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Making Camp Affordable

We understand that summer camp is a huge financial commitment. Camp Young Judaea Midwest is committed to working with each family to ensure that no child is turned away due to financial difficulties. If you are in need of tuition assistance, please follow the steps listed below to help make the process easier and as smooth as possible.

Two young girls wearing life jackets by lake

Boy covered in yellow color war powder by sand volleyball court

Tuition Assistance Steps

Step #1

Register your child for Camp with the $450 deposit per child. We are unable to consider your application for scholarship until we have ensured that there is space for your child in the appropriate section and session.

Step #2

Determine what your family can afford to pay for CYJ. Many applications for tuition assistance ask that you indicate a certain dollar amount; therefore, you need to figure out what you can contribute and how much assistance you will need.

Step #3

Gather your 2022 tax forms and W-2’s. Most organizations will require tax information for their tuition assistance forms.

Step #4

Apply to CYJ’s funding partners: your local congregation, Jewish Federation and other local organizations.

After you have done all of the above, you will have the opportunity to apply for tuition assistance from the Camp Young Judaea Midwest Scholarship Funds. The CYJ Scholarship committee provides the last piece of the puzzle for tuition assistance money. Our committee takes into account your scholarship application along with the money which has been awarded to you from various other organizations (such as the ones listed above) in order to help make it possible for your child/ren to attend Camp in the summer. The scholarship committee begins their meetings in February after other organizations have made their decisions on how to award their scholarship funds. The Young Judaea scholarship application is completely online and no paper applications are accepted.

Step #5

Apply for funds from Camp Young Judaea Midwest.

Click here to apply online.

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Deadline: February 6, 2024

Click here for a more detailed description of how to apply for tuition assistance.

For questions or concerns in filling out and submitting the online application, please contact the Customer Service at (866) 441-4637, info@factstuitionaid.com or do a live chat between the hours of 8am-5pm Monday-Friday.

First Time Camper Grants

A limited number of grants up to $1000 for first-time campers are available through the One Happy Camper Program. Apply for the One Happy Camper Grant here

PJ Library: PJ Goes to Camp (PJGTC) is a funder of FJC’s One Happy Camper program. PJ Goes to Camp offers incentive grants of up to $1,000 towards first time camp tuition for PJ Library* participants, siblings, and alumni. Click here for more information and to apply.

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Tuition Assistance Available By City

Chicago

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago: This scholarship fund provides funds for campers that live in the Chicago metropolitan area, are currently in grade 3 – 11 and are registered for at least a three-week session. Families earning a gross income in excess of $130,000/year should contact the Federation offices before submitting an application.

Click here to apply.

Click here for eligibility information.

JUF uses the same application as CYJ; please make sure to mark BOTH organizations on the electronic form to be included in both allocations.

Click here to see a sample of how to add both.
Deadline: February 15, 2024
Contact: 312.444.2895, Jewishcamp@juf.org

Cincinnati

Through Cincy Journeys, Jewish Cincinnati children ages 6 to 16 may be eligible for two grants for overnight Jewish camp—up to $2,250 one year and up to $1,250 a second year.

For more information and to apply click here.

Columbus

Columbus Jewish Federation: Needs based funding for up to two years after incentive grant. For returning campers or campers that attend Jewish day school. 3-week minimum camp experience. Email Alyssa for more information.

Click here for more information.

Deadline: March 1, 2024
Contact: Alyssa Russell, 614.559.3234, arussell@tcjf.org

Indianapolis/Bloomington

Joe and Sylvia Rothbard Family Jewish Summer Camp Program: Scholarships and financial need based grants for youth in grades 3-12. Applicants must be members of the Greater Indianapolis Jewish community.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Contact: Pamela Eicher, 317.715.6981, campscholarship@jfgi.org

Lexington

Jewish Family Service: Camperships available for campers in the Lexington area.

Click here to apply.

Deadline: April 15, 2024

Contact: 859.269.8244, jfs@jewishlexington.org

Louisville

One Happy Camper grants are open to all Louisville-area residents under the age of 18 identifying as Jewish and attending Camp Young Judaea Midwest.

First-year campers: Youth attending camp for the first time are eligible to receive up to $2,500 for a session of 19 days or more, and up to $1,500 for an 11-18-day session.

Second-year campers: Louisville campers who received a One Happy Camper grant in Summer 2019 may be eligible to receive up to $2,000 for a session of 19 days or more, and up to $1,250 for an 11-18-day session.

NEW THIS YEAR: Third-year campers: Campers attending camp for third year may be eligible for a $1,500 grant.

Click here for more information.

Contact: Alison Roemer, 502-238-2739, arussell@tcjf.org

Milwaukee

Milwaukee Jewish Federation: Need based financial assistance is available to recognized Jewish summer overnight camps and summer Israel programs.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Contact: Tziporah Altman-Shafer, 414.963.2718, tziporaha@milwaukeejewish.org

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Jewish Federation: Scholarships available for campers in the greater Minneapolis metropolitan area.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Round #1 (for overnight camp only)

Application will open October 9, 2023
Deadline for families to apply for round one is December 6, 2023
First 50 applications will be considered for scholarship awards
(Scholarship decisions announced to both camps and families by December 28, 2023)
Round #2 (for day camps & overnight camps)

Application stays open from October 9, 2023
(Applications 51 and beyond submitted will be considered for scholarship awards in round #2)
Deadline for families to apply for round two is February 29, 2024
(Scholarship decisions announced to both camps and families by March 29, 2024)

Contact: Kristen Cullen at kcullen@jewishminneapolis.org

Munster

Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana: Jewish Community Services offers camp scholarships.

Contact: 219-922-4024.

Omaha/Lincoln

Jewish Federation of Omaha: Needs based scholarships are available for Omaha and Lincoln residents.

Click here for more information.

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Contact: Diane Walker, 402.334.6407, dwalker@jewishomaha.org

Jewish Family Service: Needs based scholarships for campers to attend summer camp.

Click here for more information.

Contact: Linda Cogen, 402.334.6493, lcogen@jfsomaha.com

Peoria

Jewish Federation of Peoria: Camperships for children going 2 weeks or more.

Click here for more information.

Deadline: Apr 1, 2024

Contact: 309.689.0063

Pittsburgh

Hebrew Free Loan Association: Offers interest-free loans on nonsectarian basis.

Click here for more information.

Texas

Jewish Children’s Regional Service: Scholarships are offered to campers living in Texas, as well as Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee

Click here for more information or to apply.

Deadline: Feb 15, 2024

Contact: Annie Mizrahi Annie@jcrs.org