In the National Council of Jewish Women archives at AJHS, there are photographs of Jewish children in the 1930s and 1940s at Camp Ella Fohs, a Jewish summer camp in New Milford, CT. Ella Fohs camp was owned by UJA-Federation New York and run by the Bronx/Riverdale YMHA.
Throughout its history, the National Council for Jewish Women has initiated community services that have encompassed a wide range of social issues including childcare and early child education, Jewish education and promotion, and summer recreation for children. In working with UJA- Federation and the YMHA, they were able to provide camp experiences to children.
Friendships formed over activities like going to the beach, playing sports, riding on playground equipment like see-saws, and other activities. These summer camps were great opportunities for Jewish communities to get out of the city, have fun in nature, develop a sense of culture and belonging, and be a supportive environment for Jewish children.
Featured here is a selection of images from the National Council of Jewish Women archives, showing children at the camps playing and bonding with each other.
For more images of summer camp find them in our Mother and Children Club Outings folder and Council Camp folder of the Records of the National Council of Jewish Women, New York Section.
