Seasonal & Early Career
The core ingredients to a vibrant field of Jewish camps are the talented staff that bring magic to life for thousands of children every summer. We invest in passionate and skilled seasonal staff and early career professionals to ensure that dedicated people like you have opportunities to continue your professional growth in the Jewish camping field. Whether you’re considering working at camp for a summer or something more long-term, you’ll find a wide variety of fellowships, internships, and seasonal positions here to help you advance your professional journey.
Fellowship Opportunities
Explore Opportunities
The FJC Fellowship
The FJC Fellowship is a paid, 21-month fellowship for recent college graduates seeking professional opportunities in the field of Jewish Camp. Fellows spend the summer working in a leadership role at a Jewish overnight or day camp, and the academic year working full-time at Foundation for Jewish Camp’s headquarters office in New York.
Each Fellow will provide valuable support for field-wide initiatives, large-scale FJC programs, and organizational operations. Fellows will be supervised by senior FJC professionals, attend key meetings and events, and be exposed to the inner workings of an international non-profit organization.
The FJC Fellowship application is now open until February 25, 2025.
Have questions? Join us for an info session on Thursday, January 30th at 3pm ET/12pm PT – Register Here.
FAQs
What Is FJC?
Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) fosters excellence and accelerates innovation at Jewish camps across North America by developing adaptive talent, deepening immersive learning experiences, and catalyzing field growth. Founded in 1998, FJC elevates Jewish camp on the cultural and philanthropic agenda, creating opportunities to engage even more young people in Jewish camp through groundbreaking programs such as One Happy Camper® and FJC’s Specialty Camps Incubator. FJC advocates for over 300 day and overnight camps that provide nearly 180,000 campers and young staff each summer with a meaningful, personal, and lifelong connection to Judaism. FJC is a public 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
What Do FJC Fellows Work On?
Each of the FJC Fellows will have a primary focus on one of following program areas:
- Jewish & Israel Education
- Wellness, Inclusion, and Belonging
- Leadership Development
While each Fellow will have a distinct portfolio of work, based on their unique skills and interest areas, all Fellows have responsibility for supporting a variety of leadership, education, wellness, and inclusion programs, for day and overnight camp staff and professionals, and the research, marketing and development efforts that enable those initiatives.
Additionally, FJC Fellows will have the opportunity to work on special projects in other areas of FJC, to gain experience in a variety of areas of non profit management, and exposure to a variety of colleagues at teams. Special project rotations could include work with colleagues in Learning & Research, Marketing, Grant Making, Fundraising/Development, and more.
Who Should Apply
Ideal applicants are graduating college seniors or recent graduates who have a passion for Jewish camp, and a desire to pursue Jewish camp as a career. Applicants should be ready to spend the summer of 2026 at Jewish day or overnight camp.
What Is The Application Process?
For this cohort, we will be hiring 3 outstanding Fellows.
Here is how the process works:
- Step 1: – Now is the time to talk with your camp director! The FJC Fellowship is a long-term commitment between the Fellow, FJC, and a Jewish overnight or day camp. Before moving on to step 2, be sure to speak with your camp director first to see if this is a good fit right now for the camp organization too.
- Step 2: FJC Fellowship Application – You will complete an online application consisting of a resume, written and video components. Your camp director must also complete an online reference form on your behalf and sign a Participation Agreement with FJC. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure both parts of the application (yours and the camp director’s) are submitted by the deadline.
Application Deadline: February 25, 2025
- Step 3: Interviews – there will be 2-3 rounds of interviews for finalist candidates. Interviews will occur in mid-to-late March, and applicants and camps will be informed of their selection by early April.
Do I Need to Already Work at Jewish Camp to Apply?
Since Fellows spend summer 2026 working at a Jewish day or overnight camp in a leadership role, a camp needs to agree to hire the Fellow through the Fellowship application process alongside FJC. If you are already affiliated with the Jewish camp that you would like to work at during summer 2026, you and your camp director will apply for the FJC Fellowship together.
If you are not currently affiliated with a Jewish camp, please reach out to Julie (julie@jewishcamp.org) to discuss your application options!
How Long Is The Commitment?
This is a 21-month fellowship. The following is the timeline for FJC Fellows Cohort 4:
- September 2025: Fellowship begins!
- September 2025-May 2026: Fellows work at FJC in New York City
- May/June 2026-August 2026: Fellows work at their home camps
- September 2026-May 2027: Fellows work at FJC in New York City
- May 2027: Fellowship Concludes
*Fellows are encouraged to work at camp in summer 2025 and/or summer 2027 if they desire, and a position is available. This time, however, is optional and outside of the formal framework of the Fellowship.
Do Fellows Receive Compensation and Benefits?
Yes! Fellows receive an annual prorated salary of $50,000 plus a comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include a company-paid Group Medical Bridge plan that provides additional out of-pocket coverage for a variety of medical services; commuter benefit; Flexible Spending Account; 401K plan; vacation and sick time (prorated for partial years worked); early closure for Shabbat and major holiday eves; and office closure for all major Jewish and secular holidays.
Fellows are compensated annually by FJC and will not earn additional compensation from their home camp for summer 2026.
Fellows are responsible for their own housing arrangements in the NYC area.
