There are so many Jewish summer programs (for ages 6-18)! This means there is something for everyone, including including specialty camps for children interested in:
Sports
Drama and arts
Jewish observance
Music and dance
Nature and outdoors
Water sports and activities
Environmental sustainability
Cooking
Learning Hebrew or Yiddish
Russian or Hebrew Speaking
….and more!
Sessions range from 1 to 8 weeks and every day is full of activity, fun, and friendship!
For teens, options include traditional camp environments, outdoor adventures, social justice work, intensive Hebrew experience, travel around the United States, and travel to Israel.
Search the database of all non-profit Jewish overnight programs listed by the Foundation for Jewish Camp (by interest, geographic location, age, etc.).
To learn more about Jewish Summer Camps and Teen Programs: <campinitiative@iaujc.org>
or Education Director, Temple Beth-El
or Naomi Wilensky, Congregation Tikkun v'Or, and/or connect through them to local families whose children have gone to Jewish summer camps.
Inquire about financial assistance from the camp and apply for a Camp Award from IAUJC if necessary.
Each camp is a little bit different, but below is a list of camps in the area and what some local teens and youth said about their Jewish camp experiences.
ADINA, age 10, attended Camp Young Judaea--Sprout Lake for 3.5 weeks
"My favorite thing about camp is Shabbat Rikud: On Saturday night, when we say goodbye to Shabbat, we do havdalah and then dance for hours. Everyone dances together. If you don’t know the dances, you just follow along and mess up and then you learn them as you go."
ZOE, age 13, attended Camp Sabra for 4 weeks
"The best thing about camp is being with friends, going to the swim dock, tubing, and doing Jewish activities with the whole cabin."
SABINE, age 11, attended Camp Sabra for 4 weeks
"Every day we say the prayers before and after the meals. On Shabbat we dress up and have services."
OBIE, age 10, attended Camp Seneca Lake for 2 weeks
"We say the Hebrew prayers at every meal. It’s easy to learn them when you do them every day."
NOAH, age 13, attended Camp Seneca Lake for 4 weeks
"I really liked wakeboarding at camp. There is never a dull moment – there are so many activities!"
RAIA, age 11, attended Camp Eden Village for 1 week
"At camp I saw that there are so many ways for people to be Jewish."
ELIJAH, age 14, attended URJ Camp Eisner Institute for 4 weeks
"I’ve been going to the same camp for 7 years. The best thing about is it my friends. We all went to each other’s bar mitzvahs."
STELLA, age 14, attended Camp Ramah for 4 weeks
"My time at Jewish summer camp has greatly affected who I am as a person today. I am more confident, outgoing and I can connect with people much easier than I could before."
Teen Summer Experiences and Camps in this Area (a partial list) (* indicates that some local youth have gone/are going to this camp.)
*Camp Shomria –Hashomar Hatzair
*Camp Young Judea--Sprout Lake
*Young Judaea’s Teen Camp: Tel Yehudah
URJ Kutz Camp Leadership Academy
