Sep 2, 2011

Jewish Summer Camps Create Lasting Connections

As the end of summer draws near and children return home from overnight camps across the nation, parents, educators and supporters of organizations — like the Greater Miami Jewish Federation — that provide funding assistance to campers often wonder what effects the experience has had on participants.

Now, the first study on the long-term impact of Jewish overnight summer camping may provide some answers. Just released by the Foundation for Jewish Camp, the “Camp Works” study drew its conclusions from 26 U.S. Jewish population studies on adult Jewish engagement and included participants from Miami.

The study shows strong correlations between children’s attendance in informal Jewish education programs, such as overnight camp, and Jewish behavior as adults. Religious practice, synagogue attendance, community leadership and philanthropy are directly and positively impacted. Compared to Jewish adults who never went to Jewish camp, those who participated in such experiences are:

• 45 percent more likely to attend synagogue at least once a month (26 percent more likely to belong to a synagogue)
• 37 percent more likely to light Shabbat candles regularly
• 55 percent more likely to feel “very emotionally attached” to Israel

Recognizing that Jewish overnight camp is a significant vehicle for Jewish engagement, the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign has allocated $100,000 each year since 2002 for funding assistance. This year, 135 need-based scholarships were awarded to children, enabling them to attend a variety of overnight camps from all religious streams, as well as JCC and youth group movements.

In addition, Federation has partnered for the past three years with the Foundation for Jewish Camp to offer “One Happy Camper” (OHC) grants, an outreach incentive to attract families whose children never attended Jewish overnight camp. This summer, 50 first-time campers received OHC grants to attend a variety of residential programs throughout the U.S.

A survey of Miami’s One Happy Campers from 2010 provides insight into just how important such programs are. For nearly 1 in 7 Miami recipients, Jewish camp is their only Jewish activity. Furthermore, two-thirds of recipients would have opted for non-Jewish choices if they had not received this incentive to send their child to a Jewish camp. Finally, 48 percent of Miami OHC recipients said the incentive “very positively” affected their family’s connection to the overall Jewish community.

One family of a first-time camper shared their gratitude: “As our family struggles to keep up with seemingly insurmountable financial burdens, it would not have been possible to send our son to a Jewish overnight camp had it not been for Federation’s help. We thank Federation from the bottom of our hearts for giving our child this amazing experience.”