First and foremost, kids in the Camp Kef Hebrew Immersion program have FUN. Kids do the types of activities you’d expect from a summer day camp program — swimming, sports, games, scavenger hunts, songs, crafts — and they do them in the company of a close-knit family of campers and counsellors. They laugh, they sing, they play silly games, they have a great time, and it’s all done in Hebrew.

The camp activities and facilities are quite similar to what you’d find in other day camps, including swimming, sports, crafts, games, songs. What makes Camp Kef different is that all of these fun activities are done in Hebrew, with the help of dedicated counsellors, some of whom are our Israeli-in-residence Shlichim (Israeli students working abroad to share Israeli culture). Our campers form deep bonds with the staff, and with their peers; by the end of the summer it’s a little family, friends that feel as cozy as family. These deep bonds facilitate kids’ deeper connection to the Hebrew language, and by the end of the summer, they have formed deeper connections to their Jewish identity and Israel.

Not at all! Our programming and staff are carefully selected to make sure children are engaged and having fun no matter their level of Hebrew. The staff, including Shlichim (Israeli students working abroad to share Israeli culture), speak Hebrew at all times which motivates the campers to connect with them by trying out Hebrew with counsellors they adore. We often see very close bonds form between the children and their counsellors — due to a combination of how great and caring the staff are, the small child:counsellor ratios, and the sheer fun of the activities. Campers feel cared for by their counsellor role models and connected to their friends.

The staff are passionate Hebrew teachers and act as positive role models by continuously encouraging children’s voices through fun everyday activities. We recognize that each child learns at their own pace, and have found that it can take some children a few weeks to adjust to the Hebrew speaking environment, and begin speaking it themselves. While we don’t encourage children to speak English at Camp Kef, we don’t punish them or stop them from speaking it, if they wish to do so.

If your child has an-going understanding of Hebrew, the native speaking Shlichim (Israeli students working abroad to share Israeli culture) can challenge and develop their language learning. Your child can also act as a positive role model for the other children in the program, and in no time everyone will be laughing, singing, and speaking in Hebrew!

Throughout the summer, the whole camp also comes together for other large activities, such as Shabbat Fridays which builds camp spirit and gives campers an opportunity to make new friends. While these camp-wide events are in English, Camp Kef campers will still be with their Hebrew speaking counsellors which enables them to get comfortable going back and forth between English and Hebrew.  

During a typical camp day, the different day camp groups cycle through the same facilities for their activities. So not to worry, Camp Kef kids will absolutely see other campers and counsellors throughout their day.

Yes! Camp Kef is a language acquisition program, it’s not in any way religious. Simply put, we want children to learn about, and appreciate Hebrew and Israeli culture. While campers learn to function in Hebrew, sing Israeli songs and learn about what it’s like to live in Israel from their Shlichim (Israeli students working abroad to share Israeli culture), this program is no more or less religious in nature than the rest of the camp.

Camp Kef is nothing like school. Camp Kef is a summer day camp, with all the activities of a typical summer day camp like swimming, games, sports, crafts and songs. Our dedicated staff focus on supporting your child to develop functional Hebrew in a play-based setting. There’s no time spent writing or reading, there’s no homework, there are no lessons. It’s all the fun of summer camp in a Hebrew speaking environment.

Our aim is to be as accommodating of working parents as possible. While the camp’s hours are 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, we offer early bird drop off and extended day.