COVID-19 Resources for Camps
To assist your camp in this uncertain time, FJC has consolidated a number of resources specifically for Jewish camps onto this page. You’ll find information on contingency & emergency planning, financial planning, grants & loans, health & safety planning, recordings of previous webinars, sample camp communications, and more. We will update the page on an ongoing basis, so be sure to check back regularly! And if you see something helpful for the field you’d like us to share, let us know.
If you feel moved to write an article or a blog please be in touch with jordyn@jewishcamp.org and we can help you share your voice.
Physical Reference Resources
Communications
- With Families
- With Staff
- Articles to Help Process Camp Loss
- The Potential Loss of Summer Camp
- How to talk to children about difficult news
- Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting from COVID-19
- Strategies to manage and heal
- A Resource on how to validate feelings of our campers while at the same time acknowledging our blessings and having perspective, Wholehearted Living.
Educational resources and Jewish response programs
Emergency & Contingency Planning
Health & Safety Planning
Financial Planning
Mental, Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Health & Support Group Resources
RUACH: Emotional and Spiritual Support
RUACH is a volunteer-run network of therapists, social workers, Jewish clergy, chaplains, and providers-in-training offering support during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Caregivers span the full spectrum of the Jewish community and provide inclusive and accessible care to clients of all walks of life, regardless of religion/observance level, age, nationality, gender identity, orientation, ability, or political affiliation.
Service is free in order to lower barriers to care, and anyone may access short-term supportive support for immediate emotional and spiritual needs of between 4-6 sessions.
BaMidbar Indoors: Online Support Group for Jewish Professionals
BaMidbar’s weekly online support group for Jewish professionals is a community gathering in quarantine to create a dedicated space for emotional reflection, self-care, and coping skills. Registration for each weekly session is required, and you are welcome to attend as often as you like, and additional dates will be added as time goes on.
T’shuva Center
Support Group: T’Shuvah Group is geared for people fighting substance abuse, or anyone who has had a history of fighting substance abuse. All are welcome. T’Shuvah Group creates a safe and challenging space to look at our week, pause, reflect, and consider what we need to do to get closer to creating a life of meaning for ourselves. Finding meaning is at the center of recovery from addictions of all kinds. Everyone has a right for redemption and to form new habits and choices.
Teen Talk (App) by Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters LA
Teens can often feel overwhelmed by the complexities of their lives. They want support, but they don’t want it from adults. They crave it from other teens.
Teen Talk is a free mobile app that helps teens take control of their social and emotional health by providing an easy way for them to get help from the group of people they trust most: their peers.
Teens can use the app to safely and anonymously discuss their lives and concerns with teen advisors who have been professionally trained to help them with a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationships, family issues, school, and more.
More information
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line serves provides access to free, 24/7 support and information via a medium people already use and trust: text.
Get more information or Text HOME to 741741
Blue Dove Foundation
Resources and Virtual Events, including discussions on infertility and wellness challah baking.
Mitsui Collective
Resources for building resilient community around nature and wellness, embodied Jewish practice, and multiracial justice.
OHEL Family: Drop-in Therapy, Webinars, Support Groups
JHSA – Find your Local Jewish Family Services & Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Events and Webinars
Recordings of Previous Webinars
- Supporting & Strengthening Campers & Families during Shelter-in-Place with Dr. G
- My Staff Want Answers I Don’t Have: An Open Discussion About Maintaining Staff Loyalty & Enthusiasm
- It’s Hard to Have a Crystal Ball – Scenario Planning for 2020
- Financial Scenario Modeling with FMA – Fiscal Management Associates
Grants & Loans
United States
Small Business Association Loans
JFNA has generously provided a point person in their organization to provide guidance to camps. Email Steve Gross at steve.gross@jewishfederations.org and cc Corey Cutler at corey@jewishcamp.org with any questions.
- Jewish Community Information on SBA Loans: Everything You Need to Know
- Small Business Association Administration: Apply Here for Loans
- Paycheck Protection Program
Regional Grants and Loans
- NY COVID 19 Response & Impact Fund (for NYC Based Camps)
Canada
The advocacy needs of the Canadian Jewish Community are served by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), which acts as the advocacy agent for the Jewish Federations of Canada. In order to provide you with up to date information about available programs that can help Canadian organizations and advocacy initiatives in which you can join, we ask you to visit https://cija.ca/covid-19-resources/. Please note that this website is updated Monday through Friday between 2 and 3 pm (Eastern). Beginning in early April, CIJA will also be providing webinars to assist local organizations in navigating programs as they become available. For more information please contact them at info@cija.ca.