April 2026 Camp Guide

CAMP GUIDE

APRIL 24, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 1

Photo / Friendship Circle of Cleveland

CAMP GUIDE A Cleveland Jewish News Advertising Special Section Ohio’s oldest camp – Hiram House Camp celebrating 130 years MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org

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alling itself the “top summer camp in Cleveland,” Hiram House Camp is marking its 130th anniversary early next month just as one might expect: a celebratory supper in the dining hall, followed by a campfire, s’mores and looking up at the stars.

That is, after all, precisely what the camp has been offering since Nicolai 1900, when, four years after George Bellamy founded Hiram House as a settlement house in Cleveland’s Whiskey Island neighborhood to serve the city’s immigrant and poor, he established a “fresh air camp” for that same population in Moreland Hills on former farmland donated in 1903 by railroad tycoon Samuel Mather.

City children were transported there

from downtown Cleveland by the Cleveland Interurban Railroad.

Bellamy had named his settlement house “Hiram House” after his alma mater, Hiram College, where he had earned a divinity degree.

Despite its success, Hiram House closed its downtown location in the 1940s and relocated to its 12-acre Moreland Hills property on Hiram Trail. Facilities and programs continued to expand.

Within the last 50 years, summer and junior day camps have been added, the Double H Ranch, Farmstead Barn, residential cabins and Team-building Adventure Center built, and the dining hall renovated. Offseason retreats, rentals and school camp sessions round out its yearround offerings.

Its notoriety as Ohio’s oldest camp earned Hiram House Camp an Ohio Historical Bicentennial Marker 30 years ago.

Countless drivers on Chagrin Boulevard pass Hiram House daily, unaware that it abuts Orange schools property.

“Everyone who steps on this property is

a camper,” said Executive Director Courney Nicolai, a Pepper Pike native and Orange High School alum who, too, spent summers at Hiram House Camp. “Whether they are a summer camper, here for a weekend cabin rental, or at school camp, they get outside into nature for that fresh air experience.

We’re proud of the work we do.”

The nonprofit Hiram House attributes its success to several key players, starting with

its donors.

“A big part of what we do as a nonprofit is raise money for camperships, for scholarships for low-income kids or those in foster care,” Nicolai said. “We work with homeless shelters. If it weren’t for the donors and local foundations, we wouldn’t be here or do the work we do.”

HIRAM | CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

2 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | APRIL 24, 2026 HIRAM | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47

The other piece is the campers.

“Kids start with us at age 3, and age out at 12 or 14, and that longevity – kids come back every summer – says a lot about us,” she said.

But that is not the end for many campers.

Hiram House established a counselor-intraining, or CIT program, so that former campers 16 and older may work at the camp.

“They want to give back,” Nicolai said.

“For someone who said, ‘I was a kid, and a camper, and now I’d love to be a counselor,’ It’s magic. We must have done something right and meaningful for them to want to come back and give kids the opportunities that they had.”

Challenged during COVID-19, Hiram House never shut down. Overnight camp was halted and day camp cut from 300 children to 50. It took several years for the camp to bounce back to pre-COVID numbers, according to Nicolai.

Hiram House offers all the amenities and then some characteristic of a camp of its stature: a climbing wall and high ropes, horseback riding, canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, performing arts, creek-hiking, nature classes, survival skills and swimming daily in the new pool that opened in 2023.

Nicolai calls it the “ultimate summer day camp experience.”

“You know you’ve done a good job when campers go home dirty and are excited,” she said.

Night hikes and campfires are part of overnight camp.

“We have kids who’ve never had these experiences, never slept outside, never sat around a fire and made a s’more,” Nicolai said. “They love it if they hear something at night in the woods. For us to teach them about the stars and the sounds at night is a priceless experience.”

Nicolai considers herself fortunate to follow in the footsteps of Russ Grunke, who retired in 2015 after 50 years as executive director, and whose wife, JoAnne, raised considerable funds for the camp during his tenure.

“It’s interesting how life takes you, that this is where I ended,” she said. “It was such a part of my life growing up. My best friends – my core group – the ones I go to when I’m stressed or happy – are from camp. It’s amazing.”

Nicolai is confident that Hiram House – a super-centenarian – is poised for continued success.

“We’ve been good stewards of the property and programs for 130 years. What I say to the board and to the community is that whatever we do, it sets us up for 130 more.”

CAMP GUIDE

Hiram House in Moreland Hills sits on a 12-acre property on Hiram Trail. | Submitted photo

CAMP GUIDE

APRIL 24, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 3

Choosing the right camp: Tips for parents MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org

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ummer camp – quintessential days or weeks of swimming, canoeing, crafts, campfires and new friends – is just around the corner.

