YEAR IN REVIEW 2017-18
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I don’t get homesick, I get campsick.
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CONTENTS Executive Summary 04 Regional Camps
14
Specialty Camps
26
Teen Programs
32
College Programs
40
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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The Union for Reform Judaism’s youth programs instill a sense of joy, compassion, and pride in being Jewish while nurturing a young person’s innate desire to make a difference in the world.
The transition from school year into summer is one of our favorite times of the year – we can take stock of our remarkable year-round programming, reflect on progress in key strategic areas, and celebrate the 20,000+ youth, teens, and young adults engaged annually in a URJ youth program. We are especially grateful and proud to recognize the important role our programs played in 2017-18 in helping young people navigate the increasingly complicated world around them. The school year began with anti-Semitic riots in Charlottesville and ravaging floods in Houston. As the flood waters finally receded in Texas, wildfires raged through Southern California and destroyed Camp Newman’s property. As winter turned to spring, gun fire ripped through our community in Parkland, FL and left us heartbroken and angry and stunned.
students mobilized to engage the entire Reform Movement around the March for Our Lives. Just months after the wildfires, Camp Newman is preparing to open the gates in a new summer home, reminding us that camp and Jewish community transcend the physical spaces they occupy. We know that these programs impact young people long after they grow up. This year, we conducted a far-reaching impact study to quantify that lifelong impact, the results of which are included in this report. I invite you to read on for memorable highlights of 2017-18 and a glimpse of the life-changing impact of URJ Youth. L’shalom,
And yet – This was also a year marked by incredible innovation and resilience, and one that affirmed the power of our programs in equipping young people to thrive. As the water poured into Houston, Greene Family Camp, NFTY, and Mitzvah Corps staff organized relief efforts and a community day camp. After the shooting in Parkland, FL, our
Miriam T. Chilton Vice President, Youth Union for Reform Judaism
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Our movement’s young people are proving their willingness to join together to use the values of our tradition to promote gun safety, fight anti-Semitism and racism, advocate for immigrants, participate in civic engagement, and more, all to promote tikkun olam, repair of our broken world. I am proud of all our young leaders and the many roles and responsibilities they are taking on to demonstrate their deep commitment to doing their part to create a world of justice, compassion, and wholeness. Yasher koach! – Rabbi Rick Jacobs
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2017-18 AT A GLANCE As we close out the year, we will once again engage 20,000 youth, teens, and young adults. Our two newest camps, 6 Points Sci-Tech West and 6 Points Creative Arts Academy, are seeing strong registration for their inaugural summers. Across our five specialty camps, this summer we will attract 1500+ campers who would not have otherwise chosen a Jewish summer experience. Summer Israel travel is up, with strong growth in the specialty trip sector with programs like SciTech Israel, Mitzvah Corps Israel, and Heller High. The numbers alone do not tell the full story. NFTY connected the Movement around pressing justice issues. We deepened support for congregational youth engagement and strengthened campcongregational partnerships. Our true impact, and what continues to set us apart, is the depth of our program content; the breadth of our network that offers opportunities for youth and teens to engage in multiple experiences year-round; and the commitment of our Movement to investing in the emotional and physical well-being of the next generation.
Building on the success of our first three specialty camps, this summer we’ll launch 6 Points Creative Arts Academy and 6 Points Sci-Tech West, with generous support from the Foundation for Jewish Camp, the Jim Joseph Foundation, and the AVI CHAI Foundation. Our regional camps are expanding specialty programming within the traditional camp setting, too, with the introduction of robotics, digital photography, ceramics, advanced computing, and other science, technology, and art activities. Sci-Tech Israel, our newest specialty Israel experience, is showing strong growth in its 2nd summer, demonstrating the success of specialty Israel programming as an engagement strategy. We are exploring the feasibility of offering additional specialty Israel experiences next summer to further enhance our ability to engage new teens.
A key component of our strategy – specialty programming – is showing momentum. New programs are attracting new participants and creating a jumping off point for deeper engagement.
A MORE WHOLE, JUST, AND COMPASSIONATE WORLD 6
engaged
20,000
youth, teens, and young adults annually
NEW
PROGRAMS
•6 POINTS CREATIVE ARTS •6 POINTS SCI-TECH WEST •6 POINTS SPORTS CA
•SCI-TECH ISRAEL
CREATING AN ENGAGED FUTURE In the Fall of 2017, we retained Rosov Consulting, a leading impact evaluation firm, to examine the lifelong impact of participation in URJ Youth programs. We can proudly state that adults who had Reform Jewish experiences in their youth are strongly associated with an array of Jewish outcomes later in life, including identifying with Judaism, committing to tikkun olam, practicing Jewish rituals, and carrying forward a high level of commitment to Jewish continuity. • 81% say identifying as Jewish is“very important” to their lives today • 89% enroll their own children in some form of Jewish education • More than 83% of alumni marry other Jews • 82% belong to a synagogue, temple, minyan, or havura • 65% choose and adapt Jewish rituals • 89% agree that participating in Jewish activities “Makes me feel good about myself”
600
CONGREGATIONS
engaged in a
YOUTH PROGRAM
500
Our continuum of influence starts during childhood and continues through college years into adulthood. Together, our synagogues and youth programs are catalysts for an ENGAGED FUTURE.
URJ YOUTH Learn more at URJYouth.org/Impact
CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS WILL JOIN OUR COMMUNITY AS FACULTY THIS SUMMER
WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FIND MEANING, PURPOSE, AND JOY IN JUDAISM
EQUIPPING OUR YOUTH TO THR
This year we deepened our commitment to helping young people thrive by prov scholarship dollars, trainings, resources, and more. Responding to #MeToo The physical and emotional safety of our participants has always been the top priority of URJ Youth programs. With the rise of the #MeToo movement, this work took on new urgency in 2017-18. Our teens are leading on this issue. In April, NFTY launched a Sexual Violence Prevention Campaign, guided by a teen committee, to educate NFTY teens, promote a culture of consent in NFTY and synagogue youth programs, and provide teens and their adult supporters with resources, language, and tools for preventing sexual violence in our communities. More than 500 graduating high school seniors signed NFTY’s Consent Pledge to commit to fighting sexual violence on college campuses. We are pushing forward a concerted effort to foster safe, healthy, inclusive, and respectful environments in camps, NFTY, Israel experiences and Mitzvah Corps for both staff and participants alike. We convened a task force of senior youth leadership to review our policies and trainings and to provide additional resources around preventing sexual harassment and abuse. We’ve partnered with experts to assist us in advancing these efforts and ensuring our policies, procedures, and trainings meet the highest standards of excellence.
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE MARCH FOR OUR LIVES
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On February 14, 2018, gun shots ripped through Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. URJ Camp Coleman camper Alyssa Alhadeff was a victim of the shooting, and director Bobby Harris led the entire camp community in mourning and healing through a virtual online service. In the wake of the shooting, our teens also rose up, like the students from Parkland, to demand an end to gun violence prevention. Reform Jewish students organized a student-led campaign to rally the entire Reform Movement to join the March for Our Lives. Led by our youth, we supported students in developing resources, educating their peers and communities, and taking action.
