By Leyna Krow, Assistant Editor, JTNews
From schools to relief agencies to synagogues to community centers, it appears that every organization in the Jewish world is feeling the pinch of a struggling economy. But there is one exception to the rule: Jewish summer camps. As the summer approaches, nearly all local area camps consulted for this article are reporting increases in enrollment over last year despite concerns that parents, looking to save money, might choose to keep kids at home instead.
Many camps have also seen an increase in fundraising money this year, as well as a larger pool of would-be staff from which to choose. Most camp directors are approaching this news with tentative optimism, saying that although things are good now, there is no guarantee about years to come, especially in a time when camps in other parts of the country are struggling alongside other Jewish non-profits. Local camps, while managing to fill their beds, are seeing increases in aid requests, however.
Sam Perlin, executive director of Camp Solomon Schechter, said his camp has just emerged from a very successful fundraising season and managed to erase a deficit that had plagued Solomon Schechter for almost a decade.
“The camp has not been in great financial shape the last couple years,” he said,” But we ran an aggressive campaign and now we’re out of the red into the black. Especially in these times, to have increased giving is great for us.”
He also noted that, as of the beginning of May, Solomon Schechter’s enrollment numbers were up from where they were at this time last year. Perlin was quick to add that he felt fortunate to see Solomon Schechter still on pace in light of the hardships facing Jewish camps elsewhere.
“I’d guess this region is probably doing better than camps in rest of country, just like Seattle is doing a little bit better than rest of country overall. Camps are reflective of that. I know there are camps elsewhere that are closing,” he said. “We feel fortunate to be in the position we’re in.”
David Berkman, director for the Union of Reform Judaism’s Camp Kalsman told a similar story. This summer, the camp, which begins June 21, will host its largest group of campers yet.
Berkman attributes the upswing in enrollment to the natural growth of a relatively new institution, as the idea of the young URJ camp is just beginning to catch on in this area.
“This is our third summer, so like any new product, it takes time to get known what we’re about and that is just starting to happen,” he said. “We had actually been accounting for an even larger increase in enrollment, closer to 20 or 25 percent, and we do attribute that to the economy.”
Berkman added that because Camp Kalsman’s facilities are still new, the camp has much lower overhead costs going into the summer than some other, older camps might. This is particularly helpful, he said, in a time when getting people to make donations is harder than ever.
“It takes less money to maintain new facilities, so that gives us flexibility,” he said. “We’re not as pressured financially from the facility side of the operations. It’s not like we’re having to go out and ask donors for money for a new septic system or anything like that yet.”
The news is similar at other URJ camps around the country, Berkman said.
“They’re holding steady across the board. No one’s numbers are really down,” he said.
Making camp happen for families in tricky financial situations isn’t always easy, however.
Sara Lahyani, camp scholarship program manager for the Jewish Education Center at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, noted that although a lot of money is available for Jewish campers, the processes of acquiring financial aid can seem daunting to parents who do it for the first time.
“It’s difficult to ask for money, especially if you aren’t quite sure where to go,” she said.
The JEC acts as a clearinghouse of sorts for camp scholarships. In addition to filling tuition assistance requests themselves, the JEC also works to connect families with scholarship programs through synagogues and other institutions.
Lahyani said that she had received 208 requests for application for the coming camp season, an increase from previous years. Last year, the JEC awarded scholarships to 126 families. As of early May, the JEC had already given out $50,000 in scholarships to 110 families and Lahyani said she anticipates granting awards to an additional 50 before the summer begins.
“This year there are some really astounding stories. Families filing for bankruptcy, parents losing jobs; it’s really heartbreaking,” she said.
Lahyani noted that she is also seeing an increase in requests from families in higher income brackets. She attributes this change to a sense of anxiety for some families that is not yet reflected by their bank accounts.
“People may have their jobs now, but they aren’t sure for how long,” she said. “You can really feel the uncertainty in the air.”
Both Berkman and Perlin reported an increase in requests for tuition assistance at their respective camps. Berkman said he is optimistic about Camp Kalsman’s ability to provide scholarships for the additional 15 percent of campers requesting aid this year.
“We accounted for that in the budget, although we may have underestimated the need a little,” he said. “No one really knew quite what to expect.”
Requests for scholarships extend beyond overnight camps. Local day camps are also seeing a rise in the number of families looking for help covering tuition costs.
Zach Duitch, director of the Stroum Jewish Community Center’s summer day camps, said he has noticed a “handful” of additional requests for tuition assistance this year, but stressed that the JCC’s scholarship program will be able to accommodate all campers’ needs.
“We try to be flexible so everyone has the opportunity to attend camp,” he said.
Because the JCC continues to enroll children up until the day its camps start next month, Duitch said it was too early to tell how enrollment numbers would compare to previous summers. He noted that the programs are “off to a strong start” so far.
Duitch added that the recession has actually had one surprising benefit for his camps.
“Usually it’s a struggle to find camp staff,” he said. “This year we have so many applicants, we get to handpick the best possible counselors. So that could definitely be a matter of the economy. But it’s great for us.”
Gan Izzy Day Camp, a three-week program for kids ages 5-12 run by Chabad of the Central Cascades, has no formal scholarship program, but camp director Nechama Farkash said she does try to subsidize tuition for those in need and sometimes offers two-for-one rates for families enrolling multiple children.
“It’s not a camp anyone makes money off of,” she said. “I’m happy just to break even.”
It helps that enrollment is up at Gan Izzy as well. Last year the program had 15 campers. Farkash said she is anticipating closer to 20 for this summer.
The only camp consulted for this article that reported a decrease in enrollment for the coming summer was Camp Young Judea West, a three-week long resident camp in Ocean Park, Wash.
Camp director Karen Goodman said Camp Young Judea West’s numbers are currently 10-15 percent lower than they were this time last year. However, she attributes this loss to a smaller recruitment pool rather than the impact of the recession.
“These things fluctuate from year to year. It’s not a big deal,” she said.
She noted that several of Young Judea’s other camps around the country have seen growth in their numbers for this summer while a few have stayed on par with last year. She believes that Jewish camping is, for many parents, an essential part of their children’s education and that, regardless of the economic climate, these families will always make the effort to provide for it.
“From what I see, if families have a commitment to send a child on a summer program, they figure out ways to make it happen, even in this economy,” she said.