Ida Crown Students Have Unconventional Summers

 By Gabe Burstyn-

COVID-19 forced the cancellation of popular Ida Crown summer activities such as Camp Moshava and Israel programs, creating an unconventional summer. Despite these losses, students took the opportunity to take online classes, get jobs, run backyard camps, and work in camps.

Senior Matt Okner recognized the cancellations of summer camps as an opportunity to help the community and to run a business. He partnered with his step-brother and ran a daily sports backyard camp for boys. Okner helped parents by taking care of their children for a few hours a day and learned how to run a business in the process.  

Other students, such as junior Gavriel Engel, saw this summer as an opportunity to advance his academics. Engel had planned on going to Israel on a Bnei Akiva program which was canceled because of coronavirus. He decided to skip ahead one year of math, and he studied precalculus for a few hours every day. 

Some students took this opportunity to get job experience by working. Junior Jonah Matanky spent the summer working for his family’s company, Matanky Realty. Originally, Matanky  had planned on going on vacation this summer and taking time to relax. Because of coronavirus,  Matanky’s cruise was canceled, and he saw the opportunity to learn about his family's business instead. “It was a great opportunity for me to look into what it is like to be a professional adult and see the business that my family has built,” Matanky explained.

Some students were able to work in camps despite COVID-19. Senior Mia Herman spent her summer at Keshet Camp at Ida Crown, working with students with special needs. The camp took place daily, with activities such as arts and crafts, trips to the park, and music therapy. The campers and counselors wore masks and most of the activities took place in tents outside of Ida Crown for maximum precautions against coronavirus. “We made the best of a difficult situation,” Herman said. “We were able to take into account the current situation and still have a fun summer.”