2022 Camp Guide - A Cleveland Jewish News Special Section by Cleveland Jewish Publication Company

CAMP GUIDE

JANUARY 28, 2022

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Photo / Girl Scouts of North East Ohio

CAMP GUIDE

A Cleveland Jewish News Advertising Special Section

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JANUARY 28, 2022

CAMP GUIDE

Jewish camps can provide lifelong benefits, Jewish identity JANE KAUFMAN @jkaufmanCJN jkaufman@cjn.org |

“The camping experience often sets the stage for a richer Jewish experience, more robust Jewish identity and Jewish pride.”

arents who send their child to a Jewish camp are making a choice that can have long-term, even lifelong, benefits for the development of the child’s Jewish identity. Debbie Friedman, assistant director at Park Day Camp in Pepper Pike and parttime culture coordinator at J Day Camps in Beachwood and Burton, said she knows this from personal experience. She benefited from Jewish day camp in Greater Cleveland as a child and now helps create those experiences for children at the two Greater Cleveland day camps where she works. She also teaches mindfulness at Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike. “Their competence, their purpose in life, their spirits that they get over that eight or however many weeks that they experience in the summer carries over into their school year,” Friedman said. “And truly, every Jewish moment captures them for their future.” She said children who experience Jewish camp, “inwardly commit to being their own Jewish heartfelt leader.” Rabbi Simcha Dessler, education director at Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in Cleveland Heights and Beachwood,

Rabbi Simcha Dessler Dessler

Friedman

echoed that sentiment. “The camping experience often sets the stage for a richer Jewish experience, more robust Jewish identity and Jewish pride,” he said in a Jan. 24 email. Both Friedman and Dessler spoke of the importance of Shabbat as a centerpiece of that camp experience. “Jewish day and overnight camp personnel across the country work tirelessly to instill a remarkable sense of ruach, spirit through a wide array of study, recreation, indoor and outdoor activities, field trips, overnight trips and various versions of a taste of the Shabbos experience,” Dessler wrote. “Satisfaction, self-development, sense of belonging and lasting friendships are crucial ingredients for success when choosing a meaningful camping experience for our most precious resources, our children,” he wrote.

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In choosing a Jewish camp, both Friedman and Dessler shared certain questions parents may wish to ask. “What training goes on?” Friedman said. “Another question I would ask is, what goes on? In other words, are there sports? Is there music?” She said she would also ask how a camp deals with challenges: “If a child is sad, what do you do to elevate them if they need extra support?” The best Jewish camps, Friedman said, teach the values of Torah through the camp experience. In school, she said, Torah is “taught” and at camp, it is “caught.” Dessler said there are some red flags to watch out for. “Lacking in areas of supervision, professionalism, care, concern or cleanliness would and should be cause for parents to seek and choose an alternative environment,” he said. Friedman said questions about the attentiveness to protocols around COVID-19 might be cause for concern. Dessler suggested that parents research camps carefully “to determine that the camp meets the particular needs of their child.”

He stressed the need for communication with camp personnel. “As in any setting, communication and partnership are essential for success,” he wrote. “Parents can be in contact with the camp personnel, prior to and throughout the summer, to be sure that their child is meeting expectations and thriving accordingly.” Friedman spoke of the need to communicate as well. “Communicate with your child,” she said. “If they’re old enough, let them be a part of the decision making of where they’re going to go. Build them in on what takes place. And listen.” She also said parents need to be their child’s “best advocate.” Dessler spoke of the role of camp in the life of a child. “Summer camp is a window of opportunity that should be maximized to its potential,” he wrote. “Remember that camp is where a child or teen can be himself/herself – his/her care free self – in a non-pressured environment. Remember that at camp, characters are shaped, personalities are molded, values are imbued and friendships are fostered.”

“... Truly, every Jewish moment captures them for their future.” Debbie Friedman

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he Youngstown Jewish Community Center will host a Camp JCC open house and pool party from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 30. Attendees can swim and learn about Camp JCC, and former campers can meet up with camp friends. The JCC is at 505 Gypsy Lane. All families that attend will receive a $25 credit toward Camp JCC for each camper in attendance. Families that pay their registration fee during the open house will be entered to win 10 free weeks of camp. For more information, visit jccyoungstown.org/camp.

