TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Finding Aid to the Swig Camp Institute Records. 1964-1967.
Manuscript Collection No. 676
Introduction |
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| Repository: | The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives |
| Creator: | Swig Camp Institute |
| Title: | Swig Camp Institute Records |
| Dates: | 1964-1967 |
| Quantity: | 0.8 linear feet (2 Hollinger Boxes) |
| Abstract: | The Swig Camp Institute Records (1964-1967) describe the administration and the programs of the Swig Camp Institute (also known as Camp Saratoga) located in Saratoga, California. The Swig Camp Institute is sponsored by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and serves Jewish youth in the northern California region. Records cover two years, 1964 and 1967 and include administrative records, correspondence and programmatic material. |
| Collection Number: | MS-671 |
| Language: | Collection material in English. |
Institutional Sketch
The Swig Camp Institute, sponsored by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, is one of the oldest Reform Jewish camps in the United States. It is part of the "Camp Institutes for Living Judaism" that bring spiritual and cultural programming to Jewish youth. The brainchild of a handful of rabbis from the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis, the camp opened in 1947 in the Santa Cruz mountains. Originally named Camp Saratoga, the camp was renamed after Benjamin H. Swig in the early 1960s, following the donation that allowed the camp to grow and flourish.
The early campers came for two to three week sessions to share Jewish experiences, learn about Jewish history and culture. They also learned about nature and other typical camping experiences. Later programs had a more structured aspect such as Solel, which focuses on learning the Hebrew language. Other programs were run in conjunction with national organizations such as the National Federation of Temple Youth.
In October 1999, an anonymous donor gave 2 million dollars for the renovation of the camp. It currently operates in cooperation with Camp Newton, which was opened by the UAHC in Santa Rosa, California in 1996. It is one of 12 camps operated by the UAHC, serving 12,000 Jewish youth every summer.
Camp Swig is located nine miles north of Saratoga on 200 acres of forested land. The camp currently focuses on programming for teenagers. Camp Newton offers programs for kindergarten students through twelfth grade. Both camps run several concurrent sessions which enroll hundreds of Jewish youth.The Swig Camp Institute, sponsored by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, is one of the oldest Reform Jewish camps in the United States. It is part of the "Camp Institutes for Living Judaism" that bring spiritual and cultural programming to Jewish youth. The brainchild of a handful of rabbis from the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis, the camp opened in 1947 in the Santa Cruz mountains. Originally named Camp Saratoga, the camp was renamed after Benjamin H. Swig in the early 1950s, following the donation that allowed the camp to grow and flourish.
The early campers came for two to three week sessions to share Jewish experiences, learn about Jewish history and culture. They also learned about nature and other typical camping experiences. Later programs had a more structured aspect such as Solel, which focuses on learning the Hebrew language. Other programs were run in conjunction with national organizations such as the National Federation of Temple Youth.
In October 1999, an anonymous donor gave 2 million dollars for the renovation of the camp. It currently operates in cooperation with Camp Newton, which was opened by the UAHC in Santa Rosa, California in 1996. It is one of 12 camps operated by the UAHC, serving 12,000 Jewish youth every summer.
Camp Swig is located nine miles north of Saratoga on 200 acres of forested land. The camp currently focuses on programming for teenagers. Camp Newton offers programs for kindergarten students through twelfth grade. Both camps run several concurrent sessions which enroll hundreds of Jewish youth.
Scope and Content Note
The Swig Camp Institute Records describe the administration and programs of the Swig Camp Institute (also known as Camp Saratoga) located in Saratoga, California. The Swig Camp Institute is sponsored by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and serves Jewish youth in the northern California region.
Records cover two years, 1964 and 1967 and include administrative records, correspondence and programmatic material.
Arrangement Note
This collection is arranged in one (1) series.
Conditions of Access and Use
Terms of Access and Use
This collection is open to all users. The original manuscript collection is available in the Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives.
Property and Literary Rights
Ronald Klotz, by the act of donating the Swig Camp Institute Records to the American Jewish Archives, assigned all property rights to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights are retained by the Swig Camp Institute and its designees. Literary rights may also be retained by specific creators of materials.
Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information see the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Swig Camp Institute Records and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-671. Swig Camp Institute Records. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Provenance
The Swig Camp Institute Records were received from Ronald Klotz, Zionsville, Indiana, in July 2001.
Processing Information
Processed by Melinda McMartin, November, 2001.
Box and Folder Listing
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA Online Catalog.