Welcome Growth Spurt in Jewish Overnight Camping Initiative

This summer, CJP’s Campership Incentive Program will grow exponentially, aided by a $1 million challenge grant from the Foundation for Jewish Camp. CJP will provide $1,000 incentive grants for 350 first-time campers, helping them create memories they will treasure for a lifetime.

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Jewish Camp Creates Jewish Lives

An exciting youth initiative at sites throughout the Greater Boston area.  

Jewish camping has a magical effect on kids. It's an environment where Jewish values are learned and lived simultaneously. Campers experience dynamic role models, a broad community of friends and diverse skill-building activities.

Why Does Jewish Camping Matter?

One of the greatest challenges facing the Jewish community of North America is ensuring the Jewish identity of our children. Studies show that participation in quality Jewish camping is associated with increased Jewish identity, affiliation and engagement.

Jewish youth have the opportunity to explore their interests and talents in an environment in which campers are exposed to Jewish practices and can experience Judaism in a new setting.

Why send your child to a Jewish educational overnight summer camp?

Jewish overnight summer camps are more than just “fun.” Environment, programming, relationships and traditions weave together, creating a “complete Jewish space.” Combined Jewish Philanthropies believes that Jewish camps have the potential to transform the lives of campers, their families, their congregational communities and the Jewish community.

What is the Combined Jewish Philanthropies Educational Camping Initiative?

The Initiative provides financial support for synagogue families sending their child to Jewish overnight camp for the first-time.

The program is funded by the No’ar Committee of CJP’s Commission on Jewish Learning & Engagement, a committee dedicated to engaging post-bar and bat mitzvah-aged teens with the support of an $1,000,000 grant from The Foundation For Jewish Camp.

Launched in 2004, the Initiative is currently recruiting at 21 sites for summer 2010. Click here to see if your synagogue is involved.

What is the Foundation for Jewish Camp?

The Foundation for Jewish Camp, a public foundation, is the only national organization dedicated to nonprofit Jewish resident camps, advancing program and leadership excellence to camps, and access to vibrant Jewish experiences for campers. The Foundation helps raise awareness and support for Jewish summer camps, highlighting their successful track record for building powerful Jewish commitment in young Jews, ensuring future Jewish continuity. FJC works with more than 130 camps, 62,000 campers, and 12,000 counselors across North America to further its mission.

www.jewishcamp.org
 
CJP is very grateful to the Foundation for Jewish Camp for providing this grant that is enabling the Camping Initiative to partner with a larger number of congregations and provide support for more and more first time campers at Jewish educational overnight camps.

How is my synagogue involved?

Each congregation will be able to award incentive grants to families, made possible through a generous grant from CJP’s Commission of Jewish Learning & Engagement.

Community grants

Not affiliated or my congregation is not listed? Not a problem. In addition, CJP is offering grants to families who are unaffiliated or who belong to congregation we are not currently partnered with. Families must live in CJP’s service area and all of the same grant criteria apply. Please contact edp@cjp.org for more information.

Who is eligible for funding?

Any child planning to attend Jewish overnight summer camp for the first time, for a three week or longer session and whose family is a member of a participating congregation is eligible. A family can participate regardless of their financial need. This program is directed at children who are not students at a Jewish day school.

This initiative is funded by CJP’s Commission on Jewish Learning and Engagement.

Please click here for contact information for the participating Camping Initiative sites

Want to send your kids to camp this summer?
Click here to apply for a community grant.