URJ Camp Harlam Impact Report 2021

Impact Report

2021

DEAR HARLAM COMMUNITY,

Reflecting on the incredible history and legacy of Camp Harlam, it’s clear that for generations we have provided unforgettable life changing experiences for our campers and community. These experiences have nurtured lifelong friendships, built confidence and independence, and deepened our values. Harlam is a place that has enabled our entire camp community - campers, staff, their families, and our alumni - to connect with and explore their own Jewish identity and find their place in the broader Jewish community.

At no time in our history, however, has the need for Harlam been so critical - and perhaps the impact of camp been more profound - than during this extraordinary and unusual time in our world.

As 2021 draws to a close, we look back with pride and gratitude for the gifts that camp has provided to so many, and we celebrate our success and achievements. As you read this report, we hope you share the sense of pride in our accomplishments. We couldn’t have done it without you. It’s clear from surveys of the field and our families that this pride is well deserved. We have established ourselves as one of the leaders in the field of Jewish camping, and we continue to innovate, meet and exceed the needs and expectations of our families, and set standards of excellence for Jewish camps across North America.

Your support has made this possible. From your investment of time, passion, and philanthropic contributions, to the unbelievably dedicated ruach (spirit) of so many of our stakeholders, Camp Harlam’s united community is unmatched. Throughout the past year, each and every one of you - campers, staff, families, volunteers, alumni, donors, Congregations, Foundations, and more - shared the belief in our mission and leadership by supporting Harlam. You gave and gave, allowing us to exceed our goals, and enabling us to ensure the magic of camp for many generations to come. You are an inspiration and we are so grateful for you. Thank you.

In this report you will see how camp continues to change lives, for good. Please join us in celebrating the ways camp helps our community find belonging, meaning and purpose, and develop into the best version of themselves. No matter the role you have played in helping us achieve this extraordinary impact, we thank you for your dedication and commitment to Harlam, and for your support of all of Joe and Betty’s children.

Warmly,

LISA DAVID DIRECTOR

MICHAEL WILCK CAMP COUNCIL CHAIR

SUMMER 2021 WAS

UNFORGETTABLE!

Last summer was nothing short of incredible. After two years away from camp, nothing made us happier than to be back with our Harlam family. It's clear that campers & their families felt the same way!

713

$800,000

841

Campers Attended

Raised by

Donors

Camp in 2021

Generous Donors

Supporting Camp

by December 1, 2021

by December 1, 2021

Thank you for your support!

Likelihood of families to

of our families

of families believe the

recommend Harlam to

say that Harlam creates

environment at Harlam

their family and friends

a sense of home, family,

supported their child’s

is 15% higher than the

and community

mental, emotional, and

North American average

social health (MESH)

93% 89% 96% HARLAM RANKS

TOP TIER

OF JEWISH NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER CAMPS

OVERALL SATISFACTION OF HARLAM FAMILIES IS 18% HIGHER than the North American average

$183,000

$477,100

SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS GIVEN OUT TO 107 FAMILIES

IN GRANT FUNDING AWARDED

WOW!

ENHANCING CAMP. BUILDING COMMUNITY. UPDATING AND IMPROVING OUR BELOVED SPACES AT CAMP IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY! CHECK OUT THESE NEW EXPERIENCES THAT WILL BE ENJOYED BY OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS FOR MAKING THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND MORE POSSIBLE.

NEW CABIN DEVELOPMENT The first new construction project in Woodside (formerly Boys Camp).

This new cabin is ADA compliant, creating accessibility and enhancing our inclusion efforts, with more gathering and storage space for all campers and staff.

ARK ON CHAPEL ON THE HILL In memory of Rabbi Vicki Tuckman. This beautiful home for our Torah is the newest addition to camp. Its colorful panels represent each unit in camp, and are transparent to maintain the integrity of the view from the Hill.

SLIP’S PIT In memory of Marc Slippen. Slip’s Pit serves as a place of gathering, community. Bringing the joy of s’mores, singing, and friendship to all campers and staff, a place to make everlasting memories.

OPEN AND SAFE Our Open and Safe philosophy evolves to align with our values, and meet the needs of our community. Our commitment to inclusion encompasses Universal Design, campers with disabilities, LGBTQ+, Jews of Color, and our Zero Tolerance policy regarding bias and prejudice.

GOOBIE’S COURSE In memory of Jon Goldberg. The newest addition to our Adventure program, Goobie’s Course includes a rope swing, cargo net, tire and pole traverse, swinging log, and more – enables confidence building, resilience, and teamwork.

STAFF LOUNGE Our renovated staff lounge is now a comfortable and inviting space for our counselors and staff to spend time, gather, and create community among the staff community.

This week we were all like Joe and Betty, taking in camp for the first time. We feel in our heart what they felt: enthusiasm, hope, and so much joy.

