Berkeley & Oakland Summer Camps
Camps for All Ages and Interests
At camp, children can express themselves in a supportive environment that balances flexibility with structure. We get messy, silly, and serious about having fun. We sing, we dance, and we explore our environment. And we always focus on building friendships and expanding interests. Camp celebrates community-based Jewish values, and welcomes campers of all backgrounds. *Extended care is available.
JCC Summer Camp in Oakland is a Jewish day camp that emphasizes self-discovery and experiential learning. We provide kids with the opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun in a nurturing camp environment. Transportation from Berkeley to Oakland is available.
JCC Berkeley Studio Camp provides kids with the opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun in a nurturing camp environment that offers them a chance to focus on their favorite activities all day. Children of all ages can try out a new interest or dig deeper into the activities they already love. Led by experts in their fields, each camp offers a small-group setting and individual attention. This year, we’re giving you even more opportunity to customize your camper’s experience. Choose from adventures in cooking, engineering, Spanish, fashion, and more as you design a summer that your camper will never forget!
JCC Vacation Camp is in! This spring, campers can spend their school break enjoying their favorite activities like music, art, science, field trips, and, of course, Gaga! Fill their vacation with new friendships, new interests, and plenty of adventure with the JCC East Bay's long-running break camp.
More Information: Brianna Sommer, Director of Club J and Camp Programs | briannas@jcceastbay.org, 510.717.8625
Financial Aid 
Click here for information regarding financial aid.
Safety, Supervision, and Authorized Pick-ups
At JCC Camp, your child’s safety is always our number one concern. That’s why we have taken the time to continue improving our safety, supervision, and authorized pick up procedures.
We believe that summer camp is about having a counselor our campers can trust, and depend on to keep the fun happening. To ensure that our campers have an opportunity to bond with their counselors and to uphold the highest quality of safety in our supervision, our counselor-to-camper ratio is 1:6 for entering kindergarteners; 1:7 for entering grades 1-2 and 1:8 for entering grades 3–8.
Berkeley Bus and Berkeley Drop-off and Pick-up: The bus leaves every morning from the JCC Berkeley Branch (1414 Walnut) at 8:45 AM. If you are not signed up for morning care please show up outside the JCC's main entrance between 8:40-8:45 AM. The bus will return to Berkeley each afternoon between 4:15-4:30 PM.
Job Announcement - Summer Camp Positions 2019
APPLY HERE
JCC East Bay’s Camp serves campers, age 5 – 16, 12 weeks throughout the year. Camp @ JCC East Bay provides a safe place for children to learn and practice social skills, explore their creativity and expand their knowledge of Jewish values and culture.
About
Camp @ JCC EB is a Jewish summer day camp with an urban twist. Our home location in Oakland is surrounded by the local East Bay Regional Park system. There are swimming lessons and camp fires, field trips across the Bay Area, camping trips, and days filled with every camp activity you can imagine. We celebrate Shabbat every Friday and incorporate Judaic themes throughout camp programming, yet pride ourselves on being inclusive to all religious beliefs and practices. The Cam staff is a team that works together to create a community where each member is enriched by the experience. Our emphasis during camp is to nurture the campers in a safe environment that allows them to feel a strong sense of community as well as celebrate themselves as an individual. Our team includes people of both Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds who are committed to enhancing the lives of children in positive and meaningful ways.
General Camp Schedule
Commitment: Pre-Camp runs from June 3, 2019 to June 14, 2019. Summer camp runs June 17, 2019 - August 2, 2019 (no camp July 4, 2019). Mandatory staff training in May & June (dates tbd), with a parent orientation on the evening of Thursday, June 13. The summer camp schedule is generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM with some evening expectations.
Positions Available
General Counselors
- Engage kids in fun day-to-day programs and activities at camp
- Know each camper by name
- Show that safety is always important, especially at free swim
- Compassionately and thoughtfully resolve camper conflicts
- Work collaboratively with co-counselors and fellow camp staff to ensure that camp runs safely and smoothly
- Act as a positive and appropriate role model for fellow staff and campers
- Support the goals and spirit of Camp @ JCC East Bay
- Childcare or equivalent experience
- 18+ years old
Junior Counselors
- Engage kids in fun day-to-day programs and activities at camp
- Know each camper by name
- Show that safety is always important, especially at free swim
- Compassionately and thoughtfully resolve camper conflicts
- Work collaboratively with co-counselors to ensure that camp runs smoothly in their group
- Act as a positive and appropriate role model for fellow staff and campers
- Support the goals and spirit of Camp @ JCC East Bay
- Previous childcare experience preferred
- 16+ years old
Group Coordinators
In addition to the General Counselor responsibilities, Group Coordinators:
- Attend additional day of supervisor training (in May)
- May help lead sessions during staff training
- Serve as direct line of communication between Camp Office and counselors
- Pick up rosters every morning and turn them in every afternoon
- Communicate with office manager every morning regarding notes from office, parents, rosters, and forms
- Plan field trips and group programs, including Sports, Science, Cooking, etc.
- Supervise group staff daily
- Drive a camp vehicle to and from field trips
- Strongly preferred: Age 21+, with valid driver’s license and clean driving record
- Evaluate group staff twice over the course of the summer
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience Preferred: Current Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder Certification Preferred: Lifeguard Certification
Substitute Counselors
Substitute counselors should have all qualifications of general counselors, and: Available on an as-need basis during the summer Might be called in for reasons other than counselor (ex: helping move in or out of camp)
