Camp Experiences to Remember

By Shira Zigler 

What is the best part of summer? CAMP! How I wish I could go back to the days of swimming, playing games, art projects, and goofing off with friends without a care in the world!

Luckily, as a parent I can relive these memories vicariously through my two daughters! Through their eyes, I have spent several years at Camp Beth Shalom at the Rose Family Early Childhood Education Center, attended art camps, cooking camps, drama camps, and various other camps in our community.

These day camps have all been a blast, but this summer I finally get to go to sleep-away camp! I have been bombarded with memories of packing up my belongings into a duffel bag so large I could zip myself up inside the bag; sitting in the dining hall having all you can eat food contests, singing, and dancing on Shabbat; sailing on the lake; writing favorite poems and stories in blank journals we called “nothing books”; drinking Kool-Aid out of baby bottles.

Jewish sleep away camp is not only a fun way to spend your summer; it is a unique opportunity for Experiencing Jewishly Living weeks at a time. It is an opportunity to gain personal independence as well as Jewish independence.

We are very lucky in the Midwest to have multiple Jewish sleep-away camps to choose from. Even luckier, we at Beth Shalom have a community that is so dedicated to Jewish experiences that we have a scholarship fund for Jewish sleep-away camps. Thanks to the generosity of those that came before us, we are able to provide financial assistance.  The Assistance is need based.  In order to be considered for a Scholarship, please fill out the Scholarship application below. The community also has funds available via the Guardian Society, but in order to be considered for their funds, you must also apply for a Congregation Beth Shalom Scholarship, and we will coordinate with the Guardian Society.  Applications are due March 10th, 2025.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Richard Simon, Scholarship Chairman, at kcrufus@gmail.com.

Scholarship Application – Youth Camps & Israel Trip

Scholarship Application- Early Childhood Camp

Additional Camp Scholarship Opportunities 

The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City is, once again, pleased to offer financial assistance to those students participating in Jewish enrichment programs, particularly Jewish overnight summer camps and Israel experiences.  Young people who participate in Jewish camping and Israel experiences are more likely to be engaged in Jewish life when they become adults. Anyone who has been part of these programs knows how they change lives.

 

Working together with families and local congregations, the Jewish Federation has assisted over 2,000 individuals in their dream to participate in Jewish enrichment experiences. Students attend a variety of programs, including summer camps as well as Israel academic courses and seminars. Young adults are given the opportunity to experience Judaism in an intensive Jewish environment.

 

Financial Assistance Grants. The Guardian Society is a last source for financial assistance. Applications will not be considered until the applicant has submitted a scholarship request to the sponsoring organization and to their local congregation and the individual/family makes a meaningful contribution to the cost of the program.

 

First Time Campers Fund “Incentive Grants.” In addition, we provide First Time Camper “incentive grants” on a first-come-first-serve basis.  In order to qualify for a First Time Campers Fund incentive grant of $1,000, the student must live in the Greater Kansas City area and attend an approved (see list below) Jewish camp program of at least three weeks in duration.

 

Long Term Israel Program “Incentive Grants.”  Thanks to a generous bequest from the Lewis Family Memorial Fund, the Guardian Society will be receiving additional funds each year.  These additional dollars come at an opportune time as during the past few years we have been receiving a number of requests to assist individuals who wish to participate in long term Israel programs after high school or college.  If you know of individuals seeking assistance for long term Israel programs, please feel free to provide them with an application and instruct them to be in touch with Alan at the Federation office.

There are a few things in life better than Jewish summer camp!