Picture yourself singing and making s'mores around a crackling campfire with an extended family of singles, couples, families and grandparents from diverse Jewish backgrounds. On August 24–28, 2005, Camp Yavneh will bring this klal Yisrael (pluralistic) vision to life with its first Family Camp at Yavneh.

"Within the Jewish community and society at large today, there's a lack of family time," observes Rabbi Yehudah Potok, assistant director of Camp Yavneh. "It's often difficult to find somewhere to go where there is something for everyone to do."

To meet this need, Family Camp at Yavneh will offer a wide range of programming geared toward both children and adults. The four-day-and-night experience will combine traditional summer camp activities—swimming and sailing, field sports, arts and crafts, music, dance and guided nature hikes—with optional Jewish learning sessions with scholars-in-residence, prayer services for different denominations and a spirit-filled Shabbat. No prior camp experience is necessary.

Set on 65 acres of land in Northwood, N.H., Camp Yavneh is shomer Shabbat and strictly kosher. Hebrew College founded Camp Yavneh in 1944 as the fullest embodiment of its commitment to informal Jewish education. For more information, contact the Camp Office at 617-559-8860 or familycamp@campyavneh.org.

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