Camp Program
Camp JCC is like no place else . . .
Coming to Camp JCC is a unique experience. Campers aren’t just greeted when they get here, they are welcomed with the largest smiles and an energy that can only be found here. It doesn’t matter if it’s your camper’s first day or forty-first: Camp JCC is where they want to be.
From the start, we focus on the shared values that everyone wants for their children: kehillah (community), kavod (respect), chesed (kindness), and yosher (honesty). We do so by using a Jewish lens to look at each of our values and encourage our campers to think not only about the action of their behavior, but also the effects their actions have on others. Our staff is trained to be engaging with campers at all levels, and the professionals we partner with make our traditional camp programming second to none.
Welcoming to all, Camp JCC is THE place to be during the summer. From traditional flag-raising and art, to instructional swim and a 32-acre campus, your child will have an unforgettable experience.
If you are looking for a place for your camper to belong, look no further: they already belong here.
Camp JCC serves rising 1st graders and up.
For information about Camp K'Ton Ton options for children ages 2 through rising Kindergartners, please contact our Early Childhood Center by completing the inquiry form found here.
Camp JCC's traditional camp has three units.
Within each of those units there are “bunks” of campers and counselors. No, we don’t have bunks as in beds or cabins, but we use the term "bunk" to describe one group of campers. Since families are able to register by the week, there will be weeks that new campers join a bunk and weeks where a best camp friend is not at camp.
Download printable version here.
Olim - Explorers (rising 1st & 2nd graders)
At Camp JCC, Olim campers will experience an active day alongside peers with two counselors supporting their needs and fostering positive relationships within the bunk*. Camp JCC’s staff structure includes inclusion counselors who will float between bunks to provide additional support to campers. Each week, Olim-ers will participate in a variety of traditional camp activities including sports, nature, music, yoga, and more! Every day, campers of this age participate in our Instructional Swim program led by Red Cross Learn to Swim certified JCC instructors. Also, every day, campers will return to the outdoor pool for a free swim in the afternoon. Each week, there will be a special guest/event on campus for Olim campers to enjoy. *We use the word bunk in reference to one group of campers and counselors. We do not have bunks as in buildings/beds. Check out a sample schedule for Olim here.
Olim literacy enrichment
Camp JCC is proud to partner with Albert Einstein Academy (AEA) this summer to offer a Literacy Enrichment to campers who are rising 1st or 2nd graders. This enrichment will provide extra support for your child in reading and writing skills. It is the perfect way to help your child catch up or to ensure they do not regress from the "summer slide." Instruction will be tailored to the students' specific needs and will be engaging, hands-on, and game based. Your child will gain confidence while mastering foundational skills and will have fun doing it!
Instruction will be provided by a trained reading teacher from AEA in small groups. Campers will be escorted by Camp JCC staff to and from the enrichment. Camp JCC will select a time that is minimally disruptive to their bunk schedule.
Olim Literacy Enrichment is optional and this registration is separate from their camp registration. The fee if you choose to have your camper participate 1x per week is $10/week. The other option is to have your camper participate 2x per week and that fee is $12/week. Register now!
Chaverim - Friends (rising 3rd & 4th graders)
At Camp JCC, Chaverim campers will experience an active day alongside peers with two counselors supporting their needs and fostering positive relationships within the bunk*. Camp JCC’s staff structure includes inclusion counselors who will float between bunks to provide additional support to campers. Each week, Chaverim-ers will participate in a variety of traditional camp activities including drama, music, sports, nature, and more! Every day, campers of this age participate in our Instructional Swim program led by Red Cross Learn to Swim certified JCC instructors. Also, every day, campers will return to the outdoor pool for a free swim in the afternoon. Each week, there will be a special guest/event on campus for Chaverim campers to enjoy. *We use the word bunk in reference to one group of campers and counselors. We do not have bunks as in buildings/beds. Check out a sample schedule for Chaverim here.
Giborim - Mighty (rising 5th to 8th graders)
Introducing a new program for our rising fifth to eighth graders at Camp JCC! Giborim is a part of our traditional camp program that will provide campers with autonomy throughout their day. At this stage of their development, older campers are motivated by friendships and freedom to choose the activities that interest them.
Giborim families will have the opportunity to opt-in for instructional swim, to develop healthy habits and lifelong skills. Giborim families will receive an email notification every Monday giving them the option to Opt-In to instructional swim for the week ahead. This is to ensure we have the appropriate number of instructors scheduled. The campers who do not Opt-In to instructional swim will have daily activity choices.
Camp offers 4 electives each week. Campers will choose 2 of the 4 electives on Monday and attend those activities during the 2 elective blocks each day (except on days when a field trip or Maccabi Games are scheduled). Each elective will be run by an elective counselor who will facilitate the specific activity. Each activity will have at least 2 Giborim counselors with them who are trained to engage in the developmental needs of our older campers. The last activity of the day is spent at the outdoor pool for free swim as an entire Giborim unit. Check out a sample schedule for Giborim here.
Camp JCC has two options for teens:
TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (RISING 9TH & 10TH GRADERS)
The Leader-in-Training program is designed for teens entering 9th or 10th grade who have a desire to learn more about themselves in a welcoming, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment.
For the summer of 2025, we will offer two sessions, each session is three consecutive weeks. Session One is June 30 to July 18 (closed July 4). Session Two is July 21 to August 8. The program is from 8:45 AM to 4 PM. During this time, the LIT’s will be learning the values of leadership like communication, teamwork, and being a positive and active member in the community. This will be done through a combination of activities led by their counselor and volunteering with different organizations.