CAMP GUIDE

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JANUARY 28, 2022

STEM camps can encourage, inspire, educate COURTNEY BYRNES @courtney_byrnes cbyrnes@cjn.org |

ummer camps allow children to explore their interests and have fun while meeting new people. Camps, like those focused on STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math, can also teach campers about possible career paths available to them in fun, entertaining ways. Lisa Heckman, who runs John Carroll University’s Verizon Innovative Learning camp in University Heights, and Scott Vollmer, vice president of STEM Learning and Exhibits at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, both said STEM camps offer a great opportunity for children interested in science and math to learn and have fun. “Our camps are STEM-focused camps, and every week is a drastically different theme,” Vollmer said. “So we have 11 different themes throughout the summer.” Camp Curiosity at the Great Lakes Science Center runs for 11 weeks with each week focused on a different area so there is a camp for any child’s interests, whether it be the science of sports, arts, robotics, space or roller coasters. The camp is open for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to attend as many weeks as they would like and experience something new everyday, he said. “When we develop our camps, we look at three major things – materials, experiences and environments that you may not get at home, or at school, or at anywhere else with other camps,” Vollmer said. Some of the activities work with local corporations and sponsors, like this year’s presenting sponsor Timken, to show campers the available jobs in the fields. “We think it is our job to inspire this next generation of STEM workforce,” Vollmer said. “And so, at many of our camps, you will learn about careers that are wide open in northeast Ohio.” The JCU Verizon Innovative Learning camp

Heckman

Vollmer

is a STEM camp sponsored by Verizon and open to under-served sixth through eighth graders for free to inspire them to pursue a career in STEM. “The goal is certainly STEM and to educate these young adolescents, but it goes beyond the classroom in terms of the academics,” Heckman said. “It also encompasses life lessons, and it gives them an opportunity to see that they are important, and they can succeed in life and get great jobs.” The three week-long camp will be offered for the second time this year at John Carroll’s Dolan Science Center, so campers will have the opportunity to work in the university’s computer labs and science center as they rotate through four modules, she said. “There is an opportunity for those students to also take part in a mentor program,” Heckman said. “Once a month during the school year, they come together and participate in a STEM camp project.” The camp is taught by four teachers and JCU students help to mentor the campers. As an extension of the camp, campers have the opportunity to continue working with their mentor once a month after the camp ends, she said. “They want to succeed, they want to better themselves, they want to go to college and it’s really awesome to see how they want to educate themselves and get a good job and that’s what this is all about,” Heckman said. “That’s what we’re here for – is to encourage, inspire and educate these young men and women.”

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Camp Curiosity at the Great Lakes Science Center allows campers to engage in STEM concepts in hands-on, age-appropriate ways. | Photo / Great Lakes Science Center

Questions? Contact Park Day Camp Director Mike Rubin at mrube58@gmail.com or 440-829-8833

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JANUARY 28, 2022

CAMP GUIDE

Finding right fit more than name for overnight camp COURTNEY BYRNES @courtney_byrnes cbyrnes@cjn.org |

ending your children to an overnight camp is often a big step and you want to find the right fit for your family by considering what each camp has to offer. Rachel Felber, director of the Mandel Jewish Community’ Camp Wise in Claridon Township, and Dave Devey, director and owner of Falcon Camp in Carrollton, both said it is important to get to know a camp and talk with other camp families when deciding where to send your children. “We do a lot to make sure that our campers and their families are ready for camp, so we create opportunities for our campers and their families to get to know Camp Wise

and our year-round team,” Felber said. “That may include visits to camp, tours, open houses, family-fun day-type events.” Camp Wise has a rich history and tradition as the only Jewish overnight camp in Ohio and third in the United States. The camp will be celebrating its 115th year this summer as camp families return generation after generation, said Felber, who announced Oct. 7, 2021, that she will be stepping down in June after leading the camp since 2016. When searching for the right fit, families may want to consider the size and length of a camp. Camp Wise expects about 550 to 600 unique campers this summer, with 325 campers on camp at any time, Felber said. Campers choose between two main sessions lasting either three or

Kick off your child’s summer adventure! Our week-long adventure camps for ages 5-12 feature activities on our ninja warrior-style obstacle courses, climbing walls, and aerial ropes course to quench their thirst for adventure and need for active in-person play!

four weeks, but can come for the full summer for seven weeks, or attend a two week introductory session. “Our campers live in villages which are a cluster of cabins based on their age and grade,” Felber said. The camp is open to rising second graders through 12th graders and each village consists of eight to 10 cabins that hold 10 to 12 campers. Dewey Felber explained that activities at the camp are village-based “which allows them to be age and developmentally appropriate for the campers. But we do gather together as a whole camp three times a day for meals and weekly for Shabbat and several other occasions for special events across the session.” There are activities for campers at Camp Wise across sports, arts, music, outdoor adventure and Judaics. From Felber horseback riding and rope adventure courses to performing arts and fine arts, “it would be very hard to be bored at overnight camp,” Felber said. While all the activities and experiences at camp are made to be fun, they also serve to teach important life skills, which is why Falcon Camp goes by the motto, “Fun for now, skills for life,” according to Devey who has run the camp for 40 years. Falcon Camp serves 110 campers from 6 to 16 years old and offers a traditional camp experience while allowing campers to have choices in the activities they take part in. “Falcon is small, private, it’s small intentionally so that we can give more individual attention to our campers,” Devey said. “We’ve been around for 60-plus years.” By offering sessions of varying lengths, campers can attend a one week introductory session, or attend a two-, four-, six- or eight-week session. The longer sessions “gives us an opportunity to teach, it gives campers an opportunity to try a variety of things,” he said. Choosing an overnight camp, especially for first time campers, can be overwhelming but Devey recommends researching and reaching out to find the best fit so your children can have a fun camp experience. “You’re going to have some anxiety, you’re going to have some nervousness, that’s normal, for parents and for campers,” Devey said. “It’s normal to be nervous, it’s normal to be a little anxious going into a new situation, but if you’ve done your research, if you’ve talked to people in the camp, you’ve talked to camp families, it kind of lessens that anxiety level a little bit.”

