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June 11, 2004
Camps build Jewish identity
Federation funds help more kids have a positive summer experience.
PETER CAULFIELD SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Every month until the beginning of the Combined Jewish Appeal campaign
in the fall, a new column in the Bulletin, Federation Facts, will
give examples of programs that are funded all or in part by the
campaign. In conjunction with this issue's Summer Celebration theme,
the first article in the series is the contribution of the Jewish
Federation of Greater Vancouver to summer camperships.
Combined Jewish Appeal donors have made it possible for Federation
to allocate $51,500 for camperships to local Jewish summer camps.
Federation's contributions to Camp Hatikvah, Habonim Dror Camp Miriam,
Camp Gan Israel and the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver
(JCC) summer day camps supplement the camps' own resources. This
enables the organizations to open their doors to Jewish families
who want to send their kids to camp but are unable to pay the full
cost.
Research has shown that attending summer camp is one of the best
ways to build Jewish identity and commitment in young people. Many
of today's Jewish leaders are where they are today because they
had strong, positive Jewish summer camp experiences.
For example, Camp Hatikvah president Susan Fine attended summer
camp when she was a child. "Summer camp was enlightening,"
said Fine. "It was the first time when doing something 'Jewish'
was fun and something I looked forward to. Going to camp made me
feel good about being Jewish."
Fine said her children, Carly and Adam, also went to Hatikvah. "They
looked forward to the summer all year because of camp. Camp gave
them a positive and deeply rooted sense of being Jewish."
David Berson, Federation's director of community planning, said
Jewish young people are uniquely accessible at summer camp.
"Statistical and anecdotal evidence show that Jewish camps
change Jewish lives," he said. "Camps are a precious resource
the community should cherish and encourage to grow."
Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman, director of Chabad Lubavitch's Camp Gan
Israel, said thousands of children have attended the camp since
it was founded 30 years ago. This summer, more than 150 campers
are expected to participate, of whom between 30 and 40 will receive
camperships.
"All of Camp Gan Israel's activities have a Jewish twist to
them," said the rabbi. "The program is full of Jewish
spirit and joy that lasts all through the year. Our motto is 'Where
Jewish kids are happier and happy kids are Jewisher.' "
JCC director of program services Bryan Silverberg expects more than
400 campers at JCC camps this summer, plus an additional 150 in
the Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! program. Camperships have not yet been
finalized, but the JCC expects to award a total of approximately
$10,000.
Jewish summer camp builds Jewish identity by constant exposure to
Jewish content, themes, music, language, leaders and symbolic interaction,
explained Silverberg. "Children's Jewish identity at our camps
is molded by the informal educational curriculum packed with Jewish
nuances and values," he said.
Barb Winberg, registrar of Habonim Dror Camp Miriam on Gabriola
Island, said about 325 campers will attend Camp Miriam this summer,
of whom approximately 95 will receive camperships. Camp costs range
from $610 for one week to $1,650 for 22 days. The value of the camperships
goes from $500 to $1,300.
"Camperships open the doors to the Jewish community for many
children and families who haven't had much contact with the community
and who don't know how to make contact," said Winberg. "They
often hear about the camperships by word of mouth. When they contact
me, I tell them more about the Jewish community and how to access
it."
Joanna Wasel, administrator of Camp Hatikvah, near Kelowna, said
about 60 campers will receive camperships this summer out of a total
of about 380. A former Hatikvah camper and counsellor, Wasel said
camp is "a phenomenal thing" and that attending shouldn't
depend on money.
"Our campership grant from Federation is much needed and much
appreciated," she said. "We couldn't afford to help as
many kids as we do without Federation's help."
Peter Caulfield is a volunteer member of Federation's
communications committee.
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