Jewish Values are at the Heart of Pozez JCC’s Summer Camps
When school is out and the sun is up, kids of all ages enjoy a summer favorite: camp.
This is where they give all kinds of activities a try — archery, painting, ultimate frisbee, woodworking, theatre. And with the freedom to explore comes the opportunity to figure out what they like and who they are. No pressures or expectations allowed here.
Most importantly, every one of Pozez JCC’s camp experiences is fun in nature and laced with meaning. We have four summer camps, each offering a different experience with one common thread: age-old Jewish values are infused into the everyday, making them relevant and relatable over and over again.
“Summer camp has long been a part of the Jewish communal experience,” said Jeff Dannick, Executive Director of Pozez JCC. “Here, we put extra effort into making sure everyone can be together and make memories that impact their lives.”
As we near the official end of summer, a bittersweet time for all camp lovers, we’re taking a look at the magic and memory of each of our camps whose impact runs multi-generational here in Northern Virginia.
| Who: Rising K-10th graders When: Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm between June-August, in total 3-6 weeks Where: Gesher Jewish Day School |
At Camp Achva, Judaism is intentionally boundless, existing outside of synagogues and classrooms. And oftentimes, in the great outdoors. Kids may be on the soccer field or around the campfire as they sing Hebrew songs or learn Israeli dances. Everywhere you look, they’re doing Jewish — and having fun.
Such a casual space, where shorts and sneakers are the norm, creates one of the most elemental aspects of Achva: connection. From playing Gaga to creating pottery, campers do everything together. They have the freedom to lean into fun — all day.
The emphasis on connection, and being surrounded by counselors who meet every child where they are, has been life-changing for Jodi Enos, a first-time camper at Achva. Finding the right camp for Jodi, who has a complex medical story, has been a yearslong challenge, said her mother, April.
“In the past, other summer camps we tried would tell us they ‘weren’t a good fit’ for our child,” April said. “I had almost given up hope of ever finding a place where she wouldn’t be treated as a burden on a system never designed for kids like her.”
And then, she found Achva, one of the most inclusive Jewish day camps in the region. Here, kavod (respect) and simcha (joy) are social imperatives.
“While the rest of the year our lives are dominated by medical appointments, for six precious weeks, I got to watch my child just be a kid, go to camp, and have fun,” April said. “Camp Achva was clearly engineered from the ground up with kids like our child, and families like us in mind. We’ve found our community.”
| Who: 3 ½ to 16 year olds in the greater metro D.C. area who have cancer and their siblings When: Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm between June-August, 6 weeks in total Where: Pozez JCC |
Horizon Day Camp, a partnership project between Pozez JCC and Sunrise Association Day Camps, is the only free day camp for children with cancer and their siblings.
The camp is designed to run on “yes” for children who so often hear “no.” Soccer and dance and playground fun — activities that can harm a fragile body — are all possible again because of adaptive equipment and skilled professionals. There are specially trained staff and on-site medical support, which includes a team of nurses supervised by a pediatric oncologist.
Because participants are undergoing treatment, every day of camp is created to stand alone, ensuring they never feel left out when they miss one or more days. The entire Horizon experience is made for children facing one of the biggest challenges of their little lives — and the very existence of this camp is an act of chesed (loving-kindness) and r’fuah (healing).
For siblings Toby and Alex Loewy, the culture and spirit of camp has followed them home, said their mother, Saskia.
“Toby has been singing camp songs each afternoon. Alex repeats values like, ‘We all win when we have fun,’” Saskia said. “The wonderful counselors and chaperones made the magic happen.”
| Who: 9th-12th graders and 18-27 year olds who are neurodiverse When: Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. between July-August Where: Pozez JCC and all over DMV area |
So many summer memories are made at Camp Kesher, where neurodivergent teens and young adults gain independence, make friends, and have hours of outdoor fun.
Field trips and hands-on activities happen in a warm, structured environment. On Mondays, campers may do yoga or go paint. Tuesday may focus on sports or music. No matter the activity, every day is built to be different and engaging.
To meet participants where they are, Kesher is staffed by experienced educators and trained volunteers. They, and all who make camp possible, uphold the Jewish value of adam yehidi nivra (every person is a unique creation).
“When my son would come home, he would talk about the friends he made, all of the fun places he visited, and the interesting activities he participated in,” said Caroline Pak, who sent her son Ryan to Kesher for a third summer. “I am so glad he could spend part of his summer just having fun with supportive peers and staff.”
| Who: Adults of all ages When: Monday-Friday from 9:30am-1:30pm in August, 1 week total Where: Pozez JCC |
Missing the good old camp days? When summers were spent making friendship bracelets and learning Israeli dances? We have a summer camp for kids at heart: Camp Gadol.
This mini-camp experience includes all your favorites: color wars, slingshot archery, singing, dancing, art. Our participants have learned Yemenite basket weaving, participated in a scavenger hunt, explored Jewish wisdom on living, made s’mores over a fire, created Havdalah candles from beeswax, packed Shabbat boxes for Jewish hospital patients, and so much more.
By doing, Camp Gadol has been fostering kehillah (community) for many campers, including Marcia Lawson.
“I was impressed and thankful that Jewish study was incorporated into the camp experience,” Lawson said. “Having someone to guide us through studying with a partner was a deeply satisfying intellectual and religious experience that reminded me of how much I enjoyed Jewish group study in the past.”
Echoing a similar experience, Judy Douglas shared, “Community is so important to Jewish culture. The camp experience was a great way to connect with people in the community. It also allows the time and space to explore facets of Jewish culture in an innovative and fun atmosphere… I do hope to join again next year!”
