Jewish overnight camps offer more than just fun—they offer enriching environments where children form lasting friendships, build confidence, and connect with their Jewish heritage. Campers engage in traditional camp activities infused with Jewish values, such as ‘Shabbat under the stars’, Havdalah, and Israeli dancing, while fostering a sense of spirituality and community. These immersive experiences not only strengthen campers’ Jewish identity but also shape their personal growth. 

Key takeaways:

• Jewish overnight camps enrich children’s lives, fostering friendships and confidence while connecting them to their Jewish heritage. 
• Camps welcome children from diverse backgrounds and abilities, creating an inclusive community for all families. 
• The Jewish Camp Initiative helps families find suitable camps and offers financial assistance, ensuring camp is accessible to everyone. 

Inclusivity and accessibility for all backgrounds

One of the unique strengths of Jewish Overnight Camp is inclusivity. Whether your family is deeply traditional, culturally connected to Judaism, or just beginning to explore Jewish life, there is a camp for your child. Additionally, our camps welcome campers and staff with diverse abilities, backgrounds, racial ethnicities, and gender/sexual identities. Camp is a place where children are celebrated for their uniqueness. 

What is the Jewish Camp Initiative? 

The Jewish Camp Initiative, a program within Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, helps families across metro Atlanta send their children to Jewish overnight camps, whether it’s their first time or their tenth. We guide families in selecting camps that align with their child’s personality, interests, and needs. Thanks to our partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp, we have access to hundreds of camps nationwide, including five regional partner camps popular among Atlanta campers: Camp Barney Medintz, Camp Judaea, Camp Ramah Darom, URJ Camp Coleman, and URJ 6 Points Sports Academy. There are also a variety of overnight camps that include specialty programs focused on interests like arts, sports, and adventure.  

Financial support for families

Cost should never be a barrier to a child attending camp. The Jewish Camp Initiative, in partnership with Foundation for Jewish Camp, offers first-year One Happy Camper® grants of up to $1,500. The Jewish Camp Initiative also offers financial assistance to camp through our Federation Scholarship program. Additionally, we collaborate with JIFLA (Jewish Interest-Free Loan Association of Georgia), which offers a streamlined process to secure loans of up to $3,000 to support your child’s camp experience. JIFLA even helps by providing loan guarantors, making it easier for families. We encourage families to explore these options early, ensuring that no child misses out on a transformative summer. 

This past summer, nearly 2,100 children from metro Atlanta attended a Jewish overnight camp. Thanks to the generosity of donors to the Jewish Camp Initiative, 440 Atlanta campers received financial assistance, and 292 first-year Atlanta campers were awarded One Happy Camper® grants. This initiative ensures that families from all backgrounds can give their children the life-changing experience of Jewish camp, regardless of financial situation. 

Finding the right camp for your child

The Jewish Camp Initiative is dedicated to help you find the perfect camp for your child’s interests and personality. Whether they are ready for an immersive overnight experience or prefer a day camp closer to home, we provide expert guidance throughout the selection process. Options abound for children aged 6 to 16, from one week to multiple week experiences. Camp directors, open houses, camp fairs, and virtual tours can help you explore what each camp has to offer, and our specialists are here to assist every step of the way. 

For more information or to apply for grants or scholarships, visit the Jewish Camp Initiative website. You can also reach out to the Jewish Camp Initiative Team at jewishcamp@jewishatlanta.org.  

Help us reach our goal

Help us reach our goal of raising $1.5M to make Jewish camp accessible for even more families. The Jewish Camp Initiative is fully funded through the generosity of individual donors and grants from charitable foundations. 

Donate today to help us give a transformative summer to a child in need. 

Watch our Camp video for a glimpse into the moments that define our community.