Israel accessible through JCC Chicago, and her passion shines through in this episode! 

In this very personal episode of the Apachi Camp Cast, Andrea and Matt discuss the difference camp has made in their lives and in their families, and how camp provides the kind of community, support and growth that we need now more than ever. Summer 2020 is Andrea’s 23rd summer at Apachi Day Camp! Andrea's passion and experience has built Apachi Evanston into the diverse range of summer camp programs that it is today, and her leadership has built a team of staff that makes it all come to life summer after summer.

Camp is life for Abbe! She’s grown up in Jewish camping and in this episode, Matt and Abbe discuss how camp has helped prepare them both for life in so many ways. Abbe is the Director at Apachi Old Town and Assistant Director of Programming for Apachi Day Camps.

On a special Sunday episode of the Apachi Camp Cast, the tables have turned as two veteran Camp Counselors from Apachi Rogers Park, Meir and Dov, interview Matt about his extensive sneaker collection and why he came back to JCC summer camp after a few years working in the for-profit world. This episode has a lot of energy as Meir and Dov discuss their favorite parts of camp, including freeze pops, gaga, and what it’s like to be a role model for the campers.

This week on the Apachi Camp Cast: Matt Steinberg, Director of Apachi Evanston & Apachi Rogers Park, speaks with David Pollak, Director of Apachi Evanston Sports Camp, about why he's been a part of Apachi every summer since Kindergarten and the people that make Apachi Evanston such a special place.

Join your favorite Apachi day camp staff and special guests for weekly insight into the people and programs that make JCC Chicago Apachi Day Camps the best place under the sun!