This year, 114 South Palm Beach County students are taking full advantage of Jewish overnight camps and Israel experiences with some help from the Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation (JJCF), through funds including the Linda Berey Hurst Chai Fund for Jewish Life and Dorothy Seaman Israel Program Fund.

The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s One Happy Camper Grant program, which enables first-time campers to receive up to $1,000 each for an immersive overnight Jewish camping experience, has helped more than 50 local students have fun.

“Combined, South Palm Beach County campers received approximately $86,000 this summer. Families have expressed overwhelming gratitude and appreciation for JJCF’s financial support to attend overnight summer camp and Israel programs,” said Stephanie Nichol, JJCF’s director of Grants and Scholarships.

Here’s what else is new at the camp programs that are supported by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, thanks to your generosity:

Camp Keshet at B’nai Torah Congregation of Boca Raton, Inc. The Ruth and Edward Taubman Early Childhood Center

The sensory room at Camp Keshet at B’nai Torah Congregation is up and running! We are also combining classes on the playground. We are back to having a Shabbat Party indoors as a camp. Each week our campers enjoy special activities like a petting zoo, bubble truck, bounce houses, and a fire truck. The children find joy in all they do, and we are so happy to see everyone’s smiling faces!

Billi Marcus Camp Nageela Boca Jewish Education Center of South Florida

At Billi Marcus Camp Nageela Boca, instead of having field trips come to us, we have resumed once-weekly, off-site field trips to places like Off the Wall, gymnastics, bowling, mini-golf, and ice skating. Returning campers and alumni enjoy jam-packed activities, including our gigantic 22-foot high, 45-foot-long water slide, swimming, woodworking, bubble archery, arts & crafts, and a wide variety of sports and games.

Levis JCC Marleen Forkas Summer Camps Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center’s Helene & Roy Schwedelson Special Needs Department

Levis JCC Marleen Forkas Camp Kavod, a premier 8-week summer camp serving children and teens with special needs in Pre-K through 12th grade, is making summer magical for 102 campers. The camp, which did not miss a summer even at the pandemic’s height, once again provides exciting on-campus activities, including music, yoga, karate, dance, basketball, swimming, magic, fitness, and arts and crafts. Younger campers are getting a new Gymnastics Plus field trip and swim instruction. Older campers enjoy off-campus movies, bowling, the science museum, Butterfly World, and Plaster Carousel.

For our other three camps, field trips, late nights, overnights, and our “Manhigim” Teen Travel program are all back! Early Childhood campers enjoy the Marleen Forkas Splash Pad, three playgrounds, age-appropriate entertainment, separate swim instruction, and Shabbat celebrations. Theater Campers are singing, dancing, and learning about stage makeup, choreography, and costumes, in addition to swimming, enjoying a carnival, water games, a lip sync battle, Kan Jam, tie-dye, and a three-day optional Disney World trip. Upper Camp campers experience archery, go-karts, swimming, sports, art, science, dance, a real flying trapeze, and various electives.

Visit https://jewishboca.org/departments/foundation/jjcf/scholarships/ to learn about future scholarship opportunities or https://jewishcamp.org/one-happy-camper/ for first-time camper grants.