With myriad options, how can parents determine whether and which camp is right for their child?

Including a child in the discussion is key when it comes time to selecting a camp, Rebecca Rucker, manager for Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, said.

Looking at all camp options – day and overnight camp and their unique attributes – is a great place to start.

Rucker “There are lots of ways to experience camp, she said. “It’s however families feel comfortable.”

Day camp is typically the springboard experience introduced to children completing kindergarten. Most day camps range from a single-day experience to up to a week, with multiple weeklong sessions available from early June to mid-August.

“Day camps offer that perfect blend of adventure and the comfort of heading home for the evening,” Rucker said. “For girls who aren’t ready for a full away-from-home experience, day camp gives them an amazing experience. You can go home and snuggle in bed and have comforts of home.”

Day camp is not only for younger children. Girl Scout day camps are open to girls through high school, with many former day campers return as ambassadors at younger girls’ day camps.

Girl Scout overnight camps serve second and third graders, with camp length varying from three to seven days.

Whether considering day or overnight camp, Rucker said the first place to start the discussion is by talking with your daughter about her expectations and comfort level.

“It’s much better than being told, ‘Hey, you’re going to camp,’” she said. “This discussion is the right way to start. It gets the kids and the parents on the same page.”

While exploring camp options, parents must take several factors into consideration.

“Is their daughter able to sleep over at friends’ houses,” Rucker said. “Are she and her parents comfortable with overnight camp, or is day camp a better option this year?”

They must consider their children’s ability and confidence in self-care and hygiene skills, such as caring for their belongings and remembering to brush their teeth.

Families must also consider the distance when it comes to day or overnight camp.

Rucker said that while staff at camps operated by Girl Scouts of North East Ohio are trained in handling homesickness, families should understand that typically, it takes overnight campers about three or four days to fully settle in.

“That’s when it turns from homesickness to excitement, when they begin to understand how the days go,” she said.

“Part of it is making friends and being comfortable, having a schedule and knowing what’s expected of them.”

All camps, both day or overnight, have unique options and themes that families will want to explore. One of Girl

Scouts of North East Ohio’s camp offerings, for example, is Golden Girls.

“I want to go,” Rucker said. “It is amazing – and fun.”

Families should check out each camp’s natural amenities in advance as well.

Not to be overlooked is the cost of camp, and many camps offer financial assistance.

When a decision is reached and it’s time to register, Rucker suggested not necessarily ruling out a camp where sessions are already closed. Demand sometimes leads to opening more slots.

“When our Girl Scout camp registrations opened in

February, almost 2,000 girls registered in the first couple of days,” she said.

Attesting to the range of camp experiences, Rucker recalled one Girl Scout day camper who raved to a local television interviewer about not only meeting new friends from all over the region at camp, but “turtle time,” the name given to camp down time, when children chill and do whatever they want.

“She enjoyed having the freedom to have time to herself and do her own thing,” Rucker said.

CAMP GUIDE

4 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | APRIL 24, 2026

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ll levels of athletes from budding to experienced will find something to jump about at Beachwood’s Jump Start! Gymnastics summer camps.

“We believe in developing the whole child – physically, socially and emotionally – and our summer camps are a perfect reflection of that mission,” Jump Start! founder Maureen Eppich Eppich said.

Open to children ages 6 to 14, and guided by USA Gymnastics safety-certified coaches and staff, Jump Start! “Flips For Kids” gymnastics camps are designed to develop skills and build confidence in a fun and supportive setting.

Eppich founded Jump Start! Gymnastics in 2004 on the premise that gymnastics is for everyone.

“Gymnastics is an excellent basis for physical fitness,” she said. “It also benefits coordination for every other sport and children’s health.”

Jump Start! camps have become a summer staple for many families.

“We expanded to a nine-week program during COVID-19 summer, and our camps have grown tremendously over time,” Eppich said. “We love brainstorming fun, engaging ideas that will excite kids while still incorporating strong gymnastics fundamentals and structured progressive lesson plans.”

This year’s camp lineup includes Pajama Party Week, when campers are encouraged to wear athletic-style pajamas, such as T-shirts, soft shorts or joggers, styles that won’t interfere with flips, jumps and mid-air rotations.

“The idea is to keep it fun by adding crazy hair and sock day, mismatched day, while still practicing real skills,” Eppich said.

Also on tap are Gymkata Ninja/Obstacle Challenge Week, Olympics Week, Dance Explosion, Best of the Olympics, Team Spirit, and “Flips/Twists and More,” a favorite that will conclude 2026 summer camp.

