Welcome to Camp Gan Shalom: a fun place for Jewish kids from all over the greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys to come together to play, laugh, and create beautiful memories together.
Our unique program is designed to engage the campers in a fully interactive camp experience by combining the fun of traditional camp activities while immersed in Jewish themes.
Camp Gan Shalom is a Jewish summer day camp for entering Kindergartners through entering 9th graders, offering our community’s Jewish youth an opportunity to live Judaism, not just learn about it. This is done by offering a diverse and unique program, from Judaic influenced arts and crafts projects to sports, cooking, weekly field trips, swimming, and weekly Shabbat experiences.
Camp Gan Shalom runs two separate camp programs
> Kehilla (entering K – 6th)
> Manheegim (entering 7th – 9th)
Kehilla Program Overview
In Hebrew, Kehilla means community. This Camp Gan Shalom program, for entering Kindergartners – 6th graders, focuses on this important aspect. Through its activities, campers spend the summer having fun with other Jewish kids and helping them create their own community.
Camp is divided into one-week sessions. Campers are grouped by grade (K-1, 2-3, 4-6) so they have a chance to get to know campers their age and participate in age-appropriate camp activities.
Each camp day (except field trip days) is filled with games, crafts, water play or swimming, and much, much more.
Field Trips
One of the many highlights for the campers during the summer are the field trips. Every Wednesday, the entire camp goes by bus on a field trip to some incredible and exciting place in the general Los Angeles area. The older campers in the Kehilla program go on an additional field trip every other week.
In addition to field trips, campers have the opportunity to shape and create their own camp experience by choosing a heetmachoot (specialty) and a rotating chug (activity) each week. Choices have included: Dance – Gaga – Cooking – Soccer
Fridays and Shabbat
Each week culminates with a special Friday all day activity. Often these are the experiences that stick with campers well beyond the end of summer. Some past programs have been: Maccabia Games, Oompa-Loompa Day, and Mud Pie Day.
Shabbat is a very special part of our camp week. Every Friday, campers make, braid, and even decorate their own challah. Additionally, campers and their families share a special Shabbat experience with music, stories, and sometimes camper performances to conclude each week of camp.
Manheegim Program Overview
In Hebrew, Manheegim means leaders. This program is designed for older campers to have a unique and exciting experience while developing as young leaders. Campers in the Manheegim program will have an experience unlike any other summer at Camp Gan Shalom.
Field Trips
Each day, campers will arrive at camp, meet as a group and then leave for a day full of fun and exciting experiences. Examples of past trips have been: indoor rock climbing, baseball game, stained glass making, tour of Homeboy Industries, Parkour training, horseback riding, amusement parks, the beach, a 3-day camping trip and a whole lot more.
Fridays and Shabbat
While the campers are having fun going on daily trips, they will also be spending time taking part in leadership activities. They will develop their skills as young leaders through games, activities, and real leadership experiences. They will even work closely with the staff of Kehilla to help develop and implement activities for our younger campers. Jewish summer camp is one of the most powerful ways to build Jewish identity and commitment in young people. When adults are asked what experiences helped shape their Jewish identity, attending a Jewish summer camp is often one of the top reasons.
By spending part of their summer at Camp Gan Shalom, you will be giving your child the opportunity to create memories and share in experiences that will remain with them for a lifetime!