PHOTO: Youth enjoy Camp Kesher, NCSY's newest sleepaway camp.

NCSY
oregon.ncsy.org | 503-201-7748
Area of service: Informal Jewish Education
2022 Allocation: $9,000
Mission: NCSY and the Jewish Student Union are
dedicated to connecting, inspiring and empowering Jewish teens and to encouraging passionate Judaism.

In addition to teen programs offered during the school year, NCSY offers second- to ninth-graders the opportunity to spend almost three weeks connecting with nature, their peers and their Jewish heritage at Camp Kesher.
“We are constantly expanding Camp Kesher, our newest sleepaway camp,” says Oregon NCSY Director Meira Spivak. “Camp Kesher’s niche is to create a fun and relevant Jewish experience for kids in a low-pressure environment.”
Camp Kesher has also expanded its teen program to give teens more trips, more adventure and more fun. Teens completing 10th to 12th grades are eligible to attend one of NCSY’s many summer programs in Israel, or they can apply to work in the camp for a stipend and community service hours.
Teens are also invited to Latte & Learning at the Teen Lounge Thursday evenings; Shabbat Shabang – a Friday night dinner with friends; and Shabbaton weekends, which give students the chance to experience a traditional Shabbat environment while interacting with other teens in the region.
In Portland, NCSY offers Jewish Student Unions at nine high schools and one middle school. The clubs meet weekly in public and private high schools around Oregon, either during lunch or immediately after school for food and an activity.
NCSY doesn’t turn anyone away due to lack of funds.
“Whether it is to attend a Shabbaton, Camp Kesher or a local event, we firmly believe that Jewish kids should all be entitled to Jewish experiences,” says Meira.
Meira says that support from the Jewish Federation is meaningful on two levels. “On the one hand, the money provides us with valuable funding so we can continue to run topnotch programming and offer scholarships. On the other, the feeling of being appreciated, supported and valued goes a long way in our books.”