A summer camp guided by Jewish values, JCamps puts safety first and does so while creating a welcoming environment where campers can be silly, laugh, and discover new interests. Our amazing staff prioritizes the social and emotional needs of each camper and makes sure that every day is a confidence building adventure!
Jcamps registration is open now for current jcc members!
First Day of JCamps:
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Additional Fees
After Care (1st – 5th Grade) – $80 Member | $90 Community, price per week
Hot Lunches- $40/week , Chaverim & Speciality Camps at JCC College Ave ONLY
Questions? Email us, Camp@columbusjcc.org
(Rising 1st – 3rd Graders | JCC College Avenue)
A summer at Camp Chaverim offers campers the opportunity to learn through play and new experiences, develop life-long friendships, and build independence and self-confidence in a safe and welcoming environment. Each day allows campers to be active, creative, and have fun!
Check out all Camp Chaverim has to offer: Daily Swimming & Swim Lessons, Splash Pad, Specialist-led activities, Maccabi Games, Nature, Singing, Gaga, and Shabbat/Judaics.
(Rising 4th – 8th Graders | Located on Hoover Reservoir)
Take your summer to new heights with a day camp experience like no other. At Camp Hoover, our campers have the opportunity to have a new adventure each day on our 40 acres of campgrounds with a high ropes course, lakefront, pool, and archery range. Campers will discover the great outdoors, make friends, and build valuable leadership skills in a way that no other camp in the Columbus area can rival.
Camp Hoover includes: Ropes Course, Climbing Wall, Zipline, Canoeing/Kayaking, Gaga, Sports, Daily Swimming, Archery, Nature Trails, Arts & Crafts, and Shabbat/Judaics.
(Rising 1st – 8th Graders | Available at Camp Chaverim & Camp Hoover)
Inclusion is central to the philosophy of JCamps. Our Arye Inclusion program provides support for children with disabilities at both Camp Chaverim and Camp Hoover. While embracing each camper’s individuality, we create an environment for them to thrive alongside their peers. JCamps provides a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:3 in our inclusion program.
If you think the Arye Inclusion Program could be a good fit for your camper, please reach out at Camp@columbusjcc.org
Theatre Camp (1st – 8th Grade)
June 9 – June 27 | Wizard of Oz KIDS
Currently Sold Out- Join Waitlist for potential openings
July 14 – August 1 | 101 Dalmations KIDS
Currently Sold Out- Join Waitlist for potential openings
Theater Artist and Educator, Michael Solomon, directs and engages campers in the process of putting on a musical from start to finish. Through an intensive three week process, they will audition, rehearse, learn choreography, and perform in the production of the show for family and campers. After their final bow, campers will feel inspired and have a deeper connection to musical theatre.
Basketball Camp (1st-3rd Grade)
June 9 – June 13
July 7 – July 11
June 16 – June 20 (4th – 8th grade)
Children will spend the morning working on all facets of the game of basketball with Nick Felhaber, JCC Basketball trainer and former DIII men’s assistant coach for Capital University and Ohio Wesleyan University. In the afternoon, they will join Camp Chaverim for swimming, lunch, and other fun camp activities!
Soccer Camp (1st-3rd Grade)
June 23 – June 27
Campers will spend their afternoon working on the fundamentals of soccer and learning new things through fun skill work and games with the coaches of Sporting Columbus. In the afternoon, they will join Camp Chaverim for swimming, lunch (packed or purchased for an additional cost), and other fun camp activities!
Tennis Camp (1st-3rd Grade)
Currently Sold Out- Join Waitlist for potential openings
July 14 – July 18
Have your child learn the game of tennis from JCC Tennis Instructor Carly Solomon. Carly excelled in tennis as a D1 player at Nova Southeastern and is now an instructor in the area. Campers will need to bring their own tennis racquet. In the afternoon, they will join Camp Chaverim for swimming, lunch (packed or purchased for an additional cost), and other fun camp activities!
Jr Lifeguard (4th – 8th Grade)
July 7 – July 11
Learn like a lifeguard! Campers will spend their day building a foundation of knowledge, attitudes, and skills of future lifeguards. This exciting camp bridges the gap between swim lessons and lifeguarding. At the Hoover Pool, campers will learn what it takes to be rescue ready and how to recognize an emergency while further developing their swimming skills and endurance. They will also learn CPR/AED, First Aid, and in-water rescue skills.
Artistic Swim Camp (4th – 8th Grade)
July 21 – July 25
Make a splash in Artistic Swimming at Camp Hoover this summer. This one-week specialty camp lets your camper explore Artistic Swimming while they learn and practice core skills and move as one to music in the water. Swimmers will their morning sessions at the pool with Coach Kellagh, learning the skills needed to swim their own original routine, including sculling, body positions, figures, boosts, and treading. In the afternoon, they will join Camp Hoover for lunch, free swim, and other fun camp activities!
Sewing Camp
June 9 – June 13 (4th – 8th Grade)
July 21 – July 25 (1st – 3rd Grade)
Sewing Camp will give your camper all the basics of hand sewing, light machine sewing (4th – 8th grade only), patterning, and working with fabric. Participants will learn many different skills while creating their own project. This class is a great way to learn practical skills and showcase your creativity.
