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SPRING 2007/SIVAN 5767 VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3 THE JOURNAL OF JEWISH LIFE NETWORK/STEINHARDT FOUNDATION

JEWISH CAMPING: NEW DIRECTIONS contact FROM THE EDITOR

SPRING 2007/SIVAN 5767 VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3 Eli Valley JEWISH CAMPING: Editor NEW DIRECTIONS Erica Coleman Copy Editor Janet Mann s Jewish camping has achieved almost universal Administration recognition as a top-notch arena of informal Yakov Wisniewski Design Director education, the camping movement is

JEWISH LIFE NETWORK increasingly focusing on ways it can maximize STEINHARDT FOUNDATION A camping’s potential and broaden its appeal. Michael H. Steinhardt Chairman Rabbi Irving Greenberg One area currently being explored is how Jewish camps can utilize President the best practice methodologies of non-sectarian, private camps. Rabbi David Gedzelman Executive Director These methodologies will not only optimize offerings at Jewish Jonathan J. Greenberg z”l Founding Director camps, but also help them compete with the best private camps. CONTACT is produced and distributed by Jewish Life Network/ Many parents, particularly those on the fringes of affiliated Jewish Steinhardt Foundation, 6 East 39th Street, 10th floor, , NY 10016. life, are more likely to consider the quality of basketball courts All issues of Contact are available for download at www.jewishlife.org/journal.html over the caliber of Hebrew prayer books when weighing various Individual subscriptions are free of charge and are provided as a service to the community. options for their children. To subscribe, please send your name and mailing address to [email protected]. Phone: (212) 279-2288 To capture greater market share from non-sectarian, for-profit Fax: (212) 279-1155 Email: [email protected] camps, Jewish camps must operate by the same principles of Website: www.jewishlife.org For media inquiries about Jewish Life Net- excellence and accountability used by the private sector. These work/Steinhardt Foundation, please contact Richard Dukas at [email protected]. include customer service, financial and strategic planning, Copyright © 2007 by Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation. infrastructure improvement, and professional development

throughout the ranks of camp. The articles in this issue of

CONTACT explore proven practices as well as new directions in

Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation is dedicated to strengthening and transforming Jewish camping that can enable the movement to attract greater American Jewish Life to ensure a flourishing, sustainable community in a fully integrated numbers of American . We understand that camping works. free society. We seek to revitalize Jewish iden- tity through educational, religious and cultural initiatives that are designed to reach out to all This issue of CONTACT asks how we can make it work better. Jews, with an emphasis on those who are on the margins of Jewish life.

Unless otherwise indicated, photos courtesy of contributors. Eli Valley

2 CONTACT JEWISH SUMMER CAMPS: THENext Stage

by MICHAEL H. STEINHARDT

hose of us concerned about the Jewish community’s present offerings — the T outmoded educational outlets, ossified religious services, inert approaches to outreach — can take heart in one of the community’s few areas of potential achievement: Summer camps. Camps instill Jewish identity, and the rea- sons for this are instructive for all of our pro- grams: Camping creates a total Jewish retreat environment away from daily distractions; it emphasizes Jewish joy, celebration and fun; it provides countless Jewish educational opportu- nities between staff and campers and among the campers themselves. Finally, after prolonged neglect, the word is out: camping works. But before we pat ourselves on the back, let’s look at the facts. Our accomplishments thus far IF WE ARE SERIOUS are limited. There are currently 70,000 kids who attend Jewish summer camps. The Steinhardt about building a vibrant Jewish Social Research Institute’s publication of recent population statistics shows that there is now future,and if summer camps are good reason to believe there are 90,000 children in each annual cohort between the ages of 9 and 16. This means that there are a total of 720,000 one of our most valuable resources, potential campers. If we are reaching just 70,000 of these, that’s 9.7 percent — a paltry we need to increase the number of number. If we are serious about building a vibrant Jewish future, and if summer camps are one of our most valuable resources, we need to campers tremendously. increase the number of campers tremendously. I am pleased to hear that the Foundation for Jew- ish Camping is working to double the enroll- ment in Jewish camps. But the goal should be

PHOTO COURTESY OF URJ HENRY S. JACOBS CAMP, UTICA, MS Michael H. Steinhardt is Chairman of Jewish Life Network/ Steinhardt Foundation.

