Intro Experiences

Current Grades 1-4

Rookie Day Current 1-3 graders (2023-2024 school year):

This is a terrific opportunity for prospective new campers to enjoy a full day of fun at Camp Harlam! They’ll participate in group activities (like arts and sports) with other kids their own age, eat lunch in the Chadar Ochel (Dining Hall), hear from “real” campers about what camp is really like, and earn a certificate at the completion of the program.

Parents will drop children off at a location close to camp, where kids will get on a bus to camp along with their new camp friends, counselors, and a songleader. Parents will meet at camp that afternoon for a camp tour and Q&A with our camp directors, and will reconnect with their children for a closing ceremony.

This program is offered during 1st session.

Summer Taste of Camp Current 1-3 graders (2023-2024 school year):

Our Summer Taste of Camp program is for current 1st-3rd graders and provides a unique opportunity to experience Harlam. In addition to participating in lots of activities, campers make connections that will help in their transition to overnight camp. This overnight experience will include programming for parents, including a Q&A with camp directors and camp tour. 

This program is offered during 2nd session.

Rishonim Current 2-3 graders (2023-2024 school year):

Rishonim means “First Ones” in Hebrew and is exclusively designed to provide an introduction to the Harlam experience and highlights the best of what our community and program offers in a shortened 12-day stay! We tailor the program accordingly – with a beginning, middle, and end – and hire staff to best address the needs of those campers. We hope they leave feeling more confident and ready for the full session the following summer. 

This program is offered during 2nd session.

Junior Camp

Entering Grades 3-8

The Junior Camp program offers a complete camping experience in a Reform Jewish setting. Participants in Junior Camp are divided into five units, based upon grade level: Carmel, Sharon, Kineret, Arava and Galil (all named after regions in Israel). Educational, arts, aquatic, athletic and adventure activities are designed to guide children in an exciting summer of growth and opportunity.

Our educational program challenges each child to discover and investigate important Jewish issues and themes.

The Arts program offers each camper a chance to explore a myriad of activities: arts and crafts, ceramics, theater, dance, music, photography, audio production, video, digital photography and more.

Athletics and swimming at camp are both recreational and instructional. Harlam campers enjoy outstanding facilities which include: 8 tennis courts, 5 basketball courts, 3 soccer fields, 5 softball fields, 2 beach volleyball courts, a zipline, a 50-foot climbing tower, indoor and outdoor climbing walls, a low ropes course, mountain biking, an in-line skating path, hockey rink, 2 ga-ga courts, a tree house, and an indoor sports field house. The Camp Aquatics Program operates 3 swimming pools and a lakefront for swimming and boating in accordance with American Red Cross guidelines.

K’far Noar

Entering Grade 9

K’far Noar is the entry into senior camp. Campers live in their own community village on the edge of main camp. In K’far Noar, 9th graders experience an intense and challenging summer featuring some of the elements of Junior Camp programming as well as facets of youth group programming that focus on team building, group decision-making, and leadership training.

Chavurah

Entering Grade 10

Located in a village ¼ mile down the road from main camp, Chavurah is a unique opportunity for our Camp Harlam teenagers to experience independence as well as group leadership. The Chavurah program teaches teenagers the basics of Jewish youth leadership and community programming. Counselors provide supervision, serving as advisors to the campers and helping coordinate and plan activities and programs together. The Chavurah Village is self-sufficient. However, the Chavurah Unit joins the rest of Camp for Shabbat, the majority of meals, and some programming. Facilities in Chavurah include: a recreation hall, softball and soccer fields, beach volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, and a swimming pool.

NFTY in Israel

Entering Grade 11

Together with your URJ Camp Harlam friends, create and be part of an immersive traveling Jewish community. The Adventure program is a unique and challenging four-week summer experience created for teens who seek a meaningful and exciting journey to Israel filled with amazing memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. For more information, visit NFTYIsrael.org/Harlam. 

Gesher

Entering Grade 12

Camp Harlam’s Counselor in Training (C.I.T.) program is designed to bridge the gap from being a camper to being a staff member. The program combines leadership training, education on how to be a staff member, hands-on experience working with campers, and separate activities just for the participants in the Gesher program. A select group is accepted into this program based on their applications, personal interviews, essays, and recommendations.

The Gesher program is an 8-week (full season) experience that includes a 2-week experiential component living in the cabins with campers. For more information, visit our Gesher page. 

More experiences with the URJ