All overnight camps exist along a spectrum of “religiosity,” from
highly religious to non-religious. How can you tell where a camp lies
on this spectrum? First, examine what sort of organization, if any,
sponsors the camp. If the sponsor is an orthodox, conservative, or
evangelical organization, camp life 
probably has a heavy dose of
religion. It might even be considered a religious specialty camp. At
such a camp, your child may feel like an outsider if she is not of the
same faith as her cabin mates.
Next, find out what proportion of the staff and campers identify themselves with a particular faith and how religion fits into the daily program of activities. Some camps have a religiously homogeneous staff and considerable worship and scripture study built into the daily program. Other camps, with diverse staffs and only a few important religious practices, are closer to the middle of the religiosity spectrum. Naturally, if there is no mention of religion whatsoever, it’s probably a completely non-religious camp.
At first glance, it may seem as if many traditional camps are moderately or highly religious because they have important spiritual components to their program. These can include a secular or religious daily vespers service, some kind of weekend service, or mealtime prayers. At many traditional camps, these spiritual components are important parts of the camp’s program and traditions, but they are not the focus of each camp day, nor are they the camp’s major selling point. By contrast, highly religious camps clearly emphasize that a major part of each camp day includes divine worship and Bible, Torah, or Koran study.
In addition to formal worship and study, highly religious camps integrate religious themes into everyday games, songs, stories, and sports. The campers may be required to conform to certain diets, activities, and codes of dress and behavior. The staff is usually carefully selected according to their religious beliefs. Such camps give children an unparalleled opportunity to grow spiritually in the company of other children and adult role models who share their faith. Most highly religious camps are designed to serve children whose families are members of a particular religious group, or who are members of a specific church, synagogue, or mosque.
Some religiously-affiliated camps, such as those sponsored by the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), are less religious than you might think. Despite its roots in Protestant Christian social movements of the late nineteenth century, the YMCA today has adopted the following universalizing mission statement:
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
You might be surprised to learn that a large number of YMCA camps have sizable Jewish, Catholic, and agnostic campers and staffs. For example, at one YMCA camp we know, about 25% of the campers and staff are Jewish. They feel perfectly comfortable with the camp’s Judeo-Christian value system and non-denominational vespers.
Here’s what some Jewish parents and children have to say about their experience at a YMCA overnight camp. Their experiences may not be typical, but they illustrate the compatible nature of the YMCA’s mission, as well as the potential weakness of a broad religious affiliation.
Although young people of all faiths are welcomed at YMCA camps, some are more religious than others. The same could be said of camps that belong to the Young Men’s Hebrew Association or the Association of Jewish Sponsored Camps. Call the director if you have questions about where a camp lies on the religiosity spectrum.
When you look at a camp, in person or in pictures, remember that facilities such as outdoor chapels do not necessarily mean that the camp is a religious specialty camp. Most traditional camps founded in a Christian tradition still have chapels for Sunday services and daily vespers. However, services at these camps are usually delivered by staff from all faiths. As opposed to being a time of formal religious worship, these services have evolved into a time for staff to share ideas, tell stories with a moral, or describe personal philosophies.
As you learn about individual camps, note your comfort with their religious intensity. Whatever type of camp you’re looking for, you can probably find highly religious and non-religious versions. If you want something in between—some type of non-denominational worship—but you’re not comfortable with a highly religious camp, consider a religiously-affiliated camp that can accommodate your child’s religious needs, such as a kosher diet, a weekly trip to Sunday services, or a time for prayer. Remember, too, that organized religion is just one manifestation of spirituality. A camp can be spiritual, by promoting a sense of peace, friendship, community, and closeness to nature, without having any overtly religious elements.
Next, find out what proportion of the staff and campers identify themselves with a particular faith and how religion fits into the daily program of activities. Some camps have a religiously homogeneous staff and considerable worship and scripture study built into the daily program. Other camps, with diverse staffs and only a few important religious practices, are closer to the middle of the religiosity spectrum. Naturally, if there is no mention of religion whatsoever, it’s probably a completely non-religious camp.
At first glance, it may seem as if many traditional camps are moderately or highly religious because they have important spiritual components to their program. These can include a secular or religious daily vespers service, some kind of weekend service, or mealtime prayers. At many traditional camps, these spiritual components are important parts of the camp’s program and traditions, but they are not the focus of each camp day, nor are they the camp’s major selling point. By contrast, highly religious camps clearly emphasize that a major part of each camp day includes divine worship and Bible, Torah, or Koran study.