SPRING 2007 3 PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMP LAURELWOOD, MADISON, CT admission that Jewish content at present does not have sufficient value to parents. We are missing an enormous oppor- tunity here. I see two ways of meeting it. On the one hand, we should find ways of creating Jewish content at these camps by working with the camps themselves, even if they are not expressly Jewishly run. At the same time, we have to build new camps that will appeal to these potential campers — first, through secu- lar Jewish camps that will appeal to the majority of non-religious , and second, through top-notch special- ized camps that focus on specific activi- ties in an increasingly niche-oriented industry. Camps devoted to specialized sports, arts and music have high social cache that is important to these families. In addition, is it possible to create camps that welcome both Jewish and non-Jewish campers but that feature a strong Jewish component? Such a project has not yet been attempted, but I feel it IT IS TIME to enlist Jewish entrepreneurs willing to build is a worthy goal if we are serious about increasing the appeal of Jewish camping. competitive Jewish private camps that feature such rich The question has yet to be answered: Can a uniquely Jewish philosophy com- content that they compete with the best secular camps. pete in the presence of non-Jews? This would require developing a camping phi- losophy that embraces the activities and not only to double enrollment, but to do , but also express the rele- interests of campers who are not so within the next five years. And five vance and worthiness of living Jewishly attracted to parochially Jewish content. years from now, if we’ve reached 13 per- in general. And yet, despite the chal- If we succeed, we will have created high- cent, it will be time to double it again, lenge, it is a necessary goal. quality camps that are dynamic enough because we will not be serious about Historically, Jews in the to compete in the open market. As a Jewish camping until it attracts at least have taken great vicarious pleasure in result, enrollment will rise. It is time to one-third of the available cohort. their association with and its role enlist Jewish entrepreneurs willing to There is another major problem in models, one of which is the rugged, out- build competitive Jewish private camps terms of camp attendance, and that con- door pioneer. Although Zionist oriented that feature such rich content that they cerns who the camps are attracting. camps such as those sponsored by compete with the best secular camps. Although there haven’t been scientific Hashomer Hatzair and Understanding that camps are , we can surmise from anecdotal exist, we need to enhance them and cre- enrichment centers not only for campers evidence that the 70,000 children cur- ate additional camps that are infused but also for counselors, we need to push rently attending Jewish camps are com- with the Israel experience in all aspects for new recruitment among college stu- ing mostly from affiliated and committed of camp life, from wilderness hikes to dents, perhaps among homes. In other words, these are the Israeli dance to Krav Maga. alumni, and convince them that camp kids who are least at risk of being lost to I also believe the weakest area of service is part of a greater Jewish mission. our people. It is the usual cycle — with- accomplishment thus far has been the After all, to become role models to the out experiences such as camping, one’s creation of Jewish summer camps for the next generation can only serve to enhance Jewish identity is more likely to become socio-economic elite. The joke is that if the identities of birthright alumni. attenuated. As a result, one is less likely you ask where the real Jewish camps are, In a larger sense, we must continue to prioritize experiences such as Jewish the answer is any camp with a Native to work to increase the quality of all of camps for one’s own children. So the American name. These non-Jewish camps our existing camps. If camps are retreats challenge is not only to double the num- are overwhelmingly Jewish in attendance, of the highest physical beauty, and if bers, but to figure out ways of reaching but they offer zero Jewish content. The they contain the best facilities and families that camps have not succeeded seeming paradox is that these camps accouterments, they will be competitive in reaching up to now. Admittedly, this charge much more than Jewish camps, with the best private sector camps, and is a much more difficult proposition. We and yet they attract more Jewish campers they will begin to attract the majority of must not only articulate the benefits of than Jewish camps. This is a damning eligible Jewish campers. A

4 CONTACT ▲ There’s No Place Like ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲ ▲ SUMMER CAMP

▲ ▲ Jewish summer

▲ ▲ by MAGGIE BAR-TURA

▲

▲ camps have

▲

▲ s Jewish communities and families place creates the possibility of meaning ▲ ▲ demonstrated▲ continue to confront the chal- and, paradoxically, of transcendence. A lenges that come along with the Perhaps this is why one of the names of impact on their blessings of participation in an open, God is Place, Makom, and we describe participants, accepting American society, there is grow- our relationship with God as beyn adam ing recognition of the success of overnight lamakom, between man and Place. PHOTO COURTESY OF BERKSHIRE HILLS – EMANUEL CAMPS, COPAKE, NY PHOTO COURTESY OF BERKSHIRE HILLS – EMANUEL CAMPS, COPAKE, generating Jewish summer camp in developing and But it is increasingly hard to find a nurturing Jewish identity and commit- sense of place, that intersection of time among camp ment. Jewish summer camps have demon- and space in which we feel grounded alumni a fierce strated impact on their participants, and where things seem to be as they generating among camp alumni a fierce should. In a world of cyberspace and passion and passion and loyalty over a lifetime to the global telecommunications, where we magical place they spent their summers. can have a conversation with a friend on loyalty over a We Jews are a people of place. We the other side of the globe who has just lifetime to the became a people, partners in a covenant, awakened to the day that is ending for during our journey toward a particular, us, we feel increasingly displaced. magical place promised place. We marry the concept The transformative power of summer of time to the concept of space to create camp is its ability to provide us with a they spent their sacred places like tchoom , the sense of place. Ironically, by taking us summers. spatial boundaries within which one out of our regular rhythms of time and may carry objects on the Sabbath day. removing us from our mundane spaces, The integration of time and space into summer camp offers us a compelling experience of place. These frequently Maggie Bar-Tura is Chief Operating Officer of the remote settings, where the clock is often Foundation for Jewish Camping. reset to “camp time,” adjust the axis

SPRING 2007 5 ▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲ What ▲are the obstacles to greater participation? ing existing facilities such as college cam- puses and residential schools, such initia- ▲ ▲

How can we help Jewish families choose Jewish tives will provide creative solutions that ▲ ▲

summer camp for their children and recapture enhance program offerings while preserv- ▲ ▲