CONVENED
6000 Reform Jews at the March for Our Lives in Washington and
around the globe
RIVE IN A CHANGING WORLD
viding on-the-ground assistance,
Teens Mobilize for Immigrant Justice In October 2017, the US government announced its intention to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Together with a group of student leaders, NFTY partnered with the Religious Action Center to create a toolkit and social media campaign with resources for students to contact elected officials, run a program for their youth groups, host an immigrant justice event on their college campuses, and educate their peers about the Reform Movement’s position on the proposed legislation.
supported
200
college students in organizing on campus
REACHED
100,000
online in student-led Gun Violence Prevention Campaign
Adolescent Mental Health This year, we increased our focus on teen mental health. We offered trainings for congregational professionals, parents, and community leaders on topics ranging from navigating the emotional costs of student activism to sessions on how to have developmentally appropriate conversations with teens about difficult topics like bullying, sex, drugs, and other mental health concerns. Many of our camp staff have participated in Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings, an 8-hour curriculum that focuses on recognizing and responding to signs of mental health challenges in adolescents. Some camp leadership have themselves been certified as trainers by the National Council for Behavioral Health, and we are expanding this training to include more staff as well as offering trainings for congregational leaders.
People may say we’re too “young, but we’re passionate and driven and we will make sure our voices are heard. The future belongs to us – let’s make it safer, better, and full of hope. Together, we can prevent gun violence.
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ELEVATING THE FIELD THROUGH
INVESTMENT & EDUCATION Youth Professional 101 Building on a successful pilot in 2016-17, this year we launched an expanded cohort of Youth Professional 101, a training fellowship for early career congregational professionals. 27 YP101 Fellows each participated in 16 hours of hands-on professional development. Generously supported by a grant from the Covenant Foundation and offered in partnership with HUC-JIR, the YP101 fellowship will welcome a new cohort in 2018-19 and continue to strengthen the field of congregational youth engagement.
YP101 teaches tangible skills for “successfully achieving youth-adult
partnership. This program prepares its participants to think critically and bring their own ideas for their youth programs to fruition. Synagogue presidents, clergy, and professionals should encourage any staff that works with adolescents to participate in the YP101 program.
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Expansion of Shared Positions The shared positions program aims to strengthen the connections between camp and congregation by leveraging the power of both through a full-time shared professional. This year we had 15 shared professionals and saw increased engagement in those congregations. In 2018-19, with the generosity of an anonymous donor, the program will expand to a total of 31 shared professionals who will bring together the best of both worlds for deeper engagement year-round. J-Life Network With support from the Avi Chai Foundation, we are thrilled to launch the J-Life Network, a new professional network for the adults who support and lead the thinking around Jewish education and Israel engagement in our camps. This new network will identify shared outcomes for Jewish life and develop guiding principles for Jewish education at Reform summer camps. Israel Education in a Time of Complexity At our annual Israel engagement conference, lead educators from URJ camps engaged in thoughtful conversations about how camps can address Israel’s political complexities in programming this summer. Guided by Rabbi Reuven Greenvald, the URJ’s Director of Israel Engagement, we’ve created guidelines for camp educators and staff to constructively address the potential challenges of teaching about Israel.
LEADING THE FIELD Our staff are one of our greatest assets – indeed, we can’t achieve our successes without the talent and dedication of these esteemed professionals. This year, we are thrilled that so many Youth staff were accepted into prestigious fellowships and recognized by the Jewish community.
Rachael Brill URJ Camps
Lynne Butner NFTY
Lisa David
Anna Herman Foundation for Jewish Camp Executive Leadership Institute
Rabbi Erin Mason Camp Newman
Camp Harlam
The Ruskay Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership
Jewish Eduation Project Next Generation Fellowship
Foundation for Jewish Camp Executive Leadership Institute
Jeremy Klotz GUCI
Alyssa Kress Camp Harlam
Sarah Lauing Crane Lake Camp
Foundation for Jewish Camp Executive Leadership Institute
Emily Messinger Northeast Teen Collective Jewish Education Project Next Generation Fellowship
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Foundation for Jewish Camp Yitro Fellowship for Assistant Camp Directors
Josh Satok Kutz Camp
Foundation for Jewish Camp Yitro Fellowship for Assistant Camp Directors
Senior Educators Cohort M2 The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education
Rachel Slaton 6 Points Sports California Foundation for Jewish Camp Yitro Fellowship for Assistant Camp Directors
Jacobs Camp
Foundation for Jewish Camp Executive Leadership Institute
Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller NFTY
Jewish Education Project Next Generation Fellowship
URJ YOUTH PROGRAMS BUILDING THE MOVEMENT
Our teens often say, “We aren’t the future leaders of tomorrow. We are the leaders of today.” URJ Youth programs are shaping the Reform Jewish community of tomorrow by supporting congregational youth engagement, building community at every level, and strategically engaging new populations to strengthen our Movement. Camp Newman In early October 2017, the Santa Rosa wildfires in California destroyed Camp Newman’s physical property. In the wake of the fires, messages of love and finanial support poured in from around the globe, demonstrating the enduring impact of URJ camps. Congregations across the Bay Area and beyond held healing services and special events not only in support of Camp Newman, but also for all of the communities and people impacted by the wildfires. While we are heartbroken at the loss of the beautiful Camp Newman property, we are overjoyed to welcome more than 900 campers, and the entire Reform community, this summer to Camp Newman by the Bay at Cal Maritime in Vallejo, CA. Hurricane Harvey Houston Day Camp After Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston, TX in September, URJ Greene Family Camp partnered with Congregation Emanu-El and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston to launch a day camp that would provide childcare and reprieve for hundreds of families in the Houston area. Over the course of two weeks, about 400 volunteers, many of
them teens, provided childcare and a vibrant place to recover for 300 children and their families, offering parents relief while they dealt with destroyed homes. In October, NFTY TOR partnered with URJ Mitzvah Corps to engage teens in hands-on recovery work across Houston. Greene Family Camp has also secured funds to provide significant financial assistance to families affected by the flooding. URJ on Campus: College Engagement on the Rise As the alumni impact study demonstrated, Jewish engagement in college is associated with lifelong Jewish engagement as an adult. This year, the URJ increased its investment in college engagement and we are seeing early returns on that investment – in 2017-18 alone, the URJ College initiative engaged thousands of Jewish college students through its programs, resources, and campus visits. In 2018-19, we are excited to deepen this work with the introduction of a Strategic Leadership Team made of up 15-20 college students to partner with URJ staff on a variety of projects to ensure college students are represented throughout the Movement.
GENERATIONS OF CELEBRATION This year, we are thrilled to celebrate the milestone anniversaries of many youth programs:
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60
Camp Harlam
60
GUCI
60
NFTY Israel
60
Eisner Camp
20
Camp George
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I recall opening one of those “write a letter to your future self” letters from camp around the age of 14 and crying because in it I wrote to myself, “Remember, the person you are here can be the person you are at home. The only thing stopping you from being as happy as you are right now is you.” Camp truly allowed me to discover the best version of myself, the person that I wanted me to be. Everything I love about who I am today, I can trace back to my time at camp and NFTY events.
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REGIONAL CAMPS
A MESSAGE FROM PAUL Director of Camping and Israel Programs This is an extraordinary moment in time for our URJ youth programs and network of extraordinary camps. This summer we will open two new camps, bringing our Movement to a total of 17 homes for transformative immersive Jewish experiences for young people. This is the first time since 1958 (when Harlam, GUCI and Eisner were opened) we have launched two new endeavors in the same summer. In the last eleven years, we had the privilege of opening six new camps in every corner of the continent. Five of those camps are specialty camps (Sports in North Carolina and Los Angeles, Sci-Tech in Boston and Los Angeles, and Creative Arts near Philadelphia), created with the desire to reach young people who have never had an engaging and inspiring Jewish camp experience. In those eleven amazing years, we have witnessed a 20% increase in the number of children attending our camps.