Children can sign up for a day, a week, or the full nine-week session.

Campers are grouped by age, friends and

skill levels as much as possible.

“This allows beginners to feel comfortable while more experienced gymnasts continue to be challenged,” Eppich said. “Our coaching staff is trained to adapt activities so every child progresses at his or her own pace.”

While gymnastics attracts more girls than boys across-the-board, Eppich says that certain themed camps, notably Ninja or obstacle-based camps, draw boys, whose numbers have been growing each summer.

Summer Olympics years bring a surge in enrollment, too.

“After the 2024 Olympics, we saw increased enthusiasm both in our summer camps and school-year programs,” Eppich said. “Events like that inspire kids. They see what’s possible and want to try it themselves.”

She found it beneficial that U.S. Olympic gold-medal gymnast Simone Biles sparked “meaningful conversations” by bringing attention to both physical and mental health at the highest level of sport.

“It helps young athletes and families better understand the importance of balance, self-awareness and overall wellbeing, both in and out of the gym,” Eppich said.

Rather than concluding with a formal performance, each weekly camp session encourages campers to informally show off new skills. Coaches are happy to share progress with family members.

“The focus is on personal growth, skillbuilding and fun rather than performance pressure,” Eppich said.

She encourages parents who are weighing the pros and cons of summer gymnastics camp for their children to recognize it as a “foundation” sport.

In addition to outside-the-gym benefits of strength coordination, flexibility and confidence, the camp teaches goal-setting, perseverance and teamwork, which benefit every other activity a child may pursue, Eppich said.

“Whether a child is trying gymnastics for the first time or training competitively, our goal is to help them reach their full potential while having fun,” she said. “The feedback we receive from parents is overwhelmingly positive. They see improvements not only in physical ability, but in confidence, focus and social skills.”

CAMP GUIDE

APRIL 24, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 5

Summer camps can provide lifetime of memories SHANNON MORTLAND

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any adults who attended summer camp as children likely have memories of playing games, learning and making friends. Though camps have changed to appeal to today’s children, those foundational principles still apply – and kids keep going back.

Camp Wise in Claridon Township, which is part of the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, was founded in 1907 and is the third-oldest Jewish overnight camp in the country. Today’s culture is shaped by both longstanding traditions and contemporary values, according to Rabbi Daniel Utley, director of Camp Wise.

“Camp Wise campers are highly engaged in activities and programs each day,” he said.

“If you’re a person who likes to spend time with others, be active and creative for most of the day, our camp is for you.”

At Camp Ramah in Conover, Wis., activities are rooted in fun, friends, Jewish identity building and Jewish communal living, or “joyful Judaism,” Jacob Cytryn, executive director of Camp Ramah, which was founded in 1947. The camp becomes

Cytryn

Utley

like a second home for many children, he said.

“For most of the kids, it’s the relationships, the friends, the feeling of community. It’s getting to do activities that you can’t do at home or that are more fun at camp with your camp friends,” he said.

Both camps attract a wide variety of children from elementary to high school.

Camp Ramah attracts about 600 kids each summer who mostly hail from the Midwest.

Camp Wise welcomes campers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and from many different Jewish communities, representing a range of denominations, interfaith families, Israeli campers and

families who immigrated to the U.S. from the former Soviet Union in the 1980s and 1990s.

In the past, parents chose summer activities for their children, but how children spend their summer is now a joint decision with the parents, Cytryn said. He tries to help them make decisions based on what the child really wants.

“We talk up the magic and beauty of summer camp. We really work with parents and kids to get clarity for themselves on what they want,” he said. “Usually, that conversation helps them make a decision.”

Utley paints the picture of what summer is like at Camp Wise.

“It’s a fun fact that our camp chefs prepare more food and nutrition at meals than they would typically expect from a camp our size. We love to play hard, eat a lot and rest well,” he said.

Camp activities continue to evolve to meet the needs and interests of kids today, including popular centers for music production, STEM and outdoor cooking in addition to traditional camp fun, Utley added.

Camp Wise Maccabia, or color wars, is a tradition that keeps campers coming

Summer STEAM Adventure with Huntington Learning Center

“We really work with parents and kids to get clarity for themselves on what they want.”

Rabbi Dan Utley Camp Wise back and creates lasting memories, he said. Children are placed on different color teams that compete in sports, arts, cheering, singing, drama and dance. The major event is a 45-minute relay race across the entire campgrounds, ending in a fire-building contest for the team captains.

Cytryn said he assures parents that “if your kid can spend the night away from home, even with grandparents or cousins or friends, then they’re probably ready for overnight camp.”