▲

▲ the sense of place that is central to ? ing the core values and impact of the Jew- ▲ ▲ ▲ ish summer camp experience. How can we enhance the role of Jewish summer Using private sector concepts, the camp in building community? Foundation for Jewish Camping helps non-profit Jewish summer camps com- pete successfully with the wide variety upon which our world turns, changing incentive to encourage Jewish families to of summer entertainment choices avail- our daily experience of fragmentation choose non-profit Jewish summer camp able today. Non-profit Jewish summer and dispersion to one of integration and for their children. The Campership camps are increasingly successful at community. When summer camp Incentive Program was made possible by deepening their penetration of “home” “speaks” Judaism, giving campers and a groundbreaking gift of $15 million that markets, and the FJC annual camp sur- counselors alike a language of Jewishness will be matched by participating commu- vey shows steady growth over the last by which to construct and express mean- nities and other philanthropists to create three years. Opening new and untapped ing, the result is a profound sense of an unprecedented pool of $30 million of markets is the next great opportunity for identity, grounded in a context that tran- new resources to engage additional chil- Jewish summer camp. scends time and space, around the world dren in Jewish summer camp. Camper- Conservative estimates put at more and across generations. This apparent ship Incentive Programs are already up than one million the combined number paradox between place and transcen- and running in six communities for of Jewish immigrants from the Former dence models the creative tension of Jew- Summer 2007, and additional communi- Soviet Union and Israel living in the ish experience: individuals grounded in ties are organizing to join the program United States. Depending on which Jew- local community built around communal for Summer 2008. Furthermore, the ish population census one adopts, this institutions, shared culture and mutual Foundation for Jewish Camping has immigrant population comprises between responsibility and members of a launched a joint venture with the Jewish one-fifth and one-quarter of the American covenantal people connected through a Funders Network to establish a multi- Jewish community. With some significant shared history and a common destiny. million dollar matching grants initiative exceptions, most of this population is Follow-up studies of graduates of Jew- that will seed additional Campership unaffiliated with American Jewish com- ish summer camp movements, from Incentive Programs for Summer 2008. munal life. Many of these parents, young, Ramah to NYFTY and , Financial incentives have been proven highly educated and professionally suc- indicate a strong correlation between a to encourage consumers to try new prod- cessful, feel personally ill-equipped to Jewish summer camp experience and sub- ucts, but the quality of the experience is give their American-born children a Jew- sequent decisions to engage in leadership what will draw campers back for a second ish education at home. The educational positions in the Jewish community, to summer. FJC therefore works with non- approach of many Jewish summer camps choose Jewish communal service and/or profit camps across the Jewish spectrum — experiential, non-coercive, with an the rabbinate as a profession, to join local to help them to succeed in an increasingly emphasis on Israel and the cultural and Jewish communal institutions such as competitive market. The Foundation ethical aspects of Judaism — can be and Jewish community cen- works to strengthen the field of Jewish attractive and appropriate to their needs. ters and to raise one’s children as Jews. camping with new perspectives on profes- Recognizing the potential of this Nonetheless, current surveys estimate that sional development for staff, management untapped, largely unengaged market, the barely one Jewish child in ten attends an and leadership and with the delivery of Foundation for Jewish Camping has overnight Jewish summer camp. new tools to improve customer relations begun to build partnerships with local What are the obstacles to greater par- and camper retention. Work is currently community organizations, foundations ticipation? How can we help Jewish fami- underway to develop fresh approaches to and Jewish camps to reach out to these lies choose Jewish summer camp for their specialty offerings in sports, the perform- culturally rich and diverse immigrant children and recapture the sense of place ing arts, hands-on science, environmental Jewish communities. that is central to Judaism? How can we studies and other program options that Success in this endeavor will yield enhance the role of Jewish summer camp can keep children and youth engaged in important lessons for all American Jews. in building community? The Foundation camp for more summers. These vibrant immigrant communities for Jewish Camping, established in 1998 Furthermore, to meet the anticipated embody the Jewish tension of place: by its visionary founders, Robert and increase in demand by new and returning even as they struggle to ground them- Elisa Spungen Bildner, works to address campers, the Foundation for Jewish Camp- selves and create cultural communities the challenges and seize the opportunities ing is working with a variety of partners to in their new land, they remain part of a to advance Jewish summer camp. establish new summer camps in regions of larger people with bonds to a distant The Foundation thinks globally and Jewish demographic growth. At the same homeland. By inviting them to take their acts locally. It is working with local Jew- time, the Foundation is at the forefront of places at the Jewish table, we may learn ish communities and philanthropists developing new models of Jewish summer from them about identity and identifica- around the country to provide a financial camp in non-traditional settings. By utiliz- tion and we will all be enriched. A

6 CONTACT Total Campers Served

70,000 61,048 62,874 60,000 55,140 57,170 50,959 50,000 48,377

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0 1998 1999 2003 2004 2005 2006

Percentage of Camps and Campers by Denomination

PERCENTAGE OF CAMPS PERCENTAGE OF CAMPERS

6% 8% 9% 15% 1% 0%

16%

12%

0% 1% 1% 40% 2%

46%

20%

23%

CONSERVATIVE HUMANISTIC NON-DENOMINATIONAL ORTHODOX PLURALISTIC RECONSTRUCTIONIST REFORM ZIONIST

SPRING 2007 7 Marketing JEWISH Camping to the JEWISHLY Engaged

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAROM, CLAYTON, GA by STEVEN M. COHEN

he educational impact of Jewish summer camps is widely recognized. By and large, T these camps make significant contributions to enduring Jewish friendships and to the Jewish identities of campers and staff. While educational challenges remain, a more critical challenge lies elsewhere: If Jewish camps are going to expand their impact, they need to enroll expanded numbers of Jewish youngsters. The policy question is how. How can these camps draw greater numbers of campers? What draws campers to Jewish camps, and what can draw even more to these camps? What obstructs attracting the majority of Jewish youngsters who have never attended Jewish camps? And why do many campers decline to return to Jewish camps, after they have attended for one or two summers? To address these tough questions, in the spring of PHOTO COURTESY OF HOWARD BLAS 2006, I was privileged to conduct a study of Jewish parents in the Southern area. The study, sponsored by the Foundation for Jewish Camping and underwritten in part by the Jewish Community Foundation of , was the first to systemati- cally explore who attends — or doesn’t attend — Jewish camps and why. At the heart of the study was a survey sample of 411 Jewish parents with children six to seventeen, drawn from lists of previously screened respondents maintained by Easymail, Inc., a data list manage- ment firm. Research Success Technologies of fielded the web-based study. As far as we could tell, this sample comprised a reasonably repre- sentative sample of Jewish parents in the region. In particular, from a scientific viewpoint, we were gratified to learn that many of

Steven M. Cohen is Research Professor of Jewish Social Policy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York.

