Jacks, jump shots and Judaism at camp

Ask any child what the best time of year is, and he will say summertime. For many, summer means spending time outdoors, and across North America hundreds of thousands of kids will do so at camp.  Over 75,000 of them will attend a nonprofit Jewish overnight camp. For these kids, Jewish camp is just plain fun, but it’s really much more than that – it’s camp with a soul.  While they are racing down the zipline, singing under the stars, and making lifelong friends they also learn values like self-confidence, independence, and leadership that stay with them long after the last campfire of the summer.  At Jewish camp, campers explore their connection to Judaism in a fun and meaningful way while having the time of their lives.  

Choosing a Jewish camp can ease the often painstaking process of deciding what your child should do this summer. With options ranging from traditional sleepaway camps to specialty camps (including sports, arts, outdoor adventure, and more) to camps with special needs programs, there is one to fit every child and family requirement and spectrums of observance. Alumni cite Jewish camp as a place they matured, were free to be themselves, tried new things, and began to love and enjoy Judaism.

As a study released by the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) demonstrates, camp is an essential part of the formation of a child’s Jewish identity as well as an important component in building a strong Jewish community. This research on the long-term effect of camp analyzed areas of adult behavior and attitudes including synagogue membership, observance of holidays, donating to Jewish charities, and connection to Israel. FJC found that, as adults, Jewish camp alumni are:

45% more likely to attend synagogue at least once a month

55% more likely to feel very emotionally attached to Israel

30% more likely to donate to a Jewish charity (as compared with adults who did not attend camp)

More and more communities are realizing the power of Jewish camp and making it a priority by getting involved in FJC’s One Happy Camper program. This program provides families with need-blind grants of up to $1,000 for sending their children to one of over 155 nonprofit Jewish overnight camps for the first time. Apply for yours today at OneHappyCamper.org.

Since 2006 nearly tens of thousands of campers have experienced Jewish overnight camp thanks to the One Happy Camper incentive program.  Almost 60 percent of these campers would have opted for a non-Jewish summer experience (including staying home) if not for this pioneering recruitment initiative, and 62 percent of these families were not affiliated with their local Federation, thus One Happy Camper and camp are providing a portal to Jewish communal engagement. Plus, 82 percent of past incentive recipients returned to camp for at least a second summer!  

“Jewish camp gives children the opportunity to engage with the fun and joyous aspects of Judaism,” says Jeremy J. Fingerman, CEO, Foundation for Jewish Camp. “We are thrilled that Federations, synagogues, and other groups are seeing the power and importance of camp for the Jewish community in the long-term.”

Find out more about Jewish camp and browse the Find a Camp feature at JewishCamp.org.

WENDY ARONSON is currently the executive director for the Young Philanthropist Foundation, a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging youth in philanthropy by creating opportunities for kids and families to give back to their communities. This article was published when she worked at the Boulder (Colo.) JCC as the assistant executive director and is reprinted with permission.