Camp Kulanu@Senesh

About:

Hannah Senesh Community Day School is excited to offer a multicultural day camp program that centers Jews of Color (JoC) for kindergarten through second grade students during the February 2023 school break (February 21-24, 2023). 

Kulanu (כולנו) is Hebrew for ‘All of Us’ and at Camp Kulanu, we will build a community that is truly by and for ALL OF US and reflects the diversity of the modern Jewish people and Brooklyn Jewish life. Jews of Color are estimated to make up nearly 20% of the American Jewish community, yet are significantly underrepresented in mainstream Jewish spaces.  We aim to create a camp community where at least half of the participants come from families in which a member of the family self-identifies as a Jew or Person of Color so we can build a warm, welcoming community where every child feels safe, included, and proud to share their own ideas, values, and experiences. 

Our camp program will offer a unique experience where celebrating Jewish diversity and values enhances everything we do. Each day will be filled with a variety of activities including sports, arts, creative play, cooking, music, dance, and more—all infused with that experiential Jewish touch and, of course, fun!

Through a diverse makeup of campers and staff, we will ensure that all participants have the opportunity to see themselves as an integral part of the Jewish people and experience a Jewish program in which diverse voices, stories, heritage, and practices are celebrated.

Join us in building a community that values difference, fosters inclusion and belonging, and supports children and their families to be agents of change toward a more just world, both within and outside the Jewish community.

Details:

WHAT: Camp Kulanu@Senesh is a multicultural day camp program that centers Jews of Color

WHEN: Tuesday, February 21-Friday, February 24, 2023

• Early Drop Off: Beginning at 8:30am
• Regular Day: 9:00am-4:00pm
• Extended Day Option: 4:00-5:30pm

WHERE: Hannah Senesh Community Day School, 342 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY

WHO: Children in kindergarten, first, and second grades. Children from ALL school communities are welcome and encouraged to attend Camp Kulanu!

COST: $400 Regular Day Enrollment | $500 Regular Day + Extended Day Enrollment

WHY: Our mission is for campers and their families to:

• co-create a warm, joyful, connected, and safe experience in a Jewish space
• understand explicitly and implicitly that there are many ways to act, look, and be Jewish
• feel rooted and self-confident about their own Jewish journey
• experience a sense of belonging in the rich mosaic of Jewish life

Our Staff

Camp Kulanu’s staff have been carefully selected. They are dedicated, caring educators with camp and early childhood education experience who share our vision for a more diverse and inclusive Jewish community.

Staff are working hard ahead of camp to develop a dynamic schedule full of engaging, age-appropriate, experiential programs carefully designed to appeal to the interests of each child and to instill in them a sense of belonging.  Staff will welcome campers each day with a smile and create a warm environment that celebrates individuality and sparks curiosity.  

Camp will have a 1:6 ratio of staff members to campers, in line with (or exceeding) the age-based guidance for summer camps as determined by the NYC Department of Health.

Please note that all Camp Kulanu staff members must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Gratitude:

ADVISORY COUNCIL
We are grateful for the ongoing support of our Advisory Council whose questions, thought partnership, and strategic guidance have been integral to the foundation of this camp:

Imani Chapman – Founder and Director, Imani Strategies LLC
Jamie Maxner – Director, Camp Kulanu@Senesh
Martha Nadell – Senesh Parent and Associate Professor, Brooklyn College
Lindsey Newman – Director of Community Engagement, Be’chol Lashon
Chava Shervington – Board Member, Jewish Multiracial Network
Yoshi Silverstein – Founder & Executive Director, Mitsui Collective
Rachel Weinstein White – Executive Director & Founder, Fig Tree

COVENANT FOUNDATION

Camp Kulanu@Senesh is made possible by the generous support of The Covenant Foundation.