Camps and Summer Travel Programs
Reform | Conservative | Orthodox | Zionist | Unaffiliated, Specialty and Community Programs
Reform
Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute
The Reform Movement's Midwest Region overnight camp for kids entering grades 3-12; offers different programs depending on age and area of interest.
555 Skokie Blvd.
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: 847-509-0990, ext. 25
Fax: 847-509-0970
Email: osrui@urj.org
Website: www.osrui.org
Conservative
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Co-ed overnight camp, summer campus for the Conservative movement. Jewish values and observances, a full range of activities: 4-week sessions for grades 5 and 6 and 8-week sessions for grades 7-11. New 3 1/2-week session for grade 5. Kosher meals. Shabbat observed.
65 E. Wacker Place Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-606-9316
Fax: 312-606-7136
Email: registrar@ramahwisconsin.com
Website: www.ramahwisconsin.com
Tikvah Program (Camp Ramah)
For Jewish teens, 13-17, with learning difficulties, including Asperger syndrome; 4-week or 8-week recreational, educational and social experience in a traditional camp setting.
65 E. Wacker Place Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-606-9316
Fax: 312-606-7136
Email: registrar@ramahwisconsin.com
Website: www.ramahwisconsin.com
United Synagogue Youth
USY Summer Programs
820 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-533-7800 x1149
Email: schwartz@uscj.org
Website: www.usy.org/programs/escape/
USY on Wheels
6 ½ week trip with specific tracks that allows kids to explore North America with other Jewish teens. Youth travel in coach buses, and spend most night’s stay in accredited hotels and home hospitality. All meals are Kosher.
Summer in the City
33 day trip to New York City for 11th and 12th graders with study at Barnard College and the Jewish Theological Seminary four days a week. Students stay in JTS's Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall, which is fully supervised
Orthodox
Camp Moshava of Wild Rose, WI
Four-week sessions for campers entering grades 4-12; 8-week option for high school campers. Shomer Shabbat and Glatt kosher.
3740 W. Dempster St.
Skokie, IL 60076
Phone: 847-674-9733
Fax: 847-674-9736
Email: moshava@moshavawildrose.org
Website: www.moshavawildrose.org
Yeshivas Hakayitz
An Orthodox overnight summer camp for boys in grades 6-9. Teen Kollel program for boys in grades 10-12.
7135 N. Carpenter Road
Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: 847-982-2500
Email: yhk@htcnet.edu
Website: www.htc.edu
Camp Agudah Midwest and Camp Bnos Ma'arava
An Orthodox overnight camp in South Haven, Mich.; separate 4-week sessions for boys and girls grades 4-11.
3555 W. Peterson Ave. Suite 109
Chicago, IL 60659
Phone: 773-478-7470
Fax: 773-478-7591
OU-YACHAD
One month program for high school students and YACHAD students that tour the West Coast including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Yosemite National Park. Yachad/NJCD is dedicated to addressing the needs of all individuals with disabilities and including them in the Jewish community.
Yad B’Yad West Coast Adventure
11 Broadway 13th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 212-613-8369
Email: yadbyad@ou.org
Website: www.ou.org/ncsy/njcd/summer.htm
Zionist
Habonim Dror Camp Tavor
Jewish overnight camping in Three Rivers, Michigan, for ages 9-17. Kibbutz-like environment with kosher meals.
2755 Wingate Lane East
West Bend, WI 53090-2026
Phone: 800-55-TAVOR
Fax: 262-334-0736
Email: execdir@camptavor.org
Website: www.camptavor.com
Camp Young Judaea Midwest
The Zionist youth movement summer camp in the Midwest sponsored by Hadassah. Mini-sessions available.
4711 Golf Road Suite 600
Skokie, IL 60076
Phone: 847-675-6790
Fax: 847-679-5286
Email: director@cyjmid.org
Website: www.cyjmid.org
Unaffiliated, Specialty and Community Programs
B'nai B'rith Beber Camp
Coed overnight camp in Mukwonago, WI for children 7-17; wide variety of sport and water activities.
666 Dundee Road - Suite 308
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: 847-677-7130 or 800-803-2267
Fax: 847-498-5137
Email: info@bebercamp.com
Website: www.bebercamp.com
Camp Chi
Affiliated with the JCC's of Chicago, the coed camp is located in Lake Delton, WI for ages 9-16. Camp includes mini-sessions and Jewish programming.
5050 Church St., Skokie IL 60077
Phone: 847-763-3551
Fax: 847-763-3680
Email: bfinkel@gojcc.org
Website: www.campchi.com
Camp Henry Horner (JCYS)
Overnight and day camps with a variety of activities, weekly field trips, B’nai mitzvah lessons, Shabbat services.
26710 West Nippersink Road
Ingleside, Illinois 60041
Phone: 847-740-5010
Website: www.henryhornercamp.com
Camp TOV
Take your summer from ordinary to extraordinary at Camp TOV! This social service "day camp on wheels" allows you to make a difference in Chicago in just one week. Feed the hungry, visit the elderly, help the environment and learn about the social service needs of Chicago, all while having fun, meeting new friends, developing leadership skills and earning community service hours for school. Become a Tikkun Olam Volunteer at Camp TOV!
