Camp

Jewish Summer Camps

Jewish summer camp provides young people with a heightened sense of Jewish community and spirituality. The most popular camps for boys and girls from Congregation Achduth Vesholom are the Reform Movement's Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI) in Zionsville, Indiana, and the Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne's Camp Joe Levine. GUCI is named after the late Myron S. Goldman, who was a past president of the Temple. Camp Joe Levine is named after the Federation's long-time director who was a member of Achduth Vesholom.

The Temple encourages all our young people to attend URJ camps or other Jewish summer programs to reinforce learning, Jewish identity, friendships and ruach (spirit). The URJ has 13 summer camps, including the 6 Points Sci-Tech Camp and 6 Points Sports Academy. Many of our 10th grade students also participate in URJ programs in Israel or other offerings there.

Temple camperships have become increasingly important during the last several years. Without this subsidy, a significant number of Achduth Vesholom families would find the cost prohibitive. Please continue to support the Ruth Brenn, Gold-Turansky, Mansbach and Temple Campership funds with your donations. The Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne also supports these experiences with its camperships, Baum Goldenberg Scholarships for organized teen trips to Israel, and the Send a Kid to Israel Program (SKIP).

At the Temple, we try to capture some of the excitement of Jewish summer ca

mp at our annual GUCIBAT camp-style service when we're joined by former GUCI song leader Alan Goodis, our members gather for a special camp-style service led by our young people. A Shabbat dinner ala camp - fried chicken, kugel, green beans, challah and pie - and spirited song session follow.

Contact the Temple office at 744-4245 or office@TempleCAV.org for a camp application or to receive more information about financial assistance for families who otherwise couldn't afford camp. Campership Committee Chair Dan Zweig can also answer questions.

Read Rabbi Cattapan's blog to find out why "Jewish Camp Works."

GUCI

Goldman Union Camp Institute in Zionsville is busy preparing for another enriching summer experience for our young people. GUCI is one of the Reform Movement's most respected summer programs.

The camp's weekly celebration of Shabbat is an especially remarkable experience that leaves a lasting impression on the kids. A great deal of Jewish pride is instilled through creative prayer services, interesting discussions with rabbis, and stimulating learning and recreational activities.

Read Rabbi Cattapan's blog entry about the magic of a Camp Shabbat.

Camp Joe Levine

Camp Joe Levine is a day camp providing many fun activities and Jewish programming in a beautiful setting at Fox Island. Camp opens on Monday, July 5. Registration is open for Summer 2016 for children age 4 and through 13 for one-, two-, or three-week sessions. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne.

Camperships

Our Campership Committee is interested in talking to potential first-time campers and their parents to explain the benefits of Jewish summer camps and encourage attendance, including the Union for Reform Judaism’s Goldman Union Camp Institute in Zionsville.

Attending a Jewish summer camp is one of the most important ways to reinforce Jewish identity and community. Temple camperships long have been available to assist needy youngsters who are eligible with a portion of the cost, but we also want to help new and less-experienced campers try a summer home for the spirit.

For information about camperships, contact Chair Dan Zweig. Application forms are available by contacting the Temple office at office@TempleCAV.org or (260) 744-4245. Recipients must be enrolled in the Temple's Religious School to be eligible for consideration. We have a limited amount of campership money, so those applications received by February 29, 2016 will be given first consideration. Other assistance for first-time campers through the Foundation for Jewish Camp can be found at www.onehappycamper.org.

Special discounts are available for Temple members who register their child for GUCI before the end of February 2016. Join us on Sunday, February 7 at 10 a.m. when Camp Director Jeremy Klotz visits the Temple. He will share all the latest news about camp.Temple members who enroll by the end of February are eligible for a $70 discount per child for a two-week session and $100 discount per child for a four-week session.

Find out about GUCI Summer 2016 for children entering grades 3 through 10.

Fort Wayne Jewish Federation's Camp Joe Levine Summer 2016 - Camp Joe Levine is held at Fox Island and offers fun activities in a beautiful setting. Check back for more information for camp for children age 4 and up. Registration forms will be available at www.jewishfortwayne.org. Contact the Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne at (260) 456-0400 for information on Camp Joe Levine, camperships, and other financial support for youth programs in Israel.