NEXT GENERATION
For decades Reform youth have experienced Israel, enjoyed summer camp, and participated in social justice initiatives through NFTY: The Reform Jewish Youth Movement. In 2017, we expanded our offerings to include new specialty camps and a new Israel program; in total, we served more than 25,000 youth and young adults. Today, program alumni give back to the community through service as Reform clergy, educators, and dedicated lay leaders. A 2017 study confirmed the long-term impact of our youth work and found that alumni of URJ youth programs are three times more likely than non-alumni to say that “being a part of a Jewish community” is an essential part of being Jewish. Learn more about our work connecting youth to Israel, social justice experiences, and our commitment to professional development.
Residential Camping
Through our powerful network of 17 regional overnight camps, the URJ engaged 21,000 youth, teens, and young adults in 2017. With the introduction of robotics, digital photography, ceramics, advanced computing, and other science, technology, and art activities, our camps are expanding specialty programming within the traditional camp setting.
2017-2018 URJ Camping Innovations
Programmatic:
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Focused on mindfulness experiential programming
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Expanded offerings to include culinary arts, farming and gardening, STEAM programs including robotics and wacky science, and high ropes courses
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Partnered with community organizations to provide more year-round and family programming
Camp Staff Development:
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Offered staff training in mental health first aid and expanded camper care teams
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Shared positions with congregations to facilitate year-round programming and camper recruitment
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Increased number of staff from Israel to enhance Israeli culture activities at camp
Facility Upgrades:
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Undertook and continued capital projects underway for new worship and theater spaces as well as an arts and music studio
"Transformative - that is the impact that you and Jacobs Camp had on Mason this summer. He came home so excited about his experiences. And most importantly to us - he made a lot of new friends. He really felt safe to be himself. He felt liked and comfortable. He has a new level of confidence going back to school because of such a successful and positive camp experience."
— URJ Jacobs Camp Parent
Registration opened in fall of 2017 for the two newest camps, URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy and URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy West. Both camps are built on the success of the 6 Points model, which provides shorter and more specialized summer camping experiences.
At 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy West, scientific inquiry meets fun as campers explore what Judaism means to them – and how Jewish life complements their interests in science and technology. Campers learn about Jewish contributions to science and technology, and Israel as an incubator of innovation.
At 6 Points Creative Arts, we seek to create a living laboratory for learning and performing. Campers challenge themselves to continue their development as artists, enhancing their natural abilities and acquiring new skills.
2017 was the first summer for 6 Points Sci-Tech Israel. In addition to many of the highlights from URJ’s popular teen Israel trips, participants enjoyed special exploration of Israel’s role as a global innovator in science and technology.
Israeli Shlichim at Camps and Congregations
We bring hundreds of young Israelis to North America each year to work with, learn from, and be role models for our campers. In 2017, 300 Israeli shlichim (emissaries) at URJ camps – the largest cohort of Israeli youth in any North American camping system – reached more than 10,000 campers in summer youth programs. Also in 2017, each URJ camp’s lead Israel educator participated in a five-day conference about enhancing Israel engagement and education.
A grant from The Marcus Foundation and Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta has made it possible for Lotem Eilon to return for her second year as a shlicha at Camp Coleman and for NFTY. Lotem has had a significant effect on Israel engagement at camp, in NFTY-SAR (Southern Area NFTY region) and NFTY-STR (Southern Tropical NFTY region), and in the many congregational communities in which she worked during the past year. She also played a pivotal role in supporting the Camp Coleman Kesher 2017 campers after the Parkland shooting tragedy.
Photo: Lotem Eilon (farthest to the left) with NFTY-SAR teens at MLK Weekend March in Charlotte, NC
NFTY: The Reform Jewish Youth Movement
NFTY teens are known for their leadership, energy, and commitment to advancing social justice. A 2017 survey by a leading educational consulting firm, Rosov and Company, found that alumni of youth programs are three times more likely than non-alumni to say that “being part of a Jewish community” is an essential part of being Jewish.
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At NFTY Convention in 2017, Reform Jewish teens launched a racial justice campaign and continued their important work on gun violence prevention, refugee rights, and LGBTQ inclusivity. Also in 2017, NFTY established an Israel Engagement Committee on its national board.
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The rapid response of NFTY-TOR (Texas and Oklahoma NFTY region) to the damage from Hurricane Harvey illustrates the impact NFTY teens had in 2017. The weekend following the hurricane, NFTY-TOR teens organized and collected food, school supplies, and money for local families impacted by the hurricane. They created a national fundraiser to raise additional relief funds. Finally, teens organized and volunteered at Hurricane Harvey Day Camp, offering a safe, fun respite for hundreds of local Houston-area children.
Northeast Teen Collective (NETC)
The Northeast Teen Collective, powered by the URJ in partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the Jim Joseph Foundation, is an ambitious initiative to increase the number of teens who participate in Jewish life throughout New York, New Jersey, and New England, and continues to grow. Through the Machon Summer Leadership Institute at URJ Eisner and Crane Lake Camps, the Dana Gershon and Rabbi Jonah Pesner Northeast Leadership Summit, and ongoing pop-up events the NETC inspires teens to use a Jewish lens to be change agents in their communities. During the 2017-2018 academic year, NETC leaders from NFTY-NAR (New York Area NFTY region) and URJ Eisner and Crane Lake’s counselor-in-training programs hosted more than 70 local events that engaged nearly 500 teens.
College / Millennials
In 2017, we launched a weekly newsletter – emailed to about 7,000 college students who are NFTY alumni – that offers ways to connect to Jewish life on campus, online, and in the world. Also included is information about upcoming Jewish holidays, as well as opportunities to participate in URJ college programs, serve as URJ camp counselors, and more.
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In a 2017 column in The New York Jewish Week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs had this to say about millennials:
“Given the divisive politics of our time, millennials are seeking a safe space where they can come together to shape a world in an image that reflects their values, which includes pluralism, inclusiveness and a desire to make positive change. Traditional forms of institutions don’t necessarily work for them. We need to help them find the place and the freedom to shape their own Judaism.”
At the 2017 Biennial, he announced the launch of the URJ Millennial Network, an initiative that offers a place to connect, expand, and enhance the communities of millennials that have sprouted up in at least 40 URJ congregations across North America – and combined engage more than 12,000 young adults. The URJ Millennial Network (and a new staff position) will enable these groups and the clergy working with them to share best practices and a social media platform to publicize events.
College student meet-up at 2017 NFTY Convention