Shannon Mortland is a freelance journalist.

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6 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | APRIL 24, 2026

Out-of-state camps expand horizons — and friendships ADRIANA GASIEWSKI agasiewski@cjn.org

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iz Stevens, owner and director of Camp Walden in Cheboygan, Mich., befriended a number of children from Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago while attending the summer camp as a camper.

“I think some of the most special camp friendships are the ones that you really only get to … people you only get to see over the summer,” she said. “And I know that many of my best camp friends from 50 years ago and 45 years ago are still kids who did not grow up near me in suburban Detroit.”

With more than half of its campers from outside of Michigan, Stevens said Camp Walden and other out-of-state summer camps provide children with the opportunity to form various friendships with peers from other states.

“I think kids can really take the opportunity to reinvent themselves at camp to really be who they want to be outside of the pressures that they might feel at home,” she said.

Outside of forming friendship, parents should take into consideration out-ofstate camps while determining what camp offerings best suit their child.

For some, Walden may be the best choice because of its over 50 camp activities, ranging waterfront ones, land sports,

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But Steven understands there are concerns about sending a child out of state, like transportation and remaining in contact with them throughout their camp stay.

“Honestly, you need to trust the camp that you’re sending your child to and know that no matter what happens – and knock on wood – it’s nothing where a child’s injured or anything like that but camp is going to take care of them,” she said.

To ensure this, she recommends parents ask camps about their relationship with emergency services and to research if they are near professional medical treatment.

Camp Walden has begun mailing letters from campers to their parents to help them remain in contact.

“If a camp is willing to get those letters to you by some special arrangement, I think that’s a nice thing to do for parents who are out of state,” Steven said.

She added that spending children to a camp outside of their home state is a “marvelous way to introduce children to the beauty and diversity of the country that we live in.”

“For many children, the opportunity to go away to camp outside of the geography that they’re used to, the community that they’re used to, the faces that they recognize, the newness that is a part of a different part of the country,” Steven said.

CAMP GUIDE

APRIL 24, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 7

Friendship Circle of Cleveland to offer inclusive summer camps

R Marozov

egistration is underway for Friendship Circle of Cleveland summer camp programs, offering inclusive, relationship-based experiences for children and teens with social needs across the Greater Cleveland community, according to a news release.

Designed to foster friendship, confidence and independence, the Pepper Pike organization’s summer offerings include two distinct programs: Social Skills Summer Camp and Kulanu: Discovery Camp for Boys.

The Social Skills Summer Camp for ages 3 to 18 provides a structured and supportive environment, where participants are paired one-on-one with trained teen volunteers, known as FriendMakers.

Through daily activities such as art, games, movement, music and community outings, campers build communication and social skills while forming meaningful peer relationships.

The Kulanu Discovery Camp for Boys for ages 5 to 13 offers a smaller, more independent group setting for participants who benefit from a less -intensive support model. The program integrates hands-on activities, social development and Jewish-themed experiences, creating a well-rounded and engaging summer environment.

Both programs reflect Friendship Circle’s mission to create a more inclusive community by supporting individuals with diverse abilities through friendship and connection, according to the release.

“Our summer camps are designed to meet each child where they are and help them grow in a way that feels natural and joyful,” Rabbi Yossi Marozov, executive director of Friendship Circle of Cleveland, said in the release. “Through genuine friendships and supportive mentorship, we see participants build confidence, develop social skills and truly flourish.”

Programs are open to children and teens, and are led by experienced staff alongside dedicated teen volunteers.

To register, visit shorturl.at/LtifH for Social Skills Summer Camp and visit shorturl.at/LCmLt for Kulanu Discovery Camp for Boys.

Achievement Centers for Children offers camps in Strongsville, Westlake

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chievement Centers for Children will host specialized camps throughout the summer. The camps – for children and adults with and without disabilities – will be held at Camp Cheerful in Strongsville and ACC’s Center Ridge Road site in Westlake.

Camp Cheerful is marking its 79th year and was Ohio’s first camp to provide recreation programs for children with disabilities, according to a news release. The camp will offer the following day and overnight camps this summer: • Cheerful Day Camp: For campers ages 5 to 22 with disabilities, this camp focuses on providing a traditional camp experience tailored to campers of all abilities. This daylong camp will be offered weekly from June 8 to Aug. 14. The Camp Buddy program seeks pre-teens and teens to enroll as peer supporters.

• Summer Overnight Camp: The five nights per week camp is for children ages 16 and older with disabilities. With fun weekly themes that guide activities, this camp will be held from Sunday nights to Friday mornings from June 14 to Aug. 14.

