The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) announced on Friday that URJ Camp Newman will be hosting its summer 2018 camp will be held at California State University Maritime University (Cal State Maritime) after most of the camp was destroyed in the October wildfires.
The summer 2018 camp will be called “Newman by the Bay!”, where campers can enjoy the various amenities on campus, including large athletic fields, an Olympic size pool and a Beach Volleyball court, according to a press release.
Abby Michelson Porth, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), said that “everything fell into place when we connected with Cal Maritime.”
“When the need became clear, Rabbi Doug Kahn and I quickly reached out to university presidents and nonprofit CEOs whose response was extraordinary and overwhelming,” said Porth. “They were eager to partner with JCRC to help Camp Newman maintain its summer programs, understanding how critical those programs are for thousands of Jewish children. “
Camp Newman’s executive director, Ruben Arquilevich, said in the press release, “We can’t wait to welcome returning campers and new campers for the immersive, overnight, Jewish summer camp experience they’ve come to expect at Camp Newman, but at Cal Maritime’s beautifully scenic campus overlooking the bay, where we’ll be able to take advantage of exciting new facilities and activities.”
A promotional video for the 2018 camp can be seen here:
https://www.facebook.com/urjcampnewman/videos/vb.135345445868/10155021799490869/?type=2&theater
Registration for the camp begins on Nov. 12.
The Camp Newman premises were located in Santa Rosa until most of the site was decimated from the wildfires plaguing Northern California at the beginning of October. No one at the camp was hurt and the Torah scrolls were preserved.
