Why choose Camp Airy or Camp Louise for your 2nd to 12th-grade child? We’re the only brother-sister Jewish overnight camps in the country, and we’re celebrating nearly 100 summers of non-stop fun. But that’s just one reason – here are five more.
1. WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Whether your child prefers to express themselves on the basketball court or in the creative arts studio, on the stage or in the kitchen, we have something for everyone. Our professional teachers, special guest educators, exciting trips and top-line facilities will guide him to have fun, try new things and develop existing talents. One thing’s for sure, your child won’t be bored at Camps Airy & Louise.
2. WE’RE AFFORDABLE
Camps Airy & Louise prides itself on our values of accessibility to campers from every economic background. We open up summer camp to children who might otherwise be unable to attend. Our campership program offers financial aid for campers in need, and we will work with interested families to help each would-be camper.
3. WE’RE TIME-TESTED
Camps Airy & Louise have been helping children find their inner awesome for nearly 100 summers. We know what works and we keep on striving to make it even better. Our traditions and experience combined with our professional staff and modern facilities to make us unique.
4. WE’RE SINGLE GENDER
Camp Airy is boys-only and Camp Louise is girls-only by design. Free from outside pressures and surrounded by strong role models, we help campers find their inner awesome. Campers get more than a summer of fun; they advance their communication skills, conflict resolution, and teamwork and build supportive friendships which last a lifetime. We also offer co-ed activities between our camps that foster a positive relationship with the opposite gender.
5. WE’RE JEWISH AND INCLUSIVE
We advance a positive, inclusive Jewish identity in our campers which extends beyond lessons into their wider lives. A happy diversity among both staff and campers broadens their sense of community to include difference. We welcome campers and families of all practices (including interfaith families) to share their summers with us!
MISSION STATEMENT:
Camps Airy & Louise provide Jewish children in grades 2 through 12 from all economic backgrounds with opportunities for self-growth and life skills that enhance their Jewish identity in a single-gender environment, while creating friendships that last a lifetime.
HISTORY
Camps Airy & Louise were founded in 1924 and 1922 respectively by Lillie and Aaron Straus. Originally meant to be a place for Jewish girls to explore the countryside and take a break from factory work, the Strausses wished to provide the values and development of a camping experience to Jewish children from Baltimore and the surrounding area, regardless of their economic background. Aaron and Lillie’s dream was to make a camp that was inclusive and welcoming to all campers equally, whether they paid full price or received significant discounts. We are proud to uphold their stance.
VISION
Camps Airy & Louise have been believers in the power of summer camp for almost 100 years. We aim for every activity to promote communication, teamwork or leadership skills. Our vision is to provide caring, challenging and creative activities for our campers to develop their self-confidence, self-advocacy, and self-expression. Camps Airy & Louise help every camper bring out his or her own inner awesome.
VALUES
Camps Airy & Louise create a summer full of fun experiences for staff and campers alike. Beyond that, all our activities point towards a single set of values which underlie everything we do.
Self-growth: At Camps Airy & Louise we strengthen the natural ways that summer camp releases children to discover their true selves. We encourage children to develop their self-confidence, self-expression, and self-advocacy through creative, challenging and safe risk-taking activities.
Single-gender: Camps Airy & Louise are single genders by deliberate choice. We offer boys and girls the unique advantages of learning from strong role models and being able to extend themselves beyond gender stereotypes.
Life skills: As well as developing new talents and enjoying fun pursuits, our campers learn valuable life skills at every turn. At Camps Airy & Louise, children develop their flexibility, conflict resolution abilities, teamwork, leadership capabilities, and communication skills without even realizing. The diversity of camp staff encourages campers and staff members to interact with different people who might hold very different views.
Life-long friendships: Wonderful warm friendships that last a lifetime are one of the most important parts of summer at Camps Airy & Louise. Bunk life encourages campers to develop their tolerance for the difference as they learn to live together. Often strong friendships spring up between campers who on the surface may have had nothing in common.
Appreciation for the natural world: Camps Airy & Louise is strongly founded on an awareness of our responsibility to our environment and our obligations towards our surroundings. We promote a sense of commitment to our planet and a deeper understanding of our job of protecting the environment.
Jewish identity: Through Shabbat celebration, Israel programming and community service, Camps Airy & Louise extend a warm, welcoming and inclusive community that is without judgment. By encouraging our campers to share their own beliefs and practices, we help them to explore what Judaism means to them and achieve a mature and positive sense of Jewish identity.
The ideals of Jewish peoplehood (Klal Yisrael), repairing our world (Tikkun Olam), improving our personal ethics (Tikkun Middot) and awareness of spirituality (Ruach V’kavanah) permeate and motivate our community.
SHABBAT CELEBRATION
Shabbat offers an opportunity to reflect on the past week and to properly prepare for the week ahead. We gather together in nature to celebrate the start of Shabbat on Friday night with music, prayer, and reflection. Shabbat continues on Saturday morning with a pluralistic observance followed by Oneg Shabbat (a delicious snack). After special afternoon programming, Shabbat concludes with a Havdallah service that recognizes the end of Shabbat and welcomes the new week ahead.
ACCREDITED AND CERTIFIED
Camps Airy & Louise are fully accredited by the American Camp Association(ACA). Our camps meet or exceed the most comprehensive standards of camping in the country, as set by ACA and the Maryland Youth Camp Safety Act.
Contact: Camp Airy & Louise
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