“We do a lot to make sure that our campers and their families are ready for camp, so we create opportunities for our campers and their families to get to know Camp Wise and our year-round team. That may include visits to camp, tours, open houses, familyfun day-type events.” Rachel Felber

CAMP GUIDE

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JANUARY 28, 2022

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JANUARY 28, 2022

CAMP GUIDE

Location, schedules should be considered in selecting camp COURTNEY BYRNES @courtney_byrnes cbyrnes@cjn.org |

here are plenty of summer day camps for families to choose from, including traditional day camps and specialized camps in sports and arts. Aside from the activities and focus of the camp, many families will look at locality and schedules that work for their needs when choosing where to send their children for the summer, according to Jill Korsok, director of Orange Community Education & Recreation in Pepper Pike, and Melanie Lozier, summer camp director at Hathaway Brown in Shaker Heights.

Orange Community Education & Recreation offers 125 different camps during the summer from preschool through middle school. The traditional day camp runs for eight weeks, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with pre-camp care offered starting at 7:30 a.m. “People can pick as many weeks as they like,” Korsok said. “We think that gives families a lot of flexibility, that way if you’re going on vacation, you’re not obligated to the camp the week that you are going to be gone. And maybe you have kids who just want to try a couple weeks of camp.” Choosing a camp that is close by and can work with a family’s schedule may be important to look for when considering your options.

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“I think it’s good to consider camps that offer a variety for their campers, and not just in the types of camps that are offered, but also a variety of schedules.” Melanie Lozier “I think that convenience is also really important, especially in a day camp setting,” Korsok said. “People like to be able to take their kids some place that’s local so they can pick them up at the end of the day and go home and talk about what happened at camp over dinner and then do it again the next day.” Other factors that Korsok said she Korsok believes families should consider when choosing a day camp are staffing and safety. “Staffing and safety are the number one things, and I think that is what parents really look for,” she said. “They want to make sure that staff members are well-trained, that they’re certified in CPR and first aid, that they receive a thorough background check.” Not only that, but she adds the Lozier importance of staff members to be enthusiastic and ready to work with kids to offer activities that are engaging and centered around the campers. Similarly, Hathaway Brown has an array of camps to choose from for students in preschool students interested in athletic camps through college students interested in performing arts. The traditional day camp, Broad Horizon, is open for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, Lozier said. “Each camp has a totally different schedule, but basically they all run at different times and lengths,” she said. “But our earliest camps begin June 6th and our latest camps run until August 12th.” With many different types of camps and different schedules to choose from, families can make a schedule that works for their children’s time and interests. “I think it’s good to consider camps that offer a variety for their campers, and not just in the types of camps that are offered, but also a variety of schedules,” said Lozier, before adding how this allows campers to focus on more than one of their interests. “And so, checking out the intricacies of the schedule and being able to allow for flexibility in designing your campers day or summer, that way you can tap into a variety of your child’s interests.”

“People like to be able to take their kids some place that’s local so they can pick them up at the end of the day.” Jill Korsok

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JANUARY 28, 2022

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Ohio’s Only Jewish Overnight Camp for Kids Entering Grades 2-12 Camp Wise, located on 325 acres in Chardon, provides campers with opportunities to disconnect with the day-to-day demands and connect with new people, new opportunities and gain a feeling of accomplishment. A summer at Camp Wise is filled with: • Enriching experiences supported by Jewish values • Gaining confidence at performing arts, dance and theatre programs CELEBRATING • Challenging yourself on the ropes course and rock climbing wall • Trying new things such as horseback riding, archery, podcasting and a variety of sports SU M M ER S • Kayaking and jet skiing on a private lake

