Summer Programs and Scholarships

and other funding opportunities

Jewish overnight camping and Jewish travel programs provide special opportunities for children and teens to connect to Judaism and Israel on their own terms, in their own environments. Here are a few ways to make those connections happen:

USCJ Summer Programs:

Softball warm-up at Ramah. Photo courtesy of Camp Ramah.

Camp Ramah: Campers develop strong friendships and a Jewish consciousness through sports, nature, music, drama, study, Shabbat, and Judaica.

Ramah Israel Seminar:  The Israel Seminar offers former Ramah campers realistic insights into Israel, its people, achievements, dreams, and challenges.

USY Summer Programs: USY offers five different U.S. travel programs and six Israel and Israel-Europe summer programs for teens.

There are many other excellent Jewish summer programs for children and teens. The Foundation for Jewish Camping, (212) 792-6222, is a good resource for more information.

Israel Teen and College Programs:

Legacy Heritage Internships for Young Scientists is a six-week summer program that takes scientifically gifted high school students to Israel for the summer, at no cost. For more information about the program, please contact Marci Karoll, (212) 578-8190 x126.

Ramah Israel Seminar:  The Israel Seminar offers former Ramah campers realistic insights into Israel, its people, achievements, dreams, and challenges.

USY Summer Programs: USY offers five different U.S. travel programs and six Israel and Israel-Europe summer programs for teens.

Weizmann Institute Dr. Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute is a fully-funded four-week summer program for for students who have just completed 12th grade.  Students spend three weeks working on a project at the reknown Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel, and then attend a field school in the Judean Desert for their last week. 

JCCNV Maccabi ArtsFest:

Here’s a unique opportunity for artistic teens to enjoy an art and Judaic bonding experience of a lifetime! Parents can share in a community-building event, too! Northern Virginia was selected as one of only two sites hosting JCC Maccabi ArtsFest this summer! Jewish teens will come to Fairfax from across the US, Israel and Moscow.

This exciting arts-immersion program will be held in the first-class facilities of George Mason University.  The Maccabi ArtsFest will be hosted by the JCCNV in partnership with GMU, local synagogues and Jewish agencies. Jewish teens entering 8th-12th grades will participate in this week-long intensive program which includes daily workshops with world-class artists-in-residence, performance, exhibition, community service, Jewish and Israeli programs, social activities and FUN! See the flyer for teens.

Adult volunteers are needed immediately to share in planning and implementing this community-building program that will touch the lives of more than 250 Jewish teens, hundreds of volunteers, and the more than 1,800 people who come to watch and experience the thrill of the final night performance and exhibition at the George Mason Center for the Arts.

Registration begins in January. To learn more, contact Bryan Dallas, or visit www.ArtsFestFairfax.com or call the JCCNV at (703) 323-0880.

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Free Programs:

Camp Ramah: Need-based scholarship applications may be requested by e-mailing Erica Silverman.

CamperQuest: Subsidies available for youth ages 8-11 to attend Jewish overnight camp for the first time! The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s CamperQuest program provides subsidy awards that range from $250-$750. For qualifying details and an application, call 301-348-7330 or email camperquest@shalomdc.org. Priority deadline for applications is February 15, 2008.

Capital Camps: Need-based scholarships are available.

Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation Holocaust Remembrance Project is a national essay contest for high school students that awards scholarships and other prizes to students in first, second and third place categories. Scholarships of $2,500 to $10,000 will be awarded to the ten first-place winners.

Israel Quest: Please contact Rachelle Palley, (703) 425-1880, for information about subsidies for youth travel to Israel.  Israel Quest grants are co-sponsored by Federation and Olam Tikvah.  You may download the application (PDF), or see the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning Israel Quest page on the PJLL web site for more information.

Koach Birthright Israel is an incredible worldwide program that sends thousands of college students to Israel, at virtually no cost. The program exists thanks to the philanthropy of many generous individuals and the government of the State of Israel.

Legacy Heritage Internships for Young Scientists is a six-week summer program that takes scientifically gifted students to Israel for the summer, at no cost. For more information about the program, please contact Marci Karoll, (212) 578-8190 x126.

Olam Tikvah Carol Samuels Memorial Youth Fund: Need-based scholarships for Jewish camping and travel (excluding travel to Israel). Please contact Bernice Kaufman for more information about aid from OT or USCJ.

USY Yellow Candle Scholarship: Need-based scholarships for USY programs to Israel and Eastern Europe are available from the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs.

Weizmann Institute Dr. Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute is a fully-funded four-week summer program for for students who have just completed 12th grade.  Students spend three weeks working on a project at the reknown Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel, and then attend a field school in the Judean Desert for their last week.

3800 Glenbrook Road · Fairfax, Virginia  22031 · phone 703-425-1880  · fax 703-425-0835  · info@olamtikvah.org

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