Camp foundation grant to fund new specialty camps

The new camps to engage the 90 percent of Jewish youth in grades 6-12 who do not report memorable camp experiences

NEW YORK (JTA) — Four new specialty overnight camps will be created in the second stage of an $8.6 million grant to the Foundation for Jewish Camp.

The foundation’s new grant cycle represents the second stage of the multimillion dollar grant jointly funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Avi Chai Foundation. The latest grant was announced this week during the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Leaders Assembly in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The foundation is seeking proposals for the specialty camps. The new camps are intended to engage the 90 percent of Jewish youth in grades 6-12 who, according to the Cohen Center at Brandeis University, do not report memorable summer overnight camp experiences.

“Many camp-aged children were missing out on the transformative summers at Jewish camp because they wanted to spend their vacation honing a skill or developing a hobby,” explained Jeremy Fingerman, CEO of the camp foundation, in a statement. “The Specialty Camps Incubator allows for these kids to have both experiences in one setting.”