At URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy, campers get to experience sleepaway camp, science, and Judaism alongside other like-minded 4th through 10th graders. While many of our campers have previous experience with either science or Judaism, they don’t have any experience being away from home for an extended period of time. We have campers that join us for the first time at every grade level, however there was growing interest from our youngest age group for a trial camp experience.
In response, we began the Taste of Camp (ToC) session. Now in its third year, ToC is a weeklong mini session for rising 4th graders who are coming to sleepaway camp for the first time.
“Every kid has a different feeling about sleepaway camp,” said Riley Reichenberg, now a multi-session camper. “I was even homesick for the first two hours of camp this year. But if you’re open to trying something new and understand that it might be tough at first, then it’s a great thing to try.”
ToC gives campers a short, engaging introduction to all the best parts of camp and is staffed by leadership and senior instructors to support them during this new experience. From building robots in mini workshops to exploring chugim (electives) and getting used to dorm life, campers try it all in just a few days.
“I liked the idea of Taste of Camp because it wasn’t a huge commitment, you don’t miss a weekend, and you get to try all the workshops. Even though there weren’t a ton of people in the group, I made friends with all of them, and I wanted to come back. Last summer I came back for one session and this summer I came back for two sessions,” said Riley.
ToC is all about discovery and becoming comfortable in the camp environment. Several campers who started with ToC have since returned for full sessions, and for many, it all started with just one week.
For Isaiah Bloom, ToC was the first step in his sleepaway camp experience. “I wasn’t sure about the two-week session but Taste of Camp was like a preview. It was fun.”
Parents have also seen the value. Isaiah’s mother, Aliza Hochman Bloom, shared, “Isaiah started his overnight camp journey with Taste of Camp. It was incredible. The staff is professional and knowledgeable, making Isaiah feel immediately welcome and at home. I am so grateful I listened to the friends recommending Sci-Tech for Isaiah. It’s now his third summer and he has blossomed so much there.”
Riley’s mother, Shari Reichenberg, said “We knew that a traditional sleepaway camp wouldn’t be the right fit for Riley, but as a former URJ camper myself, I believed in my heart that he would deeply connect with the values, music and friendships at camp — especially if he could pursue his passion for technology at the same time. Sci-Tech seemed like the ‘needle in the haystack,’ but Taste of Camp allowed Riley to give it a try and see for himself — and, of course, that’s exactly what this incredibly special camp is. In just five days, he got to experience Sci-Tech’s amazing staff, its uniquely like-minded campers, its high-quality science and technology programming, what I’m told is the best camp food in the world, and, best of all, many of the same beloved rituals that I grew up with, too. Sci-Tech has been the most incredible gift, and Taste of Camp is what made it all possible for our family.”
Being away from home for the first time can feel like a big step, no matter your age. But with a supportive environment and session lengths that fit every family, campers at URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy can ease into the overnight camp experience while discovering a community filled with curiosity, creativity, and connection.