NJY Camps

After 15 wonderful years, this is the first summer that one of our children won’t be attending camp, and it really made us realize just how special this place has been to our family. The experiences our children had there were truly unforgettable. They formed lifelong friendships, gained confidence, and always felt like they belonged. The camp has an incredible sense of Jewish spirit and community, without ever feeling overly religious. It strikes a beautiful balance by creating an environment where kids are proud of their Jewish identity while simply having an amazing time. As if the summers on the campus weren’t special enough, the trips have been extraordinary. From California to Costa Rica to Israel. Each experience gave our children memories they’ll treasure forever. Every summer they came home with stories of adventure, laughter, and friendships that continued long after camp ended. Most importantly, camp always felt like a warm, welcoming family. The counselors, staff, and fellow campers created an environment where our children felt supported, accepted, and excited to return year after year. We will always be grateful for the role this camp has played in our children’s lives. It has been so much more than just a summer camp. It has been a place that helped shape them into the people they are today.

A camp parent · Jul 15, 2026

Amazing hidden gem! I have 3 teenagers who went to NJY Camps (i.e. Nah Jee Wah and Cedar Lake) - my youngest is still a camper at Cedar Lake in the Golan Division. My older boys started in when they were going into fourth and sixth grades respectively. My oldest son loved the camp so much that he worked there last year. (Both boys are now working/doing internships.) My daughter started when she was entering second grade (!) and is now entering high school. We originally visited a few camps during a summer when camp was in session and they all picked NJY Camps. When my kids first started, I signed the younger ones up for 2 week sessions and my older one for 4 weeks. (I thought my daughter was way too young to be away from home.) However, they each called me separately after a few days of camp and begged me to sign them up for the whole summer. I was extremely reluctant - especially for my young daughter at the time, but it was one of the best decisions. I loved that the camp allowed me to extend my young daughter on 2 week additional sessions at time. Things that I LOVE about the camp: Excellent trained, warm, responsible and caring staff - and there are a lot of them. High staff to camper ratio. Head staff are extremely responsible to parents. Outstanding medical staff. Great supervision. Very engaged Jewish/Zionist programming. Energetic and high-energy fun Shabbat services with lots of singing and guitar. The kids all celebrate their love for Israel. There is Kosher food. (While we are not observant, we keep "kosher style" - I like that I don't have to worry about my kids being teased for not eating a cheeseburger or turning down bacon. It's just a non-issue.) For example, there is an Israeli cooking club that the kids can learn to cook Israeli foods. The camp brings in a lot of counselors from Israel and all over the world. There are also a lot of campers from Israel and around the US too so my kids made friends with American from all over and Israeli kids. I love that the lower camp (NJW) and the upper camp (Cedar Lake) have beautiful, clean pools as well as large gorgeous lakes. There are endless amounts of sports activities to play, water activities, crafts, theatre, nature center, etc. The camp is constantly adding new activities/programs to keep the kids interested. Basically if kids show an interest, they make it happen. There are also "specialty" sports programs and horseback riding. My middle son did the baseball specialty the entire time he was there and had former professional ballplayers provide instruction. The bunks are clean and spacious with bathrooms and showers inside each bunk. No A/C but it is not needed. (Kids use fans.) When the kids are entering HS, they go on a couple of overnight trips. (This year for example is Canada and Boston.) When they are a little older, they go to Israel. My kids made incredible friends at camp and looked forward to camp 10-months out the year. It is truly a hidden gem!

A camp parent · Jul 13, 2026