8 PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPITAL CAMPS,CONTACT WAYNESBORO, PA them report hardly any connections with conven- or those receiving no Jewish schooling whatsoever. THEY WILL NEED tional Jewish life, allowing us to learn why some Not only do the Jewishly engaged and the attend camps and many more do not. unengaged differ widely in their readiness to attend TO BE SOLD ON In this sample, about 15 percent of the chil- Jewish camps. The appeal of such camps differs dren attended Jewish summer camp the previous widely as well. For the Jewishly engaged, Jewish THE BASIS OF summer, 2005. In fact, consistent with several Jew- camps exert appeal as instruments of Jewish educa- ish population surveys, about twice as many (30 tion. For the less engaged, the Jewish educational CAMPS AS percent) had attended a Jewish summer camp at value of Jewish camping hardly matters. Rather, some point in their lives. they are looking for camps that promise “fun” or PLACES WHERE With that said, the rates of attendance of Jewish that would help “your child grow and mature.” children at non-sectarian (“non-Jewish”) camps are This finding suggests that camps need to send a THEIR CHILDREN much higher — about twice as high as at Jewish balanced message embracing both Jewish educa- camps. Almost twice as many had been to non-sectar- tional impact (which people generally assume) and CAN HAVE FUN ian camps the previous summer, and almost twice as more universal value (about which people, espe- many had ever been to a non-sectarian camp as had cially the less engaged, are more skeptical). AND MATURE been to a Jewish camp. Accordingly, Jewish summer In addition, the less Jewishly engaged express a camps own just one-third of the camping market. The fear of ghettoization. When presented with objec- AS INDEPENDENT challenge for Jewish camps lies not in getting parents tions to Jewish camping, these parents found espe- and youngsters to consider camping. Rather, it is to cially persuasive the argument, “My child should be YOUNGSTERS. get camping families to consider Jewish camping. exposed to all kinds of kids, not just Jewish kids.” Cost is the major barrier to getting potential Jew- The very factors which make Jewish camping ish camp families to even consider Jewish camps. so attractive to communal leaders — their educa- Cost is a bigger barrier for Jewish than for non-sec- tional value and their ability to create life-long tarian camps, and it looms larger as a barrier to the friendships among Jewish youngsters — are those less affluent and to the less Jewishly engaged. Appar- that serve to turn off many unengaged Jewish fam- ently, efforts to reduce costs, especially for first-time ilies. Simply put, campers, hold great potential to expanding partici- non-Jewish-camp pation in Jewish camps, particularly among families families are not who might not otherwise consider such camps. particularly moti- One of the more surprising findings to many vated by Jewish was that most youngsters who attended Jewish educational con- camp last summer also attended a non-Jewish cerns. Rather, they camp the same summer. Most of these, in turn, will need to be were “specialty” camps, rather than all-around sold on the basis overnight camps. Typically, a camper might spend of camps as places two weeks at a Jewish camp, and then head out for where their chil- two more weeks at a non-sectarian camp. And dren can have fun they went elsewhere for a good reason. Parents of and mature as campers who attended both Jewish and non-Jew- independent ish camps were among those most dissatisfied with youngsters. key recreational and other aspects of the Jewish The wide- camp experience. spread utilization Jewish camp-related families differ markedly of non-Jewish from non-Jewish-camp families. Simply put, Jew- camps, even by PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMP KINDER RING, HOPEWELL JUNCTION, NY ish camp families are much, much more Jewishly those also attending Jewish camps, point to the engaged. And therein lies one of the most impor- need for Jewish camps to broaden their appeal. Per- tant lessons in our finding. haps they can devise ways for their campers to As compared with non-Jewish-camp families, spend time with non-Jews. They may well need to the Jewish camp-related families are far more in- improve their facilities to meet the competition married, more ritually observant, more congrega- offered by for-profit non-sectarian camps. In addi- tionally affiliated, and more committed to giving tion, they need to develop alternative camps or spe- their children a . To illustrate, in- cialized tracks that focus on specific activities, such married families sent their children to Jewish camps as certain sports or the arts. They will need to better the prior summer almost four times as often as attend to their current campers, to improve reten- intermarried families. The ratio is the same for syn- tion rates and meet the bourgeoning competition agogue-affiliated versus non-affiliated families. posed by their non-sectarian counterparts. And not Youngsters engaged in more intensive forms of Jew- least, they — with the help of the philanthropically ish schooling (day schools and, in particular, three- minded — will need to find ways to reduce costs, day-a-week supplementary schools) attend Jewish targeting non-Jewish-camp families with limited camps far more than those in less intensive settings, income and limited engagement in Jewish life. A

