Join Kibbutz Bob Waldorf for the fun and friendship of camp, either a traditional summer session or one of our weekend retreats.
Kibbutz Bob Waldorf is a non-denominational Jewish sleepaway camp for kids currently in 3rd – 9th grade that fosters growth and development in a fun, safe and nurturing environment. Our program is built upon four core pillars—Community (Kehillah), Inclusion (Keshet), Identity (Atzmi), and Respect (Kavod)—which campers put into practice each day while they develop new skills and interests, learn to be responsible and thoughtful individuals, and make lasting friendships.
Campers in our Kibbutz program also enjoy our spirited Shabbat celebration and strengthen their Jewish identity.
team building exercises, climbing wall, high ropes course
arts and crafts, drama, singing, dance, video
horseback riding, hiking, animal care, nature, farm-to-table cooking
basketball, soccer, football, Ga-Ga, archery, and more
Join Kibbutz Bob Waldorf for the fun and friendship of camp, either a traditional summer session or one of our weekend retreats.
Summer Session
This summer Kibbutz Bob Waldorf will host one session for students currently in 3rd-9th grade. The cost to attend a summer session is $800. Financial assistance is available! The summer 2020 session is:
Weekend Retreats
Weekend retreats are held from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening during the school year. Each retreat specifically caters to students within a specific age range. The cost to attend one of these retreats is $45. For the 2019-2020 school year, we offer the following retreats:
KBW Retreat
Grades: 3rd – 8th
Social Justice Camp
Grades : 8th-10th
*We don’t want cost to prevent any child in our community from experiencing the transformative power of Kibbutz Bob Waldorf. We offer a 10% sibling discount. First-time campers are also eligible for the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s “One Happy Camper” Grant of $250 for summer sessions.
If you need help affording to send your child to our camp, or you have any other questions, please contact Alba Arzu at alba@campbobwaldorf.org or 323-456-1152.
Camp Bob Waldorf is a residential camp for campers currently in 3rd-11th grade that fosters growth and development in a fun, safe and nurturing environment. Camp serves low-income families with the goal of providing campers with enriching activities during the summer. Our program is built upon four core pillars (values): Inclusion, Community, Identity, and Respect. Campers live out these values through their daily interactions with other campers, learning new skills, and making lasting memories.
Campers live in a cabin with their peers and two to three trained counselors. They spend most of their day experiencing exciting new camp activities together. Camp activities include swimming, archery, a high ropes course, a climbing wall, hiking, cooking, ranch animal care, arts and crafts, and so much more! Through these activities and interactions, our campers learn to be responsible and thoughtful individuals.
The following criteria are provided to assist you in determining if your camper will be successful at Camp Bob Waldorf at this time. Our top priority is the physical and emotional safety of all members of the camp community. Children who exhibit the following behaviors are evaluated further to ensure they are ready to take part in a residential camp experience.
Types of Needs and Behaviors that Camp Bob Waldorf Evaluates
If you have any questions regarding any of the criteria for camp, please contact our Assistant Director, Rose Levenson at 818-658-7156 or at Rose@campbobwaldorf.org
Campers entering grades 7 – 10 participate in many typical fun camp activities, and also have opportunities to develop new skills in leadership, independence, and critical thinking.
June 17th-June 28th, 2020
Current 8th-9th grade campers come to understand the difference they can make in the world and the importance of tikkun olam (repairing the world) as they learn about social justice and leadership and participate in community service projects.
Are you currently in 10th or 11th grade? Do you want a unique and rewarding summer experience? The our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program might be for you!
Being a CIT gives teens the opportunity to see camp through the eyes of a staff member, while also still enjoying time with their peer group. Program highlights include:
Our available sessions are:
CIT Session 1: June 17th-July 10th, 2020
CIT Session 2: July 12th-August 1st, 2020
CITs can apply for this program during Camp Bob Waldorf or Kibbutz Bob Waldorf, our Jewish camp program. While CITs do not need to be Jewish to attend, we ask that they are respectful of our campers’ religious beliefs and camp’s practices at that time.
Feel free to reach out to Rose Levenson, Assistant Director.
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.
Here is what might happen on a typical day:
We have a registered nurse on our campsite at all times to administer medication and provide care for our campers and staff, as well as a local physician on call who serves as our medical advisor. It is camp policy for the nurse to contact the parents/guardians of a camper in the event of physical injury, fever over 100 degrees, or if the camper needs to spend the night in the nurse’s office. The nurse will also contact the parents/guardians if a camper needs to be transported to urgent care or the emergency room. The nurse may also call to check in about medications or medical information in their files.
All medication must be controlled and administered by the camp nurse. Campers may only keep epi-pens, inhalers, and certain topical creams, but only after they have checked them in with the nurse.
Sleeping away from home is one of the most important growth experiences provided by a residential summer camp. But we recognize that most children miss home at some point. That’s why we train our staff members to help children through this challenge by creating a personalized plan for each camper who needs our support.
We do not tolerate bullying at Camp Bob Waldorf. Our core values of community, inclusion, and respect require that members of the Camp Bob Waldorf family treat each other with kindness and compassion and honor each other’s differences. We train staff members to be proactive in creating a bully-free environment and responsive to campers who exhibit any signs of bullying or being bullied. Additionally, campers are encouraged to be “upstanders,” serving as advocates for each other. Campers who bully others – verbally, emotionally, or physically – will be asked to leave.
Our Executive Chef and dining staff prepare three healthful meals and three snacks each day. Food is plentiful and well-balanced, and menus are designed to appeal to the palettes of our campers. Examples of what we serve include:
All Kibbutz programs adhere to a level of kashrut that reflects our pluralistic approach to Jewish living and is based on a needs assessment conducted among our families.
Please note that our kitchen is not under rabbinic supervision and that we use one set of cooking utensils and dishes. We encourage you to contact our office with any questions.
We regularly offer alternatives for vegetarians and vegans, as well as gluten-free and dairy-free options. Our chef can also accommodate a range of other food allergies when given proper notice. Our staff communicates about food allergens so that campers know what they can and cannot eat. Camp Bob Waldorf is a nut-free environment.
Campers are dropped off and picked up at our facility in Glendale by a parent or guardian. We do not offer bus transportation.
Camp provides the opportunity to unplug and take a “screen vacation”. Campers may bring a digital camera or non-internet iPod, but all other technology, including tablets and Apple Watches, is prohibited and will be confiscated. In cases of an emergency, parents/guardians can always reach a director on an emergency line.