JCC of Austin

PARENTS BRINGING SMALL KIDS TO THE POOL: I came here to use the pool throughout May 2015 and the lifeguards on duty during that time were barely watching the water and being extremely unprofessional (kissing while on stand). Both of the weekends I was there I noticed things.
Otherwise their meeting rooms were big and always kept clean. It was a nice atmosphere and in general a good community center.

Terrible experience with the very over-​priced summer camp. Our daughter did not like it whatsoever — limited activities, run by 14 year olds, not very enriching (science, nature, crafts, or otherwise). Completely inflexible when we needed to have her away for a week.
Overall, you are much better served and will spend a lot less than $ 2700 on summer camp at virtually any other place — YMCA, Champions, gymnastics, etc.

One of the best things about living in this neighborhood.

I’m not Jewish, but I do work out here. I mainly chose this place for my gym because they have a great outdoor pool. I work out in the morning before work and its never crowded and I almost never have to wait for a or any equipment.
My two issues are the price (it’s a little steeper than your avg. gym) and the swim classes take up most of the lanes in the morning.

THE WORST ATTITUDE — pony up the money. We were looking forward to be part of the JCC and their school. When we called Pearl to ask if they have place in their school said there is and then required us to fill out waiting list ??? (which of course costs +membership fees+registration). Later we stopped by the ECP and were greeted by sourface staff. What is wrong with them? can’t they be more friendly to someone who is going to leave his his kids there. Eek, me not think so.
P.S– we eventually went to Beth Israel Child Development Center — awesome staff and place.

I work here as a personal trainer, but my 5 star rating emanates from my experiences as a member and non-​employee and parent of an ECP student. One of the main reasons I love the J is people say hello to each other, here. And, not just old friends to each other, but if gym users have seen you more than once or twice, you get greeted on a first name basis. And, it is a sincere welcome and fellowship. They welcome you in to their ever-​growing circle. I am not Jewish, but I don’t at all feel like an outsider. My 3 year-​old attends the ECP, and we LOVE that, too. It’s his second year, and his younger brother will enter next year. I feel safe at the J personally, as a mom, and from intruders. The J does a great job of balancing safety with aesthetic subtleties and without compromising hospitality. Mazel tov! L’Chaim. That’s about all the Hebrew I know, and that’s enough to get around the J. :)

The Jewish Community Center is a fantastic place! First of all it’s a beautiful campus, tons of green grass and trees along with wildlife– deer that live there. It makes everything seem more natural and like you are not in the middle of a city.
There are TONS of programs for kids of all ages and it really makes everyone included.
Everyone here is super welcoming, I’m not even Jewish but I’m a member and enjoy everything that it has to offer.

I have worked out here for several years and I love it. It’s a small gym, but has everything you need to get a well rounded workout. They also have an excellent pool and a great running track tucked away in the woods overlooking Far West Boulevard.

my family has belonged to the JCAA for 9 years. We have fond memories of playing at the pool, numerous birthday parties, we belong to a temple there, and we work out there. It is a beautiful campus, and a wonderful community where you can be as involved or as private as you would like. My kids have come to know it as there second home, and whenever we go there to play, or go to an event there — they feel completely safe, they know where to go, and not go, and I know I can trust them.
Activities are numerous, and the community is fun — — young, old, and children…

The campus is absolutely beautiful, and well worth the membership fees, whether you’re Jewish or not, and I echo everything that the first reviewer wrote below. However, it missed by one star because…
My memories of my J growing up were primarily of summers by the J pool, and the pool at the J is fabulous if you’re swimming for fitness, but not so great if you’re a family that wants to hang out in the pool. It’s rare that we’ve gone there just to play around and get wet when we haven’t been moved or shunted to the side by the swim teams, swim classes, lap swimmers, and so on. Except for scheduled pool parties, I feel like families with older kids are somewhat out of place, and for a facility with such a large membership, the pool definitely isn’t the place to hang out.
Camp Shalom is a pretty good camp, if a bit disorganized — arrival times changed from 8:45 to 9:00 am to 8:15 am to 8:30 am, which is a heavy burden for those that are driving a long distance, and my child was often late due to traffic — I REALLY didn’t appreciate the time change, or the fact that it was a verbal time change and all the documentation stated the old time.
The camp is extremely Israel focused, which is not a bad thing if you’re ok with it but if you have political issues with Israel as a country and not as an ideal, it can be a wee bit uncomfortable.
It has also gone through a succession of Directors, with a new one yet again this year. It feels a bit disjointed — for a smaller experience, Session I and 2 are the best, as it seems as if the camp doubles for session 3. I do appreciate that it’s there despite my issues with it, and that my son is getting to know Jewish kids from all over Austin.
Back to the campus as a whole — it is heads and tales above the JCC I grew up in, and the campus is beautiful. The family of deer that seemed to get boxed in by the development on the campus are a special treat — go soon, and you’ll still see two babies running after their Mom.
All in all, and overall, I love the J and appreciate what it, and the Dells, have done for the community in Austin. It’s a wonderful aspect of our local Jewish identity.

Long long ago the Austin Jews used to meet in a little tiny building in North Austin at a recreation center of sorts. However within only a few years the Jewish Community Center has exploded. Located on a gorgeous campus off of Far West boulevard, in a wooded areas that deer’s frequent (I mean it! I’m always trying to drive away from them in my car!), is the somewhat enormous campus of the JCCA. Now home to several Jewish congregations, summer camps, a large scale Jewish book fair, and classes in the arts, not to mention a state of the art workout facility and exercise classes, the Jewish Community of Austin finally has a place to call home.
I walk through there frequently and see people all over, chatting, drinking some of the free coffee and schmoozing. Michael and Susan Dell have been giving the Jewish Community Center quite a lot of moolah, and beautiful grounds and friendly staff do their donation justice.
So looking to find a Jewish community where you fit it? You might want to check out the J, with programs from pre K to the Young Adult Division (known for some pretty cool events like Torah on Tap… go to a bar, drink and discuss religious topics) to those busy late into their senior years, the J can help find the right fit for anyone.