SPRING 2007 9 The Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy by SUSAN KLINE

love the feeling of well-being Western . From those vis- around the country who were attracted by around a campfire at a Jewish its, he drew several conclusions: First, the opportunity to impact Jewish life, and ‘‘ camp, knowing that along with nonprofit Jewish summer camps are one simultaneously brought in its first cohort I swimming and hiking, these of the most precious resources to foster of Jewish camps eager to take on the chal- campers are learning about Jewish values, Jewish identity and ultimately ensure lenge of self-improvement. Today there is a rituals and traditions.” This sentiment of Jewish continuity. Second, the facilities — staff of eight in the home office, four of philanthropist Harold Grinspoon inspired bunks and communal buildings as well as whom have consulting roles. There are the creation of the Grinspoon Institute fields and other open spaces — are gener- also seven independent consultants who for Jewish Philanthropy, which seeks to ally inadequate. Third, camps are grossly work for the Institute. These consultants improve Jewish overnight camps by help- underfunded. The camps are providing serve as mentors and work hand-in-hand ing them to develop high-performing affordable, informal Jewish education, but with the camps’ lay and professional lead- boards, plan strategically and increase the they are doing so under the radar of the ers to achieve mutually agreed-upon goals. number of donors. The burgeoning three- broad Jewish philanthropic community. The astonishing growth of the pro- year-old program of the Harold Grin- Grinspoon decided to create the Grin- gram, particularly in the area of fundrais- spoon Foundation currently works with spoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy ing, has exceeded even Harold Grinspoon’s 49 camps throughout , with a primary goal of giving camp pro- expectations. In December 2005, the Grin- adding about 20 camps each year. fessional and lay leaders the fundraising spoon Institute launched Meet Your Harold Grinspoon and the Founda- skills and tools to change the picture. Match, its first matching challenge grant tion have long been concerned about Innovative in its approach, the Grin- aimed at motivating camps to do serious how the Jewish world will nurture the spoon Institute set out to provide camps fundraising. Within six months, 26 camps resources to sustain itself. He became par- with one-to-one assistance from expert had raised over $8 million in new gifts ticularly concerned about Jewish camps consultants in the fields of organizational ranging from $10,000 to $50,000+, mostly after visiting several in his region of development (board development, gover- from first-time donors at those levels. nance, planning) and fundraising. Within Added to a 1:2 match from the Harold a short period, the Grinspoon Institute Grinspoon Foundation, there was an infu- Susan Kline is the Director of The Grinspoon Insti- tute for Jewish Philanthropy. hired a roster of talented consultants from sion of over $11 million new dollars into

10 CONTACT the camping world, specifically to fund underway with a number of topics under Grinspoon was thrilled when Mark capital improvements. consideration. Whatever the theme, the Charendoff, the JFN’s Executive Direc- Camps participating in Meet Your camp leaders who attend will have a wide tor, and Jerry Silverman, Executive Match used the new funds to improve range of experience and expertise. To Director of the Foundation for Jewish their playing fields, renovate dining halls, make sure the conference is relevant and Camping, announced a broad matching build and upgrade cabins — and thus exciting for all participants, sessions will grants initiative to dramatically increase increased their ability to attract and recruit be tailored to provide a lot of practical the number of children attending Jewish campers. Kathy Jonas, Executive Director advice and specifically meet their needs. camps. Since 1995, the Harold Grin- of JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood in The Grinspoon Institute is serving as spoon Foundation has offered financial , said, “We have a strong sense of a catalyst to put Jewish overnight camp- incentives for children in Western Mass- the kind of camp we are striving to ing at the center of the Jewish stage. Phil- achusetts who attend Jewish camps. become and the financial support we need anthropic interest in camping, which is Camp enrollment among families in that to make the capital improvements to meet beginning to grow and take many forms, area has quadrupled in the years since. our goals. The Grinspoon Institute has no doubt has contributed to the overall The dream of the Harold Grinspoon challenged us to be our best.” 31 percent increase in the number of Foundation? To fill every bed in every ses- Determined to help those same campers since 2003 — from 48,000 to sion and continue to increase the number camps sustain fundraising energy, the 63,000, according to recent information of campers growing Jewishly in a warm Grinspoon Institute launched Create gathered from 130 camps associated with and fun-filled environment. Fulfillment Your Match, a fundraising challenge that the Foundation for Jewish Camping. of that dream will be an important contri- raised the bar by requiring camps first to At the Jewish Funders Network con- bution toward the vibrant future of Jew- find commitments from donors for over ference in Atlanta in March, Harold ish life and culture in North America. A $25,000 before identifying other donors. With about $4 million pledged to date, the total raised before the program ends by RABBI MITCHELL COHEN in September will likely exceed $8 mil- RAMAH IN THE ROCKIES lion. This means that the camps will have collectively raised $20 million in amp Ramah in the Rockies and the National Ramah Commission are in the midst of an twenty months. For the cohort of camps extraordinary process of creating a new Ramah camp. “Ramah in the Rockies” is likely to that became affiliated after January 2006, C open in the summer of 2010. While these efforts have been ongoing for many years, a major the Institute has created another chal- breakthrough took place last year, when Ramah lay leaders in Denver joined with the lay leadership lenge grant program called Meet Your of the camp in Denver and decided to work together to build two camps Match II, which will extend into 2008. on one incredible site in Deckers, , about 90 minutes southwest of Denver. There’s no doubt that, in addition to The local community in Denver raised the funds necessary to purchase the land and begin the challenge grants, the key to fund- site planning. Ramah is now working to build excitement for Ramah in the Rockies not only in raising success lies in the intensive one- Colorado, but throughout the region of , the Southwest, Mexico and the Rocky Mountain to-one assistance from dedicated consult- region of . ants. In their roles as mentors and The leadership team of Ramah in the Rockies, together with the leaders at the JCC, have coaches, they motivate camp leaders to formed an organization called the “Flying J Ranch,” which is working with both Ramah and the accomplish their goals. Camp Bauercrest JCC to raise the funds, plan the site, and ultimately oversee both camps’ operations on the sin- Executive Director Rob Brockman says of gle site. The Foundation for Jewish Camping has been an important partner. his mentor, “We’ll be eternally grateful to All plans point to the building of something extraordinary on this site, utilizing the natural Alex Sagan for his loyalty and persistence beauty and geological richness of the Rockies, together with outstanding programs and facilities in getting Bauercrest to create a strategic for horseback riding, mountain climbing and biking, rafting, and a full array of sports, swimming, plan and work to implement it.” Other arts, dance and music. Of course, as with all Ramah camps, great emphasis will be placed on goals identified by camps include culti- creating a joyful Conservative religious environment filled with the best methods of informal vating and developing board members, Jewish education. organizing and revitalizing committees, In developing this camp, Ramah will reach out to its Conservative Movement partners focusing marketing strategies, strengthen- throughout the region. With support from the Jewish Theological Seminary, local synagogues, ing alumni relations, and implementing a United Youth groups, and Women’s League and Men’s Club chapters, this new customized donor management software Ramah camp will galvanize greater support for Conservative Movement growth. package from Donor Perfect Online. For many years, Ramah camps in California, , and in other settings in the In addition, lay and professional lead- US and Canada have accommodated children and staff from the Rockies, yet the number has ers have come together for five Grin- been limited for many reasons. It is anticipated that by building a southwestern-style camp in spoon Institute-sponsored conferences, the Rockies, Conservative Jews in this region will see Ramah in the Rockies as their local which provide valuable occasions to net- Ramah camp and that many more families will become affiliated. work and learn. The most recent gather- As with all Ramah camps, Camp Ramah in the Rockies looks forward to inspiring new gen- ing last December in Springfield, erations to love Jewish life and learning, to be more connected with Israel and to contribute to a Massachusetts, drew nearly 200 partici- dynamic and vibrant North American Jewish experience. A pants from all over North America. Initial planning for a 2007-08 conference is Rabbi Mitchell Cohen is Director of the National Ramah Commission, Inc. He can be reached at [email protected].

