Rishonim means “First Ones” in Hebrew and it’s the perfect name for our brand new Intro Experience program, where first-time campers get to try the best Harlam has to offer in a shortened 12-day stay! This program is designed exclusively for campers to provide an introduction to the Harlam experience and highlights the best of what our community and program provide. Rishonim campers will be assigned to bunks with only other Intro Experience participants.
Rishonim A: Wed. 7/22 – Sun. 8/1 for current 1st & 2nd graders (as of Sept. 2019)
Rishonim B: Wed. 8/5 – Sun. 8/16 for current 3rd & 4th graders (as of Sept. 2019)
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.
During each session, our Junior Camp campers take a number of out-of-camp trips. Carmel & Sharon go to Beltzville State Park, Kineret goes to a minor league baseball game, and Arava & Galil go to Dutch Springs Water Park. Carmel, Sharon, & Kineret also go to Dorney Park Wildwater Kingdom amusement park, while Arava & Galil visit Hersheypark.
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. In addition, the unit takes two-day trips each session -- first session our campers travel to the Baltimore/Annapolis area and second session they visit New York City. 
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. Each session Chavurah takes a four-day trip out of camp -- first session to Boston and second session to Washington, D.C.
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 young adults in the Gesher program. A select group is accepted into this program based on their applications, personal interviews, essays and recommendations. Visit our Gesher page for more information.