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Summer Experiences

 

There is nothing better than Jewish summer camp! Jewish summer camp has long been known to be the best tool for building positive Jewish identity that lasts well into adulthood. Jewish summer camp offers:

  • A unique, immersive Jewish environment
  • A stronger connection to Jewish community, from the local to the worldwide
  • Greater Jewish knowledge and confidence
  • Tons of outdoors time
  • Important socialization with peers unlike that gained from school and extracurriculars
  • Fun and challenging experiences that foster growth and independence – like high-ropes courses, waterskiing, horseback riding, and even leading services and reading Torah!
  • A chance for parents/guardians to enjoy the summer a little bit more on your own terms

Har HaShem is grateful to have relationships with many amazing Jewish camps, and to be able to offer scholarships to our congregants (thanks to the generous donations of congregants, especially Marc & Mindy Liebman) to ensure that a family’s finances are never a barrier to their child attending a great camp.

Below, you will find information about camps and scholarship opportunities. If you don’t find the right camp for you in the camp list, you can find a comprehensive, filterable list of Jewish camps here.

Note that all camps have their own scholarship pathways. It is generally expected you will take advantage of camp funds, congregational funds, and One Happy Camper (if applicable) all together to create a package for yourself with contributions from all the options.
 

 

Summer Camps

DAY CAMPS:

 

UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM (URJ) SLEEPAWAY CAMPS:
As a URJ member congregation, URJ sleepaway camps are our favorite option for camp!

  • OSRUI - Near Milwaukee, WI
    • Our regional URJ sleepaway camp and closest sleepaway camp partner, on the shores of Lac La Belle. No shortage of activities at this camp, matched with rich Jewish experiences. We send more campers to OSRUI every summer than to any other Jewish sleepaway camp!
    • Many options of many lengths for many ages, starting for kids entering 2nd grade
  • 6 Points Specialty Camps
    These camps, for kids entering 4th grade or older, offer in-depth learning and skills-building in a large variety of specialities. If your child would love to get better at tennis, gain experience in theater, or learn all about robotics - all while being surrounded by a rich Jewish environment - then a 6 Points camp is the perfect match!
  • Sci-Tech Academy - Near Boston, MA
  • Sports Academy - In Asheville, NC
  • Creative Arts Academy - Near Philadelphia, PA
  • Want to find a camp near relatives or friends in another part of the country? Find other URJ regional camps here!

 

COLORADO SLEEPAWAY CAMPS:

  • Shwayder - Near Idaho Springs, CO
    • Temple Emanuel Denver’s own camp up in the mountains!
  • JCC Ranch Camp - Near Elbert, CO
    • The Denver JCC’s ranch-style camp on the plains!
  • Ramah in the Rockies - West of Castle Rock, CO
    • The Conservative Movement’s adventure-focused camp in the mountains southwest of Denver

 

OTHER SLEEPAWAY CAMPS:
The camps listed below are a few that are represented among Har HaShem’s youth.

  • Beber - Near Milwaukee, WI
    • A small, non-denominational, independent Jewish camp

 

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS:

Summer in Israel

Where better to explore Judaism and learn about yourself and your feelings about your Judaism than Israel? And there are lots of ways to get there:

  • Joyce Zeff Israel Study Tour (IST): a five-week summer trip to Poland and Israel following 11th grade for Denver and Boulder area teens. Students have chances to meet before the trip to learn and meet one another. 

  • Yallah! Israel draws participants from across the Reform movement to learn and connect and offers specialty programs focused on sports,  science, adventure, or community service.

  • Heller High immerses high school students in the life, culture, history and people of Israel during a semester abroad, all while earning high school credit.

  • Masa Israel: Masa is the Hebrew word for journey, and Masa Israel Journey’s mission is to empower a new generation of connected, committed, and inspired young Jewish adults, between the ages of 16-40, to explore Israel while being financially accessible with the possibility of subsidized housing, insurance, visa, and more. 

  • And more - just ask! Contact Elana Adler (ea@harhashem.org) for more information.

Scholarships

  • RootOne: Join thousands of North American Jewish teens for a life-changing experience in Israel! Find the perfect RootOne trip just for you, and claim your RootOne Voucher.

  • Eileen Hirschfield Imerman Lansky Fund for Israel Experiences for Teens – to provide scholarship to students spending significant time in Israel on approved Israel experience program, such as JEWISHcolorado’s Israel Study Tour (IST), YALLAH Israel! (Reform movement), the Reform movement’s Heller High School in Israel, or others. The program needs to be approved and funds will be disbursed by the Rabbi and Director of Lifelong Learning. Please reach out to Rabbi Greene (fg@harhashem.org) for more information.

Sun, May 25 2025 27 Iyar 5785