SPRING 2007 11 JEWISH CAMPING IN GOD’S IMAGE: Opening the (Camp) Gates for All Campers by HOWARD BLAS

s they enter the gates of Camp within the confines of Camp Ramah, cialists. An in-person interview with the Ramah in (CRNE), overseen by the National Ramah Com- Tikvah director is mandatory. A visitors are greeted by a sign pro- mission of the Conservative Movement. Throughout the day, Tikvah campers claiming “welcome” in Hebrew and a Tikvah has its own director and specially participate in the same activities as typi- guard asking for identification. The secu- trained staff, but makes full use of camp cal Ramah campers. Campers begin each rity guard may direct the visitor to the facilities and resources, and it functions day with morning prayers, which are front office, the guest house or to a group as a part of the larger camp community. participatory and musical. Following tour of the picturesque Palmer, Massachu- Campers in the CRNE Tikvah Pro- services, campers attend breakfast with setts facility. What a casual visitor may not gram have a variety of developmental the rest of the camp, followed by bunk know is that the guard, the office worker, disabilities. Many have mild to moderate clean-up. Tikvah counselors accompany the guest house worker and the tour guide mental retardation. Several campers have the campers to activities such as Hebrew all have one thing in common — they are mobility impairments due to conditions singing, Israeli dancing, sports, swim- all graduates of Camp Ramah’s Tikvah Pro- such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida. ming, boating and woodworking. Tikvah gram for campers with special needs. Language processing and articulation campers also participate in overnight For 38 years, the Tikvah Program at difficulties are common. Some campers camping trips and other outings. CRNE has been offering overnight camp- function at a high cognitive level and To help campers keep track of their ing, job training and employment oppor- have no overtly visible disabilities, but activities, the daily schedule, in words tunities to campers with a variety of have autism spectrum disorders which and pictures, is prominently displayed in developmental disabilities, including men- require specific attention. Some have the bunk. Tikvah bunks are fully handi- tal retardation, autism, and neurological genetic disorders such as Down Syn- capped-accessible and have a large impairments. Tikvah, meaning “hope,” drome, and there are also campers with amount of floor space. They contain sin- was founded in 1970 by special educators rare syndromes such as Smith-Magenis gle beds only — not bunk beds as found Herb and Barbara Greenberg, who believed and Prader-Willi Syndromes — condi- in typical bunks. The bunks also have that the program was “a moral responsibil- tions requiring unique expertise and high-quality lighting, air conditioning ity toward those with special needs.” individualized support systems. and specially designed bathrooms. The The Tikvah program, an eight-week Prospective Tikvah campers are care- camper to counselor ratio is about 2.5 to overnight camping program for 13 to 18 fully screened though an extensive 1, with seven or eight campers and two year olds with special needs, takes place application process. In addition to a or three counselors living in each bunk. detailed description of the child’s behav- Tikvah campers benefit from a highly ior and specific conditions, parents are structured, predictable program. Where Howard Blas is Director of the Tikvah Program asked to submit neuropsychological possible, changes are anticipated and at Camp Ramah in New England. He may be reached at 413-374-7210 or by email at evaluations, Individualized Education announced in advance. Tikvah campers [email protected]. Plans (IEPs) and evaluations from spe- often have receptive and expressive lan-

