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Camp with Jewish learning, culture, and tradition at its heart.

Jewish Cultural Sessions (JCS) at Camp Bob Waldorf give your child the full camp experience, with Jewish identity and values woven into every day. JCS is non-denominational and is open to all families. Available as a summer camp session or a weekend retreat.
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Sessions & Rates

Activities at Jewish Cultural Sessions (JCS)

In addition to connecting with Jewish identity and community, every camper will enjoy the same activities offered in traditional camp.

Sports

Basketball, soccer, football, Ga-Ga, archery. Organized games and free play on our turf field and courts.

Challenge Course

Climbing wall and high ropes. Trained ropes staff on site. Your child goes at their own pace.

Arts

Crafts, drama, singing, dance, and video production. Two dedicated art studios.

Ranch

Horseback riding, hiking, animal care, cooking in our ranch kitchen, and time in the camp garden and greenhouse.

Swimming

30-by-60-foot pool with certified lifeguards. Swim instruction and free swim daily.

Nature

Creek exploration, guided hikes through 112 acres, and time in our nature den learning about the local ecosystem.
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What your child can do here.

Every camper rotates through activities throughout the summer. This means your child finds what they love and discovers things they didn’t know they could do.

Sports

Basketball, soccer, football, Ga-Ga, archery. Organized games and free play on our turf field and courts.

Challenge Course

Climbing wall and high ropes. Trained ropes staff on site. Your child goes at their own pace.

Arts

Crafts, drama, singing, dance, and video production. Two dedicated art studios.

Ranch

Horseback riding, hiking, animal care, cooking in our ranch kitchen, and time in the camp garden and greenhouse.

Swimming

30-by-60-foot pool with certified lifeguards. Swim instruction and free swim daily.

Nature

Creek exploration, guided hikes through 112 acres, and time in our nature den learning about the local ecosystem.

Two ways to experience JCS.

JCS Summer Camp Session

The full overnight camp experience with Jewish cultural programming woven into every day. Shabbat, Hebrew, Israeli dance, identity conversations, and tikkun olam projects, plus all the traditional camp activities your child loves. Grades 2–12. Sessions run during the summer.

JCS Weekend Retreat

The same Jewish cultural experience in a shorter format. Friday evening through Sunday morning during the school year. Open to all kids in grades 2 through 12, whether or not they attended summer camp. A great way to try JCS or stay connected between summers.
Enroll for Summer
Enroll for a Weekend
Teen Camp

What to expect in JCS

Every JCS session includes Shabbat celebration on Friday evening, Hebrew language woven into camp life, Israeli dance and Jewish songs, conversations about identity, and tikkun olam (repair the world) projects that give learning real purpose.

Camp Bob Waldorf translates our four values into Hebrew. Your child hears these words daily and lives them.

  • Kehillah (Community)
  • Keshet (Inclusion)
  • Atzmi (Identity)
  • Kavod (Respect)

What a day at camp looks like.

A day at camp is packed full of activities that encourage campers to discover their interests and unique abilities. We strike a careful balance between structured programs and supervised free play, along with time as a full community and time spent in smaller groups according to grade level.

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Morning

Your child wakes up in a cabin with their group, eats breakfast together in the dining hall, and heads into the morning rotation: sports, arts, ropes course, swimming, nature, ranch.

7:15 amGood morning
7:50 amFire Circle (full camp assembly & announcements)
8:00 amBreakfast
9:00 amCabin Clean Up
9:30 am -12:30 pm
Cabin Rotations

Afternoon

After lunch, campers choose afternoon electives.

12:30 pmLunch
2:30 pmElective Rotation
3:30pm Elective Rotation
4:30 pmFree Play and Snack
5:30 pm Shower Hour

Evenings

Evenings bring campfire, singing, skits, and stargazing. Counselors are with your child from wake-up to lights-out.

6:30 pmDinner
7:45 pmEvening Activity
8:45 pmClosing Circle & Snack

FAQs

We focus on Jewish culture, values, and tradition. Your child will celebrate Shabbat, learn about Jewish holidays, and discuss values like community and justice. It’s grounded in Jewish identity, not religious instruction.
No. We teach Hebrew in context through songs, blessings, and experience. No child arrives knowing everything. That’s the point.
On Friday evenings, camp staff leads a fun, engaging Shabbat service with candle lighting and a special dinner. Saturday includes Havdalah and time for reflection. Activities continue throughout Shabbat weekend with a more relaxed pace.
Camp Bob Waldorf serves kosher-style meals during Jewish Cultural Sessions. Our kitchen accommodates a range of dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. Let us know about any specific requirements during registration.
Many families enroll their child in both. Sessions are scheduled at different times so your child can attend a JCS session and a traditional CBW session in the same summer. Contact our registration team at 818-957-4900 for scheduling help.
Jewish Cultural Sessions are open to campers currently in grades 2 through 12, for both summer camp sessions and weekend retreats. Campers are grouped by grade for cabin assignments and daily activities.