Capital Camps is all about providing children a fun, safe experience. We utilize the best practices of informal Jewish education to strengthen identity, instill values and build community. Every summer, children and staff create a community that touches the hearts, souls and minds of its residents. How is it possible for a program to so profoundly affect the psyche of an individual? The answer can be found in the magic of a summer at Capital Camps.

We provide food, shelter, structure and other parental services, but we are not parents! As a result, campers enjoy the freedom to challenge, experiment and learn about themselves in a different way than at home or school. This 24/7 immersion experience is immensely powerful.

With the guidance of senior staff, our amazing summer counselors, and the lessons learned from three decades of Capital Camps history, communal norms are established each summer. Our campers help shape the community and at the same time absorb its dynamic, supportive, inclusive culture.

The research is indisputable in attributing a positive Jewish identity to a quality Jewish residential camp. The long-term payback of a Jewish overnight camp is social, educational, and spiritual maturation. This can only happen when they are embraced in a warm, loving, first-class program, surrounded by people who are committed to their success in a responsible manner.

Ideally, the immersion process takes place over multiple years. With this in mind, we have designed our program so that each year brings new challenges based on the developmental stages. As our campers move from one village to another – from Yalla to Benjamin to Reich to Kaufmann to Macks and onto our LIT (Leaders-In-Training) and CIT (Counselors-In-Training) programs – they have more choices and are excited by new challenges.