Recognizing that the most Jewishly-effective counselors are those who already have two years’ experience, AVI CHAI enabled the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) to provide a salary supplement to every returning third-year counselor at camps selected on a competitive basis, provided that (1) each participating counselor met certain standards for Jewish involvement and attended a special training program, and (2) each selected camp attracted at least five eligible returning counselors. The intent is for each of the fellows to return to their camps not only as stronger counselors and leaders but also ready to play a larger creative role in Jewish programming at camp. The three-day training seminar provides instruction about how to design model programs that they can implement in the bunk with their campers or in larger gatherings within camp. The fellows are guided and trained further during the summer by a designated camp liaison as well as a Cornerstone faculty member, who plans projects with the fellows to expand the camp’s Jewish educational program.
For summer 2009, 219 Fellows from 34 camps participated in Cornerstone (bringing the total to over 1,200 since the program began in summer 2002). Camp directors report that the program has increased the quality of their staff by retaining and training their most mature and tenured counselors. Evaluations of the program have noted that many of the Fellows have become more effective and confident in their educational and modeling roles.
Here is a short video about the impact of Cornerstone, as shared by camp directors and program participants.