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Tremendous credit goes to our dedicated and highly skilled camp professionals who work diligently to create warm, welcoming, inclusive, safe and meaningful environments for young people. What we have accomplished would not be possible without the wonderful partnerships and collaboration with our lay leaders, congregational professionals, funders, and families. Together, we have given shape to our shared vision for the future.
URJ Camp Coleman
Cleveland, GA • CampColeman.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This year was one of both tremendous challenge and strength for Camp Coleman. We are most proud of how our entire Coleman community came together in response to the tragic shooting in Parkland – our staff have been there for the campers, campers have been there for each other, and together we have grieved with and supported the Alhadeff family. Campers and stakeholders alike have generated widespread support to honor Alyssa Alhadeff’s memory, including dedicating a swing at camp, engaging the community in designing custom tallitot to wrap our students in, and more. Another major highlight of 2017-18 has been the progress of our Coleman facilities committee, led by Todd Gordon and Evan Reiss, to steward our facility and grounds with a dedication to excellence and thoroughness. We continue to strive for excellence in everything we do, and look forward to innovations in our educational curriculum, staff training, Israel engagement, and more.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • This summer, we will introduce the e21 program for staff training and evaluation, which is designed to deliver those skills that have been identified by American businesses as critical to college and career readiness—communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, work ethic, and responsibility.
New Partnership with URJ Mitzvah Corps
At Mitzvah Corps Atlanta, Machon participants will spend 2 weeks as assistant counselors in the Camp Best Friends program
• We have introduced a new option for our Machon program (counselors in training) - Mitzvah Corps Atlanta - inspired by the legacy of Camp Jenny. Participants will spend 2 weeks as assistant counselors at the Camp Best Friends program, which serves inner city children in Atlanta. The introduction of this new experience has increased our ability to attract a significant number of new applicants. • We will continue into a second year with our Coleman/NFTY Shlicha (Israel fellow) Lotem Eilon who has made a significant impact on Israel engagement at camp, in our NFTY regions, and in the many congregations with which she worked over the past year.
ON THE HORIZON • Next year, we’ll increase the number of shared positions between Camp Coleman and area congregations to deepen our year-round connections with URJ synagogues. • We are actively engaged in a capital campaign to build an Arts Center and expand the Machon Village. Major donors have indicated interest.
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This past summer, at 48 years old, I had my very first sleepaway camp experience. Though I had heard stories about Camp Coleman from my nieces and nephews for the last 11 years, nothing could have prepared me for my just over 3 ½ weeks at camp.
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Thank you URJ Camp Coleman for an unforgettable and life changing experience. Several friends have said that the money we spend to send our children to Jewish sleepaway camp is one of the best investments we’ll ever make. I now understand and agree with this statement. - Camper Parent
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Bobby Harris Director
URJ Crane Lake Camp
West Stockbridge, MA • CraneLakecamp.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 At Crane Lake, we are incredibly excited for the upcoming summer. We have put together an amazing program highlighting our Culture of Kindness initiative. Our weekly Jewish values will flow from the umbrella value of chesed (kindness.) We are tweaking our daily program to challenge our older kids differently, and we are maximizing our elective time while staying true to our programmatic goals of every camper trying every activity we offer. This summer, we’ll continue our journey of what it means to have a Culture of Kindness, and we’ll ensure that each camper and staff member is empowered to make a difference in a unique way, from rallying at the New York State House in Albany to volunteering locally in the Berkshires to learning about how to engage in local communities.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • Crane Lake Camp is participating in an initiative through the
Foundation for Jewish Camp to train our staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid. This course is designed to train staff members to recognize when a child needs greater help and attention from someone more skilled than themselves for a variety of mental health needs such as anxiety and depression.
• We are in the process of expanding and upgrading our facilities to ensure we continue to offer innovative, best-in-class experiences for our campers. This includes expanding the high ropes course for this summer with the help of the Olim 2020 B’nai Mitzvah Project. We are upgrading the bathrooms in all boys’ bunks, and replacing older hot water tanks with new, energy-efficient “on demand” systems.
Forging Congregational Connections
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congregations visited by Eisner and Crane Lake staff since September
• We have been exploring different types of presentations to promote camp to different audiences, including
religious school presentations, camp days, parlor meetings, family Shabbat celebrations, and more. We continue to explore new ideas with our congregations to share the best of camp with each family.
ON THE HORIZON • This summer, we are meeting with focus groups of campers and staff to gather information on how we can continute to engage our older campers in future summers.
• For summer 2019, we are working on updating the outdoor sanctuary and renovating the health center.
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I have been going to Crane Lake Camp for seven summers and for six of these I was in a girls’ bunk. But within the past few years, I went through the process of coming out as transgender from female to male…I felt like I was skirting around the corners in a world I did not belong to, and I knew that camp should be the place where I could be the best version of myself. The first person I told was my counselor. The next step was coming out to my bunk…The counselors kept coming up to me telling me how proud they all were. Camp - Camper became a place where I could finally be truly me.
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Debby Shriber Director
URJ Eisner Camp
Great Barrington, MA • EisnerCamp.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 The only thing that is ever constant is change! We are transforming our approach to Health and Wellness with a newly expanded Community Care Team, a planned expansion of our current Mirpa’ah (health center), and expanded Mindfulness experiential programming, all of which will deepen mental health and wellness support for our campers. Our board is evaluating our Strategic Plan, and we are continually evaluating where we are headed. We are exploring ways that the Northeast Teen Collective can grow and connect more deeply to NFTY and our congregations. We have also on-boarded a new Assistant Director and Development Director, and they are both making great strides in making Eisner their new home.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We’ve introduced a system of Relationship Managers, staff who
engage and connect with the camp liaison at each congregation to promote camp and nurture a relationship with URJ youth programs.
• We had a record number of applicants for faculty this summer,
representing the strong interest, commitment, and connection of our clergy to Eisner and Crane Lake.
• The Northeast Teen Collective (NETC) continues to prosper.
Record Faculty Engagement We had a record number of applicants for faculty this summer
73 48 8 17 13 54
Summer faculty Rabbis
During the 2017-2018 school year, teen leaders from URJ Cantors Eisner and Crane Lake Machon programs and NFTY-NAR hosted Educators 70+ local events engaging almost 500 teens! The NETC is actively recruiting faculty and participants for the 3rd annual First-Time Faculty Dana Gershon and Rabbi Jonah Pesner Northeast Leadership Congregations represented Summit, a learning and innovation lab for Jewish teen leaders. We are thrilled that Emily Messinger, director of the NETC, has been accepted to the inaugural cohort of the Generation Now Fellowship, a highly selective 18-month program designed to invest in those professionals who are most likely to influence educational change and innovation in the teen landscape.
ON THE HORIZON • We have expanded Heller-Wexler Family Camp schedule with 7 events planned for this coming year. • Eisner is breaking ground to start the expansion of the Health and Wellness Center.
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Stephen could not be a better poster child for the camp experience. He’s never been particularly fond of religious school but this year he chose to sign up as a student teacher and engage in our synagogue’s youth group. He also began attending NFTY MAR events, where he’s making connections with youth from New Jersey to North Carolina, and finding several Eisner connections he did not know existed. He volunteers to chant Torah at Shabbat services (something he began doing at camp) and he’s running for an officer role at our temple youth group. This is particularly moving for us as he started a new school this year - which happens to be an episcopal school - and his Jewish identity has never been stronger. We credit a great deal of - Camper Parent this to the community at Eisner.
