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The journey to Camp Tawonga, where I worked for 17 years, always began the same way: a three-hour bus ride into the mountains and a curbside filled with tearful goodbyes.

I’ll never forget one 13-year-old girl who didn’t want to get on the bus at all. She clutched her mother, paralyzed by fear. A counselor gently took her hand and sat beside her for the first hour of the drive. The next hour, she introduced her to another camper. Each day at camp, I watched that same girl grow more confident: smiling, laughing and opening up. On the last day of camp, I overheard her exclaiming to her counselor. 

“I had the best summer,” she said. “I hope you’re my counselor again next year.” This time, she didn’t want to go home.

For years, I’ve reassured nervous parents on the other end of the phone, sharing stories like this to help them trust what I knew from decades of personal experience: Jewish camp is a powerful space for transformation, connection and growth.

Now, I’m the one zooming in on camp photos, wondering: Are my kids okay?

This summer, my 8-year-old went off to overnight camp for the first time. My 11-year-old is spending three weeks away — the longest we’ve ever been apart. And even though I’m the CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp and a former camper, counselor and camp director, I still find myself asking the same questions I once answered: Will they make friends? Will they feel seen? 

In today’s world, where we’re used to texting our kids at any hour and tracking them in real time, it’s hard to let go. But that’s exactly why Jewish camp is so essential. Camp gives kids the rare opportunity to unplug, live in a joyful and supportive Jewish community and stretch into independence. And it gives parents the sometimes-uncomfortable gift of stepping back and enabling our children to find their own path forward.

I remember being a nervous first-time camper myself, not knowing anyone and not sure what to expect. But by the end of summer, I was counting down the days until I could go back. Camp became the place where I felt most like myself. And I’m not alone. A recent study from Stanford University and BeWell found that camp is the number one communal space where teens feel comfortable being their true selves.

That’s because camp is designed to bring out the best in kids. If you were to be granted a glimpse into your child’s summer at camp, this is what you might see: Kids splashing around in the lake or gathering wood for the campfire. Kids bonding with their bunkmates through goofy challenges and late-night rituals. Kids stepping up to lead a blessing at dinner or joining in a Hebrew song they just learned two days ago. And bit by bit, you’d see them grow more comfortable in their own skin and in their own Jewish identity.

This kind of positive Jewish experience is especially important at a time of heightened antisemitism. Last summer, one parent told us that Jewish camp gave their kid “an opportunity to live Jewishly out loud, at a time where we are otherwise more reserved about our customs.” Nearly all overnight families reported that camp created an environment where their child felt proud to be Jewish. 

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about camp is that this growth and these habits stick. I’ve heard parents say, amazed: My kid came home and wanted to set the table. Or clean their room. Or light Shabbat candles. The overwhelming majority of families report that camp helped their child experience growth and try new things, and most say that camp makes their child more engaged in the Jewish community throughout the year. 

This summer, in the wake of tragic events that have shaken the camping world, the worry feels heavier. The what-ifs are real. I feel them too. But especially now, I believe camp is essential in building our kids’ character, resilience and Jewish identity. I’ve seen the shift from tears about leaving home to tears about leaving camp. I’ve seen campers who feel homesick, nervous or unsure when they start their camp journeys go on to become counselors and help future kids find their footing.

There’s one photo I keep coming back to from early this summer. My younger son, in an orange beanie, sitting on a bench, grinning ear to ear. His counselor is leaning in, listening intently. 

I looked at that picture, at my son’s smile, and felt my own words to families echo back: This is the best parenting decision you can make.

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Jamie Simon is the CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp, whose mission is to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement, leveraging more than $15 million of philanthropic giving annually to scale programs and resources that benefit more than 300 Jewish day and overnight camps across North America.

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Amid deep challenges at home and abroad — from the heartbreaking recent floods in Texas to the Israel-Iran war — Jewish camps are stepping up and building community.

On June 13th, with hundreds of camps in the process of welcoming nearly 200,000 young Jews, war broke out between Israel and Iran. Hundreds of Israeli shlichim supposed to work at camps were unable to leave the country. Israel trips were cancelled. Everything seemed uncertain.

Ten days later, 50 shlichim arrived in a bus to Ramah Day Camp in Nyack, the road flanked by cheering campers. An impromptu dance party kicked off. There were hugs, tears, and a sense of relief. It was a beautiful moment — one that shows how Jewish camp brings us together in ways that inspire creativity, joy, and community.

