RESIDENT CAMP -- SIGN UP NOW!
2010 Camp Akiba Dates: August 9 - August 20
For complete information, see the Camp Akiba Website (www.campakiba.org)
Register for Camp ONLINE
Printable 2010 Registration Form

2010 Welcome Letter From Director
Medical Form/Release (mandatory)
Cell Phone Policy & Cabin Request (mandatory)
Packing List (important)
Departure Point Directions (important)
Camp Mailing Address

See Camp Photos

CLICK HERE TO PAY YOUR CAMP AKIBA FEES.

For over 40 years, Camp Akiba has offered a rich and rewarding camping experience to children ages 7 to 15. The program includes hiking, swimming, music, drama, sports, arts and crafts, nature, and a wide variety of other creative activities.

This year we return to the mountains near Angeles Oaks -- about 25 miles from Big Bear. Our new camp facility is called "Camp Ta Ta Pochon" (pronounced "totta poachen") and has more to offer than any of our previous camps: low ropes course, climbing wall, archery, swimming pool, close to Jenk's Lake, horseshoes, a stream running through it, space for 144 campers and staff, and a huge lodge complete with pool table, carems, foosball, and ping pong. The cabins are nestled within the dense forest of pines and redwoods with an amphitheater and outdoor chapel that look directly into the foliage.

The camp provides a strong Jewish foundation for children of all ages. First time campers, as well as the most experienced campers, come away with a warm, wonderful commitment to their Jewish heritage and a special appreciation for the outdoors.

The philosophy of the camp is to provide a safe, fun, and positive Jewish experience for our campers. Each counselor is carefully taught that it is their obligation to the next generation of Jews to give back some of the love and caring that they received during their own years as campers. It is with that thought that each program and activity is planned.

Camp Akiba welcomes children from a variety of Synagogues in and around Southern California. We look forward to having the opportunity to share a piece of your summer with you!!!!

WINTER CAMP
In 2008, we ran a Winter Camp during the last week of the year and over the final 3 nights of Chanukah...it was a great experience for several dozen attendees. There was ample snow, beautiful weather, great food, singing, and fun activities.

STAFF
All Camp Akiba counselors are trained through the camp's CIT (counselor-in-training) program, and at present, 100 percent of our counselors were Camp Akiba campers at one time. The staff is really the key to the extra-ordinary camp experience we provide. Unlike other Jewish camps, our program is created by the counselors from scratch each year. We do not rely on the usual "crutches" that other camps use to attract kids to camp...we use creative programming where the counselors spend an inordinate amount of time pouring love and creativity into planning activities with meaning, lessons, interaction, ethics, and FUN as the focal point. We teach Judaism not only by engaging the campers in tefillah, but by asking them to define and explore what Judaism means to them, by having them share with each other the importance of Judaism in their lives, and by allowing them to experience what it means to live Jewishly with other Jews from various backgrounds.

THE DIRECTOR -- RICK DEGELSMITH
With well over 3 decades of Camp Akiba experience, Rick has held every job in camp at one time or another. In "real-life", Rick continues to hold every important job: husband, dad, counselor, teacher, friend, congregant. Rick and his family are "bi-congregational" -- they are active members of Temple Adat Shalom in Poway, CA, as well as Temple Akiba in Culver City. Rick grew up in Culver City, graduated from Culver High (1983), attended religious school at Akiba, was Bar Mitzvah at Akiba (1977), was married to his wife Lisa by Rabbi Maller in 1989, and has been a participant or leader at Camp Akiba since the age of 4. Rick has a Master's degree in Education (1994) and has extensive experience working with kids at camp, as a high school AP/GATE science teacher, Youth Director at Temple Adat Shalom, in Poway, and as "dad" at home. Rick has 3 daughters who attend Camp Akiba. Rick's vision for camp is to provide a fun Jewish environment where kids can live "Jewishly" for a small part of the year.
"Camp Akiba has been a major positive influence in my life, and I'll do everything within my power to make sure it's here for future generations of Akiba youth."