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For many Jewish families on the West Coast, sending a child to a Gan Israel overnight camp has meant booking a flight across the country. A new camp in the Lake Tahoe region aims to bring that experience much closer to home.

CKids Gan Israel West Coast has announced an overnight program for boys ages 9-13, led by co-directors Rabbi Yona Weiss and Rabbi Sholom Yaffe. It will be the seventh camp in the CKids Gan Israel network, joining programs in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, Denmark and Hungary.

The new program is designed for Jewish children from a wide range of backgrounds, including boys who attend public school. Sports, swimming, outdoor activities and trips will be woven into a full day of Jewish living, giving campers the chance to experience Torah and mitzvos among friends.

Rabbi Weiss grew up on the West Coast and saw the need for an overnight camp within reach of local families. Rabbi Yaffe spent eight summers at the Catskills camp L’Man Achai, serving as a counselor, head staff member and in several director roles, including the teen division. Watching campers arrive from California helped bring the idea into focus.

Rabbi Zalman Loewenthal, director of CKids International and its overnight camp network, described the project as bringing the Rebbe’s vision for Gan Israel to the West Coast. Directors of existing camps have been sharing their experience with the new team.

The camp’s website describes grounds in the Tahoe region with sports fields, an indoor activity space, swimming and room for outdoor adventure. Families can contact the directors through ckidsganisraelwestcoast.com for further information.

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