Summer Programs

Achva

Part of the National Council of Young Israel Movement, Achva includes a number of summer program options.
http://achva.youngisrael.org/
212-929-1525 x181

Alexander Muss High School in Israel

AMHSI is a seven-week long program, geared slightly toward academically oriented students looking for a more intense experience.
www.amhsi.org
1-800-327-5980
Dana Gerbie Klein
617-438-8775
dklein@amhsi.org

BBYO

The Passport to the World experience features a variety of program options including add-on extensions within Israel and Europe.
http://passport.bbyo.org
1-800-698-1002
914-837-9324
NER@bbyo.org

Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel

Twenty-six outstanding North American teenagers (high school juniors who will be sixteen by the time the fellowship begins), from the widest possible range of Jewish backgrounds, are selected for the 5 week Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel.  Fellows encounter the land and people of Israel, study Judaism and major issues in contemporary Jewish life, and learn about themselves and each other. Fellowships cover room and board at the pre-trip orientation, round-trip transportation between New York and Israel, educational programming, and room, board and travel while in Israel, and the fall Follow-Up Seminar in New York City.
www.bronfman.org
518-475-7212

Derech Hateva's Israel Trail Teen Adventure

The Israel Trail Teen Adventure (ITTA) is a month-long outdoor program for Jewish teens between the ages of 14-18 from North America, Israel and around the world. With a respect for nature, participants backpack in small groups and explore, in various ways, continuous sections of the famous “Israel Trail” in the North and South.
www.derechhateva.org
212-537-6280

eCamp Israel

eCamp Israel is an International Technology Summer Camp, opening the gates to the #1 success story of Israel – technological innovation.  eCamp Israel introduces campers to an enriching experience that touches their deepest emotions and spur creative energies in their minds.
http://www.eCamp4u.com
877-322-6748

Habonim Dror

MBI is a unique tour program for post tenth-graders interested in the Labor Zionist youth movement. While MBI is open to those who have not yet been involved in Habonim Dror, participants are expected to be involved in the movement after the summer is over.
www.habonimdror.org
212-255-1796

Hashomer Hatzair

Yedid Plus is the summer experience associated with Hashomer Hatzair, a youth movement based on the principles of the Progressive Zionist movement including social justice, Progressive Judaism, self-actualization, and a commitment to peace and equality.
www.hashomerhatzair.org/ISRAELPROGRAMS.asp
212-627-2830

Havaya International

Havaya International is a 4 week long, life-changing opportunity to travel like a local in both Israel and across the United States, while making a positive difference in our global village. Made up of 18 American teens and 18 Israeli teens, going into 10th-12th grade, Havayaniks will spend two weeks traveling throughout Israel with local Israelis from the 92nd Street Y's sister city in Ramat Hasharon and two weeks in the U.S. getting the opportunity to share their lives with their Israeli counterparts.
www.92y.org/Havaya
212-415-5414

Kivunim

Kivunim is offering a 6 week experience for rising high school seniors.  The six weeks include 2 weeks spent in Morocco and 4 weeks spent in Israel and also include a week total of intense service work in both countries.  The program explores the arts, geography, politics, history, and religion in a fun and transformative environment.
www.kivunim.org
917-930-3092

Mach Hach

Mach Hach is a program of Bnei Akiva, the Zionist, modern Orthodox international youth movement.
www.bneiakiva.org/programs/machhach/
212-465-9536
617-828-9090

NCSY

The National Conference of Synagogue Youth offers a wide variety of summer programs in Israel.
www.ou.org/summer
1-888-TOUR-4-YOU
Elisha Rubin
347-882-1513
rubine@ncsy.org

Nesiya

(Kehillah Experience)
A 6 week program combining outdoor adventure; workshops in the visual, performing, and literary arts; community service projects; cultural activities and creative Jewish study in Israel with Israelis.
www.nesiya.org
212-951-7128
Yael Shinar
yael@nesiya.org

NFTY

(Reform) NFTY offers a wide variety of summer Israel experiences including NFTY Adventure (4 weeks in Israel), NFTY L'Dor V'Dor (1 week in Eastern Europe, 4 weeks in Israel), NFTY Olé (1 week in Spain, 4 weeks in Israel), EIE Summer (6+ weeks in Israel), JewGlee (audition based choir will perform in Eastern Europe and Israel during the trip) and Israel in a Special Way (3 week experience for teens with special needs).  More detail on all of these experiences can be found on the NFTY website.
www.nftyisrael.org
212-452-6517

