What Is Camp Ramah in the Poconos and Who Is It For?
Camp Ramah in the Poconos is a Jewish overnight summer camp in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains for kids and teens in grades 2–10. It runs 4-week and 7-week sessions, plus a 6-day introductory program for 2nd and 3rd graders, and offers dedicated inclusion tracks for campers with disabilities. It's a fit if you want a sleep-away camp that combines sports, arts, music, and outdoor adventure with Jewish community life and Shabbat programming — and if your child is entering grades 2–10.
What the Camp Actually Is
The camp describes itself as an overnight Jewish summer camp that has built "a tradition of warmth, inclusion, radical creativity, and fun in a Jewish environment" over 75 years, one that campers come to call their "second home." Programming runs from aruchat boker (breakfast) through lilah tov (good-night), so the Jewish rhythm of the day is built into the schedule rather than bolted on.
Two things distinguish the format:
- It's overnight, not day camp. Campers live on site in bunks (tzrif), which means the social experience — bunk life, camp-wide traditions, Shabbat — is the core product.
- It's pluralistic Jewish community life. The camp frames the experience around a kehillah (community) and lifelong Jewish connections, not just activities.
Programs by Age and Length
| Program | Grades | Length | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taste of Ramah | 2nd & 3rd | 6 days | Introduction to sleep-away camp: sports, omanut (arts), bunk activities, and a camp Shabbat |
| Overnight Program | 3rd–10th | One session to a full kayitz (summer) | The main camp experience: sports, music, arts, outdoor adventure, friendships |
The site references 4-week and 7-week sessions, and the Overnight Program is described as running "from one session to a full kayitz." If your child has never slept away from home, Taste of Ramah is the low-commitment test: six days, same camp, same Shabbat experience, easy to reverse if it doesn't work.
Inclusion Programs for Campers with Disabilities
This is one of the more developed parts of the camp's offering, and worth reading closely if it applies to your family. The camp says it strives to serve campers with a wide range of disabilities, including developmental and intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, learning differences, and neurological impairments. Three named tracks appear on the site:
- Tikvah — the primary inclusion program for campers with disabilities
- Yedidim — a companion program listed under campers with disabilities
- Tochnit Avodah — a work/vocational program track
Because eligibility, staffing ratios, and session availability differ by track, treat the website's program pages as a starting point and confirm fit directly with the camp before applying.
What a Day Looks Like
Activities named across the site include sports, music, omanut (arts), outdoor adventure, and bunk activities, framed by the camp as "creative, experiential, and just plain off-the-wall." Shabbat is a highlighted part of the week — Taste of Ramah specifically advertises "a joyous camp Shabbat."
The camp also runs national programming through Ramah Israel Resources and publicly expresses support for Israel, so families should expect Israel engagement to be part of the broader Ramah environment.
How to Decide and Apply
- Match your child's grade to a program. 2nd–3rd grade → Taste of Ramah or the start of the Overnight Program; 3rd–10th → Overnight Program.
- Choose session length. Shorter sessions suit first-time campers; the full kayitz suits returning campers ready for the complete experience.
- Check inclusion fit. If your child needs Tikvah, Yedidim, or Tochnit Avodah, contact the camp before applying to confirm availability and support level.
- Get dates and rates. The site points to a "2027 Dates & Rates" page and an application link; pricing is not published in the material available here, so check the site or ask directly.
- Ask questions. The site directs families to contact Leanne for more information — use that for anything the website doesn't answer, especially around session availability and inclusion staffing.
A Parent's Perspective
The site includes a testimonial from a camper parent: "I do not mean this lightly when I say that neither kid has ever been happy this many days in a row, probably ever in their whole lives... Seeing how much they loved camp was truly amazing." Read it as a signal about the social-emotional experience rather than as evidence about programming specifics — but for a sleep-away camp, sustained happiness across many consecutive days is exactly the outcome families are shopping for.
Bottom Line
Camp Ramah in the Poconos fits families who want an overnight Jewish camp with real activity breadth (sports, arts, music, outdoors), a strong Shabbat and community culture, a gentle on-ramp for younger first-timers, and structured inclusion options for campers with disabilities. It's less of a fit if you need a day camp, a secular setting, or a program outside grades 2–10. Confirm dates, rates, and inclusion availability on the camp's site or with its contact before committing.