And while the Harlam’s likely could not have imagined the year we just had; I believe they would agree that we need this place now more than ever. If joy is personal, and simcha is a shared sense of joy, then 2021 is the summer of simcha. This summer, we will celebrate, and celebrate together. This summer, we will lift each other up with the shared happiness we all so deeply need. While I loved seeing your faces on Zoom over the course of this year, it wasn’t the same. We’ve traded screens and breakout rooms, for song session and Teva. We’ve traded quarantine and online school, with art and adventure. We’ve traded alone for together. After all of the isolation and disconnection, we are home again, seated beside people we love, working on friendships that may last forever.

– LISA DAVID Camp Director, 2021 Camp Parent, Alum

SCAN OR CLICK HERE! These are excerpts from our Harlam Blog that were shared over the course of the summer in 2021. Our entire camp community participates in creating a digital story of the camp experience, from campers, staff, faculty, professional staff, parents, and more. Scan here to visit our blog and continue reading about the life changing impact of camp in Summer 2021.

I remember my first year here at camp was also the year I was being bullied at school. I recall my mom telling me about a Jewish sleep away camp. I was really nervous because I thought I would just get bullied more… but I was wrong. Here at Camp Harlam I’ve never felt more welcomed in my life. From the warm “Welcome Home” to the gender sexuality meetings, I realized that camp is a place where you can be who you want to be and I was finally at peace with myself once again. Camp helped me realize that it doesn’t matter what the bully thought, it matters what I think. This is why maybe one day I can be the camp director and help other kids too. Camp is my home away from home.

– ADAM Kineret Camper, 2021

One of the things that happens at camp that makes learning so profound, is the open and honest sharing. When I sit in the chader ochel (dining hall), when I walk by a basketball game, when I hear campers on the porch, it is usual to hear one person saying to another. I felt this when you did that. Campers regularly share with their bunkmates and counselors how other people’s actions impact their experiences. This is true for staff and leadership as well. It is true that camp is a place where everyone learns to be their best selves. What I realize from being here is how important relationships and community are to that process. The past 16 months have been hard ones, even for those of us who didn’t face illness and/or other significant life changes. It is hard to be your best self alone. At its core Jewish tradition reminds us that we need one another, we need to be in community. Together we help each other find meaning, and really grow.

– RABBI STACY RIGLER Jewish Life Advisor, 2021 Camp Council Member, Camp Parent, Alum

SCAN THE QR CODE OR CLICK HERE!

No matter how long it has been since you experienced camp – it dwells in our hearts, our lasting friendships, our identity and values, and our souls. We are strengthened by Harlam’s connected, caring, and vibrant community which has shaped Jewish lives for generations. URJ Camp Harlam is largely supported by generous contributions from our community that support scholarships, capital improvements, dynamic, engaging, and innovative programming, general operating, and so much more. The impact of a gift to Harlam directly contributes to the life changing role camp plays in the lives of our campers and enables the magic of camp to last for generations to come.

CAPITAL NEEDS Enhance everything we do at camp by helping to update and improve all of the spaces that make Harlam special

GENERAL OPERATING & SUSTAINABILITY Help secure our future!

A gift to the Harlam Sustainability Fund

SCHOLARSHIP We are always striving to remove financial barriers for campers to attend Harlam! Provide the gift of camp by providing financial assistance

To learn more about supporting Harlam please contact: Becca Molberger at BMolberger@urj.org or (610) 668-0423, ext. 1035.

Thank you...

to our entire community for providing support during a critical time in Harlam’s history! We are endlessly grateful for the commitment of this community – all of our donors, community and congregational partners, camper and staff families, institutional funders, and so many more!

Congregational Partners

(with campers enrolled in 2021) Congregation Beth Israel - Scottsdale, AZ Congregation B'nai Tzedek - Valley Fountain, CA Stephen Wise Temple - Los Angeles, CA Temple Micah - Washington, D.C. Temple Sinai - Washington, D.C. Washington Hebrew Congregation - Washington, D.C. Temple Micah - Washington, DC Temple Sinai - Washington, DC Washington Hebrew Congregation - Washington, DC Congregation Beth Emeth - Wilmington, DE Temple Shaarei Shalom - Boynton Beach, FL Temple Bat Yam East Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale, FL Temple Beth Am - Miami, FL Temple Shalom - Naples, FL Temple Beth Am - Pinecrest, FL Temple Emanu-El - Sarasota, FL Beth El Temple Center - Belmont, MA Temple Beth Shalom - Needham, MA Temple Tiferet Shalom - Peabody, MA Temple Sinai - Sharon, MA Temple Beth Shalom - Arnold, MD Baltimore Hebrew Congregation - Baltimore, MD Bolton Street Synagogue - Baltimore, MD Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation - Baltimore, MD Temple Solel - Bowie, MD Temple Shalom - Chevy Chase, MD Congregation Or Chadash - Damascus, MD Congregation Kol Ami - Frederick, MD Temple Isaiah - Fulton, MD Harford Jewish Center Temple Adas Shalom - Havre de Grace, MD Temple Emanuel - Kensington, MD Temple Beth Ami - Rockville, MD Judea Reform Congregation - Durham, NC Temple Beth Or - Raleigh, NC Temple Shalom - Aberdeen, NJ Temple Ner Tamid - Bloomfield, NJ Temple Sholom of West Essex - Cedar Grove, NJ Temple Sholom - Cedar Grove, NJ Congregation Mkor Shalom - Cherry Hill, NJ Temple Emanuel - Cherry Hill, NJ Temple B'nai Shalom - Brunswick Temple Beth-El - Hillsborough, NJ Temple Beth-El - Jersey City, NJ Temple Shaari Emeth - Manalapan, NJ Temple Bnai Or - Morristown, NJ Adath Emanu-El - Mount Laurel, NJ Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple - New Brunswick, NJ Congregation Beth Israel - Northfield, NJ Kol Dorot: A Reform Jewish Community - Oradell, NJ Temple Beth Am - Parsippany, NJ Congregation Beth Chaim - Princeton Junction, NJ Temple Sholom - Scotch Plains, NJ Congregation Bnai Jeshurun - Short Hills, NJ

Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel - South Orange, NJ Temple Shaarey Shalom - Springfield, NJ Temple Shalom - Succasunna, NJ Temple Sinai - Summit, NJ Temple Emeth - Teaneck, NJ Temple Sinai of Bergen County - Tenafly, NJ Monmouth Reform Temple - Tinton Falls, NJ Temple Har Shalom - Warren, NJ Temple Emanu-El - Westfield, NJ Congregation B'nai Yisrael - Armonk, NY Temple Shaaray Tefila - Bedford Corners, NY Congregation Beth Elohim - Brooklyn, NY Temple Beth-El - Great Neck, NY Tikkun V’or – Ithaca, NY Larchmont Temple - Larchmont, NY Monroe Temple Beth-El - Monroe, NY Congregation Rodeph Sholom - New York, NY The Community Synagogue - Port Washington, NY Temple B'rith Kodesh - Rochester, NY Temple Sinai of Roslyn - Roslyn Heights, NY Community Synagogue - Rye, NY Temple Israel - Staten Island, NY North Shore Synagogue - Syosset, NY The Reform Temple of Rockland - Upper Nyack, NY Old York Road Temple-Beth Am - Abington, PA Congregation Keneseth Israel - Allentown, PA Temple Ohav Shalom - Allison Park, PA Temple Sholom in Broomall - Broomall, PA Congregation Kol Ami - Elkins Park, PA Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel - Elkins Park, PA Temple Judea of Bucks County - Furlong, PA Beth David Reform Congregation - Gladwyne, PA Temple Ohev Sholom - Harrisburg, PA Congregation Beth Israel - Honesdale, PA Temple Brith Achim - King of Prussia, PA Temple B'nai Brith - Kingston, PA Congregation Or Ami - Lafayette Hill, PA Congregation Shaarai Shomayim - Lancaster, PA Beth Chaim Reform Congregation - Malvern, PA Congregation Beth Or - Maple Glen, PA Shir Ami - Newtown, PA Congregation Rodeph Shalom - Philadelphia, PA Rodef Shalom Congregation - Pittsburgh, PA Temple Emanuel of South Hills - Pittsburgh, PA Temple Sinai - Pittsburgh, PA Main Line Reform Temple Beth Elohim - Wynnewood, PA Congregation Oheb Sholom - Wyomissing, PA Temple Beth Israel - York, PA Congregation Beth Israel - Colleyville, TX Beth El Hebrew Congregation - Alexandria, VA Temple Bnai Shalom - Fairfax Station, VA Temple Rodef Shalom - Falls Church, VA Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation - Reston, VA Congregation Beth Ahabah - Richmond, VA Congregation Ner Shalom - Woodbridge, VA Temple Sinai - South Burlington, VT

Harlam’s Camp Council:

Harlam’s Professional Staff Team

Executive Committee

Lisa David, Director

Michael Wilck, Council Chair

Amy Kagan, Associate Director

Jeff Green

Rachel Steinberg, Assistant Director

Marc Landis

Ellie Tepper Schulman, Assistant Director

Ali Reich

Aaron Soloman Assistant Director Cori Miller, Camper Care & Enrollment Manager

Harlam’s Camp Council

Molly Diamondstein Josh Fendrick Jennifer Finkelstein Daniel Fuchs*

Becca Molberger, Development Director Jeremy Wasserman, Business Manager Lori Zlotoff, Inclusion Coordinator Julie Weitzman, Development Associate Jenny Travis, Marketing and Communications

Samantha Green Shira Haaz Sophie Kaplan Josh Laster Jennifer Lee Julie Levine Rabbi Larry Malinger Ronni Pressman Rabbi Stacy Rigler Adam Rosenberg Adina Rosenthal Julie Schwartz Rosanne Selfon* Bob Sheppard Ramona Sitko Peter Sklar Ian Weitzman Amanda Wachstein

*Past Council Chair

t is This Repor igital for d intended uce our use to red ental environm ase le impact. P you s if contact u request e to would lik copy. a hard

Our offices have permanently moved to camp full time – send us a note here!

575 Smith Road Kunkletown, PA 18058 Phone: (570) 629-1390