Jerusalem Day Camp
About Us
The Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp has been providing a magical summer camp experience for over 45 years.
The day camp is designed for children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. While the language of the camp is Hebrew, an English-speaking group may be opened if there is a large enough cohort interested in such a program. If there is not, English speakers will be integrated into Hebrew-speaking groups with support.
The camp takes place at the Israel Goldstein Youth Village in the San Simon neighborhood in Jerusalem, or in Hebrew, חוות הנוער הציוני (commonly referred to as “the Chava”), a pastoral and secure site that includes wide lawns, air-conditioned buildings, an auditorium, dining hall, sports facilities, and a swimming pool.
The camp day is filled with a variety of programming, and includes morning snack and a hot lunch in the Chadar Ochel (dining hall). A wide variety of special activities are run by professional instructors, among them: Zumba, sports, arts and crafts, theater, nature, and more. These activities strengthen the participants’ talents and expose them to new fields. Campers visit the pool three times a week and engage in swimming lessons according to levels, as well as fun activities. The swimming pool has a certified lifeguard and swimming instructors present at all times, in accordance with the necessary legal requirements. Apart from activities run by Ramah’s educational staff, exciting external activities also take place, among them: performances, workshops, an inflatables day, outdoor challenges, a visit to an amusement park, and more.
In order to allow for quality activities and maximum supervision, we organize the campers into small groups with certified counselors leading each one. In addition, an experienced adult coordinator, and an assistant coordinator (high school graduate or older) are responsible for each age division.
At the Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp, we aim to:
- Create a warm and supportive atmosphere.
- Engender personal connections between counselors and participants.
- Bring together individuals from the varied sectors of Israeli society from a young age, in the spirit of pluralistic Judaism, so that we can model mutual respect.
- Combine artistic and athletic activities, fun and challenging experiences, as well as educational activities such as encounters with individuals with special needs, environmental tasks, etc.
- Enable all participants to increase their self-confidence by recognizing and developing their strengths.
Most importantly, our main goal is to maintain the safety and security of your children – enabling them to return home healthy and happy after each incredible day!
As is typical of Ramah camps across the world, our camp is a mix of days filled to the brim with regular “chugim” (a mix of activities run by professional specialists), along with “Special Days,” in which we take part in theme-based programs.
During the summer, children acquire various skills and develop new hobbies, for example, fencing, swimming, arts and crafts, sports, Zumba, and more.
In addition, you can expect your child to encounter unique experiential and educational activities planned by Ramah staff, such as:
- Camping Day: The children set up tents and make pita.
- Market Swap Day: The children exchange products and learn about the importance of sustainability.
Some of the activities are external attractions that are brought into our pastoral campus at the Israel Goldstein Youth Village, and may include:
- Activities with animals
- Plays and performances
- ODT (Outdoor Training) activities, and
- Carnival inflatables.
Once per session, there is an outing to an outdoor amusement park!
7:45-8:15 Meet at the grove
8:15-8:30 Opening and Tefilla
8:30-9:30 Activity 1
9:30-10:00 Snack
10:00-12:00 Pool – lesson and free swim
12:00-13:00 Activity 2
13:00-14:00 Special Activity with counselors
14:00-15:00 Lunch (in the campus dining hall)
15:00 Dismissal
Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp, Summer 2024: July 21 – August 15, 2024*
Sunday – Thursday 07:45 – 15:00
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Four Weeks, July 21 – August 15: 3,600 NIS for Israeli Residents or $1,275 for Tourists
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Three Week Session, July 21 – August 8: 2,780 NIS for Israeli Residents or $1,025 for Tourists
Additional payment for “Sayeret Ramah” for 4th-6th Graders:
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July 30 and August 6: 400 NIS for Israeli Residents or $140 for Tourists
Discount for each additional sibling or Early Bird registration through June 15, 2024**
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Four Week Discount, July 21 – August 15: 3,500 NIS for Israeli Residents or $1,250 for Tourists
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Three Week Session Discount, July 21 – August 8: 2,680 NIS for Israeli Residents or $1,000 for Tourists
*There is no day camp on Tisha B’Av (August 13, 2024).
**There are no double discounts.
For more information please contact us: daycamp@ramah.co.il
A unique and exciting program for 4th to 6th graders
Twice each session, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade campers stay on after the day ends for an overnight!
What does it include?
- Building tents in the grove and sleeping outdoors
- Private night swim at the pool
- Campfire and BBQ
- Fun group activities
The program fee is an additional 400 NIS per session for Israeli residents ($140 for tourists).
The cost includes medical escort and 24-hour security, dinner, breakfast, and special activities with counselor and adult staff supervision.
The Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp is accredited and approved by the Jerusalem Municipality and the Ministry of Education. In order to be an accredited day camp, we must establish strict guidelines for administration, camp operation, policies and procedures, program quality, and the health and safety of campers and staff. We are proud to have met these standards of excellence.
The camp takes place at the Israel Goldstein Youth Village, which is surrounded by a security fence, and the entrances are protected by armed security guards approved by official security authorities. There is another armed security guard patrolling on site throughout the day, as well as a first aid clinic in case of emergency.
Safety at our pools is our top priority. Israeli Certified Lifeguards guard the pool under specific guidelines. A high staff-to-camper ratio at the pool ensures that all campers are monitored, and our counselors are present both inside and outside the pool during free swim. Our goal is to ensure personal attention in a safe environment.
Ramah Israel Day Camp hires and trains quality staff members. Meet the director here.
Children are divided into an edah (division) according to grade, and within each division, there are several groups. Two counselors (11th grade or older) are responsible for each group. Some have grown up in English-speaking families in the greater Jerusalem area and are bilingual in Hebrew and English. They are energetic and intelligent, love children, and love being Jewish.
Each edah is under the direct supervision of an adult staff member (post-military or national service) who has significant experience in teaching and youth work.
Specialized activities are run by specialists who have completed high school or college.
A coordinator is assigned to English-speaking groups, with the responsibility for communicating with parents and tending to the children’s needs.
The swimming pool has a certified lifeguard present at all times, as well as swimming instructors, and is approved by the necessary legal authorities.
All staff participate in an intensive training program before the start of camp. Their education continues during the summer with ongoing discussion of group dynamics, the well-being of individual campers, programming, and logistics. The staff are there to ensure that your child feels safe, nurtured, happy, and accepted by the camp community.
The following items are required in a camper’s bag:
- Hat
Water bottle
Sunscreen
For swim days: swimsuit, towel, and bathing cap for anyone with long hair
The following items are optional:
For swim days: goggles, flip flops
Sunglasses
Fruit/snack
On field trip days, campers must wear the camp t-shirt which will be provided.
Please write your child’s name on each item.
Please do not bring valuable items to camp. The camp is not responsible for the loss or damage of the camper’s personal property.