Eco-Village

Our goal is to begin building in 2012 and to be ready to move campers in for Summer 2013.

Although support from individual donors will be the single largest source of funding for this project, we will look to all potential fundraising resources, including but not limited to foundations, corporate donors, matching grants, and in-kind donations. Funds will be directed to all areas of camp expansion and operation, including renovations, materials, building and operating expenses, design, curriculum development, and staff training.

Our Harim campers -- youngsters entering their freshmen and sophomore years in high school -- will live in the Eco-Village. While these teens will have the most ongoing access, every camper will have ample opportunities to engage with the educational and values-based components of the village.

The cost of the full Eco-Village project is $2.5 million. This includes completion of living space, toilet and shower facilities, and a program building. If necessary, we can phase the project and delay construction on the program building, thus bringing the total cost for the first phase to $2 million. We are committed to securing 80-90% of necessary funding for the project prior to breaking ground.

We believe that it takes a village to build a village. This project will only be possible with the support of camper families, supporters of the Reconstructionist movement, those who care about environmental issues, and individuals and foundations committed to the future of the Jewish community. JRF is offering support in the form of administrative oversight, administrative support and fundraising management. Individual members of Reconstructionist synagogues nationwide will be approached for support.

Yes, Camp JRF is a 501(c)3 entity. Contributions to Camp JRF are generally deductible for federal income tax purposes. We will be happy to provide you with documentation of your gift.

In early 2009, we completed a year-long master planning process that envisioned an exciting future for the Aaron and Marjorie Ziegelman Campus. The Eco-Village is the first of six phases in the $25 million master plan. Later phases include the building and renovation of additional camper housing, construction of a new health center and dining hall, addition of arts and sports facilities, and the creation of a retreat center for year-round site use.

Many naming opportunities exist for donors at the $25,000 level and above. Whether your goal is to pay tribute to a loved one or memorialize a family member, our development staff will work with you to create a personalized recognition plan that meets your commemorative needs and funding interests. For a list of naming opportunities, please click here.

Campers will participate in the actual construction of the Eco-Village, much as they participated in the building of Camp JRF’s beit tefillah (chapel) in the woods. Campers have already met with architects and project designers and will continue to learn, in a hands-on way, about green building technologies and reusable energy sources.

No -- camp tuition will not increase as a result of this project or any un-funded portions of this project. Building plans will progress according to phases that are fully (or 80-90%) funded.

The Eco-Village will add 72 beds to camp, allowing for a total of 144 additional campers over the course of the summer.

The Eco-Village allows for a significant increase in camper enrollment with a relatively minimal increase in camp resources or facility. When the village is filled to capacity, a new Wellness Center will need to be contemplated; funding for this project will be based on revenue generated by the Eco-Village.

Gifts may be paid over the course of one to three years, but alternate giving arrangements can also be made.

While Camp functions without an operating deficit, currently we must fundraise not only to underwrite the scholarship assistance we offer to select camper families, but also to support significant debt service and ongoing facilities and infrastructure maintenance. When fully realized, this project is intended to eliminate the need to fundraise toward debt service, and, with the additional revenues it will generate, make the Camp self-sustaining on an overall basis, thus ensuring its long term financial health.

Please contact Rabbi Isaac Saposnik, Director, at isaposnik@jrf.org / 215-885-5601 x12.