The LIT’s will attend First AID/CPR/AED and Babysitting classes and receive certification for them. This will give them lifesaving skills and opportunities for employment in the future. LIT’s will spend part of their days with Olim & Chaverim specialists to better understand youth development and programing in a summer camp setting.
Second year LIT’s will have the opportunity to spend part of their days with an Olim or Chaverim bunk. LIT’s who completed an LIT session the summer before their 10th grade year can apply to be part of the camp staff team the summer entering their 11th grade year. Completion of the LIT program is defined as exemplary attendance, active participation with all facets of the program, and a mature mindset.
LIT’s will field trip each week on Thursdays. Each session the teens will engage in a weekly volunteer project which, at times, will also take them off campus. More details about off campus trips will be communicated with registered LIT families. Check out sample schedules for LIT here: Year 1, Year 2
After an LIT is registered for a session, our Camp Coordinator, Joseph DeMarco, will reach out via email to set up a “get to know you” conversation with the LIT in the spring. This will help the teens better understand the program, get insight into their motivation, and build a connection before the start of the program.
We are looking forward to having your teen join our program. They will have fun through field trips, summer activities, and participation in our program to learn valuable skills that they’ll carry with them through the rest of their life. If you have any questions about the program, please contact camp@siegeljcc.org.
Download printable version here.
TEEN TRIPS PROGRAM (RISING 9TH GRADERS)
Teens who will be entering 9th grade in the fall of 2025 are eligible to register for Camp JCC’s new program – Teen Trips – this summer.
Rising ninth graders will be excited to travel to local popular destinations during select weeks this summer. A few destinations that you’ll not want to miss are Rehoboth Beach & Boardwalk, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Hershey Park, and Baltimore’s National Aquarium. The trip days will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The hours are 8:45 AM to 4:15 PM, except every Wednesday there will be a late arrival back to campus at approximately 5:45 PM. A tentative calendar of trips can be found here. Pricing per week (Tue, Wed, Thu) is $400/member and $440/non-member.
There will be an option to add Monday & Friday to your teen’s schedule for an additional fee of $65 per week for members and $75 for non-members. Monday and Friday’s programming will be on the JCC campus & will include a few camp favorite activities such as free swim, archery, and hikes to the Brandywine River. A sample on-campus schedule can be found here.
A weekly itinerary will be emailed to our registered camp families every Friday the week prior.
All campers at Camp JCC will have the opportunity to swim at our outdoor pool.
Free Swim at Camp JCC
Camp JCC uses waterproof wristbands to indicate to campers and staff what area of the pool they are safe to swim in during free swim. We ask that campers do their best to keep their wrist band on for the week but understand that it is not always possible to do so. A new wristband will be given to any camper who does not have one at the end of their instructional swim period or before their free swim period.
Camp JCC staff or JCC aquatics staff will initiate 2 whistle blows during each free swim period and ask campers to show their wristbands. This is to ensure that campers are in their allowed area of the pool. When a camper is in an area of the pool that they should not be in, they will be reminded of the boundaries and what they need to do to be permitted in a deeper area of the pool.
Below are some frequently asked questions about our wrist band system:
1. What do the wristband colors indicate?
- The colors are correspondent to each camper's swim level and indicate where they are allowed to go in the pool during free swim.
- A red band would be given to a camper in level 1, 2A, or 2B and who is under 48 inches tall. These swimmers are not tall enough to use the slide and are not strong enough to be in the deep end. During free swim, they need to stay in the shallow end and may not use the slide.
- A blue band would be given to a camper in level 1, 2A, or 2B and who is over 48 inches tall. These swimmers are tall enough to use the slide, but not strong enough to be in the deep end. During free swim, they need to stay in the shallow end but may use the slide.
- A green band is given to a camper who is in level 3 or higher. These swimmers are strong swimmers who would be safe in all areas of the pool. During free swim, they can swim in both the shallow and deep end and may use the water slide.
- Giborim campers not in instructional swim will have to take a swim test (one lap of freestyle with rhythmic breathing and 1 minute of treading water). Any camper who does not pass or does not attempt the test will get a blue band. Any camper who passes will get a green band. All Giborim campers in instructional swim will instead be placed by their swim level as written above.
2. How can my camper get the green band?
- In order to get a green band, a camper needs to be in level 3 or higher. Level 3 swimmers need to either pass Level 2B or test into Level 3 on their first day of camp for the summer. These swimmers can swim a length of the pool without stopping and with some form of rotary breathing. They can also tread water and swim in the deep end comfortably.
3. How often can my camper test for a green band or to move up a level?
- Campers are tested during instructional swim every Friday if their instructors believe they can pass the level they are in. If they demonstrate throughout the week and during the test that they are strong enough to move up to the next level, they will pass their class. Since having a green band is dependent on instructional swim group, we do not specifically test for wristband color, only for passing their level.
- Giborim campers who have opted out of instructional swim can swim test twice per week immediately prior to their free swim period. They can do this on Monday (or the first day of the week they attend) and on Friday.
4. If my swimmer passes the swim test on the weekend, can they keep that wristband for the slide and deep end during their week at camp?
- The weekend swim test will earn a different colored band than the camp wristbands. The number of swimmers in the pool is much higher during camp free swim, so we are stricter with swim test rules for camp than when a camper is visiting the pool with their family. Any camper with a weekend wristband will also receive a camp wristband corresponding to their camp level.
Please read more about our program, policies, and procedures in our Camp JCC Handbook.
Carrie Kee, Camp Director
Need help? Contact me at camp@siegeljcc.org or 302-478-5660.
Camp JCC Delaware is proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association.
