Jewish Summer Camps in the Northeast
The Northeast is the heart of Jewish summer camping in America. With programs across New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland — every family finds their fit here.
When Jewish families think of summer camp, they think Northeast. New York's Catskill Mountains, Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, Connecticut's lake country, and Maryland's suburbs collectively host more Jewish overnight camps than any other region in the world. The tradition runs deep — many of these programs have operated continuously for 80, 90, even 100 years.
The Northeast Jewish camp ecosystem spans every affiliation: Agudath Israel and Haredi-network camps in the Catskills, Modern Orthodox and Religious Zionist programs in the Poconos, Chabad-affiliated programs in New England, NCSY programs in Maryland, and inclusive and special-needs camps throughout the region. There are programs for boys, girls, co-ed, all ages, all budgets, and all backgrounds.
The common thread is quality: Northeast Jewish camps have refined their programming over generations. The staff pipelines are deep, the facilities are mature, and the communities that gather each summer — campers, counselors, and families — carry a shared culture that transcends individual programs. Choosing a Northeast Jewish camp means choosing into something larger than a single summer.
Northeast Jewish Camp Regions at a Glance
Catskill Mountains, NY
The iconic heartland — Liberty, Parksville, Glen Spey, Sullivan County. Camp Agudah, Camp Bnos, Camp HASC, Camp Romimu, TheZone, Camp MDM, Camp Simcha.
Pocono Mountains, PA
East Stroudsburg, Lakewood PA, Honesdale. Camp Dora Golding, Camp Morasha, Camp Raninu, Camp Nesher, Camp Morasha Yachad, Camp Kesher NCSY.
Connecticut & New England
Moodus, CT. Camp Chomeish of New England — the landmark Chabad-affiliated girls' overnight camp serving NYC, NJ, and New England families.
Maryland
Baltimore. NCSY Camp Sports — 4 weeks of competitive sports and Torah learning for boys grades 8–12.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest concentration of Jewish summer camps in the US?
New York's Catskill Mountains (Sullivan, Ulster, and Delaware counties) and Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains together form the world's largest concentration of Jewish overnight camps. Dozens of programs operate in these two regions, collectively serving tens of thousands of campers each summer.
How do I choose between a Catskills camp and a Poconos camp?
Catskills camps in New York tend to have a stronger Haredi/Yeshivish representation (Camp Agudah, Camp Bnos, Camp Romimu, TheZone). Pocono camps in Pennsylvania lean slightly more toward Modern Orthodox and co-ed options (Camp Morasha, Camp Nesher, Camp Dora Golding). Both regions offer world-class programming — the choice often comes down to specific camps, affiliation, and family tradition.
What Northeast Jewish camps serve campers with special needs?
Camp HASC (Parksville, NY), Camp Simcha (Glen Spey, NY — for children with serious illness), Camp Kaylie/OHEL (Wurtsboro, NY — inclusive model), and Camp Morasha Yachad (Lakewood, PA) are the leading Northeast Jewish camps serving campers with special needs or disabilities.
Are there Northeast Jewish camps that are affordable?
Camp Romimu in the Catskills is one of the most affordable Jewish overnight camps in the Northeast at approximately $1,645/month — remarkable for the quality of facilities. TheZone by Oorah is heavily subsidized. Camp Simcha is fully funded by Chai Lifeline for children with serious illness. Many programs offer scholarship funds.
Which Northeast Jewish camps are co-ed?
Co-ed (or mixed-session) Jewish camps in the Northeast include Camp Nesher (PA), Camp Kaylie/OHEL (NY), Camp Morasha Yachad (PA), TheZone by Oorah (NY, separate sessions), and Camp Simcha (NY). Most traditional Jewish overnight camps are single-gender.
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