Backcountry Bayit (BCB), where youthful Jews — virtually all of them drawn to the mountains by the lure of Colorado’s ski culture — come together to celebrate not only their love of the Rockies but simply being Jewish…The BCB originated organically some four years ago, the brainchild of a group of young Jews from Boulder, and last year came under the funding and management umbrella of the national Ramah organization, affiliated with the Conservative movement, specifically Reshet Ramah, the organization’s alumni network that supports youth engagement projects..

Ramah in the NewsNancy ScheffJuly 5, 2019Reshet Ramah

New and Expanded Tikvah Programs for Campers with Disabilities

This past April, the 112 riders, hikers, and volunteers on the Ramah Israel Bike Ride and Hiking Trip raised more than $540,000 to benefit Ramah Tikvah programs for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities. During summer 2019, a total of 423 individuals will participate in Tikvah-affiliated programs. It is a privilege to share with you this report on this summer's plans for how Ramah camps will be using the Tikvah funds raised on the ride/hike, both 1) programmatically and 2) for the financial support of families with children with disabilities who also have financial constraints.

Tikvah/Special Needs, AnnouncementsNancy ScheffJuly 2, 2019Tikvah, Summer 2019, Voc-Ed

SafetyRespectEquity Coalition Awards Over $1.2 Million to Jewish Communal Organizations

More than 120 participants from across all sectors and movements of the Jewish communal world gathered in New York last week for the second annual Summit of the SafetyRespectEquity Coalition. …Discussions focused on how critically important safety, respect, and equity are to ensuring a vibrant, inclusive future for the Jewish community and at the same time continuing to ground their work in the broader national context. …Additionally, the Coalition has announced a total of more than $1.2 million awarded to 15 grantees working to advance women’s leadership and address sexual harassment and gender inequity in Jewish organizations.

Ramah in the NewsNancy ScheffJune 17, 2019National Ramah

Ramah Begins Its 73rd Summer of Excellence

In the coming weeks, all of our ten overnight camps, five day camps, and our Israel Seminar will begin. Overall, more than 11,700 campers and staff will participate this summer in a Ramah program.

AnnouncementsNancy ScheffJune 12, 2019Summer 2019, National Ramah

This Jewish Guide Found Healing in the Wilderness. Now He’s Helping Others.

After struggling with depression and social isolation as a teen, Zack Slavkin went on a wilderness therapy program that changed his life, spurring his work to help heal others.

Ramah in the NewsNancy ScheffMay 23, 2019BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy

What Are We Doing for Our Struggling Youth?

Like our forefathers, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, who found God and spirituality in the wilderness, BaMidbar students spend time in nature rediscovering themselves and their spiritual core. They build skills to recover from adversity, are empowered to break free of the habits and patterns that limit their lives, and embark on a new journey of living well.

Start a Fire - BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy at Ramah in the Rockies

What if therapy and recovery also encompassed exploring the wilderness, plus a deep connection to Jewish spirituality? BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy is doing just that, cultivating a safe, inclusive, and diverse environment for young people within the wider Jewish community.

Ramah in the NewsNancy ScheffMay 15, 2019BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy, Rockies

A Passover Message on Ramah and Israel

As Jews throughout the world prepare to sit down at the Seder table to re-enact our historic journey from slavery to freedom, we take great pride in Ramah's commitment to helping secure a strong Jewish future in all of our communities, deeply connected to our homeland in the State of Israel.

AnnouncementsNancy ScheffApril 19, 2019Israel

Celebrating Tikvah and Founders Barbara and Herb Greenberg

On April 1, hundreds of Ramahniks gathered in Jerusalem to mark 50 years of Tikvah at Ramah and to honor Barbara and Herb Greenberg, who established the first Tikvah program in 1970. The Greenbergs received a lifetime achievement award from the Ramah Camping Movement and spoke movingly about the impact of Tikvah in the lives of countless campers and families, and in their own lives.

Blog/ReflectionsNancy ScheffApril 18, 2019New England, Tikvah