From Camp to Classroom: The Benefit of Early Childhood Directors Partnering with Jewish Camps

“For the last 7 years I've spent every summer at Camp Micah. It's a Jewish camp, and it is my home away from home. It's one of my favorite places where I work with school age children, and I can really just be myself up there. and as I got older I wanted to continue working at this camp, but I didn't want to have to leave a retail job every 10 months, so my director of the camp connected me with this temple, Ohabi Shalom and I ended up moving to Boston and working here, and I'm so glad that I was able to do that through my work at Camp Micah.” Taylor Goodwin, Early Childhood Educator, Boston. 

Directors of early childhood centers have a unique opportunity to connect and partner with Jewish summer camps to build a talent pipeline and fully staff their schools. Camp staff have had transformative summer experiences and are eager to find meaning in their next professional opportunity. 

Camp counselors, with their unique blend of leadership, creativity, patience, problem-solving, and experience in fostering Jewish identity, are exceptionally well-suited to transition into early childhood education roles. They have the interpersonal skills that are essential to succeed in an ECE classroom. 

The Benefits of Hiring Camp Counselors:

• Relationship Building: Camp counselors excel at forming strong, trusting relationships with children, thus creating a secure and supportive learning environment in early childhood settings. These connections are foundational to fostering a sense of belonging and community among young children.
• Jewish Identity and Values: With a deep understanding of Jewish traditions, camp counselors are well-equipped to cultivate Jewish identity in young children.
• Leadership Skills: Counselors manage groups, resolve conflicts, and lead activities—skills that are directly transferable to early childhood education.
• Creative Problem-Solvers: Counselors are adept at thinking on their feet and coming up with innovative solutions, especially in the moment.
• Passionate Impact: Driven by the desire to make a difference, camp counselors are committed to shaping the future of young children in a meaningful way.

Many camp counselors feel unsure about working with younger children. They might not have education degrees or experience with children birth through age five. At ElevatEd, we understand these hesitations and provide early childhood educators the training, mentorship and funding they need to become locally certified and confident to enter the classroom. For counselors who are still in college, this is a great time for directors to engage them part time in classrooms or as substitute support as needed.

ElevatEd training includes sessions on teaching and learning; child development; and Jewish learning and exploration. The mentorship program and cohort based model offer new educators the support they need to be successful throughout the year. They will also gain new skills that will positively impact their camping roles.

“I started my lifelong career in Jewish education working at camp, spent eight years as an early childhood educator, and have now returned to camping at Foundation for Jewish Camp. In my time at camp and early childhood centers, I’ve seen how both these settings are deeply rooted in Jewish joy and experiential learning. Drawing on our talented seasonal camp staff to serve as early childhood educators will benefit us all — especially young people.” - Amy Meltzer, Senior Jewish Educator, Foundation for Jewish Camp

How to Build Connections with Jewish Camps

By building relationships with Jewish camps, you not only open a pathway for recruiting talented staff, but also create opportunities for ongoing collaboration between your institution and the camp. Here are some practical strategies to start forming these valuable connections:

• Attend camp job fairs and recruitment events.
• Host your own information sessions or workshops at camps, offering staff training or lunch-and-learns during the summer.
• Develop internship or fellowship programs for counselors to gain skills year-round.
• Collaborate on year-round programming that involves counselors who live in your community.
• Offer professional development opportunities tailored for camp staff.
• Network with camp alumni to promote job openings.
• Engage with camp communities on social media and online platforms.
• Offer referral bonuses or incentives to camp staff.

A full list of Jewish day and residential camps can be found here. 

On the national level, ElevatEd is excited to be presenting, “Lessons from Preschool Play,” at Leaders Assembly, Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Conference in Chicago, December, 2024. This gathering will take place as part of the larger Jewish Camp Summit and with significant representation from the JCC Movement, which operates the largest network of Jewish day and overnight camps in North America. 

We know that our partners in Jewish camping are essential to our success in elevating the field. Do you have a story about a partnership with a local camp? Is one of your teachers a counselor who loves to go back every summer? We would love to hear your stories!