Ramah’s Special Needs Programs
In 1970, Herb and Barbara Greenberg, two visionary Jewish educators, established the first Ramah summer camp program for children with special needs. Called “Tikvah” – “hope” in Hebrew – the program pioneered special needs camping while piloting an innovative inclusionary approach to special needs education. Since the first Tikvah program was opened, special needs programming has become an integral part of the Ramah camping philosophy and is now part of the camping programs at all of the Ramah overnight camps.
With the growing awareness of the importance of offering immersive Jewish educational experiences to children with special needs, the Ramah programs offer a unique educational lens on how children with special needs can be nurtured, inspired, educated, and integrated into a welcoming Jewish community. The Tikvah program touches the lives of hundreds of young people each summer, and thousands more staff and campers whose camp experiences are immeasurably enriched by their connection to their special needs peers and campers.
Because families of children with special needs often face daunting financial challenges in order to provide the ongoing care and treatment their children require, Ramah does its utmost to seek scholarship support for these families so that a Jewish education and the many advantages of a Ramah summer camp experience can be accessible to all.
For more information about the different special needs programs, click here.
