Mechina 1: July 27- 30
Mechina 2: August 3 – 6

Mechina is hebrew for “preparation” and this min-session is just that! Our Mechina Taste of Camp, gives our youngest campers the chance to experience the magic of camp from learning to live together in a cabin, connecting with nurturing and energetic counselors, trying out the best of camp activities including sports, arts and crafts, Adventure Mountain and more. The weekend begins with a big camp welcome, celebrating Shabbat together as a community and campers get a taste of typical camp schedules, delicious meals and even some special camp surprise moments! Space is VERY limited and priority will be given to first time campers.

Housing: Cabins

Register for Mechina >

Aleph: June 13 – 25

Bet: June 27 – July 9

Gimmel: July 11 – 23

Dalet: July 25 – August 6

Focused on building self-confidence and independence in a nurturing Jewish environment, these sessions offer the perfect introduction for young campers to start their Camp Newman journey. The emphasis is on fun, the joy of being Jewish, trying out activities, and making new friends. Campers spend their days immersed in informal and experiential Jewish education, participating in tefilah (daily prayer), song sessions, playing games and sports, doing arts and crafts, celebrating Shabbat, getting to know their excellent staff members and bunkmates, splashing in the pool and flying down the waterslide, and visiting our climbing tower. Campers roast marshmallows over a campfire, participate in an overnight experience either at our overnight site or on one of our fields, and begin to understand the special experience of being part of a session community and the Camp Newman community. Ratios of counselors to campers tend to be a little higher for these younger campers.

Register for Bonim >

Aleph: June 13 – 25

Bet: June 27 – July 9

Gimmel: July 11 – 23

Dalet: July 25 – August 6

Focused on community-building and an increased opportunity for individual choice, Giborim campers spend their days connecting with cabinmates during chaverut (specialist-led, cabin based activities) and sivuv (counselor-led, cabin based activites) and chugim (specialist-led elective activities). Campers spend their days immersed in informal and experiential Jewish education, participating in tefilah (daily prayer), song sessions, playing games and sports, doing arts and crafts, celebrating Shabbat, getting to know their excellent staff members and bunkmates, splashing in the pool and flying down the waterslide, and visiting our Adventure Mountain site with a climbing tower and high ropes course at least once throughout their stay. With more individual choice, campers can do more of what they love and still try something new like the Sky Park and archery! Campers roast marshmallows over a campfire, participate in an overnight experience at our overnight site, and continue to build their identity of and pride in being a member of the Camp Newman family and community.

Register for Giborim >

Aleph: June 13 – 25

Bet: June 27 – July 9

Gimmel: July 11 – 23

Dalet: July 25 – August 6

These sessions give young teens a “WOW” experience. Educational, social, cultural, and sports options are endless. Campers have many chances to explore their passions and potential with staff guidance and support. Teens connect to new and old friends, to Judaism, and to their camp community. Their days feel similar to our younger sessions but the content of programs and activities continue to be age appropriate. Teens begin to explore their identity through programming and learn about navigating social situations through a Jewish lens of middot (values). Like their younger peers, the emphasis continues to be on fun, the joy of being Jewish, trying out activities, and making new friends. Campers spend their days immersed in informal and experiential Jewish education, participating in tefilah (daily prayer), song sessions, playing games and sports, doing arts and crafts, celebrating Shabbat, getting to know their excellent staff members and bunkmates, splashing in the pool and flying down the waterslide, and visiting our Adventure Mountain site with a climbing tower and high ropes course at least once throughout their stay. Campers roast marshmallows over a campfire, participate in an overnight experience at our overnight site, and continue to build their identity of and pride in being a member of the Camp Newman family and community.

Register for Tzofim >

Aleph: June 13 – 25

Bet: June 27 – July 9

Gimmel: July 11 – 23

Session 1: Shomrim – June 13 – July 9
Session 2: Etzim – July 11 – August 6

Enjoy camp experiences in greater depth and build strong bonds to friends, Judaism, and the camp community. Extra recreational options and flex time allow for more opportunities to join in favorite activities, as well as to try new things and master new skills. Four weeks means more fun, more friends, and more time together! Shomrim (Guardians) and Etzim (Trees) explore our need to be guardians of the planet, learning about the intersection of environmentalism and Judaism while taking part in our amazing typical camp activities throughout their four weeks at camp. Campers will experience for campfires, overnights, song sessions, electives, daily pool time, tefilah (daily prayer), and so much more.

Register for Summer 2023 >

Session 1: Rishonim – June 13 – July 9
Session 2: Maccabiah – July 11 – August 6

These programs invite teens to challenge themselves and learn new skills through sports, dance, yoga, hiking, and more.

