Lech-Lecha Adventure Camp Summer 2024
Shenandoah National Park
Backpacking, Canoeing, Rock Climbing
Close-knit groups (10-15 teens with 2-3 guides) embark on an epic journey together into the wilderness, backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, praying, learning, singing, and celebrating Shabbat.
Lech-Lecha לך-לך Adventure Camp fosters social connection and personal growth through group challenges, wilderness skills, and creative activities. Our programs interweave a holistic approach to Jewish learning, love of nature, rich discussion, and joyous prayer, in a manner that supports diverse perspectives and practice.
2024 Session Dates
June 23-30, 2024 (8-day Session)
June 23-July 7, 2024 (15-day Session)
July 14-21, 2024 (8-day Session)
July 14- 28, 2024 (15-day Session)
August 9-12, 2024 (4-day Session)
Rising 8th - 11th graders are invited to join any camp session.
ALL INCLUSIVE (Gear, Food, Permits, and Guides)
June 23-30, 2024 (8-day Session)
June 23-July 7, 2024 (15-day Session)
July 14-21, 2024 (8-day Session)
July 14- 28, 2024 (15-day Session)
August 9-12, 2024 (4-day Session)
Rising 8th - 11th graders are invited to join any camp session.
ALL INCLUSIVE (Gear, Food, Permits, and Guides)
Week 1 (June and July): Explore the glorious Shenandoah wilderness. Three days of rollercoaster ridge hiking alongside breathtaking views followed by a 3-day Shenandoah River paddle, weaving along the forest framed river in the company of bald eagles and blue herons. We will spend Shabbat in the rustic Corbin cabin, nestled in the heart of nature.
Week 2 (June and July): Rock climb at Shenandoah's stunning Little Stony Man Cliff as we continue to discover and grow together. Four days of epic backpacking will follow, witnessing our spectacular surroundings and encountering our personal and communal power. Our journey along the Appalachian Trail will guide us to Bear's Den where we'll indulge in warm showers and celebrate a Shabbat of joy and accomplishment together.
August Session: Explore the gorgeous Delaware Water Gap! Hike, Rock Climb, and Swim. Our adventure begins along Coppermine Trail, passing by a wonderous waterfall. We will set up tent camping for Shabbat at the AMC Mohican Center. Sunday’s hike will take us to our Rock Climbing site where we will strengthen bonds and encounter our inner power.
No previous backpacking experience is required.
Week 2 (June and July): Rock climb at Shenandoah's stunning Little Stony Man Cliff as we continue to discover and grow together. Four days of epic backpacking will follow, witnessing our spectacular surroundings and encountering our personal and communal power. Our journey along the Appalachian Trail will guide us to Bear's Den where we'll indulge in warm showers and celebrate a Shabbat of joy and accomplishment together.
August Session: Explore the gorgeous Delaware Water Gap! Hike, Rock Climb, and Swim. Our adventure begins along Coppermine Trail, passing by a wonderous waterfall. We will set up tent camping for Shabbat at the AMC Mohican Center. Sunday’s hike will take us to our Rock Climbing site where we will strengthen bonds and encounter our inner power.
No previous backpacking experience is required.
Facilities include backcountry campgrounds in addition to group sites and cabins. Lech-Lecha's Shabbat and kashrut observance fully support traditional halacha while genuinely respecting each participant's personal practice. We build an eiruv, cook all food and gather all water prior to Shabbat, and replace our nightly bonfire with hanging lanterns, while supporting each participant in their personal choices. Trek leaders are highly experienced and trained with at least one Wilderness First Responder or higher medical certification accompanying each trek.
Tuition
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Lech-Lecha is committed to equity. Thanks to generous support, we strive to accept every camper, regardless of financial ability. Please indicate your need upon registration.
Additionally, you can contribute to our internal scholarship fund here. For 2024, the August JYCM trek cost is $590 for 4 Days. You can learn more here. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Friends: Who's joining me? Can I come with a friend? Group of friends?
Lech-Lecha participants and staff are extremely friendly. The large majority of our campers join without knowing any participants prior and leave with new friends forever.
Hard to be alone in a new group? Bring a friend!
We are also available to facilitate programs for entire groups of 6-15 who want to come together. If this is your case, please reach out directly.
Hard to be alone in a new group? Bring a friend!
We are also available to facilitate programs for entire groups of 6-15 who want to come together. If this is your case, please reach out directly.
Observance: What does pluralism look like in practice?
We believe that every Jewish person can have and would benefit from having a deep connection to our tradition and our people. We believe that every Jewish person can live and would benefit from living an empowered and engaged Jewish journey of curiosity, discovery, learning, and practice. We seek to foster this connection and enliven this journey with love and openness.
Lech-Lecha also values creating a space that invites and respects traditional observance of Torah and Mitzvot. In addition to seeking to meet the needs of traditionally observant participants, we believe that there is a power and wonder to experiencing traditional Jewish observance especially as it comes to life in the wilderness, uniquely facilitating communal and spiritual connection.
Therefore, no matter who the participants are, all communal contexts of Lech-Lecha experiences formally observe Shabbat and Kashrut, offer time for traditional prayer, and cater programming to fall within halachic bounds, and individuals are invited - but never forced - to lean into the communal aspects of our trek.
The journey is the destination. In other words, we don't pressure for any particular outcome or enforce any personal practice – the Lech-Lecha experience aims to inspire, empower, & deepen each participant's own unique – and joyful! – Jewish journey. This is a big part of what Journey-Powered Judaism means. We hope to meet you on the trail!
Lech-Lecha also values creating a space that invites and respects traditional observance of Torah and Mitzvot. In addition to seeking to meet the needs of traditionally observant participants, we believe that there is a power and wonder to experiencing traditional Jewish observance especially as it comes to life in the wilderness, uniquely facilitating communal and spiritual connection.