12 CONTACT guage issues and require patient, simpli- and spend their days participating in for younger campers with social skills fied directions. Many Tikvah campers activities with typical campers. Trained deficits. in Georgia spon- have medical issues such as seizure disor- staff provide additional support to the sors an annual week-long family camp ders. In addition, many do not communi- inclusion campers and their bunk mates. for families with autistic children. cate illness or discomfort in the same way The success of the Tikvah program is There is clearly a need for additional typical campers do. Tikvah counselors largely dependent on the opportunity for special needs programs in Jewish camps. must therefore carefully observe campers interaction with the larger camp commu- In order to succeed, camps must first for behavioral changes or other possible nity. Tikvah campers participate in camp- define the range of campers they intend to indicators of illness. Most Tikvah campers wide activities such as plays, dance support. For example, while campers with take medication daily — some as often festivals and Kabbalat Shabbat prayer mobility impairments may require physical as five times a day. This requires ongoing services. Typical and Tikvah campers are modifications to buildings, deaf campers vigilance and close collaboration with often seen walking together, playing may necessitate the hiring of specialists to the camp medical staff. board games on a Since its inception, the Tikvah Pro- Shabbat afternoon, gram CRNE has expanded to include a or watching the THERE IS CLEARLY A NEED for additional vocational training program for select staff softball game 18 to 22 year olds. Members of this pro- side-by-side. This special needs programs in Jewish camps. gram work at job sites throughout camp, past summer, a including the guest house, mail room, twelve year old camper initiated a bat assist in communication. Once a target infirmary and canteen. Vocational service project where she population is identified, it is important for trainees live semi-independently in a assisted Tikvah campers with letter writ- directors, key personnel and the board of house which simulates a group home ing. There are also numerous formal directors to fully engage in the program environment. With the help of advisors, opportunities for interaction: fourteen- and promote it within the camp commu- they participate in cooking, cleaning and and fifteen-year-olds may volunteer for nity. Good communication with staff, fam- other household chores. Graduates of “buddy” and “helper” programs, where ilies and campers is necessary to overcome the vocational training program are they work one-on-one with Tikvah potential discomfort with the special needs often hired as full staff members in sub- campers, while sixteen-year-old campers population. Resources must be devoted to sequent summers. serve as counselors-in-training. the formal training of staff. Experts in the Three years ago, CRNE initiated an A select group of veteran Tikvah fields of special education and the helping inclusion program where campers with campers and alumni participate in a professions should educate staff in cogni- special needs are more fully integrated specially designed, multi-sensory Israel tive and behavioral issues, physical impair- into the camp life. Inclusion campers may experience each December, accompanied ment and socialization. In addition, have developmental disabilities similar by the Tikvah director and several Tik- ongoing support and mentoring of staff to Tikvah campers, or they may have a vah counselors. must take place throughout the summer. range of other, often milder impairments, Several Ramah camps other than Campers with special needs deserve including social skills deficits and lan- CRNE, including those in Wisconsin, an opportunity to experience Jewish guage issues. This summer, two bunks California and Canada, offer services for communal life in a camp setting. The were redesigned to accommodate campers campers with special needs. Camp Tikvah program is a living reminder to with mobility impairments. Selected Ramah in the Berkshires established the the camp community that we are all cre- inclusion campers live in typical bunks Breira Program, a full-inclusion program ated B’tzelem Elokim, in God’s Image. A

SPRING 2007 13 HadagHadagHadag NachashNachashNachash andandand CucumberCucumberCucumber Salads:Salads:Salads:

Creating an Issraelii Bubble by RAMIE ARIAN

ared was awakened from a sound sleep by the rhythmic beat of Hadag Nachash, Israel’s leading hip-hop band, playing on the camp ram-kol (loudspeaker). He rolled over and closed his eyes, but his hope of falling back to sleep was shattered when he felt Ori, his Israeli madrich (counselor) gently shaking his shoulder. “Boker tov (good J morning) Jared,” said Ori. “Time to get up. We don’t want to be late to mifkad (morning all-camp gathering at the flagpole). Together with his bunkmates, and under the watchful eyes of Ori and his American co-madrich, Jared dressed hastily, and shuffled out of the tzrif (cabin) towards the flagpole. The rosh machaneh (head counselor), Ellen, presided over mifkad. As soon as the bunk groups had arranged themselves around the flagpole, she called on each to identify itself: “Tzrif alef — kulanu po (Bunk One, we’re all here).” Ellen then introduced Ido and Efrat, the two tsofim (Israeli scouts), who led the camp in a spirited Hebrew cheer. Efrat, with Ido’s support, then taught the chanichim (campers) how to pronounce melafefon (cucumber) which, she announced, was the “Hebrew word of the day.” Ellen invited tzrif gimmel (Bunk Three), who had won yesterday’s nikayon (bunk clean-up) competition, to take the honor of raising the flags. The madrichim from tzrif gimmel helped their chanichim raise the American and then the Israeli flag, as the entire camp sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” followed by “Hatikvah.” Following mifkad, each edah (unit) went to its own area, where the chanichim from one of the tzrifim led a brief but spirited tefillah (prayer service). In Jared’s edah, today’s tefillah emphasized the centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish tradition. Following tefillah, the entire machaneh (camp) gathered in the chadar ochel (dining hall) for aruchat boker (breakfast). First, the rosh machaneh led the singing of Hamotzi (the blessing before the meal). Then breakfast was served, today featuring an Israeli salad, rich in melafefonim. The meal con- cluded with Birkat Hamazon (the blessing after the meal). Jared, Ori, Ellen, Efrat and Ido are fictional characters, but the activities described above represent an absolutely typical morning at any of the six camps of Young Judaea (www.youngjudaea.org), the Zionist youth move- ment of Hadassah. The mission of Young Judaea is to build Jewish identity and Zionist commitment in young American Jews. Zionist summer camps, like all

Rabbi Ramie Arian serves as National Director of Young Judaea, the of Hadassah. He was the founding Executive Director of the Foundation for Jewish Camping.

