S’mores and starry nights. Color wars and cabins. Swimming and singalongs.
There is a special kind of magic that is camp. You make lifelong friends, have memories that last forever, and cultivate independence over those few weeks that informs who you are for the rest of the year. It is as if an entire universe is created every summer.
There have also been studies that show that children who attend Jewish camps tend to have a more connected Jewish life as adults. When we think about the future of the Jewish community, we can look to Jewish camps as a place where many of its future leaders will have spent their summers.
Have a great July and happy camping!
Lindsay
The Atlanta Jewish community is regarded as a “powerhouse” when it comes to promoting and supporting Jewish overnight camp. In addition to having a robust network of Jewish overnight camps in our region — Camp Barney Medintz, Camp Ramah Darom, URJ Camp Coleman, Camp Judaea, and URJ Six Points Sports Academy — Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta is a national leader in raising funds to help send kids to camp.
In 2024, Federation’s Jewish Camp Initiative:
✔ Awarded 386 first and second-year One Happy Camper incentive grants (One Happy Camper® is a incentive grant program of Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC), funded in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.
✔ Raised $1.5 million for campers and their families
✔ Is on target to raise $1.5M for 2025
While our regional Jewish overnight camps offer wonderful choices for immersive Jewish summer experiences, Federation tuition assistance is not limited to the southeast. Kids who want to attend an overnight Jewish camp outside our region can also apply for financial support. In addition, Federation’s Camp Concierge provides free, personalized guidance to help you choose from among eligible Jewish camps around the country, including camps that specialize in things like arts, sports, sci/tech, and inclusion for special needs.
Federation prioritizes financial assistance for Jewish camp because we understand that the fun and immersive nature of camp has a profound impact on the Jewish future, turning kids into kind, connected, and confident young people with a very high likelihood of Jewish engagement as they move through their teens, college, and adulthood. We know that the friendships, values, and skills kids learn at camp can last a lifetime.
Leah Stinson, Manager of Federation’s Jewish Camp Initiative is herself a product of Jewish overnight camp. “I was a camper at Ramah Darom’s Gesher program and came back on staff when I was in college. Being at camp, surrounded by Jewish friends while participating in Jewish activities, shaped who I am today. Today, I absolutely love helping Atlanta Jewish kids get to Jewish Overnight camp, whether it’s helping them choose a camp that might be a good fit or help with the financial costs of camp. I have a unique perspective, as my children were past One Happy Camper first year incentive grants and scholarship recipients. I really connect with parents who are seeking support and I know how powerful the benefits are.”
Rabbi Elana Perry, Federation’s Director of Jewish Education, sends her daughter, Lilah Perry, age 14, to Camp Coleman. She says it is a special, magical place for her. “This is her 4th summer there, and throughout the school year she was counting down the days until she could return ‘home’ to camp. It’s a place that is joyfully Jewish, a place where she can express herself freely and grow as a person, and a place where she has built the kind of meaningful friendships that one can only find at camp,” said Rabbi Perry. “I love that she can be carefree (and screen-free), and that she can have so much FUN in a safe and loving environment, all while strengthening her sense of pride in being Jewish. As a parent, I’m so grateful for the gift of Jewish camp!”
“Atlanta’s commitment to camping runs deep,” Leah Stinson says. “Our Jewish overnight camps are full this summer and we know they’ve helped kids bounce back from the isolation and loneliness of the pandemic. I’m proud that Atlanta was the first in the nation to increase our One Happy Camper grants from $1,000 to $1,500. Federation has established Jewish camp as a Targeted Philanthropy so donors can direct their generosity there.”
If you’d like to make a gift to our Jewish Camp Initiative, click here.
Now in its 13th summer, In The City Camps offer a Jewish day camp option that packs the best aspects of overnight camp into a fun and immersive day camp routine. CEO and founder, Eileen Snow Price has her finger on the pulse of the changing needs of Jewish kids and families. She has shaped In The City Camps to be a joyous refuge for children that reflect the kind of activities that kids want today and infused camp with Jewish values that promote connectiveness and B’tselem elohim, the inherent value of every child.
In The City Camps literally started in Eileen Price’s backyard! As a mom who loved overnight camp, Price adapted its best ideas — counselors who are role models, a bunk “feeling,” daily activity choices, color war, inclusivity, and independence. This year, In The City Camps will enroll 720 kids (ages 5 and up) and 160 staff this summer. It is one of the largest and most diverse Jewish camp options in the metro area and one of the largest employers of Jewish youth in Atlanta. There are five separate bus routes that bring kids to Atlanta Jewish Academy, where the camp is based.
While 95% of campers are Jewish, you don’t have to be Jewish to feel you belong at In The City Camps. By design, the camp is open individual differences and needs. “We are a very comfortable place for kids who are on the spectrum, who are socially ‘outsiders,’ or not connected to the Jewish community,” Price says. “This year enrolled a lot of Israeli kids from families who came to Atlanta for respite after the October 7 attacks. “Camp has helped them assimilate and feel at home. Another version of being inclusive is that we recently enrolled a refugee child who came to us from a displaced persons camp in Africa. He spoke not a word of English, but now is fluent and thriving!”
Every day at camp there are 20 adult-led activities. “Kids make their own schedules and decisions about what they want to do. It fosters autonomy and exposes kids to new skills and experiences. We’re always changing and evolving. We instituted wood working this summer and found it gave our kids a real sense of accomplishment. It’s now one of our most successful programs,” Price says.
In The City Camps receives an annual allocation from Federation’s Partner’s Fund and deeply values the financial support. “To us it means partnering with the organization that is truly the backbone of Jewish Atlanta. We are thriving and growing as a result of their investment.” Your gift to The Partners Fund supports In The City Camps, and other Jewish day camp options in Atlanta.
Foundation for Jewish Camp Foundation for Jewish Camp works with Jewish camps and summer experiences from all streams of Jewish belief and practice to promote excellence in their management, programs, and enrollment by providing thought leadership, professional development, funding, research, data, and inspiring innovation.
MJCCA Day Camp Ideal for rising Pre-K through 9th graders, MJCCA campers have fun making friends, gaining new skills, building self-confidence and independence, and creating memories that last a lifetime.
JIFLA Since 2010, Jewish Interest-Free Loan Association (JIFLA) has been assisting community members in achieving financial stability with interest-free loans. One of the many reasons that families seek JIFLA support is for summer camp tuition, and Atlanta Jewish Foundation fundholders can serve as guarantors to make opportunities like this happen. If you are interested in guaranteeing a loan through JIFLA, please reach out to us.
ATTENTION ATLANTA JEWISH FOUNDATION FUND-HOLDERS!
Enhancing Your Security We are enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) in the near future. This adds an additional layer of protection to your confidential information. In addition to a password, you will be asked to provide a one-time verification code. If you have any questions, please contact Tova Baruch tbaruch@jewishatlanta.org
Federation Women’s Journey to Morocco
November 5 – 13, 2024
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Community Conversations
November 13 More details to come soon