Find Your Happy Place at Camp!

Come to summer camp at the J for an authentic, outdoor, day camp experience. Find friends and make memories while enjoying summer days filled with swimming, sports and outdoor fun.

Springfield, MA | Ages 5-15 | June 22 - August 14, 2026

Traditional camp welcomes children ages 5-13, and offers a Counselors in Training program for teens ages 14-15. Children with different abilities are welcome through our Inclusion Camp program.

 

Activities for Everyone

At traditional camp, campers enjoy a wide range of activities including:

Find Your Happy Place at Camp!

Swimming 

Swimming is a highlight of camp for all ages! Swim at camp is fully inclusive, supporting kids of all skill levels and abilities to develop their water confidence, learn basic water safety skills, build endurance, and have fun in the water. This year, campers will benefit from two swim lessons and two free swim sessions each week, plus a swim test every Monday which will ensure safety and monitor progress.

Arts & Crafts

Arts & Crafts sessions are a quieter moment indoors to create a special piece or a memento of camp. Each week, we introduce a different theme or technique to inspire campers to imagine, create and make.

Events & Entertainment

This summer, 4-H will be bringing back its cute, cuddly animals and Bowey the Magician will entertain campers with his magic tricks and balloon art. Campers will also enjoy special events including Camp Carnival, Tie-Dye Day, water slides, and camper award ceremonies. More announcements will follow!

Ropes Course

Campers always enjoy exploring the ropes course among the trees on the edge of campus. It has something for everyone: beams and webs, platforms and ziplines - which build confidence, resilience, trust️ and problem-solving skills. Campers don’t have to be strong or athletic to enjoy our ropes course, just willing to take on the challenge!

Archery

Whether they’re a beginner bowman or already a master archer, trying to hit the target is always a fun challenge for our campers. On the range, they’re guided and kept safe at all times by our trained counsellors.

Indoor & Outdoor Sports

Campers enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor sports including baseball, basketball, kickball, pickleball, soccer, and more.

Indoor & Outdoor Games and Traditional Camp Fun

It wouldn’t be camp without favorites like Star Wars, Gaga, Goldrush, Capture the Flag, relay races, bounce houses, water slides, color wars, and more! Come and join in the fun!

Jewish Engagement

Summer camp at the J is an opportunity to connect campers with Jewish culture and customs through engaging Jewish activities and celebrations, led by Rebecca Schnaper, our Teacher of Judaic Learning.

Every Friday afternoon, camp comes together for Shabbat. Each week, a different camp group will lead this special moment to reflect on a fun week at camp and unwind into the weekend. Families are welcome!

Rain or Shine

Campers enjoy all the facilities on our 20-acre campus. Outside, they can get active on the sports fields or chill out in the shaded picnic grove. Inside, they can escape the heat or rain in our air-conditioned gym and arts & crafts spaces.

A Day at Camp

From drop-off to pick-up, campers enjoy an action-packed schedule! This year, activity blocks will be longer, giving campers more time to engage in activities in more depth. Fewer transitions will create a calmer camp environment.

We are also introducing Camper Choice for campers ages 7+. Each week, we will be offering our older campers a choice of activities after lunch - so that they can spend more time on their favorites. Choices will encompass arts and crafts, sports and games, Jewish culture, performing arts, maker space, and more. We are still finalizing the details and will be in touch with camp families soon so that they can choose their activities with their camper(s).

A Day at Camp

Making friends

Campers spend the day with other children their own age so that they can enjoy age-appropriate activities and make meaningful friendships. The whole camp comes together for lunch and some activities, allowing siblings to connect with each other during the camp day.

Our camp groups are:

Maccabim
Ages 5-6

Our youngest campers, named after the heroes of Hanukkah, experience a fun introduction to camp life. They engage in group games, arts & crafts, swim lessons and free swim, all with personalized attention.

Chaverim
Ages 7-8

Meaning "friends," Chaverim campers enjoy building friendships through activities like theme days, sports, and arts. They develop confidence while playing, singing and dancing in an inclusive environment.

Tsophim
Ages 9-10

Tsophim, meaning “lookout,” offers a village setting for older children, where they participate in sports, arts, music, dance and games, all while enhancing their social and communication skills.

Bonim
Ages 11-13

Bonim campers, or “builders,” focus on leadership, teamwork, and community service while having fun on the ropes course and field trips. They work together to create meaningful camp experiences.

Ozrim/Counselors in Training
Ages 14-15

Youth in this program develop leadership skills as they prepare for future counselor roles. They learn active listening, conflict resolution and role-modeling, all while enjoying the full camp experience.

A Caring Team

Our counselors return year after year – some were even campers themselves! Several work in our school-year youth programs. So they are both highly-experienced and known and trusted by our children. They all meet our stringent hiring criteria, which encompass SORI and CORI, and complete training before each summer camp season, including first-aid and CPR. Specialist staff, including life guards and ropes instructors, have completed all the necessary training and certifications for their areas of responsibility.

Our on-site nurse takes care of bumps and scrapes, and handles more complex medical conditions and situations.

Our Camp Director, Stephanie, is always present and available to meet with parents to ensure campers are having the best summer experience.

A Caring Team

Happy Campers = Happy Families

“Just wanted to share how much Aurora loved camp! Picking her up each day was a real treat – five-year-old Aurora has *so* much to say about her adventures. Seriously, the car rides home were epic storytelling sessions! But the best part? That huge grin on her face every single day when she talked about camp, the counselors, and all the kids she met. She genuinely loved it – never once did she say she didn't want to go. It made my heart so happy!”

for Aurora M, age 5  📸

 

“Johnny had a wonderful third year of camp. He said the camp carnival was THE BEST day at camp!”

for Johnny N, age 7

“We’ve been coming to JCC for the past 10 years for summer camp. My kids always look forward to it. It’s a great community to be part of. The staff, they are amazing and friendly. Fridays are the best for my campers. They love learning about the Jewish religion. Swimming is one of the best activities they enjoy each day. We will do it all over again next year.”

for Maame & Eric, ages 7 & 9

 

“My daughter has been attending since kindergarten and now she is entering 6th grade. She has made some great friendships with people in all walks of life, learning different cultures and lifestyles. It’s a great sense of community for her. We love the JCC.”

for Kamila M, age 10

We are looking forward to your campers joining us at camp for a summer of fun! ☀️ Register now!

Have questions about summer camp?

Please email Stephanie Albano, Camp and Elementary Director, who will be happy to help.

*This camp must comply with regulations of the MDPH and be licensed by the LBOH.

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