What’s New This Year at Jewish Overnight Camps
The AJT surveys some of the most popular summer camps to find out what’s in and what’s out in 2024.
With surveys showing that kids who attend overnight Jewish camps stay more strongly connected and engaged with Judaism, it’s understandable why parents value the Jewish camp experience and why the camps prioritize additions and improvements to their facilities and programs. For Georgia’s Jewish kids, families have several camp choices in the region. Here’s a taste of what campers can look forward to this summer.
Camp Barney Medintz
A program of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Camp Barney Medintz is the largest of the Jewish overnight camps in Georgia, and situated on 500 acres in North Georgia. As part of a $36 million JCC capital campaign, Camp Barney received $9.7 million for facility and structural improvements that include: rebuilding and renovating camper cabins, rebuilding bathhouses, constructing a 30-bed adult housing building, and improving infrastructure.
According to Camp Barney Executive Director Danny Herz, by the time camp begins this summer, no camper will live in a cabin more than nine years old.
“For a camp that’s been around 61 years, that’s an incredible commitment to updating facilities and making sure we take care of children. We want to give them a fantastic programmatic experience, a fantastic Jewish and spiritual experience, but we also want them to feel taken care of, and that includes the physical space.”
The new adult housing building is a unique asset that Herz says addresses “how to care for staff, how we can attract and retain fantastic professionals who are able to give us their summer to impact young Jewish people at camp.”
Additionally, a new one-day Discovery Day program for pre-camp age kids is being introduced for children who have completed kindergarten. On Sunday morning, June 23, these young campers will board a bus at the Marcus JCC and get a taste of camp life at Camp Barney with activities and lunch in the dining hall before returning in the afternoon.
Camp Coleman
According to URJ Camp Coleman Director Amy Smyler McFarland, campers can look forward to a number of new and exciting things this summer, including an expansion of the camp’s outdoor adventure program called Coleman Quest. A 12- day experience designed for seventh- to eighth graders, the program will be in its third year, and this summer Coleman will launch Quest Jr., a seven-day program for rising fifth- to sixth graders.
Says McFarland, “Grounded in the phrase Chazak v’Amatz (Be strong and courageous), Quest campers seek to push beyond their limits and expand their comfort zone both above ground and below. Activities in and out of camp help campers develop an awareness of who they are, what they can do, and who they can become.”
Additionally, Camp Coleman, which is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and also located in the north Georgia mountains near Cleveland, Ga., is expanding its circus arts program to include aerial silks. It’s also reworking the daily schedule to include Chofesh (free time) every day.
Camp Ramah Darom
On its list of physical improvements, Camp Ramah Darom, situated on 128 acres in North Georgia, reports that its tennis courts are being updated to accommodate pickleball, now the fastest growing sport in the nation. It is also in the process of raising money to rejuvenate its waterfront to include new docks and a blob tower, water slides, and more kayaks and canoes for campers to enjoy.
This summer, Ramah Darom plans to expand on the success of its 2023 Ramah Bamah musical theater program, in which campers staged a production of “Into the Woods.” For two weeks campers rehearsed and learned how Judaism interacts with musical theater. This year, 13 campers are already signed up for the theater program. Teens entering eighth and ninth grades are encouraged to apply.
Ramah Darom recently announced a new professional development initiative for returning summer staff to leverage camp experience toward their career path. La’a lot Ramah (Level Up) Fellows will receive individualized career coaching, work with field experts to sharpen their professional skills, and create innovative staff programs.
Blue Star Camps
Located in Hendersonville, N.C., Blue Star Camps is making camper health and well-being a priority and is continuing to expand its mental health care approach with three licensed clinicians onsite. Drew Fidler, senior director for the Center for Adolescent Wellness, who works with organizations such as BBYO, will help with training at Blue Star. According to Blue Star Camp Director Seth Herschthal, “We’re expanding the team and bringing our mental health care protocols, policies and procedures up to date. It’s pretty exciting.”
Blue Star is continuing its “greening” efforts with the installation of solar panels on top of its HeRo Amphitheater, which will power the center of camp where many programs take place, as well as powering the electrically heated pool. In addition, Blue Star is updating cabins and building out the mountain biking trail network that serves different biker levels.
With the building of a third campsite that includes a shelter, padded floor, and a campfire pit, all campers will go on an overnight camping trip at least once, says Herschthal. Finally, the pickleball program, featuring a new stand-alone pickleball court, will now be an actual elective activity with an instructor.
Camp Judaea
Described as a small, Israel-centered camp community, Camp Judaea is situated in Hendersonville, N.C. According to Camp Director Lori Zeligman, campers will be offered a new adventure when its low ropes course, featuring a bridge over the creek and a new seating area, is ready. CJ Lake is getting new amenities with upgraded docks by the inflatables with wood decking and benches and the addition of a new AquaGlide trampoline.
Israeli Staff
Many of the camps are wondering whether they will be able to add the enriching presence of Israeli counselors and staff as usual. A Camp Judaea newsletter to families reiterated its commitment to educating campers and deepening its commitment to Israel and stated that it is dedicated to having a delegation of Israeli staff and plans for the Tsofim Friendship Caravan to visit camp.
Ramah Darom’s Director Anna Serviansky told the AJT: “It may be that we have a slightly smaller delegation of Israeli counselors, but the ruach (spirit) they bring will be the same! We have always had strong Israel education programming, and we will be taking a close look at lesson plans to make sure that we incorporate recent events into discussions when appropriate for older campers and staff.”
While Camp Barney had 40 Israeli staff members last year, Director Danny Herz realizes that number is likely to be fewer this summer with many now serving in the Israeli military or reserves. “That has to be their priority,” said Herz. “We support them.”
[Note: By press time, URJ affiliated 6 Points Sports Academy in North Carolina could not be reached for an update. Visit https://6pointssports.org/ for more information.]
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