NJ Y Camps have instituted a special subsidy program for Jewish children of military families, and urge Jewish military kids to apply for the summer of 2014. The cost of $150 per week or $500 per session is deeply discounted and is designed to enable Jewish children related to men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to enjoy a Jewish camp experience. Children can spend between one to three and a half weeks at camp between July 22 and August 14. NJ Y Camps is offering some transportation assistance to children who live out of the area. Eligible campers can apply at www.njycamps.org or contact Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky, director of programming for JWB Jewish Chaplains Council at [email protected].
NJ Y Camps offer a full range of services and programs, including programs for children with ADD/ADHD and a gluten-free camp. Their specialty camps focus on swimming, baseball, and basketball all the way to chemistry and ceramics. The military kids program started over a decade ago, and the effort to reach out to military families has become the passion of Alan Kaplan, a parent of a camper in one NJ Y camp.
“The opportunity for Jewish military kids to attend camp is one that many families do not see as possible. The costs associated with camp tuition and travel as well as the logistics of coordinating moving and deployment schedules make attending camp an unreachable dream for many families,” said Rabbi Sharofsky. “NJ Y Camps have worked to remove as many of these obstacles as possible and give military kids an unforgettable summer. This is an amazing opportunity for a Jewish military family who may feel isolated from the rest of the Jewish world to connect with Jewish life and learning.”
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