As the newly appointed CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp, I’ve talked to everyone from college-aged counselors to camp directors about their feelings going into camp this summer — and how camp is going so far. Two main themes have emerged: First, that right now, people feel a loss of control. And second, that one thing we can control is showing up, being in community, and leaning into joy — exactly the kind of experience camp provides.

Young people of all backgrounds report feeling increasingly lonely. Depression and anxiety are on the rise, driven by screen addiction, lingering effects of the pandemic, and global turbulence. Between 2003 and 2022, American teens reduced their average time hanging out by nearly half. This isolation harms young people’s mental health. And it deprives them of connections they might otherwise lean on in tough times.

Jewish kids today face all of this — and then some. They’re growing up in a moment of rising antisemitism, toxic online culture, and polarization around Israel.

That’s where camp comes in. Last summer, a record nearly 190,000 young adult staff and campers came to Jewish summer camp. What we heard across every age group is that young Jews were desperate for a breather: to unwind and unpack their feelings in a supportive environment. Parents shared how camp helped their child “after a year in a school where he acutely felt like a minority.” Or gave their kid “an opportunity to live Jewishly out loud, at a time where we are otherwise more reserved about our customs.”

Young Jews have returned this summer because camp is providing something they urgently need in today’s environment. But the best sanctuaries must provide more than just shelter. They need to be a springboard that helps young people thrive, not just survive.

All signs suggest that individual and communal “thriving” gets supercharged at Jewish summer camp. A recent study by Stanford University and BeWell revealed that summer camp is the #1 community space where Jewish teens feel comfortable being their true selves. Camp creates lifelong friendships between North American and Israeli Jews: Last summer, there were 3,100 Israel staff and more than 1,000 Israeli campers at camp, and our data suggests they formed strong bonds with their North American peers. Beyond Jewish identity, camp also fosters social and emotional learning, including confidence and independence. 93% of families report that camp helped their child experience growth and try new things.

One of the silver linings to emerge from the turbulence of recent weeks is seeing just how many people recognize the importance of camp — and are willing to help it in times of need.

Within 72 hours of the war breaking out, as the timing of Israeli staff’s arrival remained unclear, FJC rallied more than 1,400 people who said they’d volunteer or work at a camp. They ranged in ages from 13 to 80. From Orthodox to not Jewish at all. Fiercely loyal camp alums who said they’d be willing to go not just to their camp, but to wherever they’re needed.

We saw the same swell of support as camps in Texas continue to grieve unimaginable loss after devastating floods. The impacted camps aren’t Jewish. But we are united by our shared belief that camp changes lives. Across the country, Jewish camps, leaders, alumni, and families mobilized to fundraise. Through direct support and emotional solidarity, the Jewish community acted out one of our faith’s highest values: to comfort those in pain, and aid those in distress.

This outpouring of generosity isn’t random. It is the product of the world that camps help create: one in which the joy of childhood summers feeds a lifetime of connection to Jewish identity, kindness and communal responsibility, and leadership.

Last summer, I visited a Jewish summer camp just as Shabbat was beginning. The setting sun cast a faint glow at the camp’s outdoor amphitheater, and a circle of teenage counselors-in-training stood arm in arm, singing quietly. A few had tears in their eyes. I asked one of them what she was thinking about. She told me that at school, she was the only Jew in her grade and often felt alone. At that moment, however, she felt connected. In community.

“Here, I can just be me,” she said.

What a gift for her, and for all of our community. Across North America, hundreds of Jewish day and overnight camps are giving young people what they need most amid global chaos: pride in their identity, a community that sees and values them, and the skills to lead with courage, care, and joy.

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Jamie Simon is the CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp, whose mission is to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement, leveraging more than $15 million of philanthropic giving annually to scale programs and resources that benefit more than 300 Jewish day and overnight camps across North America. jewishcamp.org

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Across North America, more than 300 Jewish camps opened this summer getting ready to welcome nearly 200,000 campers and staff for another season of learning, friendship, and joy.

Then came the Israel-Iran war. Flights were grounded. Many Israeli shlichim were unable to leave the country for their planned start dates. Some teen Israel trips were canceled.

And yet — something remarkable happened.