Noar Hadash

(Reconstructionist) After building community together at Camp JRF, participants travel to Israel for a month-long interactive experience based on a civilizational approach, teens move through history as they find ways in which Jews have lived in Israel throughout the generations.  They spend time in all parts of the country: climbing, swimming, and singing; hiking, learning, and exploring; connecting and volunteering their way through the land.   Upon their return, they spend Shabbat back at Camp JRF.
http://noarhadash.org
215-782-8500x13

Oranim

Choose from a variety of travel options include Israel-only programs and Israel programs with European extensions.
www.jewishteentravel.com
888-281-1265

Scitech

Housed at the Technion in Haifa, Scitech is an international science and technology live-in research camp.
www.technion.ac.il

Tzofim Chetz V’Keshet

(Friends of the Israeli Scouts) Tzofim Chetz V’Keshet (CVK) is an Israel Program for teens ages 14-18, and offers the unique opportunity to have "A Summer in Israel – Israeli Style." For one month, participants are exposed to all that Israel has to offer side by side with Israeli peers and Israeli staff (soldiers from the Education Division of the IDF, who work on our program!). 
www.israelscouts.org
212-451-6282

USY

(Conservative) USY offers many different experiences throughout Israel and Europe for teens and parents. Students are exposed to the history and contemporary realities of Judaism and Israel.
www.usy.org/programs/escape
212-533-7800
NERUSY office 617-964-8210

Yad B’Yad

The Yad B’Yad Israel Experience brings high school students together with Yachad members (adults with special needs) on a fabulous Israel adventure. Participants form strong bonds of friendship and undergo personal growth as they experience the Jewish homeland, Israel, in a new and unparalleled way.
http://www.njcd.org/
212-613-8369

Young Judaea

Young Judaea specializes in giving teens the opportunity to experience Israel with their peers and explore their Jewish.  Options this year include YJ Discovery, YJ Italy, YJ Focus, YJ Aquatics, and YJ Machon (for Camp Tel Yehuda alumni only).  More information can be found at Young Judaea’s website.
www.yjsummer.org
800-725-0612
Meital Fischer 
617-566-0666
mfischer@youngjudaea.org

Young@Science

Young@Science is a month-long program at the Weizmann Institute to study and explore problems in all of the sciences, including laboratory and field work in addition to touring Israel. Seventy-five students from Europe, Asia, America and Israel participate.
www.weizmann.ac.il

Boston area Camp Trips

Almost all of the local area Jewish overnight summer camps offer an Israel extension once your child’s camping years are complete but before they transition into staff.  Generally, these trips are for participants who have been attending camp for a few years.  For more information, contact your local camp directors.  Here is a list of our area camps that have Israel trips: Camp Ramah New England (Ramah Seminar), JCC Camp Kingswood, the Cohen Camps (Tevya, Tel Noar, and Pembroke), Camp Young Judaea in New Hampshire, Camps Eisner and Crane Lake (through NFTY), and Camp Micah.

Camp in Israel

A new trend is developing where Jewish teens can attend a Jewish/Israeli style summer camp in Israel. In general, these options are more appropriate for students looking for a shorter term experience and who might be a bit younger than post-10th grade.

Camp Kimama

Camp Kimama is a summer camp with a full range of activities, whose population comes from all over the world. Camp Kimama is committed to providing a caring and supportive environment, in which children can grow, explore, build self-confidence and gain independence; all while having fun and making new friends.
www.campkimama.org
734-922-5704

Camp Sdei Chemed

Camp Sdei Chemed is a religious summer camp experience in Israel, with separate tracks for boys and girls.
www.campsci.com
718-338-2785

Na'aleh

Na’aleh is a six-week summer program in Israel sponsored by Camp Yavneh and open to the public. Teens, currently in grade 11, travel around Israel in a small group setting. The program, which is educational in nature and strictly Kosher, includes plenty of hiking, daily prayer, interaction with Israeli teens, and the use of Hebrew.
www.campyavneh.org/about-naaleh
617-559-8860
Debbie Sussman (Director of Camp Yavneh)
debbie@campyavneh.org