Dear Friends,

Amy L. Sales

A remarkable thing has happened. In just a few short years, Jewish summer camp went from an unrecognized field of practice into one of the most vibrant, well-financed, and exciting arenas for Jewish education. It is rare to see a field of practice emerge so rapidly and successfully, and we are pleased to be the investigators of this phenomenon.

In 2000, with funding from The AVI CHAI Foundation, we conducted a seminal study of Jewish overnight camps. (See Limud by the Lake and How Goodly Are Thy Tents.) Eight years later, the Foundation asked us to revisit the camps from the original study in order to document changes and uncover opportunities for future investment. We eagerly delved into gathering data at these camps and at seven others added to round out the sample.

In some regard, the camps were as we had left them, but in other respects they were stunningly changed institutions. We noted, for example, a new emphasis on fundraising, extensive upgrades to facilities, more elaborated staffing structures, and evidence of stronger Judaic programming. Efforts were underway to expand the reach of camp through millions of dollars in incentive grants as well as a national effort to incubate new camps.

Limud by the Lake Revisited gives a sense of the dynamism of the field of Jewish summer camp and its significant accomplishments. At the same time, the report exposes needs, raises questions, and suggests possibilities for the future. We hope this research will help sustain the remarkable momentum in the field.

Amy L. Sales

Associate Director, Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies

Director, Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership