S’more Judaism

The good news is: Jewish camping works. The bad news is: Not enough people have heard the good news.

Every study on maintaining Jewish communal life shows that, among non-Orthodox families, the single most cost-effective way to transmit Jewish values and heritage to the next generation is through Jewish summer camp. 

The finding makes intuitive sense: Take a gaggle of young, hormonal Jewish kids away from their parents and the pressures of school, put them in a beautiful place with lots of fun activities and other revved-up boys and girls, sprinkle in some charismatic counselors and cool programming — now that’s the way to make Judaism and Jewish life attractive.

It’s not that families haven’t caught on to the power of Jewish camping.  In recessions past,  enrollment in Jewish overnight camps has dropped about 10 percent.  During this recession, camp attendance actually grew — from 43,000 11 years ago to about 70,000 in 2008, and the ’08 number held last summer.

Still, there are many families who haven’t tried camping.  One reason is that families assume their child won’t like it, either because it’s “too Jewish” or he or she won’t fit in. Of course, it’s not for everyone or every kid, and Jewish camps still have to do a better job to address issues of inclusiveness, tackling everything from bullying other kids to welcoming the developmentally disabled.  As for it being “too Jewish,” my experience is that it is children with little Jewish background who thrive the most by being introduced to Jewish life through a fun, social experience.

But, for many families, the big issue is money. An Avi Chai Foundation study found that while 67 percent of Jewish professionals are summer-camp alumni, the high tab puts off many families.  There are a variety of scholarships available, and they work. Recognizing that, last year, in light of the economic downturn, the Foundation for Jewish Camping and the Jim Joseph Foundation invested in scholarships to first-time campers
in 30 Jewish communities, including greater Los Angeles. The money helped keep enrollment steady and the cost of Jewish belonging down. It’s a smart use of communal funds and one that should continue.

“The 24/7 experience of camping can’t be replicated,” Jerry Silverman, the former executive director of the Foundation for Jewish Camping, once told me.  “It’s living communally outdoors, integrating Jewish learning with fun.”

For too many children who experience Jewish life as little more than the have-tos of Hebrew school and High Holy Days, Jewish camp is nothing short of a revelation.

“Our children will be happy at almost any camp they attend, because they will make friends and create lasting memories of the time they spent together,” Joel Einleger,  a program officer at the Avi Chai Foundation, wrote in a recent essay. “Given insignificant differences in the experience offered today by Jewish and non-Jewish camps, it’s really a shame to miss out on one of the absolute best opportunities for children to form positive Jewish connections and create Jewish memories in truly fun and creative ways.”

See you at the pool.