It was Monday morning, July 24, 2017.  Midwest NCSY staff had gathered for its weekly meeting. The topic of discussion: How to create a second Springboard trip that would offer all the fun and inspiration of Big Apple Adventure, but in a different location and format so that teens who had already gone on that trip – or who were looking for an alternative – could experience the same sense of meaning, connection and community.

It wasn’t a question that anyone could easily answer. That conversation was followed by dozens more, with local staff, regional staff, JUF personnel, parents, and teens.

And then Hollywood Adventure was born.

Now, nearly seven months later, it’s hard to believe that Hollywood Adventure is just one day away. We’ve booked the tickets, reserved the hotel, organized the meals, planned the activities, arranged the guest speakers, trained staff and advisors – and invited teens from cities throughout the Midwest to join us.

And while there are still dozens of small details to attend to – oh, no, did we tell the teens to pack sunscreen!?! – we’re proud and excited that Hollywood Adventure is about to become a reality.

This weekend, your teen will experience movie magic at Universal Studios, bike on beautiful Venice Beach, tour Hollywood Boulevard and Rodeo Drive, and so much more. And he or she will also have the unique opportunity to meet Jewish personalities who have “made it big” in Hollywood while staying true to – and proud of – their Jewish roots.

As with Big Apple Adventure, we hope that for all participants, Hollywood Adventure will be just the beginning. We hope it will be a “springboard” for further Jewish involvement and connection now, and in the future.

We’d also like to express our appreciation to JUF/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the Jim Joseph Foundation for their generous support of Springboard. A special thank you to the dedicated staff at JUF who has partnered with us in so many ways to make Hollywood Adventure a reality!

We’re ready to hang with the stars. We hope you are, too.

The Hollywood Adventure Team