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Louis Bordman Director
URJ Camp George
Parry Sound, Ontario • CampGeorge.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This is a transition year for Camp George. This summer, we will welcome a new Chair of our camp committee, Susie Berg, who represents new opportunities for growth and development. In partnership with Susie, we will be reviewing what volunteership at camp looks like and strategizing about how to get new leadership involved in making Camp George the best it can be. Heading into this summer, we are particularly proud of our registration: we’ll welcome 525 campers, and our second session numbers in particular stand out for their remarkable growth. Most exciting, this will be our 20th summer! Save the Date
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • This summer, we are introducing cooking as a new activity! • We have been reimagining and updating our Shabbat experiences at camp, with input from other URJ camp professionals and discussions with our faculty.
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th Summer Celebrationth September 28
• We are upgrading facilities to maintain our ability to deliver best-in-class programming, including renovations and updates to the docks, water fountain, bathrooms, communal gathering spaces, and more. • We are welcoming new faculty members representing new communities – while we have long invited guests from different communities to join us at camp, this summer we are excited to welcome faculty especially from Akron, Rochester, and Kingston, who will deepen our year-round relationship with synagogues across our region.
ON THE HORIZON • We are developing a strategy to work with the local JCC Day Camp (Centre Camp) focused on cross-promotion, home and away camp experiences, shared resources for counselor-in-training programs and summer staff trainings, and more. • We’re continuing to develop relationships with new communities and expanding our Camp George “road show” of traveling to congregations across our region.
Of all of the achievements of my rabbinate, my involvement with the men and women who made Camp George a reality is the most precious to me. – Rabbi Danny Gottlieb
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Jeff Rose Director
URJ Greene Family Camp Bruceville, TX • Greene.org
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 Our 2017-2018 season began with a storm. Just prior to Labor Day weekend, Hurricane Harvey paid an extended visit to the Texas Coast. As the storm left, the staff of GFC, augmented by staff members from other URJ Camps and the Houston JCC Day Camp, led a community-wide team to create Hurricane Harvey Houston Day Camp, a day camp program for families affected by the hurricane. The program was free to families, funded through the efforts of the URJ and communal partners. Later in the fall, GFC by the Numbers we organized a hands-on work weekend in partnership with NFTYTOR and URJ Mitzvah Corps. Participants in 1,500 Summer and YearGFC also initiated a strategic partnership with the Jewish Round programs Federation of Greater Houston and Foundation for Jewish Camp that generated an additional $500,000 in financial assistance for $500,000 In financial assistance families affected by the storm. for families with financial need caused Our Year-Round programs have begun to involve all our by the storm congregations, with many choosing to close religious school to encourage their students to attend our weekend events.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We introduced a “stacked events” model to welcome all camp grades, plus NFTY TOR, to two events together. Our Fall and Spring Camp weekends engaged entire communities and sold out! • We introduced a Men’s Retreat and Women’s Retreat, both organized as lay-staff partnerships with our camp committee. • Our Family Retreat program is now co-branded with PJ Library. Many of our local Federations are subsidizing the program so that more families can afford to attend, and PJ Library provided programmatic support for the youngest campers.
ON THE HORIZON • We are exploring offering shorter sessions and expanded science and technology offerings to respond to changes in the market. • Next year, we will offer internship credit for camp staff, in response to increased demand from students and schools, which will enhance our ability to attract and retain quality summer staff.
For me, watching and tracking the destruction of Harvey was an emotional roller coaster that left me feeling paralyzed and helpless. How could I help my hometown? How could I as a camp and youth professional be supportive of my colleagues, teens, and families, who were evacuating from their homes? What could I do from afar?…the lasting impression from the experience of volunteering and learning about disaster relief alongside our teen volunteers is something I will never forget. – GFC Staff Member
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Stefani Rozen Camp Director
Loui Dobin Executive Director
URJ GOLDMAN UNION CAMP INSTITUTE (GUCI) Zionsville, IN • GUCI.org
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 The GUCI community enjoyed another strong year in 2017-2018. We continue to see an increase in enrollment due to strong programming, word-of-mouth, and renewed and strengthened partnerships with the Jewish professionals in our catchment area. In 2017, GUCI exceeded 500 campers for the first time since 2011, and we’ve added 100 campers since 2015, representing 20% growth in three years. We have created a robust development program with the addition of a full-time Development Manager. With established partnerships and commitments from GUCI’s lay leaders, fundraising is up nearly 17% year-over-year, and we are well into the process of opening our first capital campaign in 10 years. GUCI will celebrate its 60th anniversary this summer with a reunion event to be held August 10-12. Our community is energized, and we have over 300 people registered to attend!
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We are excited to announce the hiring of a new Assistant Director and NFTY Regional Advisor, who will focus on GUCI recruiting and provide needed support to NFTY full-time staff in Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley • In 2017, we launched a farming and gardening program aimed at teaching Jewish connections to sustainability and connection to nature. It was a huge success and the program will be expanded over the next few summers.
Notable Numbers
60
Celebrate with us August 10-12
17%
increase in year-overyear fundraising
th
anniversary
100
since 2015 – 20% new campers growth in three years
• We now offer Outreach Programming that includes new recruiting and youth engagement events, alumni reunions, donor stewardship events, and lay leader and faculty programming within our catchment area.
ON THE HORIZON • Over the next few years, we will be working on new year-round programming partnerships with NFTY Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley. This fall, we will implement our first off-season Taste of GUCI event, 678 reunion event, and family camp.
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Risa really loved attending GUCI this summer. She is still talking about it and [cannot] wait to return next summer. She is now more actively participating in services at temple and seems to have a greater appreciation and sense of pride in being Jewish. It’s pretty awesome! She even asked to learn how to play - Camper Parent the guitar before she goes back next year.
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Jeremy Klotz Director
URJ Camp Harlam
Kunkletown, PA • CampHarlam.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 As we approach the 2018 camp season – and enter the final stages of our Harlam@60 anniversary celebration – we are at a seminal point of intersection between the past and the future of Harlam. 60 years is by no means a magic number, but the investment since 2012 in reclaiming our institution’s standing as a leader in our system and the field has reached a stage of measurable success. We have recently completed a transition and are prepared to further improve the camp program under Lisa David’s leadership while challenging Aaron Selkow to accelerate our fund development growth strategy. This simultaneous investment builds on our ability in recent years to enhance our offerings and performance while always focusing on building core capacities towards sustainability.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • Youth Mental Health First Aid – This year, we facilitated the first regional Youth Mental Health First Aid certification training program for professional staff, congregational leaders, and partners. • We are running an outreach campaign for early enrollment of returning campers, which included early enrollment discount as well as personal outreach from camp leadership.
Celebrating Harlam @ 60
90% Camper retention
rate (highest in 15 years)
$750,000
ON THE HORIZON • We will complete the Harlam@60 Capital Campaign. • We’re continuing the work of our task force on “Session Structure: 2020 and Beyond” a collaborative effort with lay and professional leadership to examine and align programmatic needs of our current and potential camp families.
raised toward Harlam@60
• We are working with Jay Frankel, a leading recruitment consultant, to establish new lead-generation and lead management strategies. • We are continuing to integrate youth engagement resources and strategies across the region, including hiring a new shared professional for NFTY/Harlam; building on successful Community Visitor Days to bring together stakeholders; and adding value and learning through focused programming in partnership with ARJE and the RAC on Gender, Mental Health, and Social Justice.
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Rabbi Martin Rosenberg, one of the key leaders in the founding of URJ Camp Harlam in 1958, shared recently his sense of fulfillment that the vision held by those invested in establishing our camp has been realized. As we stand on the cusp of celebrating 60 years of service to the Reform Jewish communities in our region, Rabbi Rosenberg stated that, “We couldn’t know that someday we would make a difference in the lives of our children’s children and generations to come by opening a little camp on a farm in Kresegeville, Pennsylvania.
