Tzedek: Alternative Summer Break

MAKE AN IMPACT THIS SUMMER

A unique opportunity for Jewish teens to immerse themselves in hands-on community service for three weeks in Upstate New York AND New York City!

Tzedek: Alternative Summer Break is a unique three-week program for Jewish teens hosted at Camp Tel Yehudah that will take participants out of the everyday surroundings of Tel Yehudah and immerse them in an entirely different environment to engage in intensive, hands-on community service, youth leadership development and experiential Jewish learning that is both enriching and transformative.  Campers will learn about community issues, participate daily in hands-on service projects in the local community and New York City, and leave with a deeper commitment to making the Jewish values of social responsibility (achrayut chevratit), social action (tikun olam), and social justice (tzedek) a part of their every day lives.

What kind of volunteering opportunities will participants have?
Tzedek will have a variety of volunteering opportunities for the group in the local community that will give participants opportunities to learn about problems faced by members of communities with whom they otherwise may have had little or no direct contact.  In addition participants will travel to New York City for close to a week where they will immersed in community service opportunities as they learn about the challenges faced by the urban population.

Examples of service opportunities Tzedek participants have experienced in the past:

• Delaware River cleanup in kayaks with U.S. National Park Service
• Trail maintenance and blazing or building of bridges and walls at a local State Park
• Door-to-door canvassing through neighborhoods to inform elderly residents about local programs and incentives
• Planning day-long activities and programs for underprivileged children in New York City
• Sorting and distributing food to families in need at a local food shelter
• Working and gardening at a local farm/garden and providing cheap, healthy food to nearby residents in need
• Collecting, organizing, and distributing school supplies to impoverished families in New York City through Operation Backpack

Each participant will volunteer between five to seven hours a day, excluding Shabbat, and will be credited with a minimum of 60 community service hours by the end of the program. Tel Yehudah will issue an official letter at the completion of the trip to substantiate the service hours for high schools, community service organizations, etc.

Why is Tzedek: Alternative Summer Break special?
Jewish service learning is an integral part of the Tzedek program, often using traditional and contemporary Jewish sources to provide a framework for understanding and reflection.   Each day, participants will have structured time to process and discuss their experiences and consider how they might integrate these new understandings into their lives moving forward.  Participants will be continuously provided with opportunities to use newly acquired skills and knowledge in real-life situations.

By pairing hands-on volunteer work with service learning, Tzedek participants will:

• build community and leadership skills
• experience and learn about the Jewish commitment to the values of social responsibility (achrayut chevratit),  social action (tikun olam), and social justice (tzedek)
• leave with a deeper commitment toward service that will springboard into lifelong active citizenship
• explore their Jewish identity

Teens will also take part in the social life of Camp Tel Yehudah.  Tel Yehudah is the high school leadership camp of Young Judaea. For 64 years, Tel Yehudah has been the leader in Jewish Zionist camping for teens, building deep connections to Israel and the Jewish people while having fun and memorable experiences.

Is Tzedek: Alternative Summer Break connected to Alternative Winter Break?
For the past five years, Young Judaea has run a highly successful Alternative Winter Break (AWB) program for teenagers in a variety of communities.  AWB is a dynamic service-learning program that promotes social responsibility, volunteerism and the Jewish value of Tikun Olam repairing the world. AWB takes participants to communities in need once a year, for a full week, to engage in intensive volunteering to help the community.  Expanding on the success and importance of AWB, Tel Yehudah is a proud partner of AWB and excited to host its summer sister program, Tzedek: Alternative Summer Break. Learn more about AWB and see news articles and television coverage of previous trips, click here.

Who is eligible? Jewish teens entering grades 10-12

What are the dates for Tzedek: Alternative Summer Break? The 2012 program will run from Wednesday, July 25th – Wednesday, August 15th

Where is the program located?  Tzedek is hosted at Tel Yehudah’s campus located on 150 beautiful wooded acres on the banks of the Delaware River in Barryville, New York. Please also contact us to receive a brochure and DVD about Tel Yehudah.

What does Tzedek cost? $3,500

Are there financial assistance or discounts available?   Limited scholarships are available for registered teens. We also encourage you to look for funding in local Jewish organizations which may provide extra scholarship funds and are happy to help locate and offer suggestions.

• If interested teens have never attended a Jewish sleepaway camp program in the past for more than two weeks, they are eligible for a $1,000 incentive grant through the One Happy Camper program!
• Special funds are also available for teenagers living in the Metrowest NJ cachement area in 2012 through their Destination: Jewish Service Learning grants up to $500.  Click here to learn more!
• We are proud to offer $150 referral discounts for teens who refer and recruit another new teen to attend any Tel Yehudah program who has never attended a Young Judaea camp program in the past.

How will transportation to/from camp work? Campers from outside of the New York metropolitan area will be given instructions for traveling to Newark Liberty Airport. Upon arrival they will be picked up and brought to Tel Yehudah by bus.  Campers who live in the New York metropolitan area may be driven directly to Tel Yehudah or may be dropped off at Newark Liberty Airport to take the bus.

We do have a travel subsidy fund to help alleviate the cost for families that need financial assistance to pay for travel to/from Newark Airport.  More information about subsidies are available after registration

How do I apply?  Visit the following link to complete your application.: https://telyehudah.campintouch.com/v2/camper/application/app0.aspx.  A $500 deposit is expected at the time your application is submitted.

For more information about Tzedek: Alternative Summer Break please contact us at 
telyehudah@youngjudaea.org or 800-970-CAMP.