The JWest Campership Program awards financial incentives of up to $1,800 to first-time campers entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in fall 2008, who choose to attend nonprofit Jewish overnight camp for at least 3 weeks. More than one child per family can apply; each will be considered a separate applicant. Please refer to the list in the green box on the left side of this page to find a camp where this grant can be applied.

JWest Campership is an incentive program which seeks to increase the number of pre-teen Jewish youth in the western U.S. enrolled in overnight Jewish summer camps. The program, made possible by a generous contribution from the Jim Joseph Foundation, is currently being rolled out in 13 western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Campers who have been accepted to the Campership Incentive Program are NOT eligible for a JWest incentive and vice versa. Listed below are 3 basic eligibility requirements. For a more extensive list of eligibility rules, please fill out the online application.

1. First-time campers refer to campers that:
• Never attended an overnight Jewish summer camp
• Never attended a "taste of" type short-term Jewish summer camp
• May have attended a short-term "family camp"
2. Pre-teen campers who will enter 6th, 7th or 8th grade in the fall after camp are eligible
3. Three-week minimum - campers must attend a nonprofit Jewish overnight camp listed in the green box on the left side of this page for a minimum of three weeks, except in Colorado, where the minimum is two weeks.
4. JWest Campership Program incentives are only available to Jewish campers who are not presently involved in immersive Jewish experiences such as Jewish day school or yeshiva.

For more details, email JWest@jewishcamping.org or call 646-278-4523.