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Lisa David Camp Director
Aaron Selkow Executive Director
URJ Jacobs Camp
Utica, MS • JacobsCamp.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 We continue to be proud of the Jacobs Magic and how that experience manifests itself in positive Jewish experiences for our families during the off-season. Our enrollment numbers continue to grow, with 515+ campers enrolled for this summer. While we are nearly reaching our maximum capacity, we realize we have opportunities to strengthen our camp and community. We want to continue to elevate our programming to meet and exceed the expectations of our campers, while also continuing to strengthen our programming and involvement in communities throughout the Deep South. Lay leaders and stakeholders in the HSJ community are essential to the success of our camp. Our mission cannot happen without the diligent work of our community partners encouraging families to send their kids to Jacobs Camp. We have engaged in yearlong work with a development consultant to evolve our approach with an annual appeal, donor stewardship, and major prospects, leading to deeper stakeholder engagement.
Save The Date
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • Jacobs has introduced STEAM programming with the addition of robotics, wacky science, and advanced computer activities. • We introduced more camp-style, activity-based programming into our congregational engagement strategy, resulting in more energized and engaged audiences in congregations.
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th Anniversary Reunion November 8-10, 2019 New Orleans, LA
• Looking ahead, we are excited about our continued yearround programming in congregations, bringing Jewish Joy to the Deep South.
ON THE HORIZON • We aim to achieve advanced program excellence in all of our activity areas by addressing our program curriculum during the off-season. • We hope to add a Makerspace workshop to further innovate our programing and STEAM department. • We want to make our staff feel as appreciated as possible throughout the year by furthering staff engagement during off-season.
“
Transformative - that is the impact that you and Jacobs Camp had on Mason this summer. He came home so excited about his experiences. And most importantly to us - he made a lot of new friends. He really felt safe to be himself. He felt liked and comfortable. He has a new level of confidence going back to school because of such a successful and positive camp - Camper Parent experience.
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Anna Herman Director
URJ Camp Kalsman
Arlington, WA • CampKalsman.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 As Kalsman enters its 12th season we are proud of so much. There is enormous excitement as we near completion of the construction of the Rita Rosen Arts Center. This facility will add 8,300 sq. feet of program space between seven different studios and provide the first real indoor programing space at camp besides the dining hall. This summer will also be our largest ever with nearly 700 campers coming through our gates. With almost every session at or near capacity, we have begun to explore opportunities for 2019 and beyond to engage even more campers.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOMENTS • We are excited about the new programmatic opportunities available with the addition of the Rita Rosen Arts Center: culinary arts, general arts, ceramics, digital media, performing arts, music, and recording. • We are beginning to explore options for the next phase of Kalsman in terms of growth, capacity, and engagement. This includes expanding our year-round programming using our new facilities and exploring the introduction of specialty programming for future summers.
ON THE HORIZON • We are working to shift our fundraising culture from capital giving to annual giving.
New Facilities and New Opportunities The new arts facility will add
8,300 sq. feet
of program space between seven different studios and provide the first real indoor programing space
• We plan to expand year-round program offerings, such as specialty retreats (mah-jongg, quilting, and various art-based programs) as well as multi-generational programming (grandparents and grandchildren, etc.) • We’re planning to extend summer offerings to address capacity issues and engage more families.
“
Each summer my son returns he becomes more and more confident and proud of his time at Kalsman. This year seemed to make an even bigger impact for him. For a boy who is not always emotionally expressive - he broke into tears when saying goodbye to his friends and counselors. Thank you Kalsman once again for providing my son with an amazing summer that strengthened his - Camper Parent confidence, independence and maturity.
”
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David Berkman Director
URJ Camp Newman
Vallejo, CA • CampNewman.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This has been an extraordinary year for Camp Newman. We started the year with an exciting early childhood family retreat in partnership with PJ Library. Just a few days after families left, camp was almost completely destroyed in the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa. This devastating act affirmed the power of our community, who immediately reached out with love and support. We received gifts, too, including over 100 mezzuzot made by two GUCI campers. Within just three weeks, our lay leaders helped secure a fantastic site for summer 2018. This summer, Camp Newman by the Bay will open on the campus of Cal Maritime in Vallejo, CA. Even in a brand-new site, we have more than 900 campers enrolled for this summer. This phenomenal registration milestone is a testament to our relationships with our camper families, alumni, lay leadership, and local Jewish communities and congregations. This process has shown us that just as we care for our campers and staff each summer, our community, in turn, cares for camp when we need it.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • This year was an all-hands-on-deck year, and we made sure that we spent as much time with our congregations and community members as possible. We worked with 6 Points Sports California and 6 Points Sci Tech West, as well as NFTY CWR and SOCAL to send a unified message about the power of youth and camping in the West.
families at PJ Library Retreat
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mezzuzot gifted 100 to camp 900+ campers enrolled
17
Opening Day of Camp Newman by the Bay June 17th
• Our new site will introduce new activities and opportunities (indoor sand volleyball, anyone?) Campers will be housed in dorms rather than cabins. Through all the changes, the Camp Newman ruach (spirit) endures.
ON THE HORIZON • We are most excited to perpetuate the mission, vision, core values of camp Newman as a summer camp and as a year-round community with NFTY, Fall camp and other experiences. • We look forward to continued growth and strength in our partnership of 6 Points Sports Ca and Sci Tech West as we together serve and engage more youth and young adults. • We look forward to an incredible summer in our new site by the bay!
Rabbi Erin Mason Camp Director
Perhaps the greatest miracle of all, though, has been the outpouring of love and support we’ve witnessed in the week since the fire. It is the camp ruach each of us carries with us always – the spirit that shapes our lives, as well as those of our children and grandchildren. Every single person who ever steps into that sacred place makes it sacred because of who they are. Every single person brings divine gifts and together we create the community.
“
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Ruben Arquilevich Executive Director
URJ OLIN-SANG-RUBY UNION INSTITUTE (OSRUI) Oconomowoc, WI • OSRUI.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI) is at a moment of transition. After 48 years of leadership Jerry Kaye has retired and Solly Kane, an OSRUI alum, became our tenth director as of September 2017. We have seen close to 10% year-over-year growth for summer 2018 and will welcome approximately 1,000 campers to camp this summer. We are is also in the midst of a capital campaign project to construct a new multi-use 800-seat theater and worship space, named in honor of Jerry and Paula Kaye.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We have a new emphasis on relationship-building. New director Solly Kane has spent much of this year on a listening tour, meeting with clergy and congregations across OSRUI’s ten-state catchment area, as well individual meetings with camp board members, alumni, and key organizational partners. • We improved key processes and systems for the summer in response to camper family feedback. Notably, the camper care team has expanded and been professionalized, and we have put in place a new communications team for summer 2018. • OSRUI has built a partnership with Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim (Deerfield, IL) for a year-round shared position and is in discussion with other congregations about similar partnerships to strengthen year-round youth engagement.
ON THE HORIZON • We are excited to begin construction for the new Heichal HaTarbut Kaye (Kaye Cultural Center), which will open for Summer 2019.
OSRUI by the Numbers
1,000 Registered for
campers Summer 2018! new multi-use
800-seat
theater and worship space
$3.5 raised for
million new theater
• We are exploring the feasibility of offering a specialty Israel experience for teens next summer focused on Hebrew immersion. • We will continue to build a great team serving kids and families across the Midwest.
I can’t thank you enough for all the experiences Abby obtained over this summer and the life long friendships I’m certain she will keep. She has already met up with kids from camp and keeps in touch with most of those she hung out with at camp, almost every day - we love it - she can’t wait to go back and her younger sister is also so excited to go next year - Camper Parent for her first overnight camp experience.
