Jewish Overnight Summer Camp Scholarships & Incentive Grants

Making Lifelong Friendships and Exploring Interests

How do I apply?

Camp scholarships are open!

DATES & DEADLINES

Round 2 application and Round 1 appeals are due:
Thursday, April 19, 2024 at 11:59pm PT

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Two young happy cute blond smiling children, boy and girl, brother and sister laying embraced on pebbled beach on blurred bright sunny summer day background. Friendship and perfect holiday concept.

Why Jewish Summer Camp?

Your Federation supports Jewish overnight summer camp experiences because they give your child the opportunity to grow, gain independence, and build a stronger Jewish identity. Children who attend camp make lifelong friends and explore interests—all in a Jewish setting! Whether they’re singing songs around the campfire, playing sports, or hiking in the mountains, campers explore what Judaism means to them.

At camp, children will develop confidence and discover a profound sense of what it means to be Jewish. Children who attend Jewish summer camp are more likely to engage in Jewish life in many ways, including joining a synagogue, supporting Jewish causes, and becoming rabbis, Jewish educators, and community lay leaders.

What kind of scholarships and incentives are available?

Your Federation offers need-based camp scholarships and first-time camper incentive grants in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s One Happy Camper program.

Need-based scholarships help Washington State families finance the cost of Jewish overnight camp tuition. Our goal is to ensure that you receive the assistance you need so that your child/children can take part in a Jewish overnight camp experience.

If your child is a first-time camper, you might be eligible for up to $1,000 off the cost of a Jewish overnight camp experience through a One Happy Camper First-Time Camper Incentive grant.

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Is my family eligible for a scholarship or incentive grant?

  • To be eligible for a need-based camp scholarship, you must be a Washington State resident and be signed up with a traditional Jewish camp in the U.S. or Canada. Campers may receive both a need-based scholarship and first-time camper incentive grant if eligible.
  • Eligibility requirements for One Happy Camper first-time camper incentive grants are as follows. Camper must be:

    • Registered for camp before applying for an incentive grant.

    • Attending a non-profit Jewish overnight summer camp for the first time for 12 or more days. If the camper has attended camp previously for fewer than 12 days, the camper is still eligible for an incentive grant.

    • Entering grades 2 – 10 the following fall.

    • Also, a camper cannot attend a Jewish day school. This grant is intended to be an incentive for a first-time immersive Jewish experience.

Please note: Campers attending camp for 19 or more days may be eligible for a $1,000 grant. Campers attending 12 or more days may be eligible for a $700 grant. If siblings apply and are eligible, the first applicant will receive either $1,000 or $700 and the second applicant will receive $500. With more than 150 camps to choose from (including three in Washington State), it’s easy to find the perfect fit for your child. To begin the application process or view a list of eligible camps, visit OneHappyCamper.org.

Special thanks to the Samis Foundation for their generous support of the Federation’s Need-Based Camp Scholarship Program.

To learn more, contact:

Alana Gross | Community Engagement & Impact Manager | alanag@jewishinseattle.org | 206.774.2247