Camp JRF

Summer 2008 Begins at Camp JRF

Isaac Saposnik — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:50:30 -0400

What a wonderful day we had today! The sun shone brightly, the blue of the sky was perfect, and the voices of our community rose together as we opened Summer 2008 on the Aaron and Marjorie Ziegelman Campus of Camp JRF. It was a pleasure to see the smiles as old friends reconnected and new friendships began to form. Campers from the United States and Israel joined us as we began another wonderful summer of Reconstructionist camping.

After moving into their cabins, campers had an opportunity to meet by eidot (units) before we came together as a camp to begin the summer with songs and funny skits from our staff. Dinner was pasta, garlic bread, and our famous Caesar salad – followed by ice cream for dessert. After a brief service, campers learned about the myriad of different options for breirot (electives) and chose which they would like to try for the first part of the session. Then it was off to the cabins to check-in with their counselors, get to know their bunkmates a bit better, and finally head to sleep after a long day of traveling. As I write, all is quiet as we dream about the excitement that is to come with our first full day of camp tomorrow.

We look forward to many wonderful, magical, engaging, and life-changing days ahead....

Experience Camp JRF Family Camp!

Lisa Tuttle — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:34:11 -0400

When: 5 pm on Wednesday, August 13 through Noon on Sunday, August 17
Where: Camp JRF, South Sterling, PA

Experience as a family the joy, fun and community of Reconstructionist camping this summer at Camp JRF Family Camp! There's something for everyone: Activities for adults, teens, children and families!

Download the Family Camp brochure and register now!

Participants in Family Camp will enjoy all of JRF’s camp facilities and staff, including professional Jewish educators, rabbis, musicians, art and sports instructors, counselors, and our fantastic food.

Space is limited! For more information contact
info@campjrf.org or call 1-877-226-7573.

Tikkun JRF Teen-Parent Week of Service

Lisa Tuttle — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:33:09 -0400

When: August 10-15
Where: Camp JRF in South Sterling, PA.
Post-B’nai Mitzvah teens and their parents are invited to share a week working together to make a difference. Space is limited! Enrollment is currently open for 20-30 adult and teen pairs, post-B’nai Mitzvah ages 13+ (teams may include one or two parents).

Download the registration form!

You will live for a week in active, participatory community, connecting to local communities and providing much needed support and building work. We welcome your diverse skills and talents, including: carpentry, painting, meal planning, photography, team playing. Worker bees, educators, musicians and all others are welcome!

To learn more, contact Eve Maslin at (215) 885-5601 or e-mail emaslin@jrf.org. For project information, contact Clifford Goldsmith at (617) 965-7323 or e-mail clifgold@hotmail.com.

Biking at Camp JRF

scooper — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:32:57 -0500

Camp JRF Voted Among Top 10 Jewish Camps by Jewish Living Magazine

Lisa Tuttle — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:12:52 -0500

We are proud and delighted to report that Jewish Living magazine, in its January/February 2008 issue, cited Camp JRF: The Aaron and Marjorie Ziegelman Campus among its Top 10 Jewish overnight camps: "those that best combine a summer of fun with strong reinforcement of religious and cultural identity." The magazine compiled the list (reported in alphabetical order) after consulting with camp professionals as well as youth group, Hebrew school, and synagogue leaders, plus camp alumni.

Read the write-up on Camp JRF from Jewish Living and spread the word!

Camp JRF Scholarships Available

Lisa Tuttle — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:29:01 -0500

Camp JRF is still accepting applications for scholarships for Summer 2008. One special grant for campers is the Jessica Kaufman Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in Jessica’s memory by her father, Ben Kaufman. Jessica was a committed camper and nurturing counselor whose memory lives on at Camp JRF and whose scholarship enables campers the opportunity to experience the magic of Camp JRF.

Final Havdallah for Session Aleph

Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:59:38 -0400

Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat in the Shabbat Havdalah Garden at Camp JRFOur medurah (campfire) embers have just been extinguished but the memories and the friendships for session aleph will continue to burn brightly into the weeks, months and years ahead.