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CAMP GUIDE

Choosing a dance camp depends on safety, goals, interests AMANDA KOEHN @AmandaKoehnCJN akoehn@cjn.org |

he beginning of summer signals the perfect time to learn something new or improve on skills. While dance camps can be fun and help children and teens of all ages develop new skills, which camp to choose can depend on several factors, such as the child’s skill level, goals, convenience and safety. Michael Krasnyansky, co-founder, president and CEO of the Cleveland Ballet in Bedford Heights, and Jennifer Chesnes, owner and director at Studio J Academy of Dance in Beachwood, said for all children and parents, safety Chesnes should be a top consideration. Chesnes said parents should inquire about the certifications of any dance camp’s teachers. “(It) is important to make sure their children are with a professional at all times,” she said. Being supervised at all times should include pick up and drop off, she said. And parents should ask whether the camp enforces COVID-19 protocols Krasnyansky such as masking and social distancing. Krasnyansky said the quality of the dance floor is important to consider for safety, especially for ballet dancers in programs where they are spending a lot of time training. Specifically, he noted that professionally designed dance

floors have a subfloor layer, which gives dancers flexibility when jumping and moving so it doesn’t put too much pressure on their bodies. “Basically, you need to trust the school … to trust your teachers like you do your doctors,” he said, adding evaluating the cleanliness of the studio – such as whether it is cleaned professionally and how often – is also vital. Studio J offers week-long themed camps for kids ages 3 to 9, where they learn choreography in a variety of dance styles, such as ballet, tap and jazz. The half-day camps include singing, snack time and an end-of-week performance for families. Studio J also has intensive programs for those ages 9 and older in different dance styles, which are a “very intense technique-oriented classes for kids that want to keep up with their dance technique throughout the summer to get ready or up to speed, or maybe try a new genre that they didn’t know that they liked,” Chesnes said. “Any sort of dance or active camp, it gives kids the opportunity to get off the screen, No. 1 – to have movement and exercise, which is important for anybody,” she said. “And I also feel in (today’s) day and age, especially with COVID and it’s so restrictive at schools ... we are still masked and such, but they have the opportunity to meet other kids and socialize in a fun atmosphere.” Summer camps also offer an opportunity for children to learn from dance teachers as positive role models, Chesnes said. An energetic teacher can encourage kids to explore their creativity. Cleveland Ballet offers an intensive summer program under the School of Cleveland Ballet – the official educational arm of the professional dance company. The 21-year-old educational program use placement classes

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to determine which level the dancer belongs in during the summer, Krasnyansky said. Beyond safety and health measures, Krasnyansky explained that which camp families choose depends on their goals. If a child dreams of becoming a professional dancer, parents will want to find an intensive program where improving skills is key. They may want to consider camps that are less based on convenience and consider traveling for the right opportunity. That’s not appropriate for every child though, he said. “A lot of parents, they are looking for entertainment – trying just to keep children busy for the summer,” he said. “That’s perfectly fine too, but this is why some schools are good for some children and they are not good for other children.” He said while Cleveland Ballet’s training level is very high, it may not be ideal for parents and children who simply want to keep active and have fun close to home. “If you are looking for professional growth, that’s when you are looking to drive an hour or so – we have students from Youngstown, Toledo, Canton, Kent, all over,” Krasnyansky said. “But that’s a lot of pressure on parents, of course.” If families are seeking a professional training camp, the reputation of the camp should play a large factor. Parents may consider how many former students have gone professional, as well as whether the teachers have professional dancing experience. They likely do not want to select a camp where older students teach younger students for that purpose, he said. While there are many benefits to dance camps, Chesnes said children should not feel pressured to attend a camp. It should be something they want too, as it’s also difficult for teachers if they know a child is not happy about what they are doing at camp. She added that parents may request a trial visit to a camp so children can observe to determine if they are interested in the lessons and feel comfortable in the atmosphere. And after the decision has been made to attend a dance camp, parents can talk with their kids about the expectations for the summer. For younger kids, Chesnes recommended parents talk about following directions and listening to their teacher as the adult in charge when the parents leave. For older children, she recommended parents reiterate that they committed to the camp and they should focus on having fun and doing their best. Krasnyansky said for older children in more intensive programs that may go all day, it’s important dancing is supplemented with education, like history of dance. Camps may also offer lessons in sports medicine, nutrition and generally how to care for their bodies as dancers. “A lot of movements in ballet … (are) very difficult for our bodies, so we need to know our limitations,” he said. A camp that’s safe and encourages children to be active holds many benefits, both sources said. “Camps are a great way to have your child try something maybe new that they haven’t done yet, and it may be something they want to do all year long,” Chesnes said.

“... You need to trust the school … to trust your teachers like you do your doctors.” Michael Krasnyansky

CAMP GUIDE

JANUARY 28, 2022

CJN.ORG | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | 93 Progress With Chess

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Go to onehappycamper.org Choose a Jewish overnight summer camp and receive up to $1,000 for a first-time experience. Agudah Midwest Camps • Camp Stone • Camp Wise • Emma Kaufmann Camp • Ramah Camps • URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI) and many more! Restrictions may apply. Visit onehappycamper.org for more information, or contact Emily Jennings at campgrants@jecc.org or call 216-371-0449.