Camp Management Fellowship
Seasonal supervisors at Jewish summer camps have many different roles and responsibilities. Whether they are unit heads, specialty heads, or program directors, they have a variety of hats they need to wear to be successful. For many at camp, being a seasonal supervisor is their first experience managing others and supervising either their peers or younger staff members. At FJC, we know that having a good supervisor is a key factor in a counselor feeling seen and heard, which impacts staff satisfaction and likelihood to return to camp for future summers, as well as satisfaction and likelihood to return of campers.
The Camp Management Fellowship (CMF) brings high quality and timely training to seasonal camp supervisors. Fellows receive ongoing training and support in the areas of communication, fostering relationships and managing differences, and modeling leadership.
Applications for the next cohort of the Camp Management Fellowship are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline of February 7th, 2025.
Questions? Email Brent at brent.novey@jewishcamp.org.
Mental Health Graduate Student Fellowship
As part of Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Yedid Nefesh mental health initiative, the Mental Health Graduate Student Fellowship supports building a pipeline of mental health professionals working at Jewish camp to expand qualified mental health support by embedding it into camp teams.
Applications for the next cohort of the Mental Health Graduate Student Fellowship will open in early 2025.
Disabilities Inclusion: Staff Training Series
Seasonal staff who work with or are interested in supporting campers and staff with disabilities are invited to participate in this four-part series, which includes a financial incentive and will run from April-May.
Registration opens in January 2025.
RootOne-FJC Camp & Israel Fellowship
The RootOne-FJC Israel Fellowship, launched in April 2023, is a two-year program that elevates young camp leaders who have demonstrated success working with teens. These staff members are educated on how to build on the existing relationships with campers, serve as part-time year-round camp team members, and help in the recruiting of campers to go on the RootOne-FJC trip to Israel. Following the summer in Israel, Fellows and campers then work together to prepare campers to return to camp as CITs or first year staff.
The Fellowship includes a generous stipend and series of in-person professional development retreats centered on learning about Israel education, recruitment and marketing, staff supervision, and program development with their fellowship cohort.
Internships
Camp is an incredible place to develop and launch your career. FJC Internships are amazing opportunities to develop your skills and passions in your professional and academic interest areas, all through the lens of Jewish camp!
Options range from the full semester to just a few days, and everything in between. See below to learn about each internship option, eligibility, and application timeline.
Apply to InternshipsIn all of our internships and volunteer opportunities, we are seeking to create teams that reflect the diversity of camp staff from across North America, and around the world. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to ensure we get the best, most creative talent from the field.
Internship Opportunities
Staff Advisory Council (SAC) – Virtual with In-Person Opportunities
Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Staff Advisory Council (SAC) aims to empower the voice, vision, and experience of Jewish camp staff and serves as an excellent leadership development opportunity for staff members returning to work at camp in 2025. Coordinated by FJC, the SAC will be comprised of young Jewish leaders who represent the diversity of the Jewish camp field and function as an essential connection between the organization and the experience of camp counselors.
Council members will advise FJC on current and future programmatic initiatives, innovation plans, and provide essential insights to improve the staff experience in the Jewish camping field. Special committees and taskforces will also be developed to address relevant field-wide concerns such as: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Jewish Education, Staff Mental Health & Wellness, and Staff Recruitment/Retention. SAC members will have the opportunity to network with Jewish camp professionals, share best practices, and learn from experts in the field of Jewish camp.
This is a volunteer opportunity, in which board members will gain key experience as lay leaders with a prominent international non-profit organization.
Requirements:
- All applicants must be current camp staff members who worked at a Jewish camp in the summer of 2024. Preference will be given to those who plan to return to a Jewish camp for summer 2025.
Cornerstone Event Interns – In-Person
The Cornerstone seminar is a gathering for returning camp staff from 60+ camps across North America and around the world! Event Interns at Cornerstone work alongside FJC staff to support the logistics and operations of the faculty planning seminar (January 13-16) and the Cornerstone seminar (May 15-22). They are also involved in planning and executing other programmatic aspects throughout the conference. Interns attend and facilitate Cornerstone educational programs and have access to mentorship and professional development from leading Jewish professionals and educators.
Shared hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation costs within North America are all covered by FJC. Interns will additionally earn a stipend of $1500 for your work over the two seminars.
All are encouraged to apply!
Preference will be given to Cornerstone alumni and those working at camp in 2025.
Requirements:
- Must be 18 years old by January 8, 2025 to apply
- Required dates in-person at Capital Camps & Retreat Center in Waynesboro, PA:
- Faculty Planning Seminar: January 13-16, 2025
- Cornerstone Seminar: May 15-22, 2025
Cornerstone Alumni Board (CAB) – Virtual
Members of the Cornerstone Alumni Board (CAB) will work with the FJC team as lay leaders to guide the themes and educational goals of the Cornerstone May Seminar.
Responsibilities will include: choosing the Cornerstone theme along with the FJC team, vetting program ideas and educational material, providing consultation to Cornerstone faculty on specific program ideas, and acting as a Cornerstone ambassador.
This is a volunteer opportunity, in which board members will gain key experience as lay leaders.
Requirements:
- Applicants must be alumni of the Cornerstone Fellowship.
Work at camp
Real in-person connections. Time Outside. A chance to make a difference. This summer, be part of an amazing community and join us at camp! Complete this form, and we will match you with the best camp jobs.