Senator Bill Weber Spends a Memorable Day at Camp Simcha

As a ranking member of the New York State Senate Disabilities Committee, New York State Senator Bill Weber wanted to witness firsthand the incredible experiences he has heard about over and over regarding Camp Simcha. 

Senator Weber had a memorable visit at Camp Simcha Special in Glen Spay, New York. Camp Simcha Special takes place for nearly two weeks at the end of each summer on the renowned Camp Simcha grounds, where hundreds of children with chronic illness and/or disabilities experience the summer of a lifetime.

The tour of the idyllic facility was guided by Bency Brown, a fixture of Camp Simcha since 1992. Rockland County Legislator Joel Friedman participated in the visit as well, during which the Senator interacted with camp and staffers, even joining in a game of hockey. He enjoyed demonstrations during arts and crafts workshops for pottery and glass-making from campers involved in the intricate, hands-on practice as he toured. 

Seeing the wide range of creative choices available from the well-stocked costume room, where campers and staff choose original ensembles for each day of camp, as well as watching campers participate in a cooking demonstration were memorable components of the visit as well.

Caught up in the wave of overall camp enthusiasm,  Senator Weber addressed the spirited group of campers, counselors, and staff accompanied by exhilarating music and spontaneous dancing reflecting the constant positive vibe of every moment of Camp Simcha Special. 

"The highlight of this tour was experiencing how this camp lives up to its name," said Senator Weber. "I was told that Simcha means happiness, and while these campers live with the tremendous challenges life has thrown them, for nearly two weeks out of the year, they can experience true happiness in an idyllic setting where every day is an incredible and exciting celebration of life. The legendary staff was also something to behold as they gave their all to focusing on each camper and doing whatever they could do to make each camper’s experience even more epic. It was truly an unbelievable day."