JANUARY 28, 2022

Performing art camps take shape in many forms COURTNEY BYRNES @courtney_byrnes cbyrnes@cjn.org |

erforming art camps offer children of all ages the opportunity to explore the arts across different forms and gear activities to their interests. Ed Gallagher, director of education at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, and Valerie Temple, program coordinator of the Odyssey Film Program at Cleveland State University, both said campers should choose a camp based on their interests and skills they want to further develop. “When a parent is deciding where to send their child that – they know what they’re expectations are for the camp before sending them,” Gallagher said. “So if you want someone to experience all the art forms, knowing what that looks like to you and finding that right fit is such

“If they’re interested in filmmaking at all, they’re interested in this as a career possibly, this would be a great way to see if you like it upfront.” Valerie Temple

Imagine summer, think Hawken! Summer programs for boys and girls ages 4-18. Hawken Summer Programs provide some of the best summer enrichment opportunities in Greater Cleveland. Campers can choose from a broad menu of programs that are specifically designed to be age-appropriate, fun, and worthwhile. Day Camps • One-week Passport Camps • Athletic Camps Summer Studies for Grades 6–12

es a r u t n ve Exciting ad

ou y t ai

To register and for full camp descriptions visit summer.hawken.edu or contact us at 440-423-2940 or summerprograms@hawken.edu

summer.hawken.edu

CAMP GUIDE

an important thing.” Beck Center offers camps in dance, music, theater and visual arts that each end with some sort of performance or exhibition. The camps are offered to campers aged seven through 18, with one camp for 5- to 7-year-olds, said Gallagher. “We have one camp called the Arts Sampler Camp and that one is Gallagher all dance, music, theater and visual arts,” Gallagher said. “So we look at all four art forms and then within each of those art forms we do different styles of the arts.” The camps vary in length from one to three weeks, for one to three hours each day so there is opportunity for campers to attend multiple camps and learn different art forms. There are even opportunities for Temple aspiring filmmakers to attend a camp and use the same equipment and facilities available to Cleveland State’s School of Film and Media Arts students. The Odyssey Program offers four sessions over the summer to 13- to 18-year-olds that cover all areas of filmmaking from screenwriting to directing and acting to producing and editing. “If you’re interested in going to film school, if you’re interested in getting up close to and seeing what the Cleveland State University film program is like, this really gives you a good idea of what you would be getting in the four years if you wanted to attend the college program,” Temple said. The first camp offered in June is a three week long experiential camp where campers will complete their very own film from writing to producing and editing. The other camps are offered for one week each in July and have an intensive focus on the different areas of filmmaking. “They should really think about what they are interested in pursuing,” said Temple, a resident of Cleveland. “If they’re interested in filmmaking at all, they’re interested in this as a career possibly, this would be a great way to see if you like it upfront. This is a great way to try it out before you decide to become a filmmaker in college.”

“When a parent is deciding where to send their child that – they know what they’re expectations are for the camp before sending them.” Ed Gallagher

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Camps help build strong lifelong Jewish identity MIRIAM SEGALOFF

eaders from Ohio’s Jewish summer camps say finding the right balance between fun and learning is the key to happy campers and a successful summer camp experience, which can help build a strong Jewish identity. “From the moment a child is dropped off, to the moment they leave camp, every single moment is infused with joy, singing and meaningful friendships,” Rochel Kaltmann, co-director of Camp Gan Israel, a day camp in New Albany run by the Lori Schottenstein Chabad Center, said. “Every single activity and field trip is made to infuse warmth and joy in Judaism” which helps build a Jewish identity, she said. Kaltmann said Camp Gan Israel will host about 100 campers entering kindergarten through sixth grade at the New Albany Middle School between June 27 and July 22. Rabbi Shana Nyer, rabbi and Jewish educator at Camp Wise in Claridon Township and director of lifelong learning at Suburban Temple-Kol Ami in Beachwood, said Jewish summer camps offer an immersive experience for children to explore who they are and who they want to become. “There are places where Judaism is overt, like on Shabbat or the daily cabin activity I do with them,” Nyer said. “In other places Jewish values are displayed and come through in what are considered secular activities. Most campers aren’t even aware how much Judaism they are getting every day just by living their camp life.” Kaltmann and Nyer both said their camps welcome campers from the full spectrum of Jewish religious practice. And both said one of their goals is to instill a

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life-long love of and pride in living Jewishly. “For some of our campers, camp is their only Jewish experience the whole year,” Kaltmann said. “That is why it is so important to give our campers a fun, warm and exciting experience. We want our kids to feel loved for being Jewish. We want them to feel pride in being Jewish.” Rachel Felber, director of Camp Wise, said she also believes in the importance of Jewish camping for young people. “Camp, for many children, is one of the only places and times, outside of synagogue and Israel, in their life that they will have the opportunity to be in a fully immersive, Jewish space,” Felber said. “Especially given how society has had to shift and pivot in response to the pandemic, it has become even more critical to cultivate an environment where children can explore their Jewish identity.” Nyer, a Camp Wise alumnae, said by sharing unique experiences, campers develop life-long friendships and a lifelong commitment to Judaism and Jewish culture. “I think those experiences really help solidify a Jewish identity and can really make you proud to be who you