14 CONTACT overnight camps, are powerful educational screening and selection and a second time ments which sponsor summer camps are tools, allowing their sponsors to control the to take part in their training. In addition, expressed in the daily program of those entire atmosphere that their campers expe- Young Judaea has a strong, deep partner- camps. Thus, (www.bneiakiva.org), rience, 24/7. Creating an educational “bub- ship with the Tsofim (Israeli scouts) that which sponsors three summer camps across ble,” removed from the otherwise powerful goes back more than 50 years. Like the North America, features a vigorous modern influences of television, internet, commerce, regular Israeli counselors, they are care- Orthodox program that expresses its peer group and even parents, Zionist camps fully selected for their ability to serve as national religious ideology. Canadian Young have the ability to create an all-encompass- attractive, positive role models. Judaea (www.youngjudaea.ca), which spon- sors six summer camps across Canada, is ing atmosphere which expresses their • ISRAELI CULTURE. Playing Hadag pluralist and apolitical, like its namesake ideals, and — for the brief period that Nachash as the wake-up loudspeaker south of the border. Habonim Dror campers participate — makes them utterly music is not a casual choice. In Young (www.habonimdror.org), the labor Zionist normative in daily life. Children who have Judaea, we connect campers with what is movement, which sponsors seven camps experienced the values expressed in this current in Israeli culture. We seek to across North America, and Hashomer bubble are drawn to them with powerfully engage campers not with an idealized Hatzair (www.hashomerhatzair.org), the lasting impact. picture of Israel filtered through the lens progressive Zionist movement, which spon- The fictional camp morning described of our ancestors’ dreams, but rather with sors two, focus their program offerings on a above is illustrative. The camper Jared — a picture of the real Israel, as it is actually progressive, secular that reflects who might be an eleven-year-old pre-adoles- experienced by Israelis. Serving a cucum- their distinct movements. cent who attends public school and whose ber-laden Israeli salad for breakfast is In the sample morning described above, family is Jewishly affiliated but not active — another example of a cultural expression in the space of about 90 minutes, our is expected to have mastered a basic vocabu- that becomes a natural part of camp life camper Jared learns, understands and uti- lary of some two dozen Hebrew words and (though in typical American life, this lizes a rudimentary Hebrew vocabulary; he phrases, simply in order to function compe- would be a very unusual menu choice). tently in his daily environment. And in the accepts and embodies a number of key Jew- actual camp setting, he successfully does so • ISRAELI THEMES. The choice to focus the ish religious values; and he is repeatedly by the second or third day. More important, morning prayer service on “Jerusalem” is exposed to Israeli culture, Israeli language he does so without resistance, nearly with- not casual, but is driven by the camp’s and engaging, attractive Israeli role models. out effort; indeed, almost without noticing Zionist ideology. He feels both the joy and the comfort of that he is doing anything at all. This is • ISRAELI SYMBOLS. In Zionist camps, it engaging in Jewish activity in community accomplished simply because this is what is natural to raise the Israeli flag along- with other Jews. All of this takes place in everyone is doing — this is what is expected side the American flag, and to sing the context of typical daily life in a way that and normative, and there is no one (not “Hatikvah” alongside “The Star Spangled Jared experiences as effortless and totally friends, not parents, not commercials on Banner.” normal. And all of this happens before he TV) to tell him otherwise. has even finished his breakfast! Imagine the Not only will Jared effortlessly master a • ISRAELI LANGUAGE. Using Hebrew is an power that this has when it is repeated and rudimentary Hebrew vocabulary, but important Zionist value, and the choice reinforced 24/7, every day for a month. equally effortlessly, he will accept and to refer to a great many camp people, Jewish overnight camp is one of the most embody half a dozen important Jewish prin- places and activities by their Hebrew powerful means at the disposal of the Jew- ciples. These include the habit of daily names is an expression of this value. ish community to build strong, lasting Jew- prayer, the importance of marking gratitude Jared’s morning is typical for a Young ish identity. Zionist overnight camp is for what we have (signaled by blessings Judaea camp. Like that of its sponsoring among the most potent ways to connect before and after breakfast), the centrality of movement, Hadassah, Young Judaea’s - young people with Israel, and it is a highly Jerusalem (the theme of the morning prayer ism is religiously pluralistic, and without effective means to build in them the desire service), the significance of the Hebrew lan- political affiliation. It is natural that the to visit Israel and to experience it firsthand guage and the importance of Israel. core values of each of the Zionist move- for themselves. A The part of Jared’s morning which is most illustrative of Zionist camps (as dis- tinct from other Jewish overnight camps) is the extent to which a natural, powerful, joyous engagement with Israel is woven seamlessly and (seemingly) effortlessly through the camp program and atmosphere. The following are among the key elements: • ISRAELI STAFF. In Young Judaea camps, it is typical for Israelis to constitute upwards of 25 percent of the program staff. There- fore, it is fairly normative that one of Jared’s counselors is Israeli. Young Judaea places such a high priority on selecting Israelis who are engaging, wholesome and attractive role models that we send our camp directors to Israel twice each year: once to participate personally in their

SPRING 2007 15 Non-Profit Org. Jewish Life Network/ U.S. Postage Steinhardt Foundation Paid 6 East 39th Street Rockville, MD 10th floor Permit No. 800 New York, NY 10016

is not only to double The challenge the numbers, but to figure out ways of reaching families that camps have not succeeded in reaching up to now. Admittedly, this is a much more difficult proposition. We must not only articulate the benefits of summer camp, but also express the relevance and worthiness of living Jewishly in general. And yet, despite the challenge, it is a necessary goal.

— MICHAEL H. STEINHARDT