“
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Solly Kane Director
SPECIALTY CAMPS
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URJ 6 Points Creative Arts West Chester, PA • 6PointsCreativeArts.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This summer, we are thrilled to launch the first camp in our system completely dedicated to skill-building in the Arts! URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy will open this summer on the campus of the Westtown School outside of Philadelphia. Rooted in Jewish values and tradition, campers will immerse themselves in majors chosen from Culinary Arts, Dance, Instrumental and Vocal Music, and Visual Arts, all in the warm, nurturing environment that is the hallmark of URJ camping. CAA, as it is affectionately known, has exceeded enrollment expectations for our first summer with 160+ campers enrolled!
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS Our guiding principle is “Create. Connect. Celebrate.” It has been an amazing journey to bring the Creative Arts Academy from a dream to a reality. This summer, we will: • Create – Every aspect of camp is being designed intentionally with an eye to the intersection of Arts and Judaism. Each session will feature a showcase of camper performances and creations. • Connect – With participants from 21 states, Canada and Israel, we are fostering relationships with campers, parents, synagogue professionals and community stakeholders all across North America and beyond. • Celebrate – We welcome the first campers on June 26 and say farewell to our inaugural summer on August 5.
Celebrating Our Inaugural Summer
160+ campers June
26
opening day
Want to support our inaugural summer? Get in touch to schedule a visit!
ON THE HORIZON • We are looking forward to Opening Day! • We look forward to developing lay partnerships as we continue building relationships with congregational and organizational professionals.
The oft heard refrain is “I wish this camp had existed when…” We are thrilled to be meeting this need for our community and look forward to continued learning and growth.
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Jo-Ellen Unger Director
URJ 6 Points Sports CA Los Angeles, CA • 6PointsSports.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This has been an excellent year of change and growth for 6 Points Sports Academy California. We hired our new camp director, Brian Mitchell, and camp enrollment continues to grow as we enter our third summer, increasing more than 50 campers from the Summer of 2017, representing 25% growth since last year. We also have continued to engage families throughout the year, funded by a grant from the LA Jewish Federation, with the introduction of Women’s Self-Defense workshops and an interdenominational family Maccabiah. We’re also focusing on enhancement of Jewish life and the retention of all head coaches. Summer 2018 promises to be the best one yet!
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We introduced the first ever C.I.T. program, with 5 rising 12th graders participating in a 4-week training/leadership development program that prepares participants to be future camp staff members and Jewish role models. • We have been accepted into the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Cornerstone Fellowship, engaging 3 returning staff members to work together in a cohort to enhance Jewish life at camp.
ON THE HORIZON • We are expanding the engagement and involvement of our Camp Board and Lay Leadership, focusing on development and fundraising.
New Milestones
220+ Campers 25% growth in enrollment Hired New Camp Director Brian Mitchell Associate Director Rachel Slaton accepted to FJC’s Yitro Fellowship
“
Our son had a fantastic experience during his time at 6 Points CA. For our family it was a great way to introduce him to Jewish customs, values, traditions, and history. At 6 Points he participated in his first Shabbat services, learned his first prayers and songs, and truly felt at home. We had no sooner left when he informed us that he could not wait to return next summer. The time, effort, dedication, and love that you bring to 6 Points and its campers is noticed - Camper Parent and appreciated.
”
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Brian Mitchell Director
URJ 6 Points Sports NC Greensboro, NC • 6PointsSports.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This was a phenomenal year for 6 Points Sports Academy in North Carolina. Our camp experienced our largest enrollment in our 8-year history. Summer 2017 saw the highest scores ever in the parent satisfaction survey, with large gains in the spiritual impact of camp on our campers. Summer 2017 also doubled the number of staff members from Israel, as we continue to incorporate Israel into our daily routine at camp. As we move forward, we will look for more support in the form of scholarship dollars as we continue to aim to give Jewish athletes the opportunity to attend Jewish sports camp. Our professional year-round staff is now housed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Washington D.C., enabling us to continue growing our relationships with camper families, clergy and educators, and our summer staff.
Big Moments
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We have added girls volleyball to our list of sports majors, joining lacrosse, swimming, tennis, softball, cheerleading, dance, basketball, soccer, and baseball. • Camp is maturing – we have more transportation options for campers and are now using an outside pharmacy to assist with intake and disbursement of medications. • We launched our online camp store and secured a sponsorship from Under Armour.
650+ Jewish athletes enrolled in Summer 2017
2x the number of Israeli
staff since last summer
ON THE HORIZON • For Summer 2019, we’re exploring the feasibility of a specialty Israel trip for Jewish teen athletes focused on sports. • We are currently in the planning stages of hosting a nationwide soccer tournament for Jewish day schools in North America.
“
Camp has changed my life in so many ways. It has shaped me into the person I am today. It’s where I found myself and my Jewish identity. It is where I first felt connected to Israel. Words cannot express how much I appreciate the privilege of spending the past 8 summers at URJ camps. I grew up at Camp Coleman… During my gap year last summer between camper and staff member, I chose to combine my love of tennis and camp at Six Points Sports Academy. My time spent there was the most influential 12 days of my life. - Camper
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Danny Herz Director
URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech East
A URJ Summer Camp
Byfield, MA • 6PointsSciTech.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This summer, 6 Points Sci-Tech East will welcome more campers than ever before – 480+ campers representing more than 165 URJ congregations across North America. We are adding another dorm to accommodate more girls, which can be attributed to our strong relationship with WRJ and their girls’ scholarship program. Our return rate has increased to 76%, an unprecedented return rate for specialty camps. This summer with URJ Sci-Tech programs on both coasts and in Israel, we will serve more than 600 children, including a full bus of teens attending Sci-Tech Israel, the only teen Israel program Big Moments focused on innovation and science in Israel.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We’ve added two new specialty tracks: Chemistry and Startup Nation, a business/entrepreneurship experience. • Building on the successful model in New England, we are developing innovative, collaborative recruiting strategies with our partners at URJ Camp Harlam and other 6 Points Camps.
480+ campers more than 165+ representing URJ congregations
• We welcomed two new staff members to our year-round team, who both bring rich backgrounds in science, technology, and teaching. • We are excited to launch our first counselor-in-training program with support from Eisner and Crane Lake. This will allow us to build a pipeline of staff who are also alumni. • 41 teens will participate in Sci-Tech Israel, up from 28 last year. This year we worked closely with the Jewish Education Project to develop a sustainable curriculum for the program.
ON THE HORIZON • Our Camp Council is developing its next strategic plan after achieving all the goals from the initial launch of 6 Points Sci-Tech, which will include building a pipeline for staff, maintaining a high retention rate, and developing comprehensive year-round programming in STEM. • As camp nears its capacity, the Camp Council is examining innovative ways to engage kids and teens outside of the walls of camp, such as internships or other science and tech experiences.
“
I have exciting news! I’ve been accepted into a noteworthy high school with all honors classes, and chose engineering as my major. I know I will be able to use what I learned at camp in ALL of my - Camper classes. Todah Rabah.
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Greg Kellner Director
URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech West Thousand Oaks, CA • 6PointsSciTech.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 In our first year of 6 Points Sci Tech West, we have done nothing but grow! We are expecting about 100 campers—an incredible number in the western region. Being a part of the newly organized URJ California Camps has given us a tremendous amount of support and resources around recruitment, marketing, and board development. We have also collaborated with 6 Points Sci-Tech East on systems, curriculum, and rituals. We are excited to welcome our campers in just a few weeks and build on the URJ’s legacy of specialty programs engaging kids who might not have otherwise had a Jewish summer experience.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • As part of the California Camps, we have been leaders in the URJ Youth Department with holistic marketing—matching the right camper to the right program on our varied menu of offerings.
