When the sun shines brightly, the temperatures are rising, and the world is full of green, it is summer and time for Camp Raanana, where the best summer memories are made!
About Camp Raanana
The J’s Camp Raanana has provided summer day camp experiences for many decades for children as young as entering Young Fives, up through entering 10th grade counselor-in-training experience. Camp Raanana’s summer home at Cedar Lake Nature Center in Chelsea is generously shared by Michigan United Conservation Club’s (MUCC). Our enthusiastic staff begin each campers day with a personal greeting to get them excited for a full day of new experiences and exciting activities.
We maintain a healthy balance of structured and free play, along with plenty of peer interaction. Our counselors are caring, involved, and deeply engaged companions to our campers while providing constant supervision. The Camp and Youth Director plans and coordinates a summer of enriching activities and leads the highly trained and experienced staff. As your child develops, so too does their Camp Raanana experience. Throughout the week, campers go through a variety of activities, ranging from aquatic activities, arts and crafts (or “creation station”), sports and games, nature activities, and a combination of games and open-ended creativity through music and drama (or “folklore”). Campers also have the choice to participate in archery, and older campers have the option to go boating in a kayak or canoe. Throughout the summer there are also various overnight opportunities geared for different ages.
Is your middle schooler or high schooler looking for something meaningful to do this summer? Camp Raanana’s leadership program for those entering grades 7 through 9 provides camp fun and skill building through a mix of regular camp activities, field trips, and leadership training. The Ozrim counselor-in-training program for those entering grade 10 offers hands-on experience in a supportive environment under the mentorship of our staff. Being an “Ozo” is a great way to learn how to be a role model and build professional skills while being part of a team.
Camp Raanana Mission Statement
Camp Raanana is a pluralistic Jewish day camp that strives to create a transformative and fun summer experience. We provide each camper and staff member a safe environment that nurtures identity, builds character, and promotes a true sense of community.
Our Core Values
At Camp Raanana we are surrounded by a natural beauty in the truest sense. The trees that line our camp each have stories of growth and development not unlike each of our campers and staff. Our trees, not unlike ourselves, are firmly rooted. Our shorashim (roots), or foundation, was planted upon the ideals of Identity (zehoot), Character (ofi), and Community (kehila). Our anafim (branches) grow from these roots and help support our campers and staff on their own journeys. These branches are the central values for our camp community. We make time to accentuate our six branches every day and in doing so, they become something even more valuable to us: the skills we use to traverse an ever-growing and developing world.
Our six branches are:
Ruach* – רוח (ruach) *loose English translation is “spirit”
Friendship – חברות (chevrut)
Independence –עצמאות (atzma’ut)
Creativity – יצירה(yetzirah)
Kavod* – כבוד (kavod) *loose English translation is “respect”
Kindness – חסד (chesed)
Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor Mission Statement
To enhance Jewish identity, culture, and values for the community, through a wide range of resources and excellent programming.
JCCA of North America
The JCC Association of North America is the continental umbrella organization for the Jewish Community Center Movement, which includes more than 350 JCCs, YM-YWHAs, and camp sites in the U.S. and Canada.
JCC Association offers a wide range of services and resources to help its affiliates to provide educational, cultural, social, Jewish identity-building, and recreational programs for people of all ages and backgrounds.
JCC Association supports the largest network of Jewish early childhood centers and Jewish summer camps in North America, and is also a U.S. government accredited agency for serving the religious and social needs of Jewish military personnel through JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
Licensing
The camp program is licensed by the State of Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The program is operated on a not-for-profit basis as a service to families of Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. Michigan Licensing rules enforce a strict School Age ratio of 1 teacher to 18 campers. The JCC of Greater Ann Arbor strives to maintain a 1:10 ratio.
The camp program is mandated by the Child Protection Law and will report to the Child Protective services, any suspected cases of child abuse, neglect, child sexual abuse or sexual exploitation. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Child Protection Law, and the program’s reporting guidelines, please speak to the director.
