Camp Highlights

Each camp day is thoughtfully structured to balance movement, creativity, exploration, and connection. Campers rotate through a wide variety of activities led by trained specialists, with experiences evolving as campers grow older. From swimming and sports to hands-on making and special events, every part of the day is designed to keep campers engaged, supported, and having fun.

These highlights come together to create a summer that feels exciting, meaningful, and uniquely Camp Kef.

Daily Activities

Art & Creative Expression

Campers of all ages explore creativity through hands-on art projects that evolve as they grow. Younger campers focus on sensory play, process art, and experimentation, while older campers work with more advanced materials and techniques—building skills, confidence, and creative voice.

Sports & Athletics

Sports programming meets campers where they are. Younger campers focus on fundamentals and fun, while older campers enjoy structured games, strategy, and friendly competition. Campers enjoy games such as basketball, pickleball, dodgeball, kickball, gaga ball, and floor hockey, just to name a few!

Archery

Archery offers older campers the chance to build focus, coordination, and confidence in a safe, supervised setting. Campers learn proper technique, practice patience, and celebrate personal progress—often discovering a new favorite activity.

Games & Group Play

Camp Kef is full of games that bring campers together. From cooperative group games to classic camp favorites, campers build friendships, practice teamwork, and enjoy plenty of laughter throughout the day.

Zoom Floom

The Zoom Floom is a true Camp Kef classic. Campers cool off and cut loose as they slide down the hill into refreshing water—an experience that’s equal parts thrill, laughter, and pure summer joy.

STEM & Exploration

STEM at Camp Kef is hands-on and curiosity-driven. Campers experiment, build, and problem-solve through age-appropriate activities—introducing younger campers to discovery and giving older campers opportunities for deeper exploration and creative thinking.

Laser Tag

Laser Tag adds high-energy excitement for older campers. This favorite experience combines movement, strategy, and teamwork—creating an unforgettable, action-packed highlight of the summer.

Music & Movement

Music is woven throughout the camp day. Younger campers sing, dance, and move, while older campers explore rhythm, performance, and creative expression through structured music activities and songs and cheers at line-up.

Jewish Culture & Traditions

Jewish culture comes to life at camp through joyful traditions and weekly Shabbat celebrations. Campers explore holidays, stories, music, cooking, and hands-on activities that make Jewish life feel meaningful and fun. Our Israeli ShinShinim bring an added layer of connection, sharing their culture, language, and personal experiences in ways that feel authentic, accessible, and engaging for campers of all ages.

Improv & Performance Arts

Improv gives campers the chance to be playful, expressive, and confident. Younger campers enjoy imaginative games and storytelling with dancing and singing, while older campers explore improvisation, collaboration, and performance skills—building creativity, communication, and self-expression in a fun, low-pressure environment.

Gaga Ball

Gaga is a camp favorite that gets campers moving, laughing, and cheering each other on. Played in our gaga pit, this fast-paced, inclusive game is easy to learn and fun for all ages. Campers build agility, strategy, and sportsmanship while enjoying friendly competition and lots of high-energy fun throughout the day.

Outdoor Adventure

Campers spend plenty of time outside—playing and exploring. As campers grow, outdoor activities become more adventurous, encouraging confidence, teamwork, and resilience.

Swim at Camp

At Camp Kef, our goal is to help every camper feel confident and safe in and around the water. All campers age 3+ participate in a mix of instructional swim and free swim based on age and ability. Our aquatics program is led by certified lifeguards using the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim curriculum. Instructional swim focuses on building essential water safety skills and swimming techniques, while free swim gives campers the opportunity to practice their skills, build confidence, and have fun with friends in a supervised setting. All swim takes place in our outdoor pools and is weather dependent.

Keflet Unit (Infant–2 years old): Campers enjoy water play activities every day that are designed to help them feel comfortable around and have fun with water.
K’Ton Ton Unit (Ages 3–4): These campers swim in the wading pool to build independence around water. They have instructional swim at least two days a week and free swim on the remaining days of the week.

Gan and up (Kindergarten-10th Grade): Campers swim in the big pool and participate in both instructional swim and free swim everyday throughout the week.

Explore each unit to read more about what swim looks like for each age group.

Explore Units

The Kaiserman JCC and our Aquatics programming are generously supported by Aqua, an Essential Utilities Company, and its Aqua Sure Splash program.

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Special Guests & Programs

Thrilling Thursdays

Each week, campers in Keflet, K'Ton Ton, and Gan, look forward to Thrilling Thursday, when Camp Kef welcomes exciting visiting programs and special guests.

From interactive performances to hands-on experiences, Thrilling Thursdays bring something unexpected to camp and create moments that campers talk about long after the day is over.

Bounce House Wednesdays

Yom Kef Kef

Once a week, campers ages 2+ enjoy Bounce House Wednesdays, filling camp with energy, laughter, and movement. Each week brings a different bouncy waterslide to keep cool while having a blast.

It’s a high-energy highlight that brings campers together across units and adds an extra dose of fun to the week.

A Favorite Tradition

Color War Week

Color War is a highlight of the summer at Camp Kef, bringing campers together for a week filled with team spirit, friendly competition, and nonstop fun. Campers are placed on teams and participate in games, challenges, creative activities, and camp-wide events that celebrate teamwork, pride, and community. From cheering and costumes to memorable moments with friends, Color War is a joyful, high-energy experience for campers of all ages.

Woodshop & 3D Printing

Maker's Space

Campers grades 4+ have the opportunity to create and build in our Maker Space, featuring woodshop projects and 3D printing.

New this year, campers ages 3+ will embark on their own building adventures in Mini Maker's Space using cardboard to build and create.

This hands-on space encourages creativity, problem-solving, and experimentation. Campers design, build, test ideas, and take pride in making something tangible—often discovering new interests along the way.

Offsite Adventures

Field Trips

Campers grades 2-10 participate in off-site field trips that add excitement and adventure to the summer. These trips are designed to feel special and age-appropriate, giving campers the chance to explore new environments and build shared memories with friends.

Past trips have included adventure parks and amusement destinations, offering a fun mix of challenge, celebration, and independence.

Choice Within Structure

Majors, Minors, Electives, & Clubs

Campers in grades 4-10 participate in Majors which give campers the opportunity to spend extended time immersed in a single activity. These double-period specialty experiences that allow campers to build skills, explore interests, and see real progress over the course of the week.

Campers in grades 2-3 participate in Minors. Similar to Majors, campers get a deep dive in an activity of their choice throughout the week.

For campers in grades 4-7, electives and clubs offer more chances to explore interests in a low pressure way. Electives are specialist-led sessions where campers choose from a small selection of hands-on activities that differ from the regular schedule. Clubs are more social and camper-driven, centered around shared interests and group connection.

"I loved hearing about the cooking activities they did and the Israeli spices they made from the shuk! I loved seeing Israeli flags and loved that my kids were somewhere that was comfortably and proudly Jewish."