Superhero Camp (1st – 3rd Grade)
June 30 – July 3
This speciality camp will help turn your child into a SUPER CAMPER! Every superhero needs a costume, a story, and a comic! Over the course of the week, campers will work with costume designers, story tellers, and comic artists on developing their superhero persona from start to finish.
Improv Camp (4th – 8th Grade)
Mon, Aug 4 – Fri, Aug 8 | $420/Members | $480/Community
Give your child an unforgettable experience at JCC Improv Camp! Led by Alex Lefeld and Katie Drown of WitWorks, this high-energy camp builds confidence, creativity, and quick-thinking skills through fun games and storytelling. Kids will learn teamwork, stage presence, and gain an edge in cold reads and auditions—all while having a blast! No scripts, no pressure, just endless fun and skills that last a lifetime.
transportation to and from JCamps
JCamps makes getting to camp easy! Transportation is included in your fee.
Routes run in the morning and afternoon to and from Camp Chaverim and Camp Hoover from:
o JCC College Avenue
o JCC New Albany
o JCC Worthington
Providing swim instruction and teaching water safety are central to the JCamps experience:
o Camp Chaverim campers receive formal group swim instruction every day at camp taught by American Red Cross WSI Certified swim instructors.
o Camp Chaverim and Camp Hoover campers enjoy free swim every day at camp.
ALL LIFEGUARDS ARE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN FIRST AID, CPR, AND WATER RESCUE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY PRACTICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN MONTHLY IN-SERVICES.
Meet Raeann
Raeann Cronebach has been at the JCC since 2015. She began working in the ECLC as she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Capital University. She brings to camp her many years of experience in creating engaging programming made just for kids at both camps and in the early childhood classroom. She has fond memories of attending day camps as a child and has enjoyed creating a safe and welcoming environment at JCamps for campers to make memories of their own. Staying connected with returning camp families and welcoming new families are Raeann’s favorite parts of camp. She is looking forward to leading the JCamps team for Summer 2025 as we Dive into Fun!
Meet Emily
Emily Goldman joined the Columbus JCC Community after moving to the area in February 2021. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, she has been a part of the broader JCC community since she was an infant. With a combined 17 years (camper and a counselor) of camp experience with her temple in St. Louis and JCamps, she has a well-rounded perspective of day camps. She looks forward to providing campers with an experience of Jewish Values and community, something her counselors did for her. Emily brings Ruach and an understanding of what it means to be an individual to camp. Her favorite parts of camp are the songs, the creation of life-long memories, and lanyard-making with the campers.
Meet Hanna
Hanna Fotsch joined the JCC in 2022 as the Jewish Community Disabilities Inclusion Director. Part of her role is to oversee the Arye Inclusion Program for JCamps. Hanna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Therapy from The University of Toledo and a research-based Master’s Degree in Recreation Therapy from Clemson University where she studied the impact of camp on individuals with Down syndrome. Hanna has been part of the broader JCC community her entire life and was a JCC camper herself for many years. She is passionate about making sure children with disabilities are able to experience the true magic of camp. You can find Hanna at both Camp Chaverim and Hoover supporting campers and facilitating fun, engaging activities!
Meet Kori
Kori Keck joined the JCC of Greater Columbus family in 2017 in the Fitness Department. She jumped aboard to the Youth and Camp Department in 2019. With a degree in Recreation Management from Bowling Green State University, her focus is on safety, fun, and learning. With years of both day camp and residential outdoor education, Kori creates opportunities for youth to connect with each other to build community face to face. Kori also encourages youth to nurture their souls by slowing down to appreciate their surroundings. At Camp Hoover, she can be found moving around camp leading team–building activities, teaching social responsibility, and singing camp songs.
OUR JCAMP COUNSELORS ROUND OUT OUR AMAZING STAFF TO CREATE SUMMER FUN FOR YOUR CHILD.
Why JCamps Counselors are the best:
25+ hours of training in child development, safety practices and mental health awareness
Keep ratios of 1:10 or less
First Aid, CPR & AED Certified
FBI/BCI Background checked
The most energetic, kind, and caring staff around
ALL LIFEGUARDS ARE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN FIRST AID, CPR, AND WATER RESCUE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY PRACTICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN MONTHLY IN-SERVICES.
Counselor in Training (CIT) Program
Do you have a rising freshman or sophomore who is interested in becoming part of the JCamps team of counselors but is not yet 16 years old? CITs will participate in portions of staff training and will then work side-by-side with our team of counselors and directors to learn the ropes of being a part of the JCamps team. Our CIT Coordinator will be checking in with them along the way to help facilitate their learning. Leadership, communication, and teamwork are skills that our JCamps counselors need to be successful and are skills that will be taught through hands-on experience and guidance from a CIT Coordinator during the program.
JCAMPS IS ROOTED IN JEWISH VALUES
Become a JCC Member!
- Discounted rates for JCamps
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Early access to Registration
- Use of all the JCC’s facilities, including indoor/outdoor swimming pools, fitness center, racquetball courts and participation in many programs and sports leagues for all ages
- Access to outstanding year round programming
- For more information about JCC Membership, call (614) 559-6229 or email Evi Goldberg, Membership Director, at egoldberg@columbusjcc.org
ECLC Summer OFFERINGS
Open only to children enrolled in our ECLC program – Based on Availability
If you are interested in this offering, please contact eclcmain@columbusjcc.org