The challenge of passing Jewish values on to future generations has been a chief concern of the Jewish community in Milwaukee.
A study done in 2010 by the Foundation of Jewish Camp, “Camp Works: The Long Term Impact of Jewish Overnight Camp,” provides convincing evidence that such programs are a worthy investment of community dollars.
What do campers bring home from Jewish camps?
According to data from 26 Jewish communities around the country, campers are 37 percent more likely to light candles for Shabbat, 45 percent more likely to attend synagogue at least once a month, and 55 percent more likely to feel very emotionally attached to Israel.
They are also 25 percent more likely to donate to Jewish charities and 21 percent more likely to feel that being Jewish is very important.
“These statistics prove what Jewish leaders and educators have been saying anecdotally for years,” said Rabbi Hannah Greenstein, outreach specialist at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. “Jewish camp works.”
The Jewish Community Foundation, as part of the MJF, has drawn from 11 of its funds to award scholarships to campers attending Jewish summer overnight camping programs in the U.S. and Israel for many years.
The oldest of these funds was established in 1973 — around the time when many of today’s campers’ parents were born.
Two of the funds were established in honor of the parents of the donor. These community members honored the previous generation by ensuring the next generation could afford to attend Jewish camps.
This year, the Foundation’s camp scholarship committee awarded 80 scholarships to campers attending 25 different camping programs. Half of these campers will go to the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center’s Camp Interlaken in Eagle River, Wis.
With these applicants, the committee worked in collaboration with the JCC and its scholarship process to meet the main goal: To break down financial barriers to sending as many youth to camp as possible.
The other half of the campers will be travelling to Jewish camps in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Michigan, and Israel.
These camps represent the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements, in addition to some that focus on Zionism or the role of Israel in Jewish life. Some of the camps are non-denominational, focusing on building Jewish identity through immersion in Jewish culture.
New this year to the Milwaukee area is the One Happy Camper program, which matches funds from the Foundation for Jewish Camp with funds from a local anonymous donor to give grants of up to $1,000 to first-time campers. This program strives to provide a financial incentive for families to choose a Jewish camp.
With over 165 camps to choose from — including Jewish camps that specialize in sports, arts, science, outdoor adventure, waterfront, and special needs — a family that chooses Jewish camp can incorporate their child’s special interests with developing Jewish identity in an environment that is known to be fun and peer-supported.
In the Milwaukee area, 36 campers have received these grants so far this year.
According to statistics from a study done in 2012 to measure One Happy Camper’s impact, 82 percent of these recipients will return to camp in 2014 without this grant as an incentive. The Jewish camping experience has proven to be incentive enough.
One Happy Camper is based on rolling admission, so families can still apply for camping in the summer of 2013. To do so, check your family’s eligibility at onehappycamper.org or contact Rabbi Hannah Greenstein, Milwaukee’s One Happy Camper coordinator, at hannahg@milwaukeejewish.org.
Setting up a camp scholarship fund with the Jewish Community Foundation provides assurance that the next generation of campers will be able to go to Jewish camp, and while having a fun summer, be immersed in Jewish life and values.
If you are interested in setting up a camp scholarship fund, contact Caren Goldberg at the Jewish Community Foundation at careng@milwaukeejewish.org.
Jen Vettrus is development associate at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
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