“There are places where Judaism is overt, like on Shabbat or the daily cabin activity I do with them. In other places Jewish values are displayed and come through in what are considered secular activities. Most campers aren’t even aware how much Judaism they are getting every day just by living their camp life.” Rabbi Shana Nyer are,” Nyer said. “I have friends today who tell me they are actively Jewish because they went to Camp Wise. That has sustained them and given them their sense of Jewish pride.” Miriam Segaloff is a freelance writer. Publisher’s note: Rabbi Shana Nyer is the wife of Stephen Langel, Columbus Jewish News Bureau Chief.

Residential and day camp options — Choose to commute or stay in CSU dorms!

ODYSSEY PROGRAM 2022 FILMMAKING SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEENS CREATE YOUR OWN ORIGINAL FILMS AND EXPLORE ACTING, DIRECTING, EDITING AND MORE WITH THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT CSU'S SCHOOL OF FILM & MEDIA ARTS!

Odyssey Program Experiential 3-Week Camp June 13 – July 1 Odyssey Intensive: Acting And Directing July 11 – July 17

• Four sessions for ages 13–18 • 1-week and 3-week camps

Odyssey Intensive: Documentary Production July 18 – July 24

Call 216.687.5087 or email odyssey@csuohio.edu to register today!

Odyssey Intensive: Screenwriting July 25 – July 31

MAKE FRIENDS AND GAIN SKILLS FOR LIFE! CSUFILMODYSSEY.COM

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CAMP GUIDE

Jewish leaders create summer camp for LGBTQ+ youngsters ELLEN FUTTERMAN | St. Louis Jewish Light

hen Andy Brown and Dan Grabel founded Camp Manitowa in 2010, with two locations in southern Illinois, they vowed to make the summer camp experience as inclusive as possible for every youngster. They made good on that promise for the past decade, hosting weeklong and weekend summer camps for a variety of participants, including children in the foster care system and those with cancer and blood-related diseases. This summer, from June 12 to June 19, they are offering Camp Indigo Point in Makanda, Ill, a weeklong sleepaway camp for LGBTQ+ youth entering second to 11th grades. “We’ve always believed camp is a special place where kids can be themselves, take safe risks and make friends who maybe are a little different and more special than the friends they have at home,” said Grabel, who grew up in University City, Mo., and along with Brown, has attended and worked at Jewish summer camps for decades. “We have hosted a group called TransParent, which is for families with transgender children. In talking more with families, and we’ve had a couple of transgender campers over the past couple of summer, we just thought it was a natural progression to offer something specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. Camp always is a special place for people who have shared experiences.” When Central Reform Congregation Rabbi Daniel Bogard heard about the camp from Grabel, the rabbi couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. He reached out to his network of summer camp friends, including Shira Berkowitz, co-director of PROMO, a Missouri organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ equality. Both Bogard and

Berkowitz, along with a couple of other Jewish St. Louisans, have agreed to serve as the camp’s leadership and planning team. “When I started telling my own 8-year-old about (the camp), the smile and excitement that he’s not going to be the only trans kid or even one or two of the only trans kids but everyone around him is going to be like him,” said Bogard. “It’s magical to see it in his eyes and it just reinforces how great this is.” Camp leaders expect to attract at least 20 campers, though Bogard is hopeful that the number will be closer to 40 or 50. One camper from Florida has already committed to coming, as has a second one from Chicago. “I talked to (the Florida camper’s) mom and we cried through the whole conversation because of what this camp is going to mean to her daughter,” said Bogard. “It’ll be a place for kids to be themselves and not feel forced into the boxes that the outside world forces them into.” While Camp Indigo Point will not be explicitly Jewish, it will be modeled after Jewish summer camps such as Camp Sabra and Camp GUCI. It will offer traditional camp activities, such as canoeing, archery, swimming, team sports, arts and crafts and outdoor excursions, while encouraging LGBTQ+ youth to build a community with one another. The plan is for the camp to happen annually so that youngsters can develop lifelong friendships and positive memories. “We hope that by creating a space where LGBTQ+ youth can share their hopes, fears and stories, we can empower young folks to carry the feeling of queer community wherever they go,” according to the camp’s website. “This is going to be a week where the experience

“Camp is always a special place for people who have shared experiences.” Dan Grabel of trans, gender-expansive and LGBTQ+ kids is really centered and is the normative experience,” added Bogard. “I’m very hopeful that I will be the only person at camp who is not broadly LGBTQ.” The cost for the camp is $575, which is considerably less expensive than most week-long ones, but both Grabel and Bogard said they are committed to making it financially viable for any youngster to attend. “I don’t know how we will find the money, but this is life giving, sometimes lifesaving literally, for trans kids and queer kids who experience a daily level of oppression and awfulness in their lives,” said Bogard. “I’m committed that any kid who wants to be at this camp needs to be. We have to be there for these kids. I think it’s our Jewish obligation, a mitzvah, a moral obligation.” For more information about Camp Indigo Point, visit campindigopoint.org or call 314-375-6766. This story first appeared in the St. Louis Jewish Light and is reprinted with permission. Ellen Futterman is Editor-in-Chief.

