Making memories at camp

The sweet memories of summer. Each year, parents struggle with the question, “What will my children do during summer vacation?” Years ago, the kids played outside, unsupervised, from morning till night. Many no longer feel that’s an option. 

According to figures from the American Camping Association (ACA), more than 14 million children and adults attend camp in the United States. They spend their time at more than 14,000 day and resident (overnight) camps. Camp is an $18 billion industry, according to a 2015 ACA Business Operations Report. 

Camp programming is constantly updated to meet the needs of today’s youngsters. According to the ACA, camps have added service and volunteering programs, college planning courses, cooking with food from the camp garden and health and wellness programs. 

And 79% of parents report that camp makes their children feel proud to be Jewish, according to the Foundation for Jewish Camp. 

In the next few pages, Jewish Rhode Island offers a glimpse into Rhode Island’s Jewish camps and a few memories from those who went to camp in years past.