Why Crane Lake?
Crane Lake Camp offers a tight-knit community based on a culture of kindness and personal growth. Located on over 100 acres in the heart of the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, campers form close relationships with one another while they travel throughout the day as a cabin group.
Crane Lake Camp, a Union for Reform Judaism camp, is rooted in a long history and rich traditions of excellence. We first opened our doors as a private camp in the early 1900’s, and have been a Union for Reform Judaism camp since 1998. A second home to 350 children each session, campers come together to experience the fun and magic of Jewish camping from across the Northeast.
The Crane Lake Community (sometimes referred to as The Bubble) offers a fun, supportive environment in which campers can explore new activities, challenge themselves, and develop their passions. At camp, kids of all abilities and backgrounds strengthen their Jewish identities, while surrounded by beautiful facilities and expert staff.
Our caring and committed staff members (many of whom were campers themselves) strive to enrich the campers’ experiences by helping them to develop meaningful friendships. These relationships provide encouragement and support as well as offer the opportunity for campers to realize their full potential.
Our intimate (tech-free and parent-free) environment allows campers to embrace the challenge of learning new skills in athletics, aquatics, the arts, and adventure and nature programs. What campers do not realize is they are learning communication, collaboration, creativity, grit and empathy – the predictors of success in camp, school, and beyond.
In addition to daily activities, inter-camp games, and special events, campers and staff immerse themselves in a wide range of innovative Jewish pursuits and creative spiritual experiences that are the soul of Crane Lake. Campers from different backgrounds join together to create a meaningful community.
From the youngest of our campers to the oldest of our Junior Counselors, every child who spends a summer at Crane Lake returns home a wiser, more self-confident person, and more connected to the Jewish community.
Crane Lake is more than a summer of fun – it is an experience that lasts a lifetime!
Our Goals
…are reflected in our day-to-day life at camp. Every five years, Crane Lake is visited by the American Camping Association. Since Crane Lake always meets the ACA’s high standards, we continue to receive their accreditation. We are committed to providing:
- a safe camp community
- caring, competent adult role models
- healthy, developmentally-appropriate experiences
- service to the community and the natural world
- opportunities for leadership and personal growth
- discovery, experiential education, and learning opportunities
- excellence and continuous self-improvement