The Foundation for Jewish Camp defines a Jewish camp as sponsored by a Jewish institution, linked to Jewish agencies, or otherwise expressing an overt Jewish mission.

Non-profit camps invest all money earned back in to the camp. Private camps are businesses so any profit made goes to the owner or shareholders. In general, nonprofit residential camps may be slightly less expensive than private residential camps. Non-profit camps may have greater access to incentive-based and need-based scholarship resources.

There is a Jewish summer camp for every child. No matter your level of Jewish observance there is a Jewish camp where your child will be comfortable and gain a stronger sense of Jewish identity. Some camps are part of specific Jewish movements such as Modern Orthodox, Reform and Conservative. Some camps are focused on Zionism and the role of Israel in Jewish life. Other camps have a more general focus on building positive Jewish identity building experiences through Jewish culture. Please use our helpful "Find a Jewish Camp" directory to find the right camp for your child.

There are a number of specialty Jewish camps focusing on everything from basketball to weight loss to music. Please use our helpful "Find a Jewish Camp" directory for a list of Jewish specialty camps

There are a number of reputable special needs programs available at Jewish summer camps. Some camps even have an inclusion specialist on staff for the summer. You can search for special needs programs in "Find a Jewish Camp."

Jewish summer camps vary in price. The price is often affected by the region, the length of the session, and trips out of camp. Most camps cost between $500 and $1,000 a week. Many camps offer financial assistance and there are outside organizations including local synagogues and federations that provide camp scholarships. Please explore our Camp Scholarship Directory.

No. While the FJC has helped private groups set up scholarship programs in a number of cities as well as advocate for greater scholarship allocations in many different Jewish communities, we do not give direct assistance to families. Please consult the Camp Scholarship Directory to find scholarship opportunities for you child. You should also ask the camp director about any camp specific scholarship programs. We encourage you to contact your local Jewish Federation and synagogue to see if they offer camp scholarships.

Camps offer one, two, three, four, six and eight week sessions. Some camps offer one week "taste of camp" sessions for their youngest campers.

Kashrut (Jewish dietary law) policies vary depending on the policies of the camps' denominational movements. All camps will make accommodations for any special diet or allergy issues your child may have. In our "Find a Jewish Camp" section you can search for kosher camps.

This is a very personal question that only you can answer. Camps range from campers entering 2nd grade to campers entering 11th grade. Sometimes younger children feel more comfortable at camp if they have an older sibling or friends from school there. The American Camping Association offers a useful checklist to help you decide if your child is ready for camp. Please click their link to view the checklist. http://www.campparents.org/righttime.php

It is always useful to visit the camp you are thinking of sending your child so you can see everything for yourself. Ask for references and talk to currents campers and their parents. Also look for camps that have been accredited by the American Camping Association or in Canada a Province-based Camp Association. These organizations make site visits and provide guidelines to camps on best practices and procedures. Additionally, be sure to inquire as to the duration and depth of the required staff training sessions at camp as well as the kind of background checks the camps utilize for staff that work with children.

Each camp has a different staff recruiting and hiring process. Jewish camps try to hire "home grown" staff members, campers who have been through the program and are able to best be a role model along the lines of the camp's mission. Many camps hire staff from accredited, international staffing agencies, including the Jewish Agency for Israel, (http://www.jafi.org.il/education/ssp/welcome.html) Camp America, CCUSA and others. The International staff may or may not be Jewish. Make sure to ask the camp what screening measures they use when hiring staff. Almost all camps have a staff training week prior to the summer.

The FJC is not an accreditation body for Jewish camps. You should carefully consider which camp offers the facilities and program that will be best for your child. There are several accreditation bodies, including the American Camp Association (www.acacamps.org) and its Canadian equivalent. We encourage you to ask the camps you are considering for accreditation and parental references.

No. We encourage you to take advantage of our "Find a Jewish Camp" search directory but we are not a referral service.

If your child is 18 or older we encourage them to complete the camp job form in the "Camp Professionals" section of the website. Once they complete the form and e-mail it back to us they will receive a personalized list of up to five Jewish summer camps to contact. If your child is 18 or older and is interested in working at a specific camp, s/he can contact the camp directly. If your child is under the age of 18, s/he will have to check with the camp as to their policy for hiring minors.