Summer camps can play an important, positive role in the social and emotional development of our children. Many of us fondly recall, decades later, programs, counselors, bunk mates, and outdoor adventures from our own camping experiences. For an Oleh child, a camping experience in Israel (be it day or over night) can have an even more powerful, longer-lasting effect than it would have overseas.

The Israeli camping experience for Olim is the key that will open their initial doors to Hebrew language acquisition, help them acculturate to their new resident country, and initiate peer interaction with children with whom they will work together in school and in other social settings. By enrolling your child in a summer camp program before they begin their formal academic career, you are offering your child the chance to gain conversational Hebrew before they have to deal with it in an academic setting. The friendships that they will make during their camping experiences will form some of the strongest emotional supports that your child will be able to rely on as they forge their new lives in Israel.

Nefesh B’Nefesh strongly recommends that parents arriving this summer - as well as more veteran Olim - seriously consider giving their children an Israeli summer camping experience. Israel offers a wealth of fun, educational, and exhilarating growing opportunities for our children - let your child benefit from these experiences as they begin to set permanent roots in the country.

New programs are added weekly

Disclaimer: Nefesh B’Nefesh does not have a personal, professional or financial affiliation with any of the camps that appear on this site. Directors who sent us their camp descriptions, and whose programs showed organization and thought, had their sites listed. It is the responsibility of the parents to ascertain the appropriateness of any of these camps for their children. NBN does not take responsibility for the appropriateness of any of the camps.