Foundation for Jewish Camp Receives American Camp Association Character at Camp Grant
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 Sol Taplin, URJ Camp Kalsman, Camp Tawonga, Habonim Dror Camp Galil, 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.
