We are deep into First Session and things couldn't be better!  Campers have begun their specialized electives and have participated in overnights, social action outings, the Tsofim Caravan concert and a lip sync competition.   

In the next two weeks, we are excited about visiting a water park, Maccabia, and 6 Flags New England!

We are also thrilled to announce that we have increased our enrollment this summer by 32 campers!

BETSY GOLD & DON ASHKENASE RECEIVE COVETED "VATIK" AWARD AT  

CYJ SPROUT LAKE

At CYJ Sprout Lake, the greatest honor one can receive is the highly coveted "VATIK" award. This award comes with a navy blue sweatshirt with the Sprout Lake logo and the word "vatik", Hebrew for "veteran" on it. One can only obtain this honor after 5 sessions of work. In 36 years this honor has only been bestowed to staff members. Through a unanimous vote it was decided that Betsy August Gold & Don Ashkenase should be awarded this honor for their 7 years of commitment to the children and staff of CYJ Sprout Lake through the Friends of Sprout Lake.

On June 27^th, Betsy and Don were invited up to camp under the pretense of speaking with the staff. Little did they know, the staff of Sprout Lake had prepared a special "vatik" ceremony for them. Betsy and Don's families were also secretly invited to attend the ceremony. Upon Betsy & Don's arrivial to the Ashkenase Family Beit Knesset, instead of a staff program which they believed they were speaking at, they were escorted to the front row to find their families and the Sprout staff waiting.

Each of them received a long awaited tribute. Not only for their dedication to camp, but for their belief in camp, and that we can change the world one camper at a time. Both Betsy and Don were the founding members of the Friends of Sprout Lake committee.  Under their leadership the Friends of Sprout Lake have raised over 3 million dollars. The projects they have spearheaded include the building of a climbing wall, a new basketball arena, an arts studio, a new health center, the newly renovated Chorsha, Hebrew for "grove", a high ropes course and the creation of a cooking studio.

Betsy & Don are two volunteers that are dear to the entire Sprout Lake family. They have been present for opening days, Family Fun days, alumni events and just regular days at camp to lend a hand.  The camp director, Helene Drobenare, said, "They enabled us to dream bigger and better than we ever imagined possible. Helene went on to call Don and Betsy, the "best Friends this camp has ever had."   

Don Ashkenase was presented his sweatshirt from his son Andrew Ashkenase, a Sprout Lake alum, vatik and former National Mazkir of Young Judaea. Betsy August Gold was presented her sweatshirt from Helene Drobenare, the director of CYJ Sprout Lake for the past 12 years.  

"Chai Five" For Sprout Lake!

Sprout Lake is excited to announce that it is one of only 18 camps nationwide selected to participate in the latest matching donation program from the Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy! After a highly competitive process, Sprout Lake was offered the opportunity to raise more than $400,000 as part of the initiative this year.

"Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake was selected from many applicants based on an evaluation of your proposal along with your history of past achievements with Grinspoon Institute challenge grants," said institute director Mark Gold. "On behalf of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy, I congratulate you on your camp's selection to participate in this program."

The Grinspoon "Chai Match" could not have come at a better time for Sprout Lake. As our parent organization, Hadassah works to complete the launch of Young Judaea as an independent organization.  The Friends of CYJ Sprout Lake is moving full steam ahead with a plan to build a critical Emergency Reserve Fund, a thriving Scholarship Fund, and a host of important and exciting capital projects.

We are embarking upon the "Chai Match" by reaching out to you -- our committed camp parents, grandparents, and alumni -- with an opportunity to support camp with a Phase One matching pledge of $10,000 or more, payable over three years. Be one of our "Chai Five" donors and help us raise the $54,000 required for this phase of the two-part program. In Phase Two, gifts of $1,800 or more are eligible for a match and these pledges are also being accepted at this time.

We invite you - each of you - to step up and step in to help Sprout Lake achieve its goal of impacting more Jewish children each year with unparalleled Israel engagement through exciting and entertaining programs. 

To pledge a gift for either phase of for the "Chai Match program," please email us now at campsproutlake @ youngjudaea.org or phone us at camp at 845-677-3411. We thank you for your ongoing commitment to Sprout Lake!

Sprout Lake Camper Makes A Difference  

Sarah Schildkraut, a camper is the Tsofim aidah, donated 14 inches of her golden hair this past year to Chai Lifeline.  Sarah decided she wanted to do this in memory of her grandmother who died of AML Leukemia, and also in honor of her dance instructor Jacqui O'Shaughnessey who has bravely been fighting breast cancer over the last 18 months.  During her grandmother's illness, Sarah learned about how the effects of chemotherapy result in hair loss.  She felt bad for others,  especially when thinking about children as well who might be going through this.  

While some people are more familiar with Locks for Love, which requires 12 inches, Sarah was willing to donate the longer requirement of 14 inches for Chai Lifeline since her hair was long enough to be able to do so.  For those unfamiliar with Chai Lifeline, they help Jewish families in the U.S., Canada, UK and Israel with a variety of services, educational programs, specialized camps,  crisis intervention, counseling and much more.  Their goal is to find ways to bring joy to the lives of young patients and their families through creative, innovative, and effective family-centered programs, activities, and services.  

Just like Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake's MADIMOW program, this special donation for Sarah also enbodied the ideals of compassion, kindness, and caring for others inherent in Jewish culture and life.