Camp IF (Interfaith Youth)

Since 2002, Hatikvah has been a partner in Camp IF (Interfaith Youth), a program of the Anti-Defamation League.  Camp IF brings Jewish, Christian, and Muslim youth together to explore each other’s faith traditions and develop the leadership skills needed to foster greater interfaith dialogue, understanding, and respect..

The one-week program, which takes place at a summer camp, is for students in grades 10 and 11.  Campers spend half a day in prejudice reduction and leadership development workshops the first part of the week.  The second part of the week is devoted to educational programs that teach about each of the faith communities.  The other half of every day is given over to fun and recreational activities.

 Religious services take place every day at Camp IF and campers can attend different services as a way of experiencing how Christians, Jews, and Muslims pray.  In order to be inclusive of all religious traditions, all food at Camp IF is kosher. 

The one-week camp experience is followed by monthly break-out group meetings.  Campers deepen their Camp IF experience by developing educational and social action programs that introduce their home communities to the values they learned at camp. Rabbi Robert Sternberg, executive director of Hatikvah Holocaust Education Center, is one of the facilitators at the camp.