For more information or to request an application, contact:
Brett Klugman
30 South Wells Street, #5042
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-357-4928
Fax: 312-444-2086
Email: BrettKlugman@juf.org
Website: www.juf.org/teens
JCUA - Or Tzedek
JCUA's summer program for teens interested in hands-on social justice work! Or Tzedek offers a unique summer experience for Jewish high school students looking to address urban issues such as poverty, racism, inadequate housing, health care and environmental justice through hands-on service and high-level learning:
- Work with Chicago’s diverse communities
- Explore Jewish approaches to social justice
- Develop leadership skills and meet amazing activists, rabbis and organizers
- Examine urban issues and their impact
- Enjoy Chicago in the Summer!
610 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-663-0960 ext. 110
Fax: 312-663-5305
E-mail: OrTzedek@jcua.org
Website: www.OrTzedek.org
Etgar 36 Summer Journey
A 36 day summer cross country journey for all Jewish teens, including graduating high school seniors. Discover your political voice and power to create change by seeing the sights, meeting the people, understanding and debating the issues that make up America. ETGAR 36 is dedicated to developing the future Jewish political voice by taking Jewish teens on journeys throughout America, developing their identities, and empowering them to get involved politically and socially to change the world.
P.O. Box 2212
Decatur, GA 30031
Phone: 404-456-6605
Email: Etgar36@etgar.org
Website: www.etgar.org
American Jewish Society for Service (AJSS)
Make a difference this summer! Build low-income houses, live with other Jewish teenagers and explore a new corner of the U.S. The American Jewish Society for Service is an innovative summer program of community service by Jewish teens. We are proud to carry on the vision of our founders, offering an outstanding experience of tikkun olam (repairing the world) in our six-week summer camp work projects.
Rena Convissor
10319 Westlake Blvd., Suite 193
Bethesda, MD 20817
Phone: 240-205-5940
Email: info@ajss.org
Website: www.ajss.org
PanimWorks
Rachel Meytin
6101 Montrose Road, Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 301-770-5070
Fax: 301-770-6365
Email: rachelm@panim.org
Website: www.dcjam.org
PanimWorks: DC JAM, on the campus of The George Washington University, is a leadership training program for teens passionate about politics, community service, activism, and Judaism. Become a leader in the political world and the Jewish community today! Learn about key issues impacting the U.S. and the world through interactions with leading U.S. policymakers and experts, while exploring the connection between Judaism and advocacy. Participate in meaningful hands-on service projects, while earning community service-learning hours. Develop the skills to pioneer change and impact the issues you care about. Two 2-week sessions or a four week session (including a bonus opportunity of a placement in DC agency) will be offered for students currently in grades 10-12. www.dcjam.org
Contact: Reisa Shanaman 301-770-5070, x 217 or dcjam@panim.org
PanimWorks: Southwest is a cultural exchange and community service program on a Native American Reservation in the American Southwest. Make a difference as you live in rustic accommodations on a Native American reservation, interacting with members of the Zuni and Hopi Nations while working together to promote positive change. This trip in the majestic Southwest includes hands-on service projects as well as outdoor recreational activities. Make lifelong friends and learn about the ethical values that define Jewish life while earning up to 45 community service-learning hours. Three sessions will be offered for students currently in grades 9-12. www.panimworks.org
Contact: Hershel Cohen 301-770-5070, x209 or panimworks@panim.org
Keshet
Day and overnight camping experiences for children and young adults with disabilities.
3210 Dundee Rd.
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: 847-205-0274
Fax: 847-205-1530
Email: abbie@keshet.org
Website: www.keshet.org
Szarvas Fellowships
The Szarvas Fellowships brings Jewish high school student leaders from North America to the world's largest international Jewish summer camp, located in beautiful Hungary. The Americans attend the camp as equal participants with their Jewish peers from around the world, making friends, having fun, and expanding their horizons. They spend time enjoying the warm camp environment, and exploring different Jewish communities in the world today.
Applications are encouraged from all North American cities and from all Jewish cultural and religious backgrounds. The Fellowships are open to high school students who will be completing 10th or 11th grade.
711 Third Avenue, 10th Floor
NY, NY 10017
Phone: 212-362-3361
Email: info@szarvas.org
Website: www.szarvas.org
Camp Simcha/Simcha Special
Year-round support services to families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Kosher, medically supervised overnight camps for seriously ill children and teens.
6600 N. Lincoln Ave. Suite 300
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
Phone: 847-763-1818
Fax: 847-763-1820
Email: midwest@chailifeline.org
Website: www.chailifeline.org
Foundation for Jewish Camping
Clearinghouse for information about nonprofit Jewish overnight camps; financial and programmatic resources without regard to denomination or sponsorship.
15 West 36th Street, 13th floor
New York, NY 10018
Phone: 646-278-4500
Fax: 646-278-4501
Email: questions@jewishcamp.org
Website: www.jewishcamp.org