For decades, University School has been the place for boys and girls in Northeast Ohio to develop skills and forge friendships that extend well beyond the summer months.

JOIN US THIS SUMMER! Register today at www.us.edu/summer

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Camp Listings

CAMP WISE OVERNIGHT CAMP CAMP GAN IZZY SOLON ADRENALINE MONKEY – ADVENTURE SUMMER CAMP 26800 Renaissance Parkway Warrensville Heights, OH 44128 216-282-3100 info@adrenalinemonkeyfun.com adrenalinemonkeyfun.com Ages: 5-12 Dates: June 6-Aug.19

13164 Taylor Wells Road Chardon, OH 44024 216-593-6250 wisekids@mandeljcc.org campwise.org Grades: 2-12 Dates: June 12-Aug. 3

5570 Harper Road Solon, OH 44139 440-498-9533 ganizzy@solonchabad.com ganizzysolon.com Ages: Entering grades K-7 Dates: June 13-July 29

FIND YOUR SUMMER AT

J-DAY CAMPS 2022 CAMP CURIOSITY PRESENTED BY TIMKEN 601 Erieside Ave. Cleveland, OH 44114 216-621-2400 campsandclasses@glsc.org greatscience.com/camps Grades: K-8 Dates: June 6-Aug. 19

LAN

amps J-Day C

Camp listings provided by camps

Anisfield Day Camp

Performing Arts Camp

Grades K-1 • Mandel JCC, Beachwood Young campers are treated to a camp experience that provides fun and adventure. Every day, campers will get creative with arts and crafts and participate in sports, swimming and more! Grades 2-8 • Halle Park, Burton Campers choose their individual camp experience by signing up for majors. Majors include creative or performing arts, athletics, outdoor adventure, fishing and boating and more. Mandel JCC Member Pricing for Jewish Day School Families

HIRAM HOUSE CAMP

Grades 2-8 • Mandel JCC, Beachwood Campers of all experience levels can stretch their imaginations, gain confidence on and off the stage, find their voice and build lifelong friendships. Every day, campers get a taste of all things camp during yoga, swimming, arts and crafts and the many specialty classes that are part of the performing arts curriculum.

mandeljcc.org/daycamps 216-593-6249 • daycamps@mandeljcc.org

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CAMP GUIDE

CHAGRIN VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS CAMP Bainbridge Township, OH 44023 440-543-5141 info@cvaclub.com cvaclub.com There are so many benefits to a summer at Hiram House Camp. Now more than ever children need an opportunity to unplug from technology and plug into the world around them–making personal connections and interacting with nature. Hiram House Camp has created a successful roadmap for a positive summer experience, and we are excited for an extraordinary summer in 2022! Hiram House Camp offers: Day Camp (ages 6-12) Junior Day Camp (kindergarten) Overnight Camp (ages 6-14)

CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (TRI-C) SUMMER CAMPS Offerings are available around Cuyahoga County 216-987-3075 tri-c.edu/summercamps ages 4 and up

archery • boating • high/low ropes course • climbing tower • horseback riding swimming • nature studies • performing arts • hiking • cookouts • campouts outdoor sports • hatchet throwing • cooking • classes subject to change

Camp listings provided by camps

Adventure Awaits! Register now at hiramhousecamp.org or (216) 831-5045 HIRAM HOUSE CAMP • 33775 HIRAM TRAIL, MORELAND HILLS, OHIO

Fairmount Temple's Early Childhood Center is Excited to Welcome Your Preschoolers to our Summer Camp and Fall Preschool Program

PARK DAY CAMP

· Programs for 18 months to Pre-K, summer & fall registration open · Childcare available before and after camp and school · New outdoor playground and interactive garden · Year-round programs, like this Saturday’s (Jan. 29, 11 am) Virtual Simchat Shabbat for families with children from 0-5

To learn more and RSVP for Simchat Shabbat via Zoom, contact Jane Mayers at Jmayers@fairmounttemple.org or 216-464-1752.

