Ramah Expands Tikvah Network; Appoints Howard Blas as First Director

The National Ramah Commission has announced that Howard Blas has been appointed as the first Director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network, in order to promote the growth of programming for campers with disabilities within the Ramah movement and beyond. Blas, who has served as the Director of the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England for 14 years, is an award-winning disabilities educator who is widely recognized as a leading national expert and spokesperson on behalf of inclusion and Jewish education for young people with disabilities.

Tikvah/Special Needs, AnnouncementsNRC WebmasterOctober 21, 2014Tikvah, Howard Blas

Jim Joseph Foundation Awards Grant to Ramah and Young Judaea to Create Partnership for Young Alumni Learning

In a first-ever program partnership, the Ramah Camping Movement and Young Judaea have announced the Learning Hub project. This new initiative will actively engage young professionals in ongoing Jewish learning organized by camp alumni peers in four cities - Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The initiative, which will be funded largely by the Jim Joseph Foundation with an investment of $250,000 over two years, will aim to connect camp alumni to serious Jewish learning and to greater engagement within their Jewish communities.

Alumni, AnnouncementsNRC WebmasterOctober 14, 2014Reshet Ramah

Building Campus Community: The Ramah College Network

Adina Allen is a Camp Ramah poster child. She spent six summers at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin as a camper and as many summers since on staff.

This was her second summer as a rosh edah (division head). In her “off season,” Allen tries to connect with those counselors who, like she, attend Washington University in St. Louis.

Alumni, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterSeptember 30, 2014Reshet Ramah

The Unexpected Way My Son With Down Syndrome Blossomed at Jewish Camp

Jewish memories are made of this: sneaking out with my bunkmates for a thrilling nighttime swim. Israeli dancing on the lawn in the sunshine before lunch. Singing the birkat hamazon with gusto after dinner, concocting elaborately goofy skits for the talent show, playing friendly pickup games of GaGa, and sending a “Secret Shabbat-O-Gram” to my crush in Tent Gimel. Much more than the hours spent in synagogue or in religious school, I can directly trace my continued connection to Judaism to the unforgettable summers I spent at Camp Ramah in California. As it turns out, Ramah would play an even more crucial role for my son Nathan, who was born 14 years ago with Down syndrome.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterSeptember 4, 2014Tikvah, California

Havdalah: The Best Time Of The Week

Ask anyone who has attended Camp Ramah, or almost any other Jewish summer camp for that matter, what their favorite time of the week is and one answer is bound to bubble up to the top: Havdala. With this ceremony we bring an end to a peaceful, thoughtful, and fun Shabbat (Sabbath) and begin a new week; a week of fun, excitement, educational experiences, and stories to be told later on. The music of Havdala is sweet and simple. This moment can pass very quickly, yet it remains with the campers for years to come.

Tikvah/Special NeedsNRC WebmasterAugust 28, 2014Tikvah

One Last Taste of Summer: Kayitz 2014 Highlights

It was an inspirational and magical summer for campers and staff all across the Ramah Camping Movement. Enjoy reading about these highlights!

NRC WebmasterAugust 27, 2014Summer 2014, National Ramah

A 12-Year-Old Weighs in on Jewish Camp in the Colorado Rockies

For the past four summers, Kaspar has been a camper at Ramah Outdoor Adventure (ROA) in the Colorado Rockies. Kaspar has participated in ROA’s Tikvah Program for campers with disabilities, both as a participant in the Amitzim edah (division) for campers with disabilities and, most recently, as part of the camp’s inclusion program.

Ramah Outdoor Adventure has become her second home and, according to her parents, has been a big part of her everyday happiness and success. Kaspar hopes someday to become a member of ROA’s tzevet susim (“horse staff”). Below is her take on life at Ramah Outdoor Adventure.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterAugust 26, 2014Rockies, Tikvah, Summer 2014

Another Kind Of Holy Land

Last Wednesday, I headed to family camp with Max for five days. I figured we'd have fun; I had no idea how meaningful our time there would be. It was full of firsts for Max—and the discovery of a whole other kind of holy land.

As a a teen, I was a counselor at two Camp Ramahs in New York and loved it. After I found out that the Ramah in the Poconos had a five-day Tikvah Family Camp for kids with developmental disorders and social learning disorders, I signed us up. (The Ramah Tikvah Network offers family, day and overnight camps at nine locations.)

Tikvah/Special Needs, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterAugust 20, 2014Tikvah, Poconos, Summer 2014

Camp Yofi brings Children with Autism and Families Together for Summer Fun

During the first week of August, a team of five from the Autism Institute at Mailman Segal Center headed for the mountains of Northern Georgia to help 26 families enjoy a week of summer camp.

Tikvah/Special Needs, Ramah in the NewsNRC WebmasterAugust 19, 2014Tikvah, Darom, Summer 2014