A Summer Gift That Lasts a Lifetime
Every summer, Crosby and Wes Tankard can’t wait to return to camp in Wisconsin. It’s the highlight of the year for the brothers, ages 11 and 12.
“Jewish summer camp is the kids’ favorite experience of the year, hands down,” their father, Frank Tankard, said.
For the boys, who attend public school, camp offers something they don’t experience every day: the chance to be surrounded by Jewish life outside of a synagogue.
“Camp is crucial to teaching them about what it means to be and live as a Jew,” Tankard said.
This is what makes Jewish overnight camp so meaningful. And thanks to a new and unique initiative from the Stanley J. Bushman Supporting Foundation, more Kansas City children will have the opportunity to experience camp.
Opening the Door to Camp
Starting with the 2027 camp season, the Bushman Gift of Camp program will pay 75% of Jewish overnight camp tuition, up to $4,000 for each eligible child. The program is need blind, meaning families don’t have to show financial need to qualify.
Eligible children must be Jewish, live in the Greater Kansas City area and attend a camp in good standing with Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC). The Bushman Supporting Foundation aims to provide tuition for up to 270 children in the first year of the program.
“We’ve heard anecdotally that families are making difficult financial decisions in order to send their children to camp,” said Bailey Nakelsky, Executive Director of the Bushman Supporting Foundation. “They were still reporting in middle income, but there were compromises they had to make to ensure their children could go to camp, and we want to make sure we eliminate a financial hurdle if we can.”
Tuition at seven of the area’s most popular camps starts at about $600 for a seven-day session, while longer sessions can cost more than $10,000. For families with more than one child, the cost can quickly add up.
For those who still need help after the Bushman Gift of Camp grant, the program will help them find additional financial assistance, including scholarships through local synagogues, camps and Jewish Federation of Kansas City’s Rabbi Gershon Hadas Guardian Society scholarship fund.
For families like the Tankards, who have three more children they plan to send to camp (including 8-year-old Jacob, who will start camp next year), the Bushman Gift of Camp program will help make that possible.
“Without a gift like this, we wouldn’t be able to make it work,” Tankard said.
An Investment in Tomorrow
According to FJC, just 7% of eligible children in the community attend Jewish overnight camp. Nakelsky said the foundation would love to see that percentage increase to 20%.
But removing the financial barrier is only part of the goal. Foundation board members see Jewish overnight camp as an investment in the future of the Kansas City Jewish community.
“Research has shown that roughly 7 in 10 young Jewish leaders attended Jewish overnight camp,” said Merilyn Berenbom, a close friend of Stan Bushman’s and President of the Bushman Supporting Foundation. “We can see that in our community today. Investing in camp today is an investment in leaders tomorrow.”
Stan Bushman (z”l) and Merilyn Berenbom.
Bringing Camp Home
The Bushman Gift of Camp program is funded through a grant that’s been awarded jointly to Federation and The J, with Federation administering the funds to families, while The J will drive recruitment, marketing and family engagement.
Making camp more accessible also means helping families navigate the choices that come with it. Jessica Kroll has been named Manager, Bushman Camp and Community Experiences, a new role within Jewish Experiences, a shared program of Federation and The J.
Kroll will help families understand the Bushman Gift of Camp program, explore their camp options and find the right experience for their children.
And when the summer ends, Kroll will create opportunities for families to stay connected, such as camp reunions and camp-inspired experiences here in Kansas City.
“We want the relationships that are built at camp to continue year-round,” Kroll said.
A Lasting Impact
The benefits of camp extend far beyond the weeks children spend away from home. For the Tankard family, it’s an experience that helps their sons grow more confident in who they are and strengthen their connection to the Jewish community.
“Sleepaway camp has helped our kids gain independence and confidence and make strong connections to Jews from different walks of life,” Tankard said. “They always come back inspired, and proud to be Jews.”
For more information, visit bushmangiftofcamp.org or email Jessica Kroll, .