ODYSSEY PROGRAM | CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY

CAMP GUIDE

JANUARY 28, 2022

FAIRMOUNT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

FAIRMOUNT TEMPLE EARLY CHILDHOOD SUMMER CAMP

8400 Fairmount Road Novelty, OH 44072 440-338-3171 info@fairmountcenter.org fairmountcenter.org Ages: 3-15 Dates: June 1-July 29

23737 Fairmount Blvd. Beachwood OH 44122 216-464-1752 Jmayers@fairmounttemple.org fairmounttemple.org Ages: 18 months-pre-K Dates: June 13; Fall session begins Aug. 22

FAIRMOUNT EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER SUMMER CAMP 24601 Fairmount Blvd. Beachwood, OH 44122 216-464-2600 kml@beachwoodschools.org beachwoodschools.org/fairmount.aspx Ages: 3-7 Dates: June 13-July 29

Camp listings provided by camps

CHAGRIN VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB SPORTS CAMP

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FALCON CAMP 4251 Delta Road SW Carrollton, OH 44615 216-991-2489/800-837-CAMP Dave Devey - info@falconcamp.com falconcamp.com Ages: 6–16 Dates: June-August

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CAMP GUIDE

HAWKEN SUMMER PROGRAMS Day Camps, Passport Camps, Athletic Camps and Summer Studies 440-423-2940 summerprograms@hawken.edu summer.hawken.edu Ages: 4-18 Dates: Between June and August

HIRAM HOUSE CAMP 33775 Hiram Trail Moreland Hills, OH 44022 216-831-5045 info@hiramhousecamp.org hiramhousecamp.org Day Camp: Ages 6-12 Junior Day Camp: Kindergarten Overnight Camp: Ages 6-14

FAIRMOUNT CENTER FOR THE ARTS THE MICHAEL & ANITA SEIGAL ONE HAPPY CAMPER PROGRAM Jewish Education Center 2030 S. Taylor Road Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 216-371-0446 campgrants@jecc.org jecc.org Grades: 3 and above (at approved camps)

J-DAY ANISFIELD AND PERFORMING ARTS CAMPS 26001 S. Woodland Road Beachwood, OH 44122 216-593-6249 daycamps@mandeljcc.org mandeljcc.org/daycamps Grades: K-8 Dates: June 7-Aug.12

GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTH EAST OHIO One Girl Scout Way Macedonia, OH 44056 800-852-4474 customercare@gsneo.org gsneo.org/camplife Grades: K-12

THE ODYSSEY PROGRAM AT CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF FILM & MEDIA ARTS 1375 Euclid Ave, 6th Floor Cleveland, OH 44115 216-687-5087 odyssey@csuohio.edu csufilmodyssey.com Ages: 13-18 Odyssey Program Experiential Three-Week Camp: June 13-July 1 Odyssey Intensive: Acting and Directing: July 11-17 Odyssey Intensive: Documentary Production: July 18-24 Odyssey Intensive: Screenwriting: July 25-31

GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER

HATHAWAY BROWN SUMMER PROGRAMS – COED AND ALL-GIRLS, SPECIALTY, ATHLETICS, THEATER, ACADEMICS AND DAY CAMPS 19600 North Park Blvd. Shaker Heights, OH 44120 216-932-4214 summer@hb.edu hb.edu/summer Ages: Toddler through college Dates: June 13-Aug. 12

PARK DAY CAMP

Camp listings provided by camps

27500 Shaker Blvd. Pepper Pike, OH 44124 440-829-8833 mrube58@gmail.com .parksynagogue.org/park-day-camp Ages: Pre-K through 6th Dates: June 13 - August 5, 2022

ADRENALINE MONKEY

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SUMMER AT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL

RESCUE VILLAGE’S SUMMER CAMP 15463 Chillicothe Road Novelty, OH 44072 education@rescuevillage.org rescuevillage.org/kids-corner Ages: 9-12 Dates: June-August

Junior Kindergarten–Grade 8 20701 Brantley Road Shaker Heights, OH 44122 Grades 9–12 2785 SOM Center Road Hunting Valley, OH 40022 216-371-6809 us.edu/summer Grades: Students entering junior kindergarten–Grade 12 Dates: May 2-Aug. 12

Our weekly newsletter brings you family fun features to welcome Shabbat!

SCHOOL OF CLEVELAND BALLET’S 2022 SUMMER INTENSIVE & SUMMER CLASSES 23030 Miles Road Cleveland, OH 44128 216-320-9000 info@clevelandballet.org clevelandballet.org Ages: 2-Adult Dates: July 5-July 30

SUMMER CHESS CAMPS 6 locations 216-346-9643 stacia@progresswithchess.org progresswithchess.org/camps Ages: K-8 Dates: Shaker June 6-10, Westlake June 13-17, Hudson July 11-15, Beachwood July 25-29, Solon Aug 8-12, Rocky River Aug 15-19

Camp listings provided by camps

SUMMER

CAMPS 2022

More than 30 camps for ages 4 and up, featuring: • Coding

• Game design

• Performing arts

• Fab Lab

• Music

• STEM

SCHOOL OF CLEVELAND BALLET

tri-c.edu/summercamps

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View camp descriptions and register at