Celebrating Our Inaugural Summer
• Next summer, we will develop a teen program for older campers (9th & 10th graders) focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, helping teens grow their ideas and bring them to market.
100+ campers
• We are excited to continue our relationships with URJ congregations as well as recruit new families beyond our synagogues, expanding the reach of the Reform Movement.
June 19
opening day
ON THE HORIZON
• We are looking forward to having a 100+ new camper families who can serve as ambassadors next year once they have experienced camp. They will be the best recruiters and help us connect to their networks who are not URJ synagogue members.
“
”
I feel like this camp was tailor-made for me. - Camper
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Jordanna Flores Director
TEEN PROGRAMS
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“
NFTY taught me how to be a leader‌how to be an intersectional, radical, loving person. NFTY taught me to question everything, including authority, and trusted me to lead my peers. I work in politics and grassroots organizing and am grateful for my time in NFTY every day. I credit it with my background in social justice and activism, my confidence, my passion for seeking justice, and my love for community.
URJ Kutz Camp
Warwick, NY • KutzCamp.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This summer, we are thrilled to introduce a bold new program design for Kutz Camp. Over the past year, we engaged in a thoughtful appreciative inquiry process about what Kutz is and what we deliver to our teens and their congregations. We developed a new mission statement, which is reflective of why Kutz is so essential in the Reform Jewish teen space, and launched a newly created Kutz Camp Council that mirrors the strategic priorities of the URJ.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS
New Mission Statement
This summer’s new program design brings together experts, quality content, and specialty experiences to meet the unique interests of our teens:
“
URJ Kutz Camp is the flagship summer experience for Reform Jewish teens worldwide who are seeking deeper learning, purposeful skill-building, and leadership development. Kutz Camp continues to foster generations of proud, compassionate, creative, cultured, and joyful leaders who will ensure a vibrant Jewish future.
• Advocacy and Action - powered by the RAC youth leadership staff • Israel and Zionism - powered by ARZA and the iCenter for Israel Education • NFTY Incubator - powered by NFTY, creating NFTY’s programmatic priorities for next year • Social Entrepreneurship – powered by Kutz alumni innovators and leading business professionals
”
• Songleading – powered by Reform Movement musicians and songleaders • Torah Corps – powered by HUC-JIR staff and students
ON THE HORIZON • We’re excited to welcome a delegation of international teens from Temple Israel in Cape Town, South Africa this summer, and will look to take a delegation of teens from North America to Netzer South Africa’s summer camp program in December. • We hope to expand our staff team through the newly expanded Shared Positions model that partners congregations and URJ camps for greater collaboration and year-round delivery of services.
“
URJ Kutz Camp is a special and sacred place where teenagers are inspired by the ‘best of the best’ - musicians, rabbis, cantors, educators and more. It’s a place where teenagers are motivated to learn more about who they are as people, as Jews and as citizens of the world. And it’s a place where teenagers can explore the entry points into Judaism - Torah, prayer and social justice. I am excited to be at Kutz this summer on faculty and to be a part of the remarkable and reciprocal shared learning that happens in that space.
”
– Rabbi Joui Hessel, Consultant, National Office of Recruitment and Admissions, HUC-JIR
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Melissa Frey Director
URJ Heller High
Kibbutz Tzuba, Israel • HellerHigh.org EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 The 2018 academic year at URJ Heller High is off to a fantastic start. With our highest spring enrollment since 2013, there is an abundance of energy on the part of the students, staff and faculty. In January, we moved into new office and classroom facilities at our home, Kibbutz Tzuba. Our spring journey to Poland was especially meaningful in light of recent legislation on the part of the Polish Government. We successfully completed the reaccreditation process of The Middle States Association of Colleges, Secondary and Elementary Schools. The year-long process gave us A Big Year the chance to conduct a thorough self-study, look at areas of strength and determine areas for improvement. At the Increase in enrollment end of their visit, the reaccreditation visiting team told over Spring 2017 us that they were giving URH Heller High their highest possible recommendation: re-accreditation with no Increase in knowledge conditions or stipulations!
20%
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS
70%
of modern Israel
• Enrollment for the Spring 2018 Semester increased 20% over Spring 2017 • Over the course of the semester, URJ Heller High student knowledge of modern Israel increased by an average of 70%, based on a pre & post-semester test. • Students have more interaction with Israeli peers though our growing partnership with the high school at Givat Brenner. Students report this as one of the most meaningful aspects of their semester.
ON THE HORIZON • We will create a highly engaged alumni association to maintain the impact Heller High has on students long after they finish their semester. • We will develop a parent ambassador committee to support our efforts to increase enrollment and financial support for the school. • We’re thrilled to announce a new tuition discount for Fall 2018, making Israel even more accessible during a semester that includes special moments like celebrating the High Holidays and Hanukkah.
“
I wanted to take a moment and let you know what a magical experience we had on the Parent’s Pilgrimage. Not only did we get to spend time with our daughter and see how she is THRIVING at Heller High, the staff did an amazing job putting together a real trip for us. This was the first time in Israel for all of us (my husband and 13-year-old son came with me) and we learned and saw so much! One unexpected outcome was the extent to which this trip had an impact on our 13-year-old son’s Jewish identity. That was wonderful to see and I didn’t see that coming. Hopefully you will have him in your program in 3-4 years! - Parent
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Rabbi Loren Sykes Principal
NFTY in Israel NFTYIsrael.org
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 It has been a banner year for NFTY in Israel programs. We focused on a variety of strategic enhancements: refreshing our brand, partnering with stakeholders, deepening our educational curriculum, improving our customer service, and more. Registration increased by 9% year-over-year, representing nearly 40 additional participants this summer. Our specialty Israel programs have especially strong registration, with Sci-Tech Israel reaching capacity at 41 teens and Mitzvah Corps Israel reaching capacity at 25 teens. Strategic enhancements have made this growth possible – a new congregational engagement strategy that brought lay leaders into our planning for the first time, and beginning to build a culture of philanthropy around teen Israel travel, strategically considering how to offer an affordable experience while ensuring we remain the best program in the market.
Notable Numbers
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We began the process of refreshing educational content of the program to achieve specific, measurable Israel engagement outcomes. This process will take time, but we feel good about the first steps taken this year to ensure the content remains modern and best-in-class.
Raised more than
$200,000
9% Increase in year-over-year registration
• We overhauled our communications to families and camps to leverage new technologies and marketing trends. In doing so, we deepened connections between camp and Israel to help families see Israel as a next step in the camp journey.
ON THE HORIZON • We are exploring the feasibility of offering additional specialty Israel programs for next summer that will expand our reach to engage new teens who wouldn’t otherwise have a high school Israel experience. • We will continue to refine our curriculum and itineraries, ensuring they are modern and appropriate for teens in 2018 and beyond. We are looking at new pedagogical opportunities, outcomes-focused education, and refining our educator training to take our program to the next level.
“
The total immersion experience making learning fun, relevant and impactful was the strength of the trip. I asked my daughter what surprised her the most. She replied, “How much I learned!” She felt she was also challenged to push herself physically which gave her great satisfaction. Overall, her - Parent experience nurtured her mind, body and soul!!
