Camp: Strong, flourishing, important

I have been extraordinarily fortunate to be involved in camping in one way or another for the past 25 years. From the age of 4 to 15, I grew up as a camper at a local Jewish overnight camp. In the subsequent 15 years, I have worked in nearly all aspects of camping from camper care to unclogging toilets. In this time I have found what I believe to be three universal truths about camping. Camping is not a fee-for-service industry rather it is an investment into a child’s social and emotional 401K. Camping is among our best weapons to combat xenophobia and anti-Semitism. Camping stands as a professional benchmark for the rest of the nonprofit world. Using data from various camping benchmarking projects it is clear that camping in North America is not only strong but is flourishing. 

Camp is not a fee-for-service industry, rather it is an investment in a child’s social and emotional well-being. I remember as a kid coming home and having various family and friends comment on how much I had grown or how tan I was. While physical changes may be a part of the camp experience one thing that is a constant is emotional and social growth at camp. Younger campers hone their sharing skills, learn empathy, practice teamwork and deal with a cornucopia of emotions. At the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s J-Camp 2018, one of the weekly special visitors was an animal expert. During this visit, campers of all ages held and touched various reptiles, including 5-foot snakes, alligators and lizards. They had to learn to take turns and “share” the animals. During color week, we learned that sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, what really matters is how you handle it. Our staff is trained in teaching the skills of coping and understanding, among many other social and emotional skills, with the hope that all children end the summer more resilient and adaptive then when they began. 

Camping is among our best weapons to combat xenophobia and anti-Semitism. As a Jewish educator, I find the rise of global anti-Semitism and xenophobia troubling and also an opportunity. Our number one weapon in fighting anti-Semitism is education and commonality. At the Alliance, our camp programs enjoy nearly full enrollment, yet only about half the campers identify as Jewish. As Jewish professionals, we have the sacred duty to educate non-Jews about what it means to be Jewish, the richness of our peoplehood, and the fact that while we may be different from others that is not a bad thing. We have an opportunity to teach tolerance and acceptance, while kids of all creeds and color play together.

The camping industry stands as a professional benchmark for the rest of the nonprofit world.

The Foundation for Jewish Camp, the American Camping Association and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation publish reports on various trends, camp statistics, successes and opportunities. According to the 2017 ACA Annual Report, camp in North America had a direct economic contribution in amounts totaling $3.2 billion. Of the over 4,500 parents surveyed, 91% reported that their kids showed an increased independent function,  93% reported an increased ability to interact positively with others, and over 90% reported a deeper spiritual connection. Camps also invest in young staff members and beyond. ACA reports that over 40 universities in the United States alone have an ongoing professional development relationship with area summer camps and over 46,000 continuing education and internship credits have been awarded since 2016. FJC offers yearly professional development for staff and volunteers. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation offers free strategic planning for camps undergoing capital campaigns, board restructuring and staffing changes. Since 2000, North American camping has seen unparalleled growth. In an age of declining synagogue affiliation, declining Birthright participation and troubling Pew Studies, Jewish camping has bucked the trend.

Here at the Dwares Jewish Community Center, we have been enjoying record enrollment. Our summer camp and J-Cation (school vacation) camps run at or near capacity with life-changing results. At J-Camp we seek to instill in every child a sense of purpose, a variety of new skills, and the courage to leave their comfort zone and try new things. We cannot wait for Summer 2019, to begin this journey again.

AARON GUTTIN is the camp and teen director at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. For more information on the Alliance’s camps contact Aaron at aguttin@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 140