In addition to formal worship and study, highly religious camps integrate religious themes into everyday games, songs, stories, and sports. The campers may be required to conform to certain diets, activities, and codes of dress and behavior. The staff is usually carefully selected according to their religious beliefs. Such camps give children an unparalleled opportunity to grow spiritually in the company of other children and adult role models who share their faith. Most highly religious camps are designed to serve children whose families are members of a particular religious group, or who are members of a specific church, synagogue, or mosque.
Some religiously-affiliated camps, such as those sponsored by the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), are less religious than you might think. Despite its roots in Protestant Christian social movements of the late nineteenth century, the YMCA today has adopted the following universalizing mission statement:
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
You might be surprised to learn that a large number of YMCA camps have sizable Jewish, Catholic, and agnostic campers and staffs. For example, at one YMCA camp we know, about 25% of the campers and staff are Jewish. They feel perfectly comfortable with the camp’s Judeo-Christian value system and non-denominational vespers.
Here’s what some Jewish parents and children have to say about their experience at a YMCA overnight camp. Their experiences may not be typical, but they illustrate the compatible nature of the YMCA’s mission, as well as the potential weakness of a broad religious affiliation.
Even though our family is Jewish, I felt perfectly comfortable sending
Eric to a YMCA camp. Few people perceive the YMCA as a religious
organization anymore. It’s more about the brotherhood of man.
-Eric’s mom, Ellen
Jews have always assimilated; they still have to. So sending Scott to a Y camp wasn’t a compromise. I called ahead to find out how much religion was in the camp program and what the demographics of the camp population was. I felt perfectly comfortable sending him to a Y camp because the values and services were Judeo-Christian, as advertised.
-Scott’s dad, Sheldon
In our community, there aren’t many Jewish kids, so it was really important to me to send my son to a Jewish camp, not just a camp with some Jewish kids. For families that live in large Jewish communities, this might not be an issue. I felt like a YMCA camp would not inculcate Judaism as much as I wanted, so we chose a strongly religious, Jewish camp.
-Joel’s mom, Elcha
I thought I was going to be the only Jewish kid at an all-Christian camp, but there turned out to be a lot of other Jewish kids here. I guess if I were Orthodox, I wouldn’t like it here, because the food isn’t kosher. But none of the kids here are Orthodox anything—Christian or Jew. Everybody lives together in peace here.
-Lisa, age 16
-Eric’s mom, Ellen
Jews have always assimilated; they still have to. So sending Scott to a Y camp wasn’t a compromise. I called ahead to find out how much religion was in the camp program and what the demographics of the camp population was. I felt perfectly comfortable sending him to a Y camp because the values and services were Judeo-Christian, as advertised.
-Scott’s dad, Sheldon
In our community, there aren’t many Jewish kids, so it was really important to me to send my son to a Jewish camp, not just a camp with some Jewish kids. For families that live in large Jewish communities, this might not be an issue. I felt like a YMCA camp would not inculcate Judaism as much as I wanted, so we chose a strongly religious, Jewish camp.
-Joel’s mom, Elcha
I thought I was going to be the only Jewish kid at an all-Christian camp, but there turned out to be a lot of other Jewish kids here. I guess if I were Orthodox, I wouldn’t like it here, because the food isn’t kosher. But none of the kids here are Orthodox anything—Christian or Jew. Everybody lives together in peace here.
-Lisa, age 16
Although young people of all faiths are welcomed at YMCA camps, some are more religious than others. The same could be said of camps that belong to the Young Men’s Hebrew Association or the Association of Jewish Sponsored Camps. Call the director if you have questions about where a camp lies on the religiosity spectrum.
When you look at a camp, in person or in pictures, remember that facilities such as outdoor chapels do not necessarily mean that the camp is a religious specialty camp. Most traditional camps founded in a Christian tradition still have chapels for Sunday services and daily vespers. However, services at these camps are usually delivered by staff from all faiths. As opposed to being a time of formal religious worship, these services have evolved into a time for staff to share ideas, tell stories with a moral, or describe personal philosophies.
As you learn about individual camps, note your comfort with their religious intensity. Whatever type of camp you’re looking for, you can probably find highly religious and non-religious versions. If you want something in between—some type of non-denominational worship—but you’re not comfortable with a highly religious camp, consider a religiously-affiliated camp that can accommodate your child’s religious needs, such as a kosher diet, a weekly trip to Sunday services, or a time for prayer. Remember, too, that organized religion is just one manifestation of spirituality. A camp can be spiritual, by promoting a sense of peace, friendship, community, and closeness to nature, without having any overtly religious elements.
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