The first Jewish summer camp in American goes back to 1893 and was a Jewish girl’s summer camp.  It was founded by the Jewish Working Girls Foundation Society in New York. 

• The first overnight summer camps were designed to offer a change in environment for Jewish children living in dense urban areas (like tenement houses).  They were akin to fresh air programs and combined spirituality, recreation, and education.  

• The secondary goal of these turn of the century summer camps was also to help Jewish immigrant children acclimate to life/social norms of America.   

• The next wave of Jewish summer camps (20’s, 30’s 40’s 50’s) introduced targeted Jewish educational components.  Among the first two camps in New York were (Cejwin Camps – started by an independent Jewish community center, and Camp Boiberek, a Yiddish camp). Camps with Zionist, Socialist, and Hebrew emphases soon joined these camps. 

• Jewish denominational camps with the goal of educating the children of their specific community came next.  The first was Camp Ramah, a Conservative Movement camp, in Conover, Wisconsin.  The second Ramah camp was in the Poconos (1950) and then Connecticut (1953). 

• The first Reform Movement summer camp was founded in 1952 and went by the name Union Institute in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.  It is now named Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI).  [And it’s my home camp!] 

• During the 1960’s there were 90 new Jewish summer camps. Then between the 1970’s and 1990 there were very few new camps started.   

• Currently, there are Jewish summer camps that span a huge range of camper interests.  There are Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Orthodox camps.  There are sports camps, science camps, LGBTQ+ friendly camps and more – all trying to cater to a Jewish clientele. 

• It is estimated that there are 166 non-profit Jewish overnight camps (in 2018) which serve more than 80,000 campers. 

• Did you go to Jewish summer camp?  In her book the Jews of Summer, Sandra Fox cites a staggering number that 43% of Jews went to summer camp!   

• 2008 study found that those who went to camp were more likely to light Shabbat candles, give Tzedakah and marry Jewish spouse.  Camp-Works-FINAL-PDF.pdf   A 2010 study found that 2/3 of Jewish leaders went to Jewish summer camp. 

***Camp facts gleaned from How Summer Camp Became A Jewish Thing | My Jewish Learning and 

The little-known history of Jewish summer camp – Unpacked 

• What are some benefits to attending a Jewish overnight camp? 
• Have you seen summer camp play a part in networking, shaping identity, Jewish learning, or Jewish involvement? 
• Did you have a summer camp experience?