Therefore, no matter who the participants are, all communal contexts of Lech-Lecha experiences formally observe Shabbat and Kashrut, offer time for traditional prayer, and cater programming to fall within halachic bounds, and individuals are invited - but never forced - to lean into the communal aspects of our trek.
The journey is the destination. In other words, we don't pressure for any particular outcome or enforce any personal practice – the Lech-Lecha experience aims to inspire, empower, & deepen each participant's own unique – and joyful! – Jewish journey. This is a big part of what Journey-Powered Judaism means. We hope to meet you on the trail!
Food: What's it like?
Our campers come away from Lech-Lecha rating our food at an astounding 9.5/10. Our secret? They cook it! With the support of our counselors, trekkers are proud of and excited to partake in their creations.
Here is a Sample Menu.
Breakfast: Oats, cereal, eggs (occasionally), powdered milk, nuts (if participants are without allergies) and dried fruit.
Lunches: Wraps, tuna, cheese, veggies, PB & J, and Nutella.
Dinners: Rice & sweet potato lentil dahl, mac & cheese, backcountry pizza, couscous salmon with kale, and quinoa tofu with zucchini. A special smoked meat treat is served on Shabbat as well.
All food is fully kosher based on CRC standards. We are happy to make accommodations necessary for other allergies and eating habits.
Here is a Sample Menu.
Breakfast: Oats, cereal, eggs (occasionally), powdered milk, nuts (if participants are without allergies) and dried fruit.
Lunches: Wraps, tuna, cheese, veggies, PB & J, and Nutella.
Dinners: Rice & sweet potato lentil dahl, mac & cheese, backcountry pizza, couscous salmon with kale, and quinoa tofu with zucchini. A special smoked meat treat is served on Shabbat as well.
All food is fully kosher based on CRC standards. We are happy to make accommodations necessary for other allergies and eating habits.
Communication Devices: Can we bring them on our adventure?
Distance makes the heart grow stronger. After months of online classes and eyes on screens, we're excited to be taking time off. Parents are asked to hold onto camper communication devices while they are at Lech-Lecha לך-לך Teen Adventure Camp. Breaking out of the familiar surroundings of home and social networks helps us to break into a stronger relationship with those around us, with nature, and with ourselves.
Refund Policy: What if my teen has to return home?
A registered Teen Trekker may decide not to join our programming this summer for non-extenuating circumstances. If this happens two months or more before the start of the session (i.e. before April 23rd for the session beginning on June 23rd), you will receive the deposit less a $90 fee. If this happens within two months of camp (i.e. April 24th), the deposit will not be refunded, yet no additional cost will be incurred. We will not refund any cancellations within two weeks of camp (i.e. June 9).
Communication with staff
Sending your teen into the wilderness may be new for you, or you've never met us - we completely understand and value your desire to know what is going on at camp and stay updated. You'll be able to contact us at all times with the contact info exclusive for parents that we'll share upon registration. But we'll also be actively sharing our experience at Lech Lecha ~ לך לך with daily pictures and messages over WhatsApp (aside from Shabbat).
Safety
Every Lech-Lecha trek is guided by a trained Wilderness First Responder. All additional staff are First Aid and CPR trained. Every teen trek is accompanied by a Satellite communication device to be used in case of emergency when the group is out of cellular service. It is important to note that there is inherent risk in wilderness adventure in which participants are at times hours from the closest road resulting in slow response time from emergency crews and difficulty of evacuation. That being said, we are grateful that no Lech-Lecha participant has faced serious injury that has required evacuation or the use of our SAT device and we do our best to ensure that this remains true for the future.
Teen Adventure Camp Memories
Testimonials
"I had a number of meaningful discussions with a Lech-Lecha Trek Leader. I came to him at several times when I was feeling down or at fault and talked over my feelings with him. He gave me a new perspective and I felt connected with him through some of the life experiences he described. I feel like after the experience as a whole, I have come to view my relationship with Hashem very differently, as a much more personal connection-- not to mention a more caring, even loving one. This is thanks to many of the practices and discussions we did together-- Hit Bod'dut, Hit Torahrut, and Hallel, to name a few. Discussions were also a source for my understanding of my relationship to Hashem. I felt that my discussions with [other trekkers] were also deeply meaningful. [Their] perspectives on life in general, and the thoughtful way he approached the day to day, was inspiring for me. Throughout the trek, I had moments of both wonder and gratitude to my fellow adventurers and to Hashem; I felt like there was nowhere in the world that I would have rather been at that moment and like whatever had just transpired was perfect in a small but significant way.
"A final impactful experience occurred after the trek was already finished and I read for the first time the notes that my fellow trekkers had left, anonymously, about me. Getting to see what others think of you is not always a healthy thing, but in this case, understanding that I had meant a lot to other members of the trip felt really wonderful." - Donley J., 2023 Teen Adventure Camp
"A final impactful experience occurred after the trek was already finished and I read for the first time the notes that my fellow trekkers had left, anonymously, about me. Getting to see what others think of you is not always a healthy thing, but in this case, understanding that I had meant a lot to other members of the trip felt really wonderful." - Donley J., 2023 Teen Adventure Camp
"My Lech-Lecha experience was AMAZING for me! Overall the entire trip was really meaningful to me. I especially found the first shabbat at the cabin really stunning and meaningful. It was very different from my shabbats that I usually have at my house and there was lots of singing and dancing. It was so much fun! The experience impacted me in many ways. It helped me be less stressed about a lot of things. It was so much fun. This was my first overnight summer camp and it was so much better than I thought it was going to be. It made me feel really confident about myself. I 100% loved it!!!"
-Alia B., 2023 Teen Adventure Camp
-Alia B., 2023 Teen Adventure Camp
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