SPECIALTY CAMP 2023 INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN JANUARY 2023!

At JCC Specialty Camps, kids get the chance to focus on the things they love to learn and do. Led by expert instructors and enthusiastic staff, Specialty Camps provide campers opportunities to explore interests and gain knowledge, skills and proficiency. Choose from a variety of exciting one-week options, and customize the summer based on your child’s interests and your family’s schedule. Free swim and gym times allow campers to move around and mix with friends attending other JCC Specialty Camps. Snacks and lunch served daily unless otherwise noted. SPECIALTY CAMP 2023 INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN JANUARY 2023! Take a look at our Summer 2022 Specialty Camps:

Weird Eric Magic and Balloon

GRADES 1-6: July 5-8 (4-day week) | Grades 1-6: August 8-12, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

This summer, professional, family entertainer, Weird Eric will be returning to the JCC, to teach summer camp! This year he will be focusing on not only teaching students magic tricks but helping them to develop their own characters, create routines and build a show! $320

Outside the Box Science

GRADES 4-6: July 5-8, 2022 (4-day week) | Squirrel Hill

Prepare for an interstellar voyage! Plan a mock mission into deep space in search of extraterrestrial life this summer with Outside the Box Labs. Explore the biology of life on earth and apply your discoveries to help mission control decide where to go in search of alien organisms and what to expect. Then, learn about the laws of physics and motion to help design, build and test your own spacecraft landing module to safely deliver your astronaut crew to their destination. In addition all participants and their families are invited to spend an evening with us under the stars, observing the heavens and learning to use our high-quality astronomy equipment. $350

Lost Tribe Esports - Skills and Scores!

GRADES 6-8: July 11-15, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Lost Tribe Esports - Skills and Scores! - Grades 6-8, Squirrel Hill, $375 *NEW* Maccabiah Sports Minecraft specialty camp, in partnership with Lost Tribe, will take your camper on an competitive, interactive, collaborative, and innovative digital camp experience. Kids gather in a private, safe, virtual setting facilitated by a Lost Tribe Minecraft Counselor. Each counselor will lead a group of up to 8 kids through a series of interactive and fun games with olympics and sports themes. Camp will also include a completely custom, camper chosen, build of a sports stadium. Each camper will need a computer, chromebook or tablet and headphones; computer mouse optional, but helpful. Directions will be provided to install Minecraft and access the private server once your child is registered. Game on! $375

Little Veterinarian School & Little Equestrian School

GRADES 1-4 | July 11-15, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Become a paw-some veterinarian! Camp participants will role-play the key responsibilities of a veterinarian and learn how to care for a dog. These future veterinarians will learn how to remove ticks, perform a nose-to-tail exam, understand proper animal nutrition and hydration, suture lacerations, and more! Campers will also learn all about horses and their care from the newest Little Medical School Equine program. Students will adopt and name their plush horse and learn the anatomy and maintenance of a horse. They will also learn basic horse nutrition, riding styles, gaits and role-play and basic key responsibilities of an equine veterinarian. $425

Switch and Signal Skateboarding

GRADES 3-6: July 11-15, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

*NEW* Skateboarding is fun but sometimes elusive. In this camp we get everyone from the beginner to more experienced skateboarder learning new and exciting things. From pushing, riding and turning, to new tricks on flat ground and ramps; there is a new challenge for everyone! We will start by assembling the boards used for the week, learning tricks, and playing skateboard games. Instruction will be facilitated by experienced skateboarders from Switch and Signal Skatepark. All equipment (pads, helmets, and skateboards) can be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment too. We recommend participants wear flat sneakers, such as Vans or a similar rubber soled shoe. $400

Dunk It like it’s Hot! Basketball

GRADES 4-6: July 18-22, 2022 | Grades 1-3: August 1-5 | Squirrel Hill

This camp is a slam dunk! SCORE-USA's team of talented instructors will help give young athletes a fun, fast and exciting introduction to the game of Basketball. Through individual instruction - campers will perform skill development drills focusing on the fundamentals of the game including ball-handling, passing/catching, ball agility, and the foundations of shooting. Campers will practice their skills all week long in preparation for some live play and skill challenges at the end of the week. This is a perfect opportunity for younger players to develop their Basketball skills! $375

