Camp Stone

Camp Stone
Motto עם ישראל בארץ ישראל על פי תורת ישראל
Formation 1969
Founder Irving I. Stone
Purpose Jewish summer camp
Location
Official language
English and Hebrew
Director
Yehuda Rothner
Parent organization
B'nei Akiva
Website www.campstone.org

Camp Stone is a Jewish summer camp located in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania.[1] It is affiliated with Bnei Akiva, a Religious Zionist youth movement. The camp encourages aliyah, or emigration to Israel.

History

The camp began operations in 1969, and is named after its founder, the Jewish philanthropist, Irving I. Stone,[2] a long time executive at American Greetings. Stone purchased the 400 acre site of a former camp to establish an Orthodox Jewish summer camp.[2]

Programs

Programs for campers include study of Jewish history, Torah study and prayer. Other programs include an introduction to farming, glass blowing and blacksmithing. Traditional camp activities like swimming and horseback riding are also offered, as well as a ropes course.[2] The camp also features a reproduction of a German cattle car, like those used to transport Jews to Nazi concentration camps, and used for Holocaust education. According to camp director Yehuda Rothner, the lesson taught is that "senseless hatred leads into the abyss".[3]

Goals

The camp's goal is to cultivate within Jewish children a commitment to the people and land of Israel, and to the Torah. The camp staff encourages campers to develop their own leadership potential to enable them to become self-reliant, and also encourages each of them to become a contributing and functional member of the group or kvutza.

Costs

As of 2012, it cost $3,500.00 for a child to attend a four week camp session.[4] In that year, the camp offered $320,000 in scholarships.[2]

References

Further reading

Pomson, Alex, Where Consciousness Meets Community: Clues from Camp about Jewish Leadership, HaYidion, RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network, March 9, 2012

External links