Frequently Asked Questions

If camp cannot run due to restrictions on overnight camps in Ventura County, we will refund all of your camp fees.

We understand that our families are facing a great deal of uncertainty and have adjusted our 2022 Cancellation Policy to allow families a longer period of time to make decisions about camp before incurring cancellation fees.

All Camp Alonim summer sessions are fully refundable until February 15, 2022. The cancellation fee for First, Second, Third and Fourth Sessions between February 2 and April 30 is $250, and between May 1 and June 1 is $500. The cancellation fee for Mini Session A and Mini Session B between February 2 and April 30 is $150, and between May 1 and June 1 is $250. The cancellation fee for CIT Summer between February 2 and April 30 is $400, and between May 1 and June 1 is $800. After June 1, the cancellation fee for First, Second, Third, Fourth, Mini A and Mini B Sessions, and CIT Summer, is the entire tuition amount for the applicable session(s). Cancellation fee payments cannot be applied to other campers’ tuition, other sessions, or possible future enrollments. Any requested Camp Alonim cancellations must be submitted in writing to alonim@aju.edu.

At the recommendation of American Jewish University’s Administration as well as the Camp Alonim Medical Committee, all campers and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be able to join us this summer. In addition, we are requiring a 3rd dose (booster) for all eligible campers. Boosters are currently available for all individuals ages 12 and up. Boosters are available 5 months after receiving the second vaccine dose. We believe that adding the COVID-19 vaccine to our list of required vaccines is an essential tool in our strategy to decrease the risk of preventable illnesses at camp and in creating a safe and healthy camp community and camper experience.

Medical exemption requests must be submitted to the camp office and accompanied by a written statement from a licensed physician, explaining that the immunization is not considered safe as a result of the camper’s physical condition or medical circumstances. Requests for medical exemptions will only be considered if they are written by physicians who 1) are in good standing with the medical board, and 2) practice in accordance with generally accepted standards of care. All requests for medical exemptions will be reviewed by Camp Alonim’s Medical Committee who will make a determination based on each individual request. Requests may be denied. For Summer 2022 camp sessions, requests submitted after May 1st may not be considered.

The safety of our campers and staff is of paramount importance to the Alonim experience. We intend to follow all regulations and recommendations put forth by Ventura County Health Department, CDC, and the American Camp Association.

Health screening will begin before coming to camp with a daily symptom screening to be conducted at home. Upon arrival to camp, campers will undergo a health check including a temperature check, symptom check, and COVID-19 Specific screening questions. Counselors will also conduct short daily health check-ins each morning during the camp session.

We are planning to run at normal (pre-pandemic) capacity for Summer 2022, with up to 12 campers per cabin.

Every day, we at Camp Alonim are preparing for a tremendous summer filled with lifelong friendships, engaging and creative activities, the exploration of Jewish values, apple butter, and, of course, happy and healthy campers and staff. We recognize that we have all been impacted greatly by Covid-19 and that information surrounding Covid-19 continues to evolve. The health and safety of our community is of the utmost importance. We remain vigilant as we prepare for next summer and are ready to adapt our programs as needed should there be a shift in policy or regulations.

We are working closely with the American Camp Association, Foundation for Jewish Camp, and local health officials to ensure we run a safe camp experience this summer.

The American Camp Association and Centers for Disease Control have released the following guidelines for operating overnight camps during the COVID-19 Pandemic. These guidelines are subject to change and may be superseded by directives from the State of California and the Ventura County Department of Health.

We are continually participating in seminars with health experts to further develop our policies and procedures for Summer 2022. We will update this page with more information as we have it.

We never want finances to prevent a camper from experiencing the magic of Camp Alonim. Our scholarship application is available only after you enroll for camp. While completing the online enrollment application, be sure to answer ‘yes’ for this question: Need-based scholarships are available for Camp Alonim. Would you like to receive more information about how to apply for a scholarship? We will then give you access to the online scholarship application after confirming your enrollment.

For a more thorough explanation of our scholarship application process and what is required to apply, please visit our scholarship FAQ page.

Each summer, we are committed to supporting the needs of our campers. Our staff is trained on helping first-time and returning campers acclimate to the experience of being away from home and the process of settling into camp life. We recognize that our campers have experienced a major change in their daily life over the last few years, and this disruption is likely to continue, causing stress for many of them. We are prepared to support campers with their social and emotional needs. We have a team of counselors, head counselors, camp parents, camp directors, and a dedicated mental health professional who will support your child through any challenge at camp, from homesickness to anxiety, so that your child will be successful while they are in our care.

Camp Alonim is a safe and wonderful place where kids can simply be kids! At camp, kids are able to relax, unplug from technology, have fun, try new things (from a new food to climbing to the top of the rock wall), make new friends, discover their connection to Judaism, and feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves; a community unlike any other. We feel strongly that camp is a place where your children will thrive and forget about the “outside world” for a little while.

If you are concerned about sending your child to camp and would like to discuss anything with us, please reach out to Karen Garelik, Associate Director, at karen.garelik@aju.edu.

Incoming 11th Graders in the Fall of 2022 are welcome to apply to be part of our CIT (Counselor-in-Training) program. For the application and more info click here.

Incoming 12th Graders in the Fall of 2022 will be invited to apply for the Gesher Gan Internship Program. While still remaining a selective leadership development program, Gesher Gan 2022 will be expanded in scope as we continue to adapt the Alonim program to the current moment. The Gesher Gan application will come out in January and we will notify all prospective applicants, and their parents, once it is available.

If you have any questions about Alonim’s Teen Leadership Programs and would like to discuss anything with us, please reach out to Jacob Martinez Raizman, Assistant Director, at jraizman@aju.edu.

We’re happy to answer any more questions you have, and we love talking about camp! Feel free to contact us any of the following ways: By Phone at 877-225-6646 or by e-mail at alonim@aju.edu. For answers to more general questions about camp life, click on the “General FAQs” tab at the top of this page.