Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Progressive Jewish Summer Camp & Year-Round Community
Camp Gilboa is a progressive summer camp and year-round community dedicated to creating vibrant Jewish life for children aged 7-18. Our intentional, youth-led model fosters an empowering environment where campers build community, develop leadership skills, and learn to drive positive change. Located in Big Bear Lake, California, with year-round programming in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area, we prioritize inclusivity across cultural, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our experiential education combines art, drama, and critical discussions to cultivate empathy, open-mindedness, and social justice awareness.Rooted in Jewish values, we envision Israel as a progressive democratic society while preparing campers to become engaged global citizens. With over 90 years of impact, our alumni continue to shape the world through careers in education, social work, and progressive activism. We emphasize shared responsibility through communal activities like Shabbat planning and camp maintenance, ensuring every participant contributes to our ideal community. Our spirited approach blends creativity with purpose, transforming everyday experiences into opportunities for growth and connection.
Services
Summer Camp
Year-Round Programs
Family Camp
Community Events
Tzedek Programs
Details
- Year established: 1935
Highlights and features
- We create inclusive communities valuing cultural, gender, and socioeconomic diversity
- Our experiential learning combines art, drama, and critical discussions for deep engagement
- We develop empowered leaders through shared responsibility and communal decision-making
- Our programming integrates Jewish values with progressive social justice principles
- We maintain year-round connections through local events and weekend seminars
Services
Summer Camp
Our immersive summer experience at Big Bear Lake offers campers aged 7-18 a transformative environment combining Jewish cultural education with leadership development. Through camper-driven activities, communal responsibilities, and themed programming, participants build inclusive communities while developing critical thinking and social justice awareness. The program emphasizes creative expression through art, music, and drama while maintaining strong connections to Jewish traditions and values.
Year-Round Programs
Local activities and weekend seminars maintain Gilboa connections throughout the year in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area. These programs include community service projects, educational workshops, and social gatherings that reinforce our values of inclusivity, Jewish identity, and progressive activism while keeping campers engaged between summer sessions.
Family Camp
Multi-generational weekend experiences bring families together to experience Gilboa's unique community-building approach. Participants engage in age-appropriate programming that fosters intergenerational connections while exploring Jewish traditions and social justice themes through creative, hands-on activities that mirror our summer camp model.
Tzedek Programs
Our social justice initiatives combine education with actionable community impact projects. Campers explore systemic issues through workshops and discussions before implementing tangible solutions, applying Jewish ethical principles to contemporary challenges. These programs develop critical thinking about privilege, power dynamics, and advocacy while creating measurable positive change in local communities.
Community Events
Regular gatherings in three regional hubs maintain year-round engagement through cultural celebrations, educational seminars, and social action opportunities. These events strengthen community bonds while providing accessible entry points for new participants to experience Gilboa's inclusive, values-driven approach to Jewish community building.
Questions
What age groups do you serve?
We serve children and teens aged 7-18 through our summer camp and year-round programming.
Where are your programs located?
Our summer camp operates in Big Bear Lake, CA, with year-round community programs in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area.
Is your camp inclusive of diverse backgrounds?
Yes, we intentionally create inclusive communities valuing cultural, gender, and socioeconomic diversity across all our programs.
How do you incorporate Jewish values?
Jewish traditions and values form our educational foundation, guiding our approach to social justice, community building, and personal growth.
Can families participate together?
Yes, our Family Camp weekends offer multi-generational programming that brings families into our community-building experience.
How can I get involved beyond summer camp?
Join our year-round local events, weekend seminars, or community service projects in three regional hubs.
Reviews (1)
Karly Lynch
Oct 09, 2014
Report
This camp is the most incredible camp in the world. It creates a place where kids' minds soar with creativity and knowledge, while the fun is still off the charts! I could not imagine a better Jewish sleep away camp to send my kids to. Gilboa has an incredible facility in Big Bear, California which is a place my kids dream about throughout the year. They cannot wait to go back to Gilboa, year after year, because that's how big of an impact it has had on their lives. Thank you Gilboa!
