Preparing for life beyond camp

By Sharon Wisch-Ray
Aug. 7, 2026

For generations, Jewish summer camp has been a place to unplug, build lifelong friendships and immerse young people in Jewish life: a place where campers can sing, pray, play and simply be Jewish without explanation.

For many Jewish teens today, however, returning home also means returning to classrooms where simply being known as Jewish can invite anything from uncomfortable questions to overt antisemitism.

For the second consecutive summer, more than 200 middle and high school campers at URJ Greene Family Camp participated in a camp-tailored version of the Anti-Defamation League’s Words to Action program.

Near the end of the camp’s June and July sessions, ADL facilitators led separate mandatory workshops for middle and high school campers, along with an optional lunch-and-learn for staff members. Rather than relying on lectures, the 1- to 1½-hour sessions used conversation, role-playing and real-life scenarios to help campers recognize antisemitism and practice safe ways to respond.

Lainey Komerofsky, assistant director of GFC, said the workshops were an important addition to the traditional summer camp experience, giving teens an opportunity to discuss issues they may not feel comfortable raising at home or at school.

For many campers, the conversations quickly became personal.

Some described finding swastikas on desks or lockers, being called antisemitic slurs or feeling isolated as one of the few Jewish students at school. Others said they had become reluctant to speak openly about being Jewish or about Israel for fear of backlash from classmates and friends. 

“It was a hard conversation,” said Komerofsky. “It was uncomfortable, but it was a good type of uncomfortable where you learn and grow from it.”

Komerofsky said campers appreciated having a dedicated space to talk honestly about experiences they often keep to themselves. While some described schools that responded appropriately when incidents were reported, others said they felt their concerns were dismissed. The workshops also gave campers an opportunity to hear from peers facing similar challenges in different communities. 

“The fact that they’re in a Jewish environment and they’ve been immersed in it, they feel more confident sharing stories and opening up to one another,” said Jackie Nirenberg, regional director of ADL’s Central Division. “They’ve already kind of bonded at camp.”

Nirenberg said campers came from communities across Texas, ranging from larger metropolitan areas to small towns where some are the only Jewish student in their class. Despite those different experiences, many shared a common concern: antisemitic comments and behavior have become so commonplace that some have begun to accept them as normal. 

“I don’t want kids to think that it’s normal,” Nirenberg said. “If we let it be normal, then it’s just going to continue.”

Instead, she encouraged campers to seek help from trusted adults when needed and reminded them that they don’t have to confront every incident on their own. Parents, teachers and school administrators can often intervene, she said, particularly when conduct violates school policies. 

Both Komerofsky and Nirenberg noticed a difference between the younger and older campers. Middle school students tended to express more outrage and openly discuss their experiences, while many high school students appeared more resigned.

“The biggest sentiment was they just wanted it to be over,” Komerofsky said, adding that many older campers felt exhausted by having to explain or defend their Jewish identity repeatedly. 

The workshops also offered a learning opportunity for camp staff.

Members of the camp’s mishlachat, or delegation of Israeli counselors participated in the optional lunch-and-learn for staff. Komerofsky said many were surprised to hear firsthand about the experiences American Jewish teens described.

“It was really shocking for the Israeli staff to hear about their experiences in America,” she said. The conversations also gave campers and Israeli staff members an opportunity to better understand one another’s experiences as Jews living in different parts of the world.

Despite the difficult subject matter, both women said the workshops ended on a hopeful note.

“It ended in a really hopeful, ‘How can we preserve our Jewish joy?’ type of way,” Komerofsky said. Nirenberg agreed that while the discussions acknowledged painful realities, they also reminded campers that they are not alone and that there are safe, practical ways to respond.