Abstract
How do Jewish residential summer camps provide campers and staff with opportunities to learn and grow as Jews?
Sales and Saxe (2004)
have viewed this growth through the lens of their socialization theory. This article asks: Can there be more to the camp experience than being socialized into the norms and values of a well-aligned Jewish environment? Based on a case study of the drama program in Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, the author proposes viewing certain camp experiences through the lens of optimal Jewish experiences (
Csikszentmihalyi, 1990
). These are moments when individuals-often operating in a group context-rise to the challenge of new Jewish learning and succeed to present their accomplishments before appreciative audiences. The conditions that give rise to these optimal Jewish experiences are explored and suggestions are offered for how other camp leaders can create these conditions in their camps.