Rishonim – Rishonim campers will have the opportunity to explore leadership and environmentalism through a Jewish lens. Campers will explore eco-Judaism, art through nature, help rebuild trails throughout our Porter Creek home, dive into important issues around sustainability or climate change, and experience more time at our overnight site.

Housing: Tents

Maccabiah – Maccabiah teens will connect to Judaism through physical movement, whether on the field playing ultimate frisbee, through meditation and yoga, modern dance or hiking. Teens will also explore what it means to be a leader through concepts of teamwork, collaboration, healthy competition and celebration of diversity.

Housing: Tents

Both Rishonim and Maccabiah will participate in all the amazing typical camp offerings such as exuberant Shabbat celebration, everyday informal and experiential Jewish learning, song sessions, overnight experiences at our overnight site and the Rishonim overnight site, and so much more. Most importantly, campers bond with old friends and new while learning about themselves and the world around them.

Housing: Tents

Register for Summer 2023 >

Session 1: Hagigah – June 13 – July 9
Session 2: Hevrah – July 11 – August 6

Hagigah: The premiere Jewish arts teen program on the West Coast. Campers choose majors and minors in visual or performing arts, or in the Art of Ultimate, our popular sports track that started last summer! Campers will learn from and train with distinguished Jewish artists and experienced ultimate frisbee players in an exploratory and collaborative atmosphere. Their experience culminates in a camp-wide festival to celebrate their work. Check out the video from the Art of Ultimate Yetzirah and 2021 Hagigah Festival!

Housing: Cabins

Hevrah: In this formative, progressive social justice program, teens delve into a project that expresses the core Jewish value of repairing the world, Tikkun Olam. Typical Hevrah programs include an in-person visit to Sacramento for Lobby Day. Participation in this off camp trip is contigent upon the state of Covid-19, prioritizing the health and safety of our campers and staff. Teens will still have an opportunity to learn about what advocacy work entails and participate in advocating on behalf of a theme for the summer (such as gun control, climate change, prison reform, etc.). Hevrah teaches campers what it takes to fight for change. Check out the video of the 2021 Hevrah Lobby Day!

Housing: Tents

Hagigah and Hevrah have been integral components of our teen leadership offerings for decades. Every class typically puts on a festival to showcase their amazing work. As we get closer to the summer we’ll have more information about whether we can invite families to be a part of these celebrations in-person.

Register for Summer 2023 >

June 11 – August 6

The Camp Newman Avodah is a selective program designed around 3 key pillars: service to self, service to the community, and service to the world. Throughout the course of the summer, Avodahniks participate in high-level programming designed to explore identity through the lens of Jewish values. In summer 2023, we are hopeful that Avodahniks will be able to travel to San Francisco for the PRIDE Parade, however it will be contigent upon the health and safety protcols around Covid-19. We’re thrilled to continue the new tradition of an on-camp Pride Parade in addition to any off-camp trips. The program will continue to focus on Avodah helping to rebuild our Porter Creek home, both physically and programmatically. Campers will participate in programs that push them to explore their own identity – as people, as Jews, as community members – and programs that encourage collaboration, open communication, and service to the community. Campers will learn about fundraising and hold various programs to raise funds for a worthy cause through the Avodah Teen Foundation, established in 2021.

Avodah participants can earn up to 200 hours of community service credit for participating the full summer program.

Teens interested in applying for Avodah must first register as a camper and then will receive instructions, along with the Avodah Application and Reference Form. Applications will open in early November. Questions? Email Rabbi Allie Fischman at afischman@urj.org.

Housing: Teen Village 8 Tents

Register for Summer 2023 >

June 11 – August 6

Our highly selective and popular CIT program has been training our future staff and camp leadership for decades, offering young adults a valuable personal and professional growth opportunity. Participants spend the first two weeks in leadership workshops and Judaic programs, learning how to be excellent counselors to campers entering third through eighth grade. In weeks three and four, our CIT’s will spend significant time each day with our youngest campers. Sessions 2a and 2b will be spent working with campers in various age groups. CIT’s help plan programs and participate in their own daily tefilah (prayer) and exciting evening activities.

CITs can also earn up to 200 hours of community service credit for the entire summer. Spaces fill quickly on a first come, first served basis, and require an intensive application process.

Teens interested in applying for CIT must first register as a camper and then will receive instructions, along with the CIT Application and Reference Form. Questions?  Applications will open in early November. Questions? Email Rabbi Allie Fischman at afischman@urj.org.

Housing: Teen Village 8 Tents

Register for Summer 2023 >