Life at Camp: Our Values
Values are at the heart of everything we do at JCC Day Camp. Our promise to you is to provide your children with a summer camp experience that is safe and full of adventure, but also helps them grow into kinder, more compassionate adults. Positive attitudes, modeled by the love and enthusiasm of our camp staff and fostered in every activity our campers pursue, make our camp the truly special place it is—one that our campers (and our staff!) can’t wait to return to each summer.
Central to our camp philosophy are universal values including:
Friendship—Our campers form friendships that they carry well beyond their years in camp!
Positivity & Perseverance—Our staff members are spirited, dedicated individuals who model positive attitudes for our campers. We encourage campers to be their best and keep trying, no matter what!
Kindness & Respect—We strive to create an environment where all of our campers feel valued, encouraged, and respected by both their counselors and their peers.
Inclusivity—We make sure everyone is included, regardless of ability or background. We offer an inclusion program in our traditional camp for children who would benefit from it, as well as a dedicated camp for children with special needs. We also encourage campers to help others feel included and celebrate the things that make each of us unique!
Giving—Called tzedakah in the Jewish tradition, charitable giving is a universal impulse to do good for others in need. We believe that we can all work together to make our world a better place!
Connecting with Nature—Our camp allows children to put away their screens and experience the beauty of nature. Campers also learn about caring for animals and respecting their environments through weekly animal appreciation shows with Brian Wild and his animals from the Wild Side Zoo.
Central to our camp philosophy are universal values including:
Friendship—Our campers form friendships that they carry well beyond their years in camp!
Positivity & Perseverance—Our staff members are spirited, dedicated individuals who model positive attitudes for our campers. We encourage campers to be their best and keep trying, no matter what!
Kindness & Respect—We strive to create an environment where all of our campers feel valued, encouraged, and respected by both their counselors and their peers.
Inclusivity—We make sure everyone is included, regardless of ability or background. We offer an inclusion program in our traditional camp for children who would benefit from it, as well as a dedicated camp for children with special needs. We also encourage campers to help others feel included and celebrate the things that make each of us unique!
Giving—Called tzedakah in the Jewish tradition, charitable giving is a universal impulse to do good for others in need. We believe that we can all work together to make our world a better place!
Connecting with Nature—Our camp allows children to put away their screens and experience the beauty of nature. Campers also learn about caring for animals and respecting their environments through weekly animal appreciation shows with Brian Wild and his animals from the Wild Side Zoo.
Read more about some of the ways we promote values at camp:
The Day of Caring and Sharing
While we strive to live out our values every day at camp, we also have a special day devoted to them—the Day of Caring and Sharing!
On this special day, our entire camp joins together to do something good for those in need. This past summer, campers collected 300 pounds of food to donate to local food pantries!
Mensch of the Week (Photo caption? “One good deed leads to another!”)
A mensch is a person whose thoughts and actions make the world a better place. At our weekly Shabbat celebrations, our counselors choose several campers to be the “Mensch of the Week”—an honor earned by acts of kindness like welcoming a new camper or offering words of encouragement.
