ENRICHING lives. EDUCATING children. EMBRACING Judaism.
TheZone

The Zone

Summer camp is recognized as one of the most positive, formative experiences a Jewish child can have. It’s the perfect combination of beautiful, natural surroundings, friendship and fun, combined with a generous dose of Jewish tradition and spirit.

Oorah’s Zone camps have perfected the recipe by offering facilities that are second to none, a healthy environment with clean mountain air, a staff hand-picked for their warmth, insight, knowledge and sense of responsibility, a weekly Shabbat experience so uplifting that the campers consistently name it as their “favorite activity,” and plenty of opportunity for campers to learn, ask about and live their Jewish heritage.

Whether the boys are riding the zip-line or learning a Hebrew song, whether the girls are enjoying a pool party or doing each other’s hair for Shabbat, the memories of a wonderful summer in a warm atmosphere stick for a lifetime. Throughout the year, Oorah continues to build a relationship with the campers and their families. They also continue to enhance their connection to Jewish holidays by sending holiday gift boxes filled with just what they need to make every holiday a real celebration.


Boys

The Zone Boys’ Division

Stunningly renovated on the site of a former Catskill’s ski lodge, The Zone boys’ division is a boy’s dream come true. Besides full-size indoor and outdoor pools, boating, fishing, paintball, zip lines, ATVs, archery, horseback riding and a fabulous menagerie of exotic animals, The Zone offers a summer of unique friendship, learning and growth. Hand-picked counselors not only make sure each camper is thriving, but also serve as knowledgeable one-on-one learning partners who are there to help campers explore Jewish knowledge and get answers to their questions.

The Zone is where campers and counselors forge friendships that last all year. It’s where inspiring Shabbat meals, complete with singing and dancing, are the high-point of each stellar week. For boys who want an incredible summer; for parents who want their sons in secure and caring hands; for families who appreciate the special warmth of a Jewish summer camp – The Zone’s boys’ division has it all.

  • Camp develops long-term connections between children and their counselors.
  • Camp places children in a safe environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • The relaxed camp atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

Girls

The Zone Girls’ Division

For hundreds of girls, The Zone is “home.” The staff and counselors, with their overflowing enthusiasm and warmth, make sure each girl has just what she needs to get the most out of her summer.

The superior facilities include a lake and two sparkling pools, ATVs, a zip-line, horseback riding, a menagerie of exotic animals, a night-lit sports complex, and state-of-the-art game room, all perched atop the magnificent mountains of Gilboa, New York. But it’s the atmosphere that distinguishes The Zone from all the rest. The peak is Shabbat, when the campers share traditional Friday night and Shabbat day meals in the camp’s spacious dining room, filled with singing, dancing and spirit.

With the camp’s TorahMates program, TheZone experience continues all year. Counselors keep up with their campers by phone and in person, filling the role of an older friend, mentor and cheering squad for the ups and downs of the school year.


  • Camp develops long-term connections between children and their counselors.
  • Camp places children in a safe environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • The relaxed camp atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

Teen Girls

The Zone Teen Girls’ Division
How to spend the summer is often a puzzle for teenage girls, and The Zone is a perfect answer to the puzzle. The teen division has all the facilities and spirit of the girl’s division, but it is staffed and programmed with older girls’ preferences in mind. The Zone’s teen girls can take advantage of the beautiful girl’s division facilities – gorgeous pools, a sports complex, horses and an on-site farm, ATVs and much more. They share the same warm, inspiring Shabbat, filled with singing, dancing and wonderful Shabbat food.

But they enjoy a whole new level of activity, too. The teen division’s Tent City offers the perfect site for overnights and pioneering. The teen program includes more trips, more free time and best of all, plenty of opportunities to engage in real, meaningful learning about Jewish values and their impact on real life. The Zone’s knowledgeable, warm and open-minded teen division counselors set the tone for a summer that is exciting, fun, relaxing, and also meaningful.


  • Camp develops a long-term connection between children and their counselors.
  • Camp places children in a Jewish environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • The relaxed atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

Teen Boys

The Zone Teen Boys’ Division
For teenage boys who are looking for a summer full of adventure, challenge and fun, The Zone is the perfect fit. There, they can enjoy the unmatched facilities of the The Zone’s boys’ division campgrounds, located on the site of a former ski resort, while participating in a program that’s geared exactly to their interests. Extreme sports, more off-site trips, overnights, campfires and innovative programs keep teen division campers charged. Their spirits stay charged, too, with the camp’s legendary Shabbat meals filled with singing, dancing, and fabulous food.

In addition, the teen division offers a great opportunity to build lasting friendships with campers, and with counselors who are hand-picked for their warmth, enthusiasm and positive attitude. These knowledgeable counselors also make the teen division’s Jewish learning program unique, providing campers with the perfect chance to ask their questions, learn about Judaism and live it.


