Ensuring our camp is open and welcoming to everyone is a core value for Camp Ramah. We are proud that over one-third of Ramah campers receive support through our financial aid process each year, while nearly half take advantage of Ramah and/or external funding resources. Below is a list of Ramah and non-Ramah resources that make camp more affordable and accessible.
To learn more about these resources, please reach out to Ben Strom.
We consider it a profound privilege to be your partner in facilitating your children’s Journey for a Lifetime. We can’t wait to have them back again for kayitz 2025!
Ramah Support
Camp Ramah families in need of financial assistance for camp are invited to apply for a Camp Ramah Scholarship, regardless of household income. Scholarship applications will be available in Fall 2024, but families are encouraged to enroll in camp as soon as possible. Applications submitted by 12/13/2024 will be announced in March 2025. Applications submitted after 12/13/2024 will be awarded on a rolling basis.
In order to better serve the growing number of families seeking financial support, we have partnered with FACTS, a third-party organization that provides such services to over 12,700 families, students, and institutions, to collect the applications and required documentation. FACTS will handle the collection of your application, supporting documentation, and validation of the information provided. Our volunteer Financial Aid Committee will personally review each application and make all final award decisions.
www.ramah.org/facts
Please be sure to review and print the instructions page after clicking on the link provided above. There is important information to use as a reference as you continue through the application. FACTS has a team of support to help you if you have questions along the way. Please note that no incomplete applications will be forwarded to us. Be sure to complete all required information and provide all required documentation. The fee for this service is $40 and is charged by FACTS; you will be required to pay this amount upon completion of your application. This fee is charged by FACTS and NOT Camp Ramah in California. If this fee causes your family hardship at this time, please contact Randy Michaels to discuss options. If you need any assistance or clarification, please contact Ben Strom.
The Masah Incentive is a subsidy sponsored by the Winkler Lowy Foundation for returning Ramah campers to complete their camper journey for Tzophim, Kochavim, and Machon (as well as 14, 15, and 16-year-old Amitzim campers). This incentive is independent from our financial aid process and is not needs-based (though there is an application process, see below).
Campers who apply will receive the following awards to offset the cost of tuition:
- $360 – Tzophim campers & 14-year-old Amitzim campers
- $500 – Kochavim campers & 15-year-old Amitzim campers
- $720 – Machon campers & 16-year-old Amitzim campers
Rishon is an incentive program for first-time campers who would not otherwise qualify for One Happy Camper (see below). For more details and eligibility information, please contact Molly Auerbach.
Camp Ramah offers discounts for siblings ($75 for second sibling in the same household, increasing by $25 for each additional sibling), as well as an early enrollment discount ($150 for four-week programs, and $100 for Gesher) for applications submitted between September 16, 2024 and December 1, 2024. For applications submitted between December 2, 2024 and February 14, 2025, the enrollment discount is $100 for four-week programs, and $75 for Gesher.
In addition, children of active-duty military and first responders are eligible for a 40% discount.
Community Support
As Camp Ramah in California does not manage the following resources, please note that this information is provided as a courtesy. Please get in touch with the sponsoring agency for updated information and to verify eligibility and availability.
One Happy Camper is a grant designed for children who are first-time campers to attend a Jewish residential camp for any length of time and who are enrolled in a public or non-Jewish private school. Most campers will qualify for One Happy Camper through their local Federation or Jewish Foundation. If you do not qualify, you can apply for Ramah’s Rishon program (see above) and the PJ Library Goes to Camp Fund Incentive. This incentive is available to PJ-associated applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Synagogue Funds: Inquire directly through your synagogue’s main office, Sisterhood, or Men’s Club. Please click here to see contact information for some synagogues.
- Rabbi’s Discretionary Funds: Inquire directly through your Rabbi’s office.
- Greater Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Federation offers One Happy Camper. Additionally, the Los Angeles Federation offers an additional grant for campers with special needs. You can see more information and contact information for both programs on their website.
- Greater San Diego: The San Diego Federation offers One Happy Camper as well as a need-based scholarship. For questions please visit their website or contact Julie Gordon.
- Greater Seattle: The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle offers a need-based scholarship and is part of the One Happy Camper program. You can contact the federation via email for more information.
- Greater San Francisco: You can visit the website of JCF San Francisco, The Peninsula, Marin, and Sonoma Counties for information on the One Happy Camper requirements.
- Greater Phoenix: The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix offers One Happy Camper as well as a need-based scholarship. For questions please visit their website or contact Andrea Cohen.
- Nevada: Please visit the Jewish Nevada website for information on both One Happy Camper requirements and a separate need-based scholarship for Nevada Families. Please note that Jewish Nevada funds a second year of the One Happy Camper grant for middle-income families.
- Greater Portland: Please visit One Happy Camper for more information and/or to register. There is also a scholarship available through the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation. More details here.
- New Mexico: Please visit One Happy Camper for more information and/or to register. There is also a scholarship available through the Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico. More information is available here. If you have questions, please contact Erika Rimson.
- Your local Jewish Federation/Foundation/Bureau of Jewish Education: Please inquire directly as they may offer financial resources to help pay for camp.
- Jewish/Hebrew Free Loan Societies: Some cities have agencies offering interest-free loans for Jewish summer camps. Please contact your local Jewish Federation to inquire about this service. Some are listed below.
- Southern California Jewish Free Loan Association (serving Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties).
- Northern California Hebrew Free Loan Association of San Francisco.
- San Diego Hebrew Freee Loan of San Diego.
- Phoenix, Arizona Jewish Free Loan of Greater Phoenix.
- Tucson, Arizona Hebrew Free Loan Association of Tucson.
- Portland, Oregon Jewish Free Loan of Greater Portland.
- International Association of Jewish Free Loans.
- USY: Contact your local USY director or go to http://www.usy.org.