See firsthand the power of camp and our Scholarship Fund – meet Olivia

Hi everyone! My name is Olivia and I have been part of the Camp George family for 10 summers, all thanks to the scholarship fund. I truly believe that summer camp changes the life of every child who attends. When you get off the bus, the sight of smiling faces and outstretched arms welcoming you to this new journey is what I looked forward to every year as a camper. It was the warm welcome and a sunny sky that made Camp George feel like home. Having had the opportunity to go to camp through the scholarship fund every year, I am now a third year staff on ropes, a part of the staff leadership program, and a Cornerstone Fellow! I am so grateful for the opportunity from Camp George to be able to dive into every adventure that my heart desired on Maple Lake. What the scholarship fund has given me are true friends, lifelong memories and a beautiful place to call home. Feeling included as a young Jewish person was also very important to me. From being a part of my Temple Har Zion community since the age of five, feeling included in a familiar setting granted me a lot of comfort at a young age. I furthered my independence through new experiences, meeting new people, and deepening my connection with the camp community every year I attended. It was incredibly important for my growth and coming out of my shell as an extremely shy child. Connecting with nature and peers are things that every child should have the opportunity to do, no matter their financial situation. Without the scholarship fund, none of this would be possible. Learning about important values and social justice issues, as well as how to stand up for them, helped form the person I am today. And it wouldn’t be without those who cared about my mental wellness and joy that I would be who I am now. Thank you, Camp George!

Testimonials From Scholarship Fund Recipients

“Dear Camp George Donors,

I actually cried tears of joy when I got the news that our kids would be receiving a scholarship for camp this Summer! As emerging teens who rely more and more on their peers, their Summer at Camp George was a bright spot within two difficult pandemic years. When they asked to go for the full Summer 2022 instead of one term, I said yes, but was in a state of panic of how I could afford it. The scholarship goes such a long way to help them get back “home”. Without access to in-person shul, camp has been their only in-person communal experience of Judaism – so important to their mental health and to a flourishing Jewish future…

Just this weekend, my 12-year-old was describing the “magic” of camp to her cousin. She said, “on Shabbat, we have the BEST time. We sing our hearts out!” While she doesn’t yet understand the power of hundreds of young Jews “singing their hearts out” in honour of Shabbat, this is the transformative experience that will carry them into adulthood and be with them in times of celebration and sorrow. Jewish camping is planting a magic seed that will strengthen them through life. Our family is so grateful to the generous donors who make this possible. In these times of depression, anxiety and global unrest, the magic of Jewish camp is the antidote.”