Frequently Asked Questions

The Foundation for Jewish Camp defines a Jewish camp as one that is sponsored by a Jewish institution, linked to Jewish agencies, or otherwise expressing an overt Jewish mission. Other than that, Jewish camps have mostly the same facilities and activities as non-denominational overnight camps.

The Foundation for Jewish Camp works with Jewish summer camps in North America that are nonprofit, have an explicit Jewish educational mission, celebrate Shabbat in some fashion, educate campers and staff with a love of Israel, and offer a multi-year program that encourages campers to return year after year and grow over time within the camp community. Camps that are interested in being listed on our website send us a request. After confirming that the camp meets our criteria, we are happy to list them and to invite them to apply to participate in our programs and activities.

Nonprofit camps invest all money earned back in to the camp. Private camps are businesses so any profit made goes to the owner or shareholders. In general, nonprofit residential camps may be slightly less expensive than private residential camps. Nonprofit camps may have greater access to incentive-based and need-based scholarship resources.

There is a Jewish summer camp for every child. No matter your level of Jewish observance or practice, there is a Jewish camp where your child will be comfortable and gain a strong sense of Jewish identity. Some camps are part of specific Jewish religious movements such as Modern Orthodox, Reform and Conservative. Some camps are focused on Zionism and the role of Israel in Jewish life. Other camps have a more general focus on building positive Jewish identity experiences through Jewish culture. Please use our helpful Find a Camp directory to find the right camp for your child.

There are a number of specialty Jewish camps focusing on everything from basketball to environmentalism to music as well as camps that offer specialty programs within the general camp. Learn more here.

There are a number of reputable special needs programs available at Jewish summer camps. Some camps even have an inclusion specialist on staff for the summer. You can search for special needs programs in Find a Camp.

Jewish summer camps vary in price. The price is often affected by the region, the length of the session, and trips out of camp. Most camps cost between $500 and $1,000 a week. Many camps offer financial assistance and there are outside organizations including local synagogues and federations that provide camp scholarships. Please explore our Scholarship Directory for more information.

While FJC has helped private groups set up scholarship programs in a number of cities as well as advocate for greater scholarship allocations in many different Jewish communities, we do not give direct assistance to families. Please consult the Scholarship Directory to find scholarship opportunities for you child. You should also ask your child’s camp director about any camp specific scholarship programs. We encourage you to contact your local Jewish Federation and synagogue to see if they offer camp scholarships.

Camps offer one, two, three, four, six and eight week sessions. Some camps offer one-week "taste of camp" sessions for their youngest campers.

Kashrut (Jewish dietary law) policies vary depending on the policies of the movements, synagogues, and organizations with which the camps are affiliated. Most camps will make accommodations for any special diet or allergy issues your child may have.

This is a very personal question that only you can answer. Camps range from campers entering 2nd grade to campers entering 11th grade. Sometimes younger children feel more comfortable at camp if they have an older sibling or friends from school there. The American Camp Association offers a useful checklist to help you decide if your child is ready for camp. Please click their link to view the checklist. http://www.campparents.org/righttime.php

Ask for references and talk to currents campers and their parents. Also look for camps that have been accredited by the American Camping Association or in Canada a Province-based Camp Association. These organizations make site visits and provide guidelines to camps on best practices and procedures. It is always useful to visit the camp you are thinking of sending your child so you can see everything for yourself. Additionally, be sure to inquire as to the duration and depth of the required staff training sessions at camp as well as the kind of background checks the camps utilize for staff that work with children.

Each camp has a different staff recruiting and hiring process. Jewish camps try to hire "home grown" staff members, campers who have been through the program and are able to best be a role model along the lines of the camp's mission. Many camps hire staff from accredited international staffing agencies, including the Jewish Agency for Israel, Camp America, CCUSA, and others. The International staff may or may not be Jewish. Feel free to ask the camp what screening measures they use when hiring staff. Almost all camps have a staff training week prior to the summer.

FJC is not an accreditation body for Jewish camps. You should carefully consider which camp offers the facilities and program that will be best for your child. There are several accreditation bodies, including the American Camp Association and its Canadian equivalents. We encourage you to ask the camps you are considering for accreditation and parental references.