Outside the Box Science

GRADES 1-3: July 18-22, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Prepare for an interstellar voyage! Plan a mock mission into deep space in search of extraterrestrial life this summer with Outside the Box Labs. Explore the biology of life on earth and apply your discoveries to help mission control decide where to go in search of alien organisms and what to expect. Then, learn about the laws of physics and motion to help design, build and test your own spacecraft landing module to safely deliver your astronaut crew to their destination. In addition all participants and their families are invited to spend an evening with us under the stars, observing the heavens and learning to use our high-quality astronomy equipment. $400

The Next Hollywood Stars w/ Steeltown Film

GRADES 4-6 | July 25-29, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Let’s make a movie! The experts from Steeltown Entertainment will guide campers through the movie-making process, while allowing them to explore their creativity, develop acting and technical skills, work as a team, and develop critical thinking skills to better express themselves creatively. Over five days, campers will learn the language of cinema, the roles and jobs that go into making a movie, as well as be introduced to the basic technical building blocks needed to make a movie – such as writing, camera, lighting, audio, and editing. They will get the chance to operate gear, and eventually, shoot their own project as a group. Students will also learn how to better appreciate cinema and understand the power motion picture has to inspire and persuade people. $450

Climb with US w/ ASCEND Pgh

GRADES 6-8 | July 25-29, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Campers will have a chance to learn the basics of bouldering, belaying, rappelling, slacklining and more! Campers will spend the week learning perfecting their skills at both Ascend Pittsburgh and at Family Park in Monroeville (transportation provided). Ascend Pittsburgh is a bouldering-centric climbing facility featuring Walltopia and roped climbing on a 24 foot-tall wall. This full day camp will teach leadership skills and team work. The week will culminate with a day trip to Gritstone Climbing and Cooper’s Rock to show what they know and learned throughout this fun, thrilling week of climbing. $450

Snaplology: Developing Engineers & Brick City

Grades 4-6 | August 8-12, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Is your student inquisitive, a problem-solver, a big-thinker, a tinkerer, a puzzler, a LEGO® lover, or a budding engineer? If so, they’re the perfect fit for Snapology’s Developing Engineers: Mechanical Masterminds program! This program gives your student the tools they need to understand mechanical movement through the foundations of simple machines, physics, and engineering design. They will see moving parts up-close as they follow instructions to build various machines, then use the models to develop new design ideas, test out physics concepts, and even play games with their partners and classmates. In the afternoon, campers will participate in Brick City. Does your builder enjoy designing beautiful buildings and cities for their mini-figures? This workshop is the perfect space for your young architect or city planner to sharpen their design and building skills! Students will learn all about the importance of collaboration, careful planning, and skillful execution of their building plans. $375

Kick Art your Summer! w/ Little House Big Art

Grades 4-6 | August 1-5, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Campers will explore working hands on with ceramics, learning about all the phases that clay goes through, what glaze really is, and how a kiln works. Each camper will take home functional pieces. We’ll explore fiber arts through weaving and sewing and design our own three dimensional pieces. Little House Big Art is read to help us get crafty and creative! At the end of the week we’ll reveal our work at the official JCC Art Showcase. $375

Kick Art your Summer Art Camp

Grades 1-3 | August 8-12, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Young artists will spend the week sculpting with clay, jewelry making with a rainbow of beads, stitching, painting, and making the cutest creatures. Little House Big Art brings all the supplies to make great fun and get creative! At the end of the week all our awesome masterpieces will be featured in our JCC Art Showcase.

Summer Sampler w/ Venture Outdoors

Grades 3-6 | August 8-12, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Try your hand at kayaking, hiking, fishing, biking, geocaching and more! Visit Round Hill Farm to meet some animals, make s’mores over your own fire, and more. This camp will take you to a variety of local green spaces around the city, such as North Park, Millvale Riverfront Park, and Round Hill Park.

Water Explorers w/ Venture Outdoors

GRADES 3-6 | August 15-19, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

Love water and ready for adventure? Join Venture Outdoors’ Explorers camp and explore the water by land and by lake. Go kayaking, fishing, identify critters of a creek, discover what makes water so special, and even out sailing at Moraine State Park. This camp will take you to a variety of local green spaces around the city, such as North Park, Riverview Park, and Frick Park. $450

Rock 101 w/ School of Rock

GRADES 3-6 | August 15-19, 2022 | Squirrel Hill

*NEW* Want to play in a band onstage? Our Rock 101 camp is designed for beginners 7-12 years of age. No experience necessary! Students will explore their instruments through musical games and activities. Our nurturing environment makes this the perfect camp for budding musicians. Students will work on songs Monday through Friday and the camp will culminate in a concert at the end of the week for family and friends. $425