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Mitzvah Corps MitzvahCorps.org
Social Justice Experiences for Teens
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 Mitzvah Corps has existed, in one form or another, for more than 40 years. For Summer 2018, we made a strategic decision to decrease the number of programs we offered and focus intently on those programs that have had consistently strong registration and high marks from participants. In doing so, we were able to experiment with how we engage teens year-round in caring about and understanding social change. Highlights of this year include partnering with NFTY TOR and Greene Family Camp to run a Hurricane Harvey disaster relief weekend in Houston, mentoring the NFTY North American Social Action Vice President, deepening our connection to the Religious Action Center, and participating in the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable, representing organizations across the Jewish communal landscape that care deeply about social justice. We increased our fundraising and stakeholder engagement efforts, and our first-ever fundraising campaign exceeded our financial goal. We have increased focus on alumni engagement and are excited to welcome back nearly 60 alumni at Urban Mitzvah Corps this summer!
Partnering Across the URJ Hurricane Harvey Mitzvah Corps with
Texas & Oklahoma
Mitzvah Corps Atlanta with
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS • We limited the number of programs offered to focus on the most effective offerings and build capacity for year-round social justice engagement. • We partnered with Rustic Pathways, a teen and young adult travel company, for our Costa Rica trips, so we could offer a higher-quality program with stronger professional support on the ground in Costa Rica. • We strengthened staff onboarding to ensure we are able to create inclusive, supportive communities. • We have begun to experiment with new technology, social media advertising , and data-driven decisionmaking to reach new participants.
Dan Lange Director, Youth Programs
“
My Mitzvah Corps journey is bringing my Facebook feed to life, exposing me to current social and political injustices. My eyes are opened wide and I know the knowledge I am gaining will be used to enact social change. - Participant
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NFTY - The Reform Youth Movement NFTY.org
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 This year, NFTY got back to its roots. We renewed our focus on authentic youth-adult partnerships and have had success in launching campaigns around issues our teens care about. In the fall, NFTY teens partnered with the RAC and URJ congregations around a Shabbat/Call-in day for passage of a clean Dream Act, engaging teens around issues of immigrant justice. In the Spring, NFTY teens led the entire Reform Movement in support of gun violence prevention and the March for our Lives. In April, we launched a Sexual Violence Prevention Campaign. Building on more than 3500 programs hours focused on sexual violence prevention throughout the school year, we launched a social media campaign that focused on awareness and engaged over 15,000 people. In addition to supporting and empowering high school teens, NFTY continues to deepen middle school engagement, seeing growth in NFTY678 programming and an increase in local events that engage younger teens in their home communities.
INNOVATIONS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS
NFTY by the Numbers
880+
seniors will be welcomed into the Alumni Network
3500 programs hours on Sexual Violence Prevention
100 events are already
planned for next year!
2300+ 6
- 8th grade participants th
• One of the most powerful aspects of NFTY is our ability to influence programmatic priorities at both the North American level as well as within local congregations and communities. There is a cohesive sense emerging throughout NFTY’s 19 regions that teens are part of a larger network focused on issues that matter to all NFTYites, including: Israel, Environmentalism, Race Relations, Mental Health and Wellbeing, LGBTQ equality, Inclusion, and gun violence and sexual violence prevention. • This summer at Kutz Camp, NFTY teens will create the NFTY Incubator Learning Immersive in which they will create the programs and resources for NFTY’s 2018-19 program year. Teens from all over North America will participate in this Learning Immersive, led by the NFTY North American Board, to truly set the vison for NFTY for the year ahead.
Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller NFTY Director of Learning & Innovation
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Beth Rodin NFTY Managing Director
ON THE HORIZON • Increasingly, we know that the model of weekend kallot (gatherings) for 9-12th graders is not a “one size fits all” approach to NFTY engagement, and we are exploring new models for local programming outside of regional kallot. • Save the date for NFTY Convention 2019! This biennial gathering, the Movement’s 2nd-largest, will engage 1,400+ teens, college students, alumni, conregational leaders, and community partners in Dallas, TX, February 15-18, 2019.
Emily Kaplan, NFTY Southwest, reflected on what she learned in NFTY: are we? We are strong citizens of this world, of this country, of our community, “andWho it is and forever will be, our duty to take care of those around us, whether we
know them or not. We all have a responsibility on this earth, not just to ourselves, but to one another. This is not only a message for Jews, but a message for all.
”
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS NFTY NFTY North American Committees • Expanded leadership
opportunities for teens to influence NFTY’s programmatic priorities. Committees include: Inclusion, Environmental Justice, Racial Justice, Gun Violence Prevention; Israel, Sexual Violence Prevention, and more.
Nashir: Teen Songleading Institute
Kol Isha: Teen Feminist Fellowship
• Specialty programming
• A year-long fellowship
that equips teen songleaders with the skills and network to be musical leaders in their congregations, region, and Movement.
bringing teens together to learn about gender expression, feminism, body positivity, and more.
“
Zach Herrmann NFTY President 2017-18
NFTY put Jewish music in my soul, leadership opportunities in my path, and lifelong friends in my heart. My NFTY experience resulted in my desire to be an active member of my URJ congregation and to share the gift of a vibrant community with my two sons, now beginning their own NFTY journey. Both NFTY and my URJ Camp embraced me at many different points in my journey of self-discovery, and camp still calls to me - Alum as a retreat for my family and friends in adulthood.
”
YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS
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URJ College EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2017-18 URJ College engages and supports Reform Jewish college students, empowering them to build inspiring communities, strengthen Reform Jewish life on campus, and impact their campus and the world. As a newer area of our work, URJ College has already begun to engage thousands of college students in 2017-18. Evan Traylor, who has served as the Presidential Fellow for Millennial Engagement for the past two years, has recently assumed the role of Associate Director of College Engagement, enhancing our ability to meaningfully engage more students at a critical juncture in their lives.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2017-18 • We educated hundreds of NFTY seniors about how to stay connected to URJ and Jewish life after high school and how to get involved on campus. • We’re collecting data from graduating seniors about where they’re going to college so we can continue to support them and connect on campus. • Through visits to more than a dozen campuses this year, URJ staff members connected with hundreds of Reform Jewish students, maintaining a personal connection to the URJ and helping to build Reform Judaism on campuses. • URJ has a growing partnership with Hillel International. This year, we networked regularly with Reform rabbis and professionals to better support Reform students on campus, worked together to get Reform students to Washington DC for the March For Our Lives, and are starting to register college students to vote in November as part of the RAC’s Civic Engagement Campaign.
BIG Moments
50 Biennial Ambassadors 50 Students at the Biennial College Track 100+ Reform Hillel Professionals 250 Reform Students at March For Our Lives in Washington DC
18 HUC-JIR Founders Fellows 2,500 Students at MRJ Reform on
Campus Events
ON THE HORIZON • Next year, we will create new online resources for students, supporting them as they create Jewish life on small campuses, wrestle with Israel conversations, find congregations near them, celebrate Shabbat and Jewish holidays, and more. • Responding to a need identified by students and campus professionals, the URJ will create a network of Reform songleaders on campus who will share ideas and resources, expand their skills, and ultimately grow Reform Jewish worship on campuses. • Next year, we’ll launch a team of 15-20 students to serve as a steering committee as the URJ builds out our college engagement strategy. This group of students will partner with URJ staff on a variety of projects to ensure that college students are represented throughout the Movement.
Evan Traylor Associate Director of College Engagement College students from around 50 universities mobilized to Washington DC, bringing with them their Reform Jewish values and passion for social justice, to participate in URJ programming for March for Our Lives. Building off of what has been instilled in them since camp and NFTY, these students used the March for Our Lives as the starting point in the fight for gun violence prevention issues on and off campus. We are excited to see what comes from this work and inspired by these students’ commitment to make the world a - College Student better and safer place.
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“ Hands down on
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ne of the best my life.� - Teen participant
URJYouth.org