The Abrams Announcer

Welcome to our official blog...and your window into the heart of camp life. Here, you'll find the latest camp updates, inspiring stories, and behind-the-scenes insights that capture the magic of our community. Whether you're planning your next adventure or just curious about the camp experience, The Abrams Announcer is your go-to source for all things camp. Dive in and join our journey!

Family & Community

Join a community that feels like family. Read stories about our family-oriented events, community projects, and the supportive environment that brings everyone together for lasting memories.

❄️ Snow Day Camp Challenge ❄️

Turn your snow day into camp memories (and earn $100!) The storm is coming, and snow days have a lot in common with camp. Cozy moments, creativity, and a little bit of magic when routines slow down. So we’re turning this weekend into a Snow Day Camp Challenge and inviting our camp families to join the fun.

Team JCC Abrams

6 days ago2 min read

Big Breakthroughs and Small Wins: What Growth Looks Like at Camp

At camp, “breakthrough” might mean deep water or the rock wall, or it might mean one brave bite and a calmer drop-off. Here’s why the small wins are the big story, and how camp helps kids surprise themselves.

Ilyssa Thomas

6 days ago3 min read

What It Means to Be a Nonprofit Summer Camp

When families begin researching summer camps, one detail often gets overlooked: whether a camp operates as a nonprofit or a for-profit organization. Understanding what “nonprofit” really means helps families make more informed choices about wher

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 153 min read

Why Summer Camp Costs What It Does

For many families, summer camp is one of the largest seasonal expenses they will consider. It is also one of the most thoughtful decisions parents make each year. When tuition numbers come into view, it is natural to pause and ask questions. Why does camp cost so much? Why do prices vary so widely? And how do families decide what is actually worth it?

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 154 min read

What Parents Notice After the First Three Weeks of Summer Camp

By about week three, patterns begin to emerge. Not because camp is magic, but because time, consistency, and community have had a chance to do their work. Here is what parents often start to notice.

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 154 min read

Why a Summer Camp Job Is a "Real Job"

Let’s clear something up right away. Summer camp jobs are fun. Really fun. They involve laughter, movement, inside jokes, songs you did not expect to know by heart, and the kind of energy that comes from spending your days outdoors instead of behind a desk. They are also very real jobs that require responsibility, professionalism, and care. Both things can be true at the same time.

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 154 min read

How to Know If Your Pre-K or Kindergarten Child Is Ready for Full-Day Summer Camp

For many parents, deciding whether a Pre-K or Kindergarten child is ready for full-day summer camp can feel like a big decision. Even families who have had positive preschool experiences often wonder whether a longer day or a new environment will be too much.

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 144 min read

How to Choose a Summer Camp: A Parent’s Guide to Finding the Right Fit

Choosing a summer camp can feel overwhelming, especially when many programs sound similar on the surface. Rec camps, sports camps, specialty programs, school-based options, day camps, and sleepaway camps are all designed with different goals in mind.

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 143 min read

Children play tug-of-war on grass, wearing summer clothes. Text overlay about a summer camp in Lower Bucks County possibly in New Jersey.

The Best Summer Camp in Lower Bucks County Might Actually Be in New Jersey

For many Lower Bucks County families, the best summer camp option may not be the closest one. Increasingly, parents are looking just across the river to New Jersey for a deeper, more traditional camp experience.

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 144 min read

Mah Jongg Makes a Comeback in Mercer County

More than just a game, Mah Jongg offers meaningful benefits for both the mind and the community. New lessons at JCC Princeton Mercer Bucks are helping players connect, learn, and play.

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 133 min read

A Parent’s Guide to the Top Summer Camps in Mercer County, NJ

A Parent’s Guide to the Top Summer Camps in Mercer County, NJ. What families should know before choosing a day camp and why one program continues to stand out.

Ilyssa Thomas

Jan 135 min read

Golden Age Member Spotlight: Florence Lipstein - Happy 100th Birthday!

There is an old adage that says, “If you need something done, ask a busy person.” Florence Lipstein is certainly that person. As she celebrates her 100th birthday on December 19, her talents, skills, and compassion are evident in everything she has so generously undertaken.

Abrams Author

Nov 20, 20252 min read

Thank YOU for helping us give back all summer long!

This week we are giving thanks for the ability to make the world a better place. At camp, giving back happens all summer long.

Abrams Author

Nov 20, 20251 min read

Golden Age Member Spotlight: Sarah Traugut Gordon

I had an Orthodox upbringing and spoke fluent Yiddish. My father treated me like a “princess” and drove me back and forth to school four times a day. Perhaps he was so close to me because I replaced his two-year-old and four-year-old daughters killed in the Holocaust.

Abrams Author

Oct 15, 20253 min read

Team JCC PMB Shines at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Mini & Junior Maccabi Games!

We are incredibly proud of Team JCC PMB and all they accomplished! A special shoutout goes to our Junior Soccer Team, who took home the silver medal after an incredible day of competition.

Abrams Author

May 5, 20251 min read

Wishing Our JCC PMB Athletes Good Luck at the Mid-Atlantic Mini & Junior Maccabi Games!

This Sunday, some of our youngest and most passionate athletes will represent JCC of Princeton Mercer Bucks at the Mid-Atlantic Mini & Junior Maccabi Games

Abrams Author

May 2, 20251 min read