by Lisa David The Foundation for Jewish Camp released preliminary findings last week from their recent research study Jewish Camp for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs, which maps current, potential, and desired camp program opportunities for children with disabilities/special needs. The study paints an encouraging picture of the field of Jewish camping, highlighting a variety of models that successfully provide meaningful Jewish camp experiences to children with diverse needs. The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Camp and Israel Programs are committed to providing a positive Reform Jewish summer experience to all children, including those with special needs. The FJC study found that parents of children with disabilities/special needs feel strongly that providing a uniquely Jewish … [Read more...]
Preliminary Research Released on Special Needs in Jewish Overnight Camp
The Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) has unveiled key findings from a survey and in-depth interviews mapping current, potential, and desired services available to children with emotional, intellectual, and physical disabilities at nonprofit Jewish overnight camps across North America: Jewish Camp for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs. The research reports that the majority of those involved in camp - including staff, campers, and parents - care about this issue and want more options for this group. It also found that while the field is making progress in the types and amounts of services offered, there is still more to be done. According to the survey, the field of Jewish camp is currently serving roughly 2,500 children with special needs and physical disabilities. While the numbers … [Read more...]
What Can Schools and Synagogues Learn From the Successes of Tefilah Education at Camp?
What can schools and synagogues learn from the successes of tefilah education at camp? Or, How did camp help me become a praying Jew? [ReFrame, an initiative of the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary, strengthens complementary schools, such as those housed in congregations, through the approach of experiential Jewish education. ReFrame asked a wide range of leaders in Jewish education to contribute to the initiative by addressing a series of questions related to the application of the experiential techniques which seem to serve so well in Jewish summer camps, Israel experiences, youth groups, and other popular settings associated with an experiential approach. The following article is one of the responses received. To learn more about ReFrame … [Read more...]
Extending the Camp Experience Beyond the Lake
[ReFrame, an initiative of the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary, strengthens complementary schools, such as those housed in congregations, through the approach of experiential Jewish education. ReFrame asked a wide range of leaders in Jewish education to contribute to the initiative by addressing a series of questions related to the application of the experiential techniques which seem to serve so well in Jewish summer camps, Israel experiences, youth groups, and other popular settings associated with an experiential approach. The following article is one of the responses received. To learn more about ReFrame visit the website.] by Rabbi Mitchell Cohen One of the most important overarching goals for Jewish education is to inspire … [Read more...]
Mission Possible: Strengthening Congregational Schools through a “Camp-Like” Approach
by Dr. Zachary Lasker For 18 summers straight I had the pleasure of working in a Jewish summer camp where I sat at an epicenter for Jewish living and learning. From that seat I got to work with a lucky slice of the Jewish population who attended camp. Encouragement came from the studies of Jewish camp by great researchers such as Steven Cohen, Ariela Keysar, Barry Kosmin, Amy Sales and Leonard Saxe who demonstrate an inspiring association between the camp experience and a positive Jewish identity and commitment to Jewish living and learning. In my current work at The Jewish Theological Seminary I have the opportunity to serve the full spectrum of settings in which Jewish education occurs, and face the reality that most children enrolled in a program of Jewish learning are in congregational (or … [Read more...]
JTFN Welcomes 38 Camps into Philanthropy Initiative
New York, March 4, 2013 - The Jewish Teen Funders Network (JTFN), a youth philanthropy project of the Jewish Funders Network, has awarded grants to 38 Jewish summer camps around North America. As participants in the Camp Philanthropy Program, these camps, which cross all denominational lines, will receive $1,000 of funding and leadership training to develop high-quality teen philanthropy programs. Each of the 38 participating summer camps will create a Jewish teen foundation, in which campers work together as a “foundation board,” giving away real money to nonprofit organizations of their choosing. These programs empower and educate teens about effective philanthropy and Jewish values, and JTFN will work closely with grantees on program development and staff training. Throughout the … [Read more...]