• Sensational Extended School Year Camp: A camp for school districts and families needing to continue their student’s learning into the summer. School districts must register students, but parents can request this option, which blends learning and recreation on a 52-acre campus. Three sessions available – two-week or three-week – from June 15 to July 31.

Achievement Centers’ Center Ridge Road site is the primary home of the agency’s therapy program and focused camps will also be hosted there this summer, led by ACC’s pediatric therapy team. The camps are: • Fine Motor Camp: A camp focused on building fine motor strength and coordination through engaging activities that support handwriting skills. The 90-minute daily camp will be led by occupational therapists and offered in two separate weeklong sessions targeted to different age groups: Session 1 for ages 6 and 7 will be held from June 8 to June 11 and Session 2 for ages 4 and 5 will be held from June 15 to June 18. Both camps will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

• Social Language Camp: A camp focused on developing vocabulary, following directions and social interaction skills with peers. Targeted to campers ages 5 to 8, the camp will be

led by speech language pathologists and hosted Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. from June 9 to June 18.

“• Play Skills Camp: This playful hour of learning will encourage young learners, ages 2 to 4, to grow their language and social skills together. Led by speech language pathologists, the camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

July 13 to July 17.

• AAC Camp: Designed for emergent communicators ages 3 to 6, the camp builds augmentative and alternative

communication and fine motor skills through fun, hand-on activities. Led by speech language pathologists and certified occupational therapist assistant, the camp will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from July 21 through Aug. 12.

To learn more about Achievement Centers for Children’s summer camps, email therapy@achievementctrs.org.

For information about Camp Cheerful camps, email CampCheerful@achievementctrs.org.”

CAMP GUIDE

8 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | APRIL 24, 2026

Camp success is built on business basics BILL MOTCHAN

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hen Dave Devey took over Falcon Camp 42 years ago, he didn’t much about food service, except that it was an important aspect of camp life.

“Food is incredibly important,” Devey noted. “You serve it three times a day, plus a snack, so you have to serve good quality food, and you want kids walking out the door Devey with a smile on their face. My father was my business manager and when we were going over the kitchen budget, he put the previous owner’s books away. I told him I didn’t know anything about food service. And he said, ‘Serve good food and pay the bill – after a couple of years, you’ll know what the budget is.’”

That advice served Falcon Camp well.

The Carrollton facility has a reputation as one of Ohio’s top summer camps and it receives high ratings for its food. The kitchen staff puts an emphasis on sourcing the best

ingredients, Devey said. They even acquire specially selected cattle to ensure top quality beef.

Marketing is also a business practice a camp can’t overlook. Devey said you can have the best camp food, activities and facilities, but if parents don’t know you exist, it won’t matter. That makes the camp’s web presence an area of focus. Falcon Camp’s website is carefully constructed, even down to the nature-derived color scheme.

Food quality and marketing are just two of the important aspects of the business side of running a camp. Devey shared some of the most significant camp business practices – not surprisingly, safety is one of the most critical areas of focus.

“It’s a constant learning situation to make sure that you’re doing the best that you can,” he said. “You can have the best soccer field in the world and take all the best precautions you want, and someone’s still going to fall and twist their ankle. You have to make sure that you’ve done everything you can to create the environment for success and for safety.”

The American Camp Association, which certifies camps with certification, lists a

“It’s a constant learning situation to make sure that you’re doing the best that you can.”

Dave Devey Falcon Camp dozen essential business considerations for a well-run camp. One of those, the camp’s operating budget, should also factor in professional development for staff, Devey said. Attending conferences, webinars and classes will keep staff and camp administrators up to date on best practices.

“We look at each of our different activities and say, ‘What’s the thought behind this? Is there a way to make it better? Is there a way to make it more fun? What else can we teach in there?’” Devey explained. “That gets an

overview every winter, and it requires some good thought. Those things are absolutely part of running the business. It’s a neverending quest to improve.

“You need to look at the current literature in mental health, which is a field that changes rapidly,” he added. “What does camp cost? You have to charge enough to be able to run a good business. And you have to make sure that your costs are fair and reasonable.”

One of the most significant decisions for a camp director to achieve success is hiring and staffing, Devey said.

“It’s essential that you hire competent, smart people and give them the space and the tools to do their jobs, so hiring staff is almost a full-time job, to do all the interviewing, perform background checks, and make sure that the people you’re hiring are prepared to do a good job,” he said.

“We’re talking about the responsibility of taking care of someone else’s child.”

Bill Motchan is a freelance journalist.

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