Camp Koach
September 27 – 29, 2024
OVERVIEW
Camp Koach is designed to benefit Jewish kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or neurodivergent and their families to enjoy a camp experience in an inclusive, supportive environment. Spend a weekend on our beautiful outdoor property, and enjoy camp activities like Shabbat, archery, boating, fishing, arts & crafts, hiking, Havdalah, and more.
Arrival for the weekend begins at 3:00 PM on Friday, and our program will end at 10:00 AM on Sunday morning. Please plan to be ready to start your amazing weekend by 5:00 PM, with activities beginning as soon as the gate opens.
HIGHLIGHTS
- A welcoming, supportive environment for the entire family
- A team of dedicated volunteers and staff to support you throughout the weekend
- Networking and resource-sharing with lots of other local families across the Pacific Northwest with kids with disabilities
- Adaptive activities for all ages and abilities
- A completely flexible schedule allowing you to set your own pace
- A beautiful setting in Tumwater, Washington to celebrate the magic of Shabbat
Who Can Attend?
Camp Koach extends an open invitation to Jewish families with at least 1 camper with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or who are neurodivergent. Programming will be geared towards those who are aged 8-12 with ASD levels 1 or 2, but if this weekend speaks to you and your family, we encourage you to apply!
Activities
This event is designed to be as action-packed or as relaxing as you want it to be. The schedule is completely flexible, allowing you to do only the activities you want to do. Activity options may include archery, boating, arts & crafts, hikes, and more. In the evenings, gather around the campfire for songs, skits, s’mores, and a talent show. If there are activities your camper is especially excited about, please let us know on your registration form!
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Kayaking and Canoeing
- Paddle boats & corcles
- Evening campfire
- Basketball court
- GaGa
- Board games
- Sensory activities
- Sibling activities
- Fishing
- Arts & crafts
- Dance
- Music
A detailed schedule will be sent out prior to our weekend.
Meals & Accommodations
Families will stay in our camp-style cabins that encircle our beautiful lake and are in close proximity with our hub of camp, our historic Chadar Ochel (Dining Hall). Camp is also covered by a robust Wi-Fi network capable of handling multiple devices per family.
Because we are limiting attendance, each family will be housed in their own cabin (which range from 5-8 bunk beds), although they may share a building/walls with a cabin with another family. A limited number of accessible cabins are available.
Bathrooms are located en-suite and feature 2 sinks, 2 toilets, and 2 showers. All cabins are heated and air conditioned. There are also all-gender bathrooms located in common spaces around camp. All cabins require families to bring linens such as sleeping bags, pillows, and towels.
All meals are provided during the weekend, as well as snacks, coffee, and tea will also be available. Most special diets can be accommodated with advanced warning, please provide any dietary restrictions during the registration process. All food provided by camp will be Kosher and we ask that you help us maintain our nut-free campus by leaving nut products at home. A menu will be sent out prior to our weekend.
Dates, Cost & Registration
Registration opens: June 4th, 2024
Camp Dates: September 27 – 29, 2024
Cost: $210 per family member, youth under the age of 4 are free.
Camp recognizes that these prices may affect a family’s ability to pay for camp programs. We worked closely with funders so that this weekend would be priced the same as our other family camp offerings. We know that raising a differently-wired child comes with additional costs and burdens on the family. To assist in making Camp Koach accessible, we offer a couple of options:
- Flexible scheduled payment plans (must be paid in full by Labor Day).
For additional financial assistance, please contact Ruth rchaban@campschechter.org with what you would be able to afford.
Frequently Asked Questions
We chose the name koach to represent the can-do attitude and fortitude to show that you can do anything! Koach comes from the Hebrew word for ‘strength’ and is most often used in the phrase ‘yasher koach’ – may you have strength – usually given when someone accomplishes something or reads from the Torah. We want this spirit to come through for each and every one of our Camp Koach campers–including you! You have the strength to do anything!
We have both! While we will do our best to accommodate all special diets in a Kosher and nut-free way, we recognize there may be some foods you need to bring to camp to ensure your camper will be well-fed. We have a private kitchen space and separate room where we can store properly labeled foods. However, please help us keep our camp nut-free by leaving those products at home.
Yes! We will be inviting a BT to be with us for the duration of the retreat. If you would like to volunteer or know someone who may be interested, please contact hcolbert@campschechter.org.
Schechter has been proud to offer a sensory space for campers during our regular summer programming since COVID. The sensory room will be open for campers to use for a respite for the duration of the weekend.
Camp Solomon Schechter has a 70-year tradition of fun, friendship, and Judaism in the Pacific Northwest, but you do not need to be Jewish to attend! We will, however, be peppering in Shabbat traditions and activities (along with our Schechter Magic™) throughout the retreat and encourage families to experience Shabbat at camp.
For many generations of Schechter alum, Shabbat is a special time of the week – a space to rest, relax, and simply be. It’s a beautiful moment to enjoy, connect with other people, and fall in love with camp. On Friday night, we will gather as a whole community on the Hill wearing white to mark the beginning of our weekend together. On Saturday morning, we will have a sensory-friendly session of singing (we call it “sloach”), blessings before and after meals, and an optional prayer service.
Our staff will be sourced from the same high-quality and vetted staff that run our summer programming, with additional support and extra training. We will be aiming for a high camper to staff ratio that exceeds our summer levels and what is required by the American Camping Association.
Campus has a locked gate with a coded entrance. Once the gate is closed on Friday night, we ask everyone to stay on property until departure time at the end of our weekend together. We have a facilities manager who lives on site in case of any emergency. We are also located near a hospital and will have volunteer medical professionals onsite with us for the weekend.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to our grantors who have generously provided funds to keep our weekend at the same cost as our other family camp weekends.
For Program and Event related questions: contact Herschel at hcolbert@campschechter.org
For Registration and Financial Aid questions: contact Ruthie at rchaban@campschechter.org
