The Young Judaea Sprout Camps are a pluralistic community aimed at inspiring Jewish Identity, a connection to the State of Israel and a deep sense of Jewish peoplehood. Campers experience an extraordinary summer in a warm and supportive community that encourages individual growth, creates lasting friendships, a commitment to Tikun Olam and develops leadership skills. Young Judaea Sprout Camps is the summer expression of Young Judaea, the Zionist Youth Movement.

CYJ Sprout Lake is located in the majestic Hudson Valley of New York on 86 acres. For over 45 years, we have been known for excelling in creating a safe space for children through our dedication to their emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. We inspire Jewish children to live their best lives, connect to Israel and the Jewish people, and to make a difference in the world. Our intimate camp size (maximum 225 campers per session), fun, innovative and inclusive programming, and state of the art sports sets us apart.
The philosophy of Sprout Lake is a set of ideals and goals, as well as the means or methods of achieving them. It is this philosophy that has imbued camp with its unique and special feeling and which accounts for its continuing success and impact on the lives of both children
and staff.

➔ A Connection to Israel
➔ A Creative Jewish Experience
➔ Personal Growth of the Individual
➔ Democratic Social Experiences in a Group
➔ Appreciation of Nature and an Enjoyment of the Outdoors

 

I. A Connection to Israel

● Campers participate in stimulating programs designed to teach them about the history, geography, peoples, and issues of the State of Israel.
● Israeli culture is present in camp in the form of Israeli folk dancing, songs, and scouting. Israeli staff members make this
cultural experience come alive.
● Hebrew is used as much as possible at Sprout Lake.
● Campers and staff build a bridge between our community at Sprout Lake and the people of Israel, through personal
relationships and experiences.


II. A Creative Jewish Experience
● Sprout Lake provides a taste of Judaism by living Judaism, not by directly teaching Judaism. Judaism becomes a part of the
daily routine, introduced to the campers in a positive environment.
● Campers and staff members develop positive Jewish attitudes and identifications because of the positive Jewish environment.
● Campers and staff members see the relationship between what we do at camp and the different Jewish ideas and perspectives
they see outside of camp.
● Through a wide variety of activities involving the history and development of Israel and its impact on the total Jewish
community, camp gives our campers and staff members the opportunity to understand both their rich cultural heritage and
contemporary Jewish life.


III. Personal Growth of the Individual
● Campers acquire new skills and further develop existing skills.
● The campers learn to express individual needs, abilities, and interests.
● Campers and staff members develop self-understanding and relationships with others.
● The campers and staff members develop self-confidence in a group situation.
● Campers and staff members develop spontaneity, flexibility, creativity, and the capacity for enjoyment, including new experiences.


IV. Democratic Social Experiences in a Group
● Under the guidance of mature staff members, campers take on many of the basic responsibilities of their day-to-day lives.
● Campers learn what it means to live within a group and to become good citizens.
● Campers develop the feeling of belonging to a Jewish group.
● Campers develop a respect for individual differences.
● The camp setting provides a balance between freedom and control, fun and responsibility, permissiveness and limit-setting, and organized activities and free time.


V. Appreciation of Nature and an Enjoyment of the Outdoors
● Fundamental to the philosophy of the camp is that the total program takes place in a natural environment.
● Campers enjoy a familiarity with nature and the outdoors through enjoyable experiences in the world of nature.
● Direct contact with the land, mountains, streams, lakes and living animals provides campers with awareness of the basic
elements of life, which the urban environment cannot provide.
● Campers become aware of how their behavior directly affects the environment, both locally and globally, and learn to take
responsibility for the resources made available to them.