  • Camp develops long-term connections between children and their counselors.
  • Camp places children in a safe environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • The relaxed camp atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

Discover U

Discover U
Too old for camp? Discover U knows that even after high-school, even after a year of study in Israel, even after college, we all have lots to learn. Discover U is for post-high-school men and women, aged 18-25, who want to take some time out to explore their Jewish traditions and beliefs at a more adult level, and still have a summer vacation filled with recreation and friendship.

All the great resort facilities of the The Zone’s boys’ and girls’ division campgrounds are there for Discover U students to enjoy to the maximum. Beautiful country surroundings, state-of-the-art sports facilities, gorgeous indoor and outdoor pools and much more set the stage for the Discover U experience. But the star feature, as any participant will testify, is the teaching staff. Top names in Jewish education make themselves available to teach, discuss, answer questions and stimulate minds. Discover U is the place to think, ask and discover – you!

  • Camp develops long-term connections between children and their counselors.
  • • Camp places children in a safe environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • • The relaxed camp atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

Masmidim

Masmidim
The Zone’s boys’ division campers who attend day school or yeshiva and want to keep up their Torah studies during the summer find what they need in the Masmidim division. The morning learning session, guided by knowledgeable counselors, lets the boys learn in a relaxed atmosphere where they can sharpen their skills and discover their own strengths. Then, they’re ready for a full afternoon of sports, swimming and camp activities. It’s the perfect combination for The Zone’s day-school boys.
  • Camp develops long-term connections between children and their counselors.
  • Camp places children in a safe environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • The relaxed camp atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

TheZone Year-Round

TheZone Year-Round

At the Zones, the summer seems to slip by in a moment. Fortunately, the bus home is not the end – it's just the beginning of a school-year full of camp events and on-going friendships.

Shabbatons & Reunions

Shabbatons and Reunions
Campers are invited to share a Shabbat together at camp or at a hotel, where they can see friends and counselors and re-ignite the camp Shabbat spirit. During Sukkot and Pesach, campers are invited to go on fantastic trips to destinations like Great Adventure, where they can re-connect and relive the fun of summer. When Chanukah rolls around, campers get together for a Zone-style Chanukah party filled with singing, dancing, overflowing spirit and of course, great food.
  • Camp develops long-term connections between children and their counselors.
  • Camp places children in a safe environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • The relaxed camp atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

Big Brother-Big Sister

Big Brother-Big Sister
During the camp season, each camper is matched with a staff member for one-on-one learning. But the goal isn't just to learn more about Judaism together; it's to create a lasting friendship. To keep up the relationship and the learning momentum, each Zone counselor gets in contact with his camper every week.

Campers who keep learning with their partner earn "miles" that can be redeemed for appealing prizes, including an iPod and other electronics. With a Big Brother or Big Sister in their lives, campers have a friend, a mentor and a year-round connection to all they learned and loved in camp.
  • Camp develops long-term connections between children and their counselors.
  • Camp places children in a safe environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • The relaxed camp atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

Learning Programs

Motzei Shabbat Learning Programs
Coming soon...

  • Camp develops long-term connections between children and their counselors.
  • Camp places children in a safe environment 24 hours a day for four weeks.
  • The relaxed camp atmosphere fosters a positive Jewish experience.

Oorah's people speak...
"Our daughters camp experience at TheZone and the warm relationships that they have with their counselors nurtures them throughout the year." Andrew Boltax

My son enjoys the Masmidim program

My son enjoys the Masmidim program at TheZone boys division and this enables and encourages him to continue his learning throughout the school year. Even though he attends a jewish day school he will sometimes learn with a partner over the phone (through Oorah) which is above and beyond his daily homework schedule. I am grateful for that

Caren James

Jonathan was able to go to TheZone this summer

My brother Jonathan was able to go to TheZone boys division this summer and had a great time. For a kid who is in public school all year round and has nothing to do with Judaism, it was so nice for me to watch him have fun in a healthy and Jewish environment like TheZone

Tova Nordhaus

That camp video changed our lives.

About 3 years ago when we were first given an Oorah camp video I was a tiny bit apprehensive. Would my sons fit in? Would it be too much for them? Would it be too religious for us? Never did I imagine that three years later, we would embrace Judaism and live in a community surrounded by Jewish observance and culture. That camp video changed our lives.Elizabeth Lee

her Jewish identity is stronger

Our daughters camp experience at TheZone and the warm relationships that they have with their counselors nurtures them throughout the year. Our 14-year-old daughter is now much more interested in Jewish learning, her Jewish identity is stronger and she is dressing in a more modest fashion.

Andrew Boltax