Within three days, Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) rallied more than 1,400 people willing to fill staffing needs. Volunteers ranged from a 13-year-old and an 80-year-old. Orthodox Jews — and people who aren’t Jewish at all, stepped up, united by one message: I can help. Together with many funders, FJC also raised over $2 million in funding for camps whose Israel travel plans were upended.

We were thrilled to see shlichim making it to camps this summer in the end. But the generosity of the people who raised their hands to help, from the supporters who jumped in to address a critical and unexpected financial challenge to individuals across the country, comes from a deep recognition of the power of Jewish camp. In many cases, the people who stepped up are themselves the product of the world camp creates. A world of kind, resilient leaders. Ready to show up for one another when it matters most.

As the newly appointed CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC), a former camper, former camp counselor, former camp director, and current camp mom, I’m more confident than ever that camp is key to the Jewish future.

Jewish camps are thriving, with record enrollment and growing demand. Still, there is a lot of work ahead. As our world grows more turbulent and polarized, camp is becoming more essential. And young people’s and camp’s needs are growing too.

Identity & Community
Every child deserves a place where they feel valued and connected to Jewish life. Where they can forge their own Jewish identity. Where they can learn about and connect to Israel.

Camp delivers on all these fronts. It’s a place where young Jews can be around other young Jews. If you grew up as the only Jewish kid in your class, like I did, that’s a big deal. To be around peers who understand you. To live in an environment of Jewish joy. To be able to exhale —and not worry so much. A recent study from Stanford University and BeWell found that camp is the #1 place where Jewish teens feel comfortable being their true selves.

This magic doesn’t end when summer does. Camp is a crucial pipeline to lifelong Jewish engagement. A majority of parents say that camp strengthens their child’s connection to the Jewish community throughout the year. My own 11-year-old returned from camp excited to light Shabbat candles for the first time.

Camp also fosters lifelong connection to Israel. Shlichim and educational programming help campers engage with Israel as a living place, with all of its beauty and complexities. Young North American Jews form strong relationships with Israelis. And in the safe environment of camp, they can explore their questions around Israel with clarity and honesty.

Especially amid conflict and rising polarization around Israel, these experiences matter.

Individual Leadership & Growth
Today’s young people are growing up in a time of increasing disconnection. Teenagers are spending less time with friends. Mental health challenges are on the rise.

Enter Jewish camp. Camp is likely the longest screen-free experience young people have these days. It’s an opportunity to form real connections. To run around and sleep under the stars. To dance, sing, and unleash their creativity.

Just because camp is a sacred space, however, doesn’t mean kids leave everything behind. As mental health needs continue to grow, camps are working hard to create emotionally safe and supportive environments. FJC is proud to support this effort through our grants, staff training, and fellowships that place qualified mental health professionals at camp.

Camp is also a place for growth. At camp, leadership happens every day. Teenagers help plan Shabbat services. Staff take on responsibility and learn what it means to guide others with empathy. Camp entrusts young people to lead —and watches as they gain the confidence to step forward. 93% of families report that camp helped their child experience growth and try new things.

What Camp Makes Possible
Camp is far more than fun in the sun. It’s about showing young people what it feels like to be part of something bigger — and giving them the tools to lead with care, courage, and connection.

This summer, when the world shifted, people stepped up. Because camp prepared them to do so. This summer also showed why it’s so important to have coordinated leadership from umbrella organizations, like Foundation for Jewish Camp, in times of crisis.

At FJC, we believe every Jewish child should be able to experience the power of camp. And that every camp should have the resources to meet the moment. We’re proud to support more than 300 day and overnight camps across North America. Together, they’re shaping the next generation of Jewish life grounded in joy, resilience, and leadership.

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Jamie Simon is the CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp, whose mission is to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement, leveraging more than $15 million of philanthropic giving annually to scale programs and resources that benefit more than 300 Jewish day and overnight camps across North America. jewishcamp.org

Will bring two decades of Jewish camping leadership experience at pivotal moment for Jewish camp movement

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp’s (FJC) Board of Directors announced today that Jamie Simon, who has led the organization in an interim capacity since March 2025 and previously served as chief program and strategy officer, will take the helm as the organization’s next chief executive officer beginning July 15th. Simon was unanimously selected by FJC’s Board after a highly competitive, nationwide search. She will be the first woman to serve as CEO in the organization’s 27-year history.  

