Last summer, thanks in part to a Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia “One Happy Camper” grant, 13-year old Sylvia went to Jewish overnight camp for the very first time. She was hoping for a few weeks of fun, and she got it — but also so much more. At camp, Sylvia had the chance to explore who she is, learn life skills and create deep friendships, all in a context enriched by Judaism. “I love camp!” she enthuses. “The food, the people, all the activities, everything!” Now she’s counting down the days until next summer, when she’ll return for more camp magic.
Because Jewish camp has such a huge impact on Jewish identity, our Jewish Federation makes camp accessible in two ways. One is with One Happy Camper grants, which provide up to a $1,000 discount for families with children attending nonprofit Jewish overnight camps for the first time, like Sylvia. The second way is by offering needs-based scholarships for returning campers (to both overnight and day camp) that save qualified families up to 30% off the cost of camp. Last year, our Jewish Federation awarded a total of $650,000 in camp grants and scholarships to 835 families.
Apply today for the camper in your life! One Happy Camper grants are given out on a rolling basis, but because the number of grants are limited, you don’t want to delay. Upcoming scholarship deadlines can be found here. You could be giving a child the gift of a lifetime, just like Sylvia.
For more information and to apply for a One Happy Camper grant or a needs-based scholarship, click here. Questions? Contact Abby Weinberg, Associate Director of Jewish Life and Learning, at aweinberg@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0570.