Jewish Summer Camps
Since we began tracking camp attendance in 1998, 325 Congregation Beth Torah students have attended a Jewish residential camp. I think you will all agree that this is awesome!
Thank you to all the parents who responded to my requests for information about when and where their children will be attending camp this year. I write letters to ALL of them. Make sure to contact me by June 1st with the camp your student will be attending and the dates they’ll be there!
I’ll be serving my 14th year as a faculty member at Goldman Union Camp Institute in Zionsville, IN for the first two weeks of Kallah Bet (July 9 – 22, 2013). I look forward to talking to all of you about camp for your children for next year.
Studies prove that a residential (sleep over) Jewish Summer Camp experience is the BEST Jewish identity builder outside of the Jewish family!
We realize that residential Jewish summer camps are very expensive. Congregation Beth Torah wants to invest in your child’s future by making a Jewish summer camper experience affordable for everyone.
We just received a very significant gift that is designated specifically for camp scholarships for children in grades 3 – 9. We would like you to consider sending your child to camp this summer by taking advantage of this extraordinary opportunity! Please note that our scholarship funds are NOT limited to first time campers.
All scholarship applications are strictly confidential. We have extended the deadline for scholarship applications to February 15, 2013. Completed applications should be returned to the attention of Jack Feldman at the Congregation Beth Torah office.
If you have any questions about the form, please contact Jack at (913) 498-2212, ext. 108. If you have questions about what camp might be a good fit for your family, contact Marcia Rittmaster at the Beth Torah Office. She will be happy to guide you to some good choices.
Want to learn first-hand about camps our Beth Torah students have attended? On Sunday, December 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, you’ll see parents wearing name tags inviting you to talk to them about their camp experiences. Don’t be shy! If you can’t be there on that morning, we’ll have fliers available for you to complete to request a phone call or email.
At 10:30 a.m. all who are interested are invited to join Jack Feldman in the Sanctuary to find out about Beth Torah’s “awesome” First Time Camper Grant opportunity. Through the generosity of an anonymous grant, Beth Torah will pay 1/2 of the cost of a session at any U.R.J. Summer Camp for any Beth Torah student who has never gone to a Jewish camp before! No scholarship forms to fill out; no questions asked. We only want you to come back from camp and help inspire others to go next year. At this meeting Jack will also have information about the One Happy Camper Grant Program.
Need financial help to send your child to camp? Beth Torah has several ways that we can help with the cost. We have scholarship money available to those who need help in making sure their child can go to camp or Israel. Through several special camp scholarship funds, we award money each year to help worthy students. All requests are kept strictly confidential; the lay Scholarship Committee reviews applications blind. Scholarship Applications are available now at the Beth Torah office. Deadline for all Beth Torah Scholarship applications is March 1, 2013. Additional camp and Israel scholarships are offered by the Community Legacy Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City. Called the Guardian Society for Jewish Children, applications for these scholarships are due by March 1, 2013.
Jewish Summer Camp is “Living Judaism”
Camp presents your child the opportunity to mature and gain independence, to learn social skills, and explore personal interests. At Jewish camp, daily activities are often enriched by Jewish values and the culture of Judaism. Whether they’re telling stories in their bunks, learning about the environment, or playing kickball, campers explore what Judaism means to them in a safe, nurturing, and fun environment. At Jewish camp, children will not only develop confidence and social skills; they discover a deep-seated and profound sense of what it means to them to be Jews.
Campers Become Leaders
The impact of Jewish camp doesn’t end on the last day of summer. Children with pivotal Jewish camp experiences are more likely to become adults who value their Jewish heritage, support Jewish causes, and take on leadership roles in their communities.
Anecdotal and statistical evidence confirm that children who attend Jewish summer camps are more likely than those who did not to join a synagogue or a JCC, support their local federations and become leaders in the community, whether as rabbis, educators, professionals or lay leaders.
Want to learn first-hand about camps our Beth Torah students have attended? On Sunday, December 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, you’ll see parents wearing name tags inviting you to talk to them about their camp experiences. Don’t be shy! If you can’t be there on that morning, we’ll have fliers available for you to complete and request a phone call or email.
At 10:30 a.m. all who are interested are invited to join Jack Feldman in the Sanctuary to find out about Beth Torah’s “awesome” First Time Camper Grant opportunity. Through the generosity of an anonymous grant, Beth Torah will pay 1/2 of the cost of a session at any U.R.J. Summer Camp for any Beth Torah student who has never gone to a Jewish camp before! No scholarship forms to fill out; no questions asked. We only want you to come back from camp and help inspire others to go next year. At this meeting Jack will also have information about the One Happy Camper Grant.
Need financial help to send your child to camp? Beth Torah has several ways that we can even help with the cost. We have scholarship money available to those who need help in making sure their child can go to camp or Israel. Through several special camp scholarship funds we award money each year to help worthy students. All requests are kept strictly confidential; the lay Scholarship Committee reviews applications blind. Scholarship Applications are available now at the Beth Torah office. Deadline for all Beth Torah Scholarship applications is March 1, 2013. Additional camp and Israel scholarships are offered by the Community Legacy Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City. Called the Guardian Society for Jewish Children, applications for these scholarships are due by March 1, 2013.
1st Time Camper Grants
The Jewish Federation/CAJE will also offer some 1st Time Camper Grants again this year through an organization called One Happy Camper. As soon as we receive notification that the on-line registration is open, all our members will be notified. If your child has never been to a Jewish overnight camp, you may be eligible for one of these grants. Please contact Marcia Rittmaster or Jack Feldman for more information.
If you want additional information, you can contact any of the following people who would LOVE to talk to you about camp:
Jewish Camp Scholarships
Summer Camp News