“Jamie is an exceptionally skilled, visionary, and inspiring leader who is deeply grounded in the values and mission of Jewish camp,” said Foundation for Jewish Camp Board Chair Jim Heeger. “After our extensive search with many qualified candidates, it was clear that Jamie is the best leader to steward the organization’s next chapter. She has already demonstrated extraordinary leadership within the organization’s ranks, developed strong relationships with partners, and has lived and breathed the mission and values of Jewish camp throughout her decades-long professional career.”

With more than 20 years of experience in Jewish camping, Jamie is uniquely prepared to shape the organization’s next chapter with vision, care, and proven leadership. Simon joined FJC in 2023 as its first chief program and strategy officer. She had previously spent 17 years at the Tawonga Jewish Community Corporation in California, including six years as its CEO.

At FJC, Simon has played instrumental roles in securing major, seven-figure gifts; leading FJC’s ongoing strategic planning process; and overseeing last year’s Leaders Assembly in Chicago that saw the largest turnout in the organization’s history, with nearly 950 camp professionals and field leaders in attendance. 

In her role as interim CEO, Jamie was integral in helping Jewish camps across North America navigate their preparations for this summer’s camp season, and spearheaded the organization’s recent rapid response efforts to provide financial and staffing support for camps impacted by the Israel-Iran war, including raising over $2 million in emergency funding for camps who have had to change their travel itineraries.

“I am profoundly grateful to the Board for this opportunity to serve as Foundation for Jewish Camp’s next CEO. I’ve seen the power of Jewish camp at every stage of my life: as a camper, as a camp counselor, as a camp director, as a parent, and as a passionate advocate in the broader Jewish camp movement,” said Simon. “With nearly 200,000 young people expected to attend this summer, enrollment at Jewish camp is higher than ever. My priority is to ensure that every young Jew that wants to experience the transformative impact of camp has the opportunity to do so, and that every camp has the resources they need to succeed.”

“This is an exciting — and critical — moment for Jewish camp, and we’re thrilled that FJC and the field as a whole will be in Jamie’s capable hands,” said Jeffrey M. Solomon, Search Committee Chair and FJC’s Board Chair-elect. “Jamie’s blend of executive acumen, personal passion, and deep field expertise, make her the ideal leader to guide Jewish camp into the future together with our camps, donors, board, and staff.” 

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About Foundation for Jewish Camp 
Prior to the creation of Foundation for Jewish Camp by Elisa Spungen Bildner and Robert Bildner in 1998, there was no organization dedicated solely to expanding the reach of Jewish camp and deepening its impact. Today, FJC remains the only nonprofit whose singular mission is to grow, support and strengthen the Jewish camp movement, leveraging more than $15 million of philanthropic giving annually to scale programs and resources that benefit more than 300 Jewish day and overnight camps across North America. jewishcamp.org

In the Jewish community, we know the power of camp. 

We know it as a sacred space where children find their voice, counselors discover their purpose, and lifelong friendships are formed under starry skies. We know it as a refuge where values are lived, joy is abundant, and community is built in song, sweat, and spirit. 

That’s why our hearts are broken alongside the camps in Texas who are grieving unimaginable loss after this week’s devastating flood. The tragedy at Camp Mystic and the heartbreaking deaths of beloved camp leaders Jane Ragsdale of Heart O’ the Hills and Dick Eastland of Camp Mystic have reverberated through the camping world. We are shaken by the loss, and we mourn with you. 

While our traditions, affiliations, and identities may differ, we are united by a profound belief that camp shapes lives. In times of joy and in times of sorrow, camp is where we gather to grow, to lead, and to heal. And now, it is where we must gather our compassion and strength to support our fellow camps in need. 

To the communities impacted, we want you to know: You are not alone. Across the country, Jewish camps, leaders, alumni, and families are holding you in our thoughts and prayers. We stand ready to help however we can — whether through direct support or emotional solidarity. 

In Jewish tradition, we are taught that comforting the bereaved and aiding those in distress are among our highest responsibilities. May the memories of those lost be a blessing, and may the resilience of the camp community — so deeply rooted in care and purpose — carry us forward together. 

With love and strength,  

Jamie Simon 

YOU CAN HELP

1. Donate to Shalom Austin’s Flood Relief Campaign to help families directly impacted by the floods in Central Texas. Every donation will go to provide urgent support and recovery assistance. 

