A peer-reviewed study of more than 1,200 campers finds that feeling accepted and connected is among the strongest predictors of how young people build character and skills.

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) today announced the publication of new peer-reviewed research finding that a camper’s sense of belonging is one of the strongest predictors of how much they grow at camp. The study, “The Heart of Camp: Belonging, Relationships, and Growth of Character and Skills,” appears in the Journal of Youth Development and was conducted by FJC researchers together with academic partners. This study was funded through a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

“Every parent hopes their child will come home from camp with greater confidence, lasting friendships, and a stronger sense of who they are and connections to a community where they feel they truly belong. ”  said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “This research helps explain how camp plays a major role in belonging. FJC is committed to ensuring that every Jewish child can access these formative camp experiences. ”

The paper was authored by FJC Manager of Learning and Research Alecia Moser and FJC Vice President of Learning and Research Nila Rosen, along with academic partners Texas A&M Associate Professor of Educational Psychology Andrea Ettekal, Rutgers University Professor of Psychology Maurice Elias, and University of Kentucky Assistant Professor of Community and Leadership Development Sarah Sprayberry.

The team surveyed 1,225 middle- and high-school campers at five Jewish overnight camps across the U.S. The findings reveal that belonging is one of the strongest predictors of positive youth development at camp, serving as a critical pathway through which young people build character strengths and life skills.

Key Findings:

• Belonging predicts growth: Campers with high feelings of belonging consistently reported stronger life skill development, including increased confidence, motivation, resilience, independence, responsibility, good judgement, kindness, and overall personal growth.
• Friendships are a catalyst: 85% of campers made at least one new close friend. Those who did so reported significantly higher growth, regardless of whether they were new or returning campers.
• Leadership and teamwork stand out: Campers who experienced both high belonging and high life skill development were especially likely to report growth in leadership and teamwork.
• Counselors matter deeply: Counselors who actively foster kindness and inclusion had a measurable impact, particularly for campers who initially felt less connected.

“This is an important finding because it helps us better understand how camp works,” said Nila Rosen, vice president of learning and research at Foundation for Jewish Camp. “Belonging is not simply an outcome of the camp experience, it is one of the primary pathways through which development and growth occur. When young people feel accepted, connected, and cared for, they are more likely to develop the character strengths and life skills that help them thrive.”

The study is part of FJC’s Character at Camp Initiative, a multiyear effort supported by the John Templeton Foundation to study and strengthen how Jewish camps develop young people’s character. 

Building on this research and as part of its 2026-2030 strategic direction, FJC will continue investing in initiatives, resources, and professional development opportunities that help camps create environments where every young person feels connected, valued, and empowered to grow.

Read the full study, “The Heart of Camp: Belonging, Relationships, and Growth of Character and Skills,” in the Journal of Youth Development (Vol. 21, Issue 2). 

View the key highlights: 

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.

2026–2030 Strategic Direction expands access, develops leaders and elevates Jewish camp as essential to the Jewish future

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) today unveiled its 2026–2030 Strategic Direction, an ambitious five-year plan to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity: dramatically expanding access to exceptional Jewish camp experiences while strengthening and shaping Jewish communal life for decades to come. Building on record growth—nearly 200,000 young people attended Jewish camp last summer—the plan charts a bold course to deepen FJC’s proven investments and pursue breakthrough initiatives that will ensure that camp is in reach for every Jewish child.

“At a time of rising antisemitism, generational disconnection and uncertainty about the Jewish future, Jewish camp offers a joyful, immersive and proven space where young people develop a true sense of belonging, deep friendships, and Jewish identity that lasts a lifetime,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “This strategic direction is our commitment to ensuring that every Jewish child can access exceptional camp experiences and that every camp has the support it needs to deliver. Together with our partners, FJC will build a stronger Jewish future.”

Developed with input from across the field—camp professionals, funders, federation leaders, lay leaders and FJC board members and staff—and informed by survey data from thousands of camp families, the plan identifies three interdependent strategic priorities that address the field’s most pressing challenges and greatest opportunities.

• Advancing the Business of Camp focuses on the operational and financial health of camps themselves. FJC will invest in infrastructure modernization, expand financial accessibility for families, support camps in building sustainable business models and cultivate durable career pathways for camp professionals to address a field-wide leadership pipeline challenge.

• Building Jewish Learners and Leaders deepens the impact of what happens at camp. FJC will invest in the educators and environments that foster belonging, strengthen Jewish identity, build connection to Israel and develop leadership skills — creating intentional arcs of growth from first-time camper to communal leader.

• Championing Jewish Camp elevates the visibility and recognized value of camp across the Jewish communal landscape. Through research, strategic partnerships and advocacy, FJC will demonstrate that Jewish camp is a critical strategic investment in Jewish continuity, one that merits greater communal attention and philanthropic support.

This is a pivotal moment for Jewish life. Young people are navigating rising antisemitism, searching for authentic community, and confronting a mental health crisis that demands exactly what camp provides: immersive belonging, real friendship, and a space to be fully oneself. By making camp more affordable, expanding capacity, and investing in the leaders who make the magic happen, FJC will ensure more Jewish families can access the transformative power of camp than ever before.

To deliver across all three priorities, FJC will leverage its unmatched position as the field’s central hub for strategic grantmaking, leadership development, research, and network building—ensuring that every dollar invested strengthens the entire camp ecosystem.

Beyond a commitment to sustaining signature work, FJC’s strategic direction will serve as a launching pad for a new wave of breakthrough investments: bold, large-scale initiatives designed to dramatically expand camp capacity and ensure long-term financial sustainability for camps of all sizes.

“This direction was shaped by the collective wisdom of the people closest to Jewish camp — the directors, educators, funders and community leaders who see its impact every day,” said Jeffrey M. Solomon, board chair of Foundation for Jewish Camp “This plan is both a roadmap and an invitation to funders, to community leaders, and to anyone who believes in the power of camp to invest in a vision that can strengthen Jewish life for generations.”

Implementation is already underway. At a moment when Jewish families are looking for spaces of belonging and joy, this plan ensures that camp — a proven engine for Jewish identity formation and connection — can reach every child who could benefit, and help shape the Jewish future for generations to come. The full five-year plan is available at strategy.jewishcamp.org

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