Camp Be’chol Lashon FAQ

Our diverse staff foster global Jewish identity development in a safe, nurturing environment. A more expansive vision of the Jewish people coincides with the worldview of younger generations of Jews who have increasing access to technology, and for whom being Jewish is one of many identities. Campers develop Jewish friendship circles and build a deeper connection to Jewish life through diverse programming that reflects the multiple identities of contemporary Jews. We see all of our campers as future leaders. Since some are in the position of being spokespeople and educating others about their Jewish journey, we want them to be prepared and feel supported. We encourage all campers to see multiple identities as an asset, allowing them greater tolerance and understanding of complexity. Our goal is to foster cultural competence, giving children the skills to successfully navigate life as proud Jews and global citizens.

We are happy to schedule a Skype call with you and your child to ask questions and discuss any concerns. In our experience, this is a great way to get to know the counselors, make a reassuring connection, and generate excitement.

While ALL children are invited to be part of a global Jewish community, Camp Be’chol Lashon is the only summer camp focused on Jews as a multicultural people. CBL expands the borders of the Jewish community, allowing ethnically and racially diverse Jews to see themselves as an integral part of world Jewry. CBL brings kids of diverse experience and backgrounds together and facilitates deep and lasting friendships.

Yes! CBL is located in the San francisco Bay Area, but campers come from around the country and around the world. We personally accompany children to and from the airport

In addition to activities like kayaking and canoeing, the success of Camp Be’chol Lashon has been in large part due to its innovative curriculum “Passort to Peoplehood” that focuses on the vision of Jews as a global multicultural people. Each day campers use their ‘passports’ to ‘travel’ to a different country to encounter the culture of different Jewish communities through art, music, dance, and cooking.

Click here to view a sample schedule.

Yes! Every session has a mix of new and returning campers. Camp Be’chol Lashon is a welcoming place for everyone. We are a relatively small camp which allows us to pay careful attention to the emotional experience and identity development of each camper.

We regard “homesickness” as a normal, healthy occurrence for children and refer to this as “missing home” to help differentiate the feeling from a sickness. Our staff members and veteran campers provide appropriate support.

Many of our campers attend multiple camps during the summer. We see CBL as a supplemental leadership camp focused on positive identity development in a multicultural Jewish context.

No. We offer kosher-style, vegetarian, and vegan food options. We do not serve bacon or shellfish, nor do we mix meat and dairy.