What a thrilling session we have just completed. Imagine 225 campers and staff in a huge spiral around the havdallah candle and our souls woven together with this final Shabbat and the experiences we have all just shared.

Many of our hanihim (campers) will be returning to their homes but they have grown and matured from summer activities, friends and the kehillah (community) of Camp JRF. We have definitely created a safe community here so our campers feel they can try their skill at sports or art or music or drama or swimming or etgar (ropes course) or even a discussion and be respected and honored and even confident at the attempt.

My favorite part of camp is traveling around campus several times a day just to see our happy campers at all their programs. Many of the pictures on Bunk1 were taken as our campers and staff were just being themselves and having lots of fun at any part of the day or night. And did I mention how our campers and staff enjoy the food.

Our Camp JRF staff feels great about how smoothly our program ran this session and how much our campers enjoyed these magical three and a half weeks.

As our camp songs goes. “Have fun Day and Night all our Hanihim are feeling all right. Found a place no worries no stress, here at CAMP JRF.”

Now we look forward to next session.

Rabbi Jeff

Camp JRF Book Shelf project a success!

Lisa Tuttle — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 11:46:04 -0400

The new siddurim arrive at campThe effort to provide prayer books to Camp JRF has been achieved. Generous donations from across North America have provided over 200 sets (daily and Shabbat siddurim) of Kol Haneshamah to Camp JRF. The books arrived in time for opening day of camp.

As part of the JRF "Book Shelf" program, donors provided one set of Kol Haneshamah (the Shabbat and daily prayer book) for a gift of $50, and JRF covered shipping. The set retails for $57. For a minimum donation of $100, two or more sets included personalized dedication bookplates in memory of or in honor of a loved one or an occasion.

The siddurim dedicated through this appeal will permanently reside at Camp JRF. This support sends a special message of caring to the campers - one the kids note every week of camp as they begin prayers in the outdoor sanctuary that they built themselves.

To learn how you can establish a Book Shelf project in your community, call Barry Nove, JRF's director of development, at 215-885-5601 ext. 19, or email bnove@jrf.org.

Effort to Provide Prayer Books to Camp JRF Achieves Milestone

Barry Nove — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:02:11 -0400

Barry Nove: JRF Director of DevelopmentGenerous donations from across North America have thus far provided 100 sets (daily and Shabbat) of Kol Haneshamah to Camp JRF. Camp JRF begins its 2007 season on June 20th.

Donations are still being sought to provide the additional 150 sets needed.

For more information, read the original article.

Donate online or contact me (Barry Nove), Director of Development at 215-885-5601 ext. 19 or bnove@jrf.org.

To all those who have have been so generous thus far, thank you!

Camp JRF Wants YOU (or your children)!

Isaac Saposnik — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:02:46 -0400

Camp JRF Staff from Summer, 2006Camp JRF is looking for a few more staff members. If you know energetic, creative, talented, upbeat, responsible, and excited college students (or high school graduates), we would love to talk with them about spending the summer of a lifetime at Camp JRF. Download a staff application packet.

We are currently looking to fill the following positions:

Counselors live in cabins with the campers. They are involved in every aspect of camp, providing the best possible camping experience for their campers. As responsible, mature young adults, counselors serve as role models for the campers in how to lead a healthy, Reconstructionist life.

Lifeguards are responsible for the safety of all people at the pool and lake areas. They will also be expected to give instructional swim lessons. Qualified applicants will be mature and responsible. Proper certification is required; Water Safety Instructor certification is preferred.

Challenge Course Staff will assist the Challenge Course Director in running the Challenge Education program. Experience teaching and using a challenge course is preferred.

Staff are hired for the full summer (June 20 - August 14). Salary is competitive with other summer camps and travel reimbursement is available for staff who come to camp from a distance. This summer we will have staff from the United States, Israel, France, and Australia - encourage the college students in your community to join them!

Download a staff application packet for a staff application packet or contact us at info@campjrf.org to make a recommendation.