Understanding Jewish Summer Camp

Ask someone who went to sleepaway camp what they remember most, and you might hear about swimming, campfires, Color War, or the time something completely ridiculous happened in their bunk.

But give them another minute, and chances are they'll start talking about people.

The friend they met when they were nine. The counselor who made them feel like they belonged. The bunkmates who turned an ordinary Tuesday into something memorable. The songs they still know every word to, even though they haven’t sung them in 30 years.

That's a big part of what makes summer camp special. And Jewish summer camp adds another dimension: a community where Jewish traditions, values, and culture become part of everyday life.

There are many different kinds of Jewish camps, and they don't all approach Judaism the same way. But at their best, they offer children something wonderful: a place to have fun, become more independent, build friendships, and feel connected to a community.

What does a typical day at Jewish camp look like?

Mostly, it looks like summer camp!

There might be swimming, boating, sports, arts and crafts, cooking, music, hiking, theater, or a hundred other activities, depending on the camp. Campers eat together, live together, play together, and spend an extraordinary amount of time laughing together.

Some camps offer a little bit of everything. Others focus on particular interests, like sports, the arts, outdoor adventure, or culinary experiences.

And while the activities are important, some of the best parts of camp happen between them.

It's the conversation walking back from the waterfront. The laughter around the dinner table. The friend who helps when something hasn't gone quite right. Or the counselor who notices that a camper is having a tough afternoon and finds a way to turn things around.

Those moments don't usually make it into a camp brochure, but they're a big part of why children love camp.

And, of course, there are the traditions. Every camp seems to have its own collection of songs, celebrations, competitions, and activities that would make very little sense to someone who wasn't there. That's part of the fun.

What do children really get out of sleepaway camp?

One of the wonderful things about camp is that children have an opportunity to discover how capable they really are.

At home, parents are naturally involved in just about everything. We remind our children what to bring, help them solve problems, and sometimes step in before they've had a chance to figure things out for themselves.

At camp, children have a little more room to navigate life on their own.

They learn to live with other people, take responsibility for their belongings, make decisions, and work through the inevitable complications of friendship.

And there will be complications. Someone will feel left out. Two friends will disagree. A camper will be disappointed about something. That's not evidence that camp isn't going well. Often, it's where some of the most important growth happens.

Good counselors help children navigate those moments rather than simply making every problem disappear.

Over the course of a summer, children can discover that they're more resilient, more capable, and more independent than they realized.

And parents get to see their children return home with a little more confidence in themselves.

Do children need to be religious to enjoy Jewish camp?

No! Children don't need to be religious or have a formal Jewish education to enjoy Jewish summer camp.

Jewish camps welcome families with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Some campers come from very observant homes. Others celebrate a few holidays each year or connect to Judaism primarily through family, culture, and community.

Different camps approach Jewish life differently. Some emphasize prayer and religious observance, while others focus more on Jewish culture, traditions, values, and community.

And here's the wonderful thing: if you're looking for a camp that's Jewish in the way your family is Jewish, chances are there's one out there for you.

The key is finding a camp where your family feels comfortable and your child feels at home.

How is Jewish life part of the camp experience?

One of the interesting things about Jewish summer camp is just how different the Jewish experience can be from one camp to another.

At some camps, prayer services, Jewish learning, and religious observance are central parts of the daily schedule. At others, there may be very little formal worship. Jewish life might be expressed primarily through Shabbat celebrations, music, traditions, shared values, and the experience of being part of a Jewish community.

And there are plenty of camps somewhere in between.

At one camp, children might attend services every morning. At another, their most visible Jewish experiences might be a lively Friday night celebration, singing together after dinner, and gathering for Havdalah on Saturday evening.

Neither approach necessarily makes for a better camp. They're different experiences, and understanding those differences can help you find the right fit for your family.

But Jewish life at camp isn't only about religious observance.

It's also about the values that shape how people treat one another.

Respect. Kindness. Integrity. Caring for others. Repairing the world. Being a good friend.

These are Jewish values, but they're also pretty good instructions for living in a bunk with ten other children.

A camper who includes someone feeling left out is putting those values into practice. So is a counselor who helps two friends resolve a disagreement, or a group of teenagers who spend part of their summer raising money to help other children attend camp.

At its best, Jewish camp makes those values something children experience, not just something adults talk about.

Explore Jewish Traditions & Camp Life →

Why do camp friendships last?

There's something different about making friends when you live together.

At home, children may see their friends at school, sports, or an occasional sleepover. At camp, they’re together for much of the day. They share meals, activities, celebrations, and the ordinary routines of daily life.

They also get to know one another without the constant presence of phones and social media.

They talk. They laugh. They make up games. They have disagreements and work through them. They learn which friends are great at cheering them up and which ones can make them laugh when they're supposed to be quiet.

Friendships can develop quickly when children share so much of their lives.

And those relationships often extend beyond the campers themselves. Counselors become mentors, role models, and sometimes lifelong friends. Older campers help younger ones. Children return summer after summer and find themselves part of a community that grows with them.

It's one reason the last day of camp can be so emotional.

Children who were nervous about leaving home a few weeks earlier may now be crying because they don't want to leave camp.

That doesn't happen for every child, and not every friendship lasts forever. But the experience of building close relationships and finding a place where you belong can stay with children long after summer ends.

The best part? It's supposed to be fun.

We've talked a lot about independence, friendship, values, and personal growth. Those are all important reasons parents choose summer camp.

But they're probably not the reasons your child is going to be excited about it.

Your child may be thinking about the lake, the climbing wall, cooking something delicious, making new friends, or staying up just a little later than usual.

And that's exactly as it should be.

Children don't need to spend their summers thinking about how much they're growing as people. They need opportunities to have fun, try new things, build friendships, and enjoy being kids.

The growth often happens along the way.

That's one of the wonderful things about camp.