The pool will reopen on Monday, September 30th for lap swim and private/semi private lessons. Group lessons and Aqua Fitness classes will resume after October 5th.
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Inclusion at Camp

A welcoming place for all.

As an inclusive camp, Camp Achva sets aside time to get to know each camper individually and works with campers and their families to ensure a successful summer for all our campers, within unique definitions of success.

Camp Achva prides itself on having a diverse camp community where campers & staff of various backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and needs can come together in one safe space to have a summer of fun and growth.  Our staff understand the importance of a child’s mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and physical health and places these needs first.

At the Pozez JCC, we take pride in our own diversity as a Jewish community. People of all faiths, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities are welcome, and are an important part of the Pozez JCC’s fabric.  Embracing and honoring diversity is fundamental to our mission here at the Pozez JCC.

The Child Profile Form is used to help Camp Achva gauge a camper's strengths, goals, needs, & any support needed during the summer. Eila Nash, our Inclusion & Belonging coordinator, will follow up with new families to learn more about a camper after reviewing their Child Profile Form. Returning families are welcome to request a conversation before camp as well.

If your family has any questions about this form, feel free to reach out to the Camp Achva Office at 703.537.3092 or by emailing Eila Nash.

  • The foundation of Camp Achva is built upon the relationship between families, campers, and Camp.
  • Families and campers can expect that Camp will be respectful and honest in all our communications and interactions.
  • Camp Achva intends to support every camper to the best of our abilities within our traditional day camp structure. To successfully accomplish this, Camp expects families and campers to be a partner in the process of helping us understand the camper's unique whole self.
  • Camp Achva is made a joyful and accessible space through collaboration with the campers, families, and staff who we serve.

At Camp Achva, we aspire to provide the best support and care that we can. However, there are boundaries we have created to ensure the mental, emotional, social, spiritual, & physical safety of all campers attending Camp Achva.

Note: If these boundaries are a challenge for your camper, they are still welcome at camp with the support of a one-on-one. See section below for more information on one-on-one support.

Our boundary behaviors are:
• Eloping (running off)
• Non-independent bathroom support
• Non-independent feeding/eating support
• Physical aggression
• Additional behaviors that require the support of a one-on-one (see below) are at the discretion of the Inclusion & Belonging Coordinator in conjunction with families.

We ask families to send a support staff for any camper requiring a one-on-one. Camp Achva may request a family send a one-on-one support if we feel that is the best way to support a child while at Camp Achva.

Camp Achva does not provide one-on-one support. Families whose campers are attending (or asked to attend) with one-on-one support but are having trouble finding someone should reach out to Eila Nash, Inclusion & Belonging Coordinator. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Camp Office or directly to Eila.

person taking photo of assorted-color umbrellas

Camp Achva's LGBTQIA+ Work

Ensuring a Safe and Welcoming Space for All

At Camp Achva, we aim to provide fun summer camp experiences based on Jewish values for all children, regardless of their background, identity, abilities, or differences. We are proud of the work we are doing to ensure a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and supported.

 

  • Camp Achva has a week each summer that celebrates Pride!
  • Camp Acvha had our first (of many) Keshet speakers at Camp in the summer of 2023! (Keshet is a national grassroots organization with offices in Boston, New York, and the San Francisco Bay Area that works for the full equality and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Jews in Jewish life.)
  • Camp Achva has gender inclusive restrooms!

Camp Contacts

Main Office:
703.537.3092
CampAchva@theJ.org

If you have questions, please contact our camp management staff:

 

School-Age Services Director
Greg Feitel (He/Him) 703.537.3061		  
School-Age Services Inclusion & Belonging Coordinator
Eila Nash 703.537.3062		   School-Age Services Program Coordinator
Jeremy Nowell 703.537.3063
Registrar
Rachel Dannick 703.537.3021