Finding financial aid for camp

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

The first Jewish overnight camps sprouted up amid the larger organized camping movement in America in the early 20th century but also as “a reaction to the antisemitism Jews across America faced,” according to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York. “Jewish overnight camps fostered community, allowed freedom to openly observe Jewish customs and religious rites and acted as a counter to the pressures of assimilation faced by many American Jews at the time.”

Today, the tradition of sending kids to Jewish overnight camp continues, although the cost can be prohibitive, especially with more than one child in the family attending.

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), the average cost in the United States for sleep-away camp was $448.53 per day in 2022 (although the average cost for Jewish overnight camp is $288 per day, or $1,440 per week, according to the Foundation for Jewish Camp).

The ACA has some recommendations for parents seeking financial help, starting with asking the camp directly what payment or assistance programs they offer. Many camps offer special discounts — for everything from early registration, fullseason, multiple enrollments from one family to late registration to fill an empty spot. For families who enroll early, many camps also offer a structured payment plan throughout the year, so camp costs are not incurred all at once. In addition, many camps offer “camperships” — partial or total scholarships and financial assistance and parents shouldn’t assume their income doesn’t qualify for these opportunities.

There are also agencies in the Greater Phoenix area that also offer financial assistance to families who want to send their children to summer camp.

The Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP) provides limited, need-based scholarships for Jewish children living in Maricopa County to attend Jewish summer camps in North America. Eligible campers must be entering grades K-12 (as of fall 2023) and enrolled in a program hosted by a Jewish, nonprofit organization. Campership grants are made possible by the generosity of the Molly Blank Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation, endowment funds established at the Jewish Community Foundation by Jack Bromfield and by the families of Labe Eric Targovnik, Kenneth Maltenfort, Jean and Harold Grossman, Gloria and Sidney Kasper and by other generous donors to the CJP.

The first round of applications closed on March 6, but there is a second round and these applications must be received no later than April 15. Last year the CJP gave out $155,000 in scholarships to children attending 35 different camps across North America.

“We look at family income, special circumstances and take into account what the camp is doing to help, what the synagogue is doing to help and what the total unmet need is,” said Andrea Cohen, director of youth philanthropy and community engagement for CJP.

“We just want to help families get their kids to camp and we work collaboratively with camps to make that happen,” she said.

Cohen has spent more than three decades involved with camps and is also the resident director at Gindling Hilltop Camp, a Jewish sleep-away camp of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, California.

Another option for families looking for help funding camp is Jewish Free Loan (JFL). JFL offers interest-free loans for day camp and sleep-away camp experiences, both in Arizona and out of state.

“We provide $5,000 a year, per family, up to four years, for a maximum of $20,000,” said Fredi Brown, services coordinator at Jewish Free Loan.

Cohen agreed that there is nothing quite like being Jewish at camp, “For our kids that live here in Arizona, who might be one of 10 Jewish kids in their school, being able to be at camp and be surrounded by other Jewish kids, where you don’t have to explain anything — they can just live joyful Judaism all the time. That, to me, is the greatest gift we can give to our kids.” JN

To apply for a Jewish camp scholarship from CJP, visit phoenixcjp.org/what-we-do/jewishcamp-scholarships-and-teen-israel-funding. For information about Jewish Free loan and its application materials, call 602-230-7983 or visit jewishfreeloan.org.

Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.

Youth

Parents can apply for a camp loan on JFL’s website under the general loan application. It is not need-based, so anyone can apply and the money can be used for day or overnight camp.

Brown explained that there are three “hard and fast” rules for anyone borrowing from JFL: the applicant must be over 18 years old, they must be Jewish and they must live in the state of Arizona. They also require a guarantor, who must also fulfill these requirements. There is only one guarantor needed for the amount of $5,000, which the parent or guardian of the camper needs to apply for annually.

