NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) has been selected as a grantee in the American Camp Association’s Character at Camp Grant Program, a competitive national initiative supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The program is designed to strengthen character development in camp settings and highlight camps as impactful environments for youth growth. 

“From past work, we know that Jewish camps build the character strengths that help young people develop strong relationships and community and strengthen teamwork, kindness, and leadership,” said Nila Rosen, Vice President of Learning and Research at Foundation for Jewish Camp. “This new grant allows FJC to understand and build on how camps help young people develop hope, resilience and a deep responsibility to each other, to their broader community, and the world. It is a powerful investment in Jewish camps.” 

Since launching in 2022 with five overnight camps, FJC’s Character at Camp Initiative, funded by the John Templeton Foundation has grown into a field model now embedded in the programming and culture of 30 Jewish day and overnight camps. In its first two years, 10 overnight camps participated in Community of Practice cohorts, receiving funding and expert guidance to explore research and learning, resource development, staff training, and communications. In 2024, FJC shifted from exploration to implementation with the launch of the Character Ambassador Stipend Program, funding a seasonal staff leadership roles in character development at 20 camps to lead character work on the ground. 

Through the Character at Camp initiative, the American Camp Association has funded camps and camp networks across the country to intentionally support the development of key character strengths in campers and staff.  As a network grantee, FJC will use this initial planning grant to bring together camps and expert advisors to begin to define what hope, resilience, and responsibility mean in the camp context and how camps can bring this into their respective cultures.  

The Character at Camp initiative recognizes camps as uniquely positioned to foster positive youth development by providing:  

• Research-informed character development programs  

• Inclusive communities that foster a sense of belonging 

• Opportunities to grow character strengths such as empathy, responsibility, and leadership  

• Access to character development programs  

• Meaningful service to communities and the environment  

• Experiences that support leadership development and personal growth 

FJC joins a list of Jewish camps and movements that received Character at Camp Grants from ACA including Camp Gilboa, URJ Camp Kalsman, Camp Sol Taplin, Camp Tavor, Camp Tawonga, Habonim Dror Camp Galil, Shwayder Camp and the Union for Reform Judaism Camps.

About Foundation for Jewish Camp 

Foundation for Jewish Camp grows, supports, and strengthens the Jewish camp movement so camps can deliver exceptional experiences for campers, staff, families, and communities, engaging them in lifelong, joyful Judaism. Learn more at jewishcamp.org. 

Originally published by Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)

As Jewish youth face unprecedented mental, emotional, social and spiritual health challenges, leading organizations in Jewish education and youth development hosted more than 175 Jewish professionals from across North America at the “Youth Centered Mental Wellness for Today’s Jewish World” conference. The two-day gathering focused on supporting the well-being of Jewish young people.

The event brought together professionals from across the Jewish youth-serving field, including camps, congregations, campuses, JCCs, youth groups, schools and community organizations, for learning, reflection and collaboration. Participants explored practical strategies and innovative approaches to strengthening the mental wellness of Jewish youth while building supportive professional networks.

“This conference has empowered educators to build a framework that celebrates differences instead of boxing them in,” said Melissa Algranati, founding director of Island Quest Day Camp. “By valuing every young person’s unique story and Jewish journey, we are creating welcoming Jewish spaces where we can lean into understanding and walk our own paths while remaining deeply connected as a community.”

A special performance of “OTHER: A Dramedy About the Anxious Art of Belonging,” written and performed by Tony Award winner Ari’el Stachel, explored Stachel’s experiences with OCD, ADHD, anxiety and identity as a Yemeni-Jewish American navigating belonging.

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Wallace discussed Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose in conversation with Betsy Stone, Ph.D. Wallace explored how the feeling of mattering—being valued and significant to others—is central to the mental health of caregivers and educators and, in turn, the children and teens they support.

Participants also engaged in an experiential plenary, “Beginnings, Creation & Openings: How We Explore Our Stories,” led by Avital Krifcher and Rabbi Adam Lavitt of the Jewish Studio Project.

“There is a pediatric mental-health crisis in this country, and summer camps provide an important service in mitigating the effects of this on the populations we serve,” said Neil Weintraub of Surprise Lake Camp. “This conference and the resources the program provides are essential in providing safe and nurturing environments for our campers.”

Conference participants left with practical, actionable strategies they can bring back to their camps, schools, universities, congregations and organizations. Workshops were led by experts from Adamah, Assembly, BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness, Be’chol Lashon, Jewish Federations of North America’s BeWell, HereNow, Honeycomb, Jewish Studio Project, The Mattering Institute, Moving Traditions and The Shefa Center. Sessions focused on:

• Understanding antisemitism as an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and building resilience
• How to help young boys recognize, regulate and express emotions, develop empathy, and make intentional choices in their relationships and communities.
• Best practices for facilitating mental wellness programs
• Designing Jewish spaces that foster belonging for young adults
• Co-regulation strategies for group facilitators
• Supporting youth facing disordered eating
• Responding to self-harm and risky behaviors
• Helping teens develop balance through Jewish well-being practices
• Climate anxiety and resilience building
• Storytelling and identity development
• Strengthening relationships and connection with youth

A special session, “In Their Own Words: Teen Voices on Mental Health and Resilience,” featured teens from HereNow, The Jewish Board’s Teen Mental Health Initiative, and shared their lived experiences and perspectives.

The Jewish Education Project, Foundation for Jewish Camp, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, and BeWell, an initiative of the Jewish Federations of North America, in partnership with the Network and UJA-Federation of New York, hosted the conference.