2. Purchase items through the Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service Food Pantry wishlist. All items donated this month will go toward emergency relief efforts in Central Texas. UPDATE: NOW FULLY STOCKED! THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

3. Donate to provide mental health support for Camp Mystic’s community through Healing for Camp Mystic – a GoFundMe dedicated to long-term therapy for the campers, their counselors, and families. 

4. Donate to American Camp Association’s Disaster Assistance Campership Fund to ensure that campers whose families have experienced financial hardship due to a natural disaster at home, can afford to return to camp.

Funding will support programs and alternate trips after Israel-Iran war forces travel cancellations

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) today announced more than $2 million in emergency funding for Jewish camps as they navigate canceled Israel travel programs and build new, meaningful alternatives for teens this summer.

Across North America, nearly 200,000 young people are attending Jewish day or overnight camps this summer. Israel and Israelis play a crucial role in the camp experience: Dozens of camps, and nearly 1,000 teens, had planned trips to Israel this summer., and 2,050 Israeli shlichim, or emissaries, were scheduled to work at Jewish camps. 

The Israel-Iran war upended plans for hundreds of camps. And while the resumption of some flights and coordinated efforts by the Jewish Agency for Israeli (JAFI) mean that by now, most shlichim are at camp or will soon arrive, most camps who planned to travel to Israel have been forced to cancel their trips and scramble to find alternatives on short notice and at higher prices

“The fact that we were able to raise $2 million in less than a week is a testament to the resilience and generosity of our community,” said Jamie Simon, acting CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “While nothing can fully replace the experience of being in Israel with your fellow campers, this emergency funding will ensure that hundreds of Jewish teens still have powerful, identity-shaping Jewish experiences this summer.”

FJC anticipates disbursing this emergency funding to dozens of camps serving nearly 750 teens. Other alternative travel programs in lieu of an Israel trip include a Jewish history and leadership development trip to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest that includes a stop at Camp Szarvas, an international Jewish camp in Hungary, as well as another camp that is traveling to Argentina.

“Earlier this month, 34 rising 12th graders were scheduled to leave on a 5-week trip to Israel. Despite a tremendous amount of disappointment, we are very happy that nearly all participants are joining us for an alternative leadership capstone experience at camp,” said Jane-Rachel Schonbrun, Director of Camp Yavneh. “We are grateful to FJC and the many members of our community who have made donations to offset our losses, allowing us to reimagine this core part of our campers’ Jewish journey.” 

Rabbi Dan Utley, Director of Camp Wise, added, “Thanks to this support, Camp Wise, the Jewish overnight camp of the Mandel JCC of Cleveland, has provided emerging teen leaders with a transformative journey through Europe—connecting them to Jewish history—and the opportunity to experience the pride and joy of global Jewish peoplehood at JDC’s Camp Szarvas in Hungary. Even in a time of significant turmoil for the Jewish community, our teens are growing in confidence, identity, and leadership as the next generation of Jewish adults.”

In addition to funding, FJC has also facilitated stopgap staffing options for camps who faced a sudden shortfall because of the delay inshlichim arriving in North America. 1,250 shlichim were already at camps when the war broke out, but another 850 weren’t. That left camps that start later in the summer, especially those in the Midwest and Northeast, with a gap in their workforce. 

In under 72 hours, FJC rallied over 1,200 people who said they were willing to work or volunteer. Alums, typically loyal to their own camp, said they were willing to go wherever they’d be needed the most. Ultimately, FJC referred 400 highly qualified individuals to camps. These included people whose own travel to Israel was upended by the war — from a future lone soldier who was supposed to work for Magen David Adom this summer to a number of young people who were slated to compete in the canceled Maccabiah Games. 

“FJC has been instrumental in helping us meet critical staffing needs this summer at a sensitive time,” said David Weiss, Executive Director of Habonim Dror Camp Galil. “Their quick mobilization of national support introduced us to passionate, capable young adults who have become invaluable members of our team. We’re incredibly grateful for FJC’s partnership and the positive impact it’s had on our Galil community.”

FJC has also established partnerships with organizations like Maccabi USA and Birthright Israel to offer participants in their programs, which are facing widespread cancellations, the opportunity to work at camp this summer.

 

About Foundation for Jewish Camp 

FJC advocates for over 300 day and overnight camps that provide nearly 190,000 campers and counselors each summer with a meaningful, personal, and lifelong connection to Judaism. FJC is the only public 501(c)(3) charitable organization solely focused on Jewish camp. jewishcamp.org