YOUTH/TEENS

Camp Listings

Camp Nag la West 2023 Camp Nag la West 2023

Se ion 1: June 26- July 13 [girls]

◆ MUSEUMS

Camp Nagaale West info@nageelawest.org

Se ion 2: July 17- August 3 [boys]

PROGRAMS ◆ ISRAEL PROGRAMS

801-613-1539 nageelawest.org

56TH STREET SCOTTSDALE AZ 85253 480-951-3398 CHANENADMIN@CBIAZ.ORG

Camp Chanen Congregation Beth Israel 10460 N. 56th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85253

480-951-3398

Principal Chanen

Watersports, landmarks, national parks and fabulous cities feature in nearly 3 weeks of excitement through 5 states! Small camp, high staff- camper ratio, high energy Judaism. Ages 9-15.

◆ CAMPS

Many of the camps listed use high school and college students as counselors and assistants. Contact camps directly for information. Some local synagogues also have day camps.

Preschool: Shaleen Hill Chanenadmin@cbiaz.org cbiaz.org a place where children are seen, respected, and welcomed for who they are.

Since JFL is a lending service, not a banking institution, one of its main policies is that a person can only have one JFL loan open at a time. “So, if you take out a camp loan and then all of a sudden you need to borrow money to buy a car, you can only have one active loan at a time, per person,” said Brown.

Day Camps Camp Chanen

480-951-3398

Camp Chanen offers a fun-filled summer of adventures for campers aged 6 weeks through entering 1st Grade.

Payment:

SIGN UP FOR SUMMER CAMP!!!!!

Brown shared that she went to summer camp as a kid and feels it’s important that children have the opportunity to go. “It just gives them a better root structure in their Judaism and in their Jewish community and it’s not school based. In other words, it’s fun. Camping is always fun.”

Weekly Camp Fees:

Chanen Preschool strives to ensure that every child here is rooted in Jewish values and traditions. Our teachers encourage cognitive, language, social/emotional, and fine/gross motor development.

SIGNUPFOR SUMMERCAMP!!!!!

Camp Gan Israel Day Camp Chabad of the East Valley 875 N. McClintock Drive Chandler, AZ 85226 480-855-4333 info@chabadcenter.com chabadcenter.com

A $100 nonrefundable Registration Fee is due upon registration and holds the camper’s spot. Snack fees are included in the weekly camp tuition. CBI Members registration fee is waived. A discount of 5% is available for those who pay for summer in full by May 16th. We offer a sibling discount of 3% on the lowest tuition.

All campers must enroll for a minimum of 2 weeks.

**Holiday weeks are discounted

Full Day is 7:30 am-3:30 pm

Director: Rabbi Tzvi Rimler Twelve months to 12 years. Eight weeks of Jewish ideas and values. Games, sports, music, gymnastics, arts and crafts, field trips, overnights, challah baking, lessons in Jewish culture.

Infants/Ones $325 (snack fee is waived, half days are not available)

Twos-Entering First Grade $375

Congregation Beth Israel 10460 N. 56th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85253

Aftercare Mon-Thur 3:30-5:30, Friday 3:30-4:30 $75 weekly

Half Day is Mon-Fri 7:30 am-12:30 pm

Twos-Entering First Grade $300

Director of education and youth engagement: Rachael VanLandingham Principal Chanen Preschool: Shaleen Hill Chanenadmin@cbiaz.org cbiaz.org

Camps at The J Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center 12701 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Camp Rimon East Valley JCC 908 N. Alma School Road Chandler, AZ 85224 evjcc.org/camp

East Valley JCC – Camp Rimon 908 N. Alma School Road Chandler, AZ 85224 480-897-0588; fax: 480-517-0124 info@evjcc.org evjcc.org

480-897-0588

Director: Pam Morris

Early childhood and youth coordinator: Stephania Alvarez Kindergarten to eighth grade. C.I.T. program for grades 9-10. Activities include swimming, sports, music, field trips, cooking, STEAM, rock show, arts and crafts, Israeli culture, mitzvah projects, late nights and more.

Grades K-8. May 30-July 28, 2023. Activities include swimming, field trips, games, sports, arts & crafts, cooking, Maccabia Week, late nights, Shabbat observances and more. This year's theme is "Around the World at the J."

Resident Camps