Camp Kaleidoscope

JCC Greater Boston’s premier arts and science day camp for campers entering grades K–8 and CITs entering grades 9–11. Camp runs from June 26–August 18, 9am–4pm, with early drop-off and extended-day options available.

Girl smiling at her counselor.

Unleash Your Creativity and Imagination!

Experience the ultimate combination of creative arts and excitement with our unique blend of theater, filmmaking, music, culinary, science, sports, games, and outdoor activities in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Our talented staff of artists, performers, and educators will inspire you to explore your emerging interests, build self-confidence, and have a blast. We provide a pluralistic Jewish setting where you can freely express yourself and try new things. Camp Kaleidoscope is a welcoming and inclusive space that embraces all backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs. Join us for an unforgettable summer of growth, fun, and self-discovery at Camp Kaleidoscope!

Stage outdoors at Camp Kaleidoscope.
Girl smiling at her counselor.
Kids dancing during a music class at camp.

Camp at a Glance

Make the most of your summer with a full day of fun and adventure! With extended-day options, you can start the day early and stay late for even more fun.

  • Regular Camp Hours: 9am–4pm
  • Extended-Day Hours: 8am–5:45pm

Sessions

Camp runs from June 26–August 18. Camp runs for eight weeks, split into two month-long sessions. At a minimum, you may register for a half-session (two weeks). For the best summer experience, we recommend attending at least one of our two 4-week sessions to show off your skills at our arts festival in the fourth and eighth weeks. Don’t miss your chance to impress your family and friends with your amazing performances and exhibits!

Bunks

Join a diverse community of campers and make new friends in our bunks organized by grade and age.

Camp Program

As an upper camper (entering grades 4–8), you’ll have the chance to customize your experience every two weeks by selecting from a full range of options. Campers who wish to participate in the musical must attend for a full four-week session. For younger campers (entering grades K–3), our well-rounded program will keep you engaged with a variety of exciting activities.

Campers make a splash and take advantage of our refreshing outdoor or indoor pool every day. Campers in grades K-8 are offered instructional swim twice a week led by certified instructors at the JCC’s acclaimed Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy.

Each four-week session culminates in arts festivals where campers share performances and exhibits with family and friends. Campers celebrate Shabbat every Friday and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Daily Schedule

Explore some of our sample daily camp schedules and browse our most recent weekly newsletter to get an idea of all the fun that happens each day at camp.

Daily Activities

Fully-staged musical theater productions, singing and dancing (hip hop, jazz, ballet, modern), music (guitar, percussion, piano, voice), story dramatization, improvisation, scene study, and stage combat.

A group of girls putting on a performance.

Painting and poster art, animation and video production, costumes and fashion, scene design, mosaics, painting, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry making, and crafts.

A boy painting.

Instructional and recreational swim, canoeing, hiking, basketball, gaga, Ultimate Frisbee, tennis, table tennis, kickball, Pillow Polo, challenge course, and fencing.

Kids on a canoe.

Buildings and structures, electricity and magnetism, rockets and kites, nature exploration, geysers, volcanos. Other activities include cooking and baking, creative writing, knitting, needlework, set design and painting, and tie-dye.

Kids doing a science experiment outdoors.

Arts festivals, carnival, evening activities (grades 6+), daily camper performances, Shabbat celebrations, and visiting artists & performers.

Group of girls putting on a musical performance outdoors.

Rise to the Challenge

CIT Program

As a counselor-in-training (entering grades 9–11), you’ll develop leadership skills by working alongside Kaleidoscope’s experienced counselors and specialists. CITs may opt to split your time between assisting at camp and pursuing your own interests, with the opportunity to participate in the upper camp musical. Returning CITs — or those entering grades 10–11 — may choose to spend the full day assisting with a bunk or specialty.

All CITs attend special workshops, lead the camp in community service (tzedakah) projects, and help plan and execute events. CITs are charged a reduced tuition rate. CITs may also take advantage of early drop-off and extended days at no extra charge.

Register above and be prepared for an interview to determine your best placement.

Counselors jumping in the pool.

JOIN THE FUN WITHOUT THE HASSLE

Transportation

Conveniently located at the Leventhal-Sidman JCC in Newton, we’re dedicated to making it as easy as possible for everyone to get to camp. For a weekly rate of $75 per camper, we provide bus transportation from nearby communities, including Cambridge, Brookline, Framingham, Sudbury, and Wayland.

Girl getting off a bus.

Bus Overview

Camp Kaleidoscope will operate two buses for Summer 2023, available in full-week increments only. You may sign up for transportation through your CampInTouch account. Bus monitors provide supervision on the bus.

Bus Pick-Up & Drop-Off

  • In the morning, arrive ten minutes before the scheduled departure to camp, as buses will leave at the scheduled time and will not wait for latecomers.
  • In the afternoon, arrive ten minutes ahead of the scheduled arrival from camp, as buses will not wait at their stops, in order to ensure they meet their drop-off times for other stops.
    • When your camper’s designated adult is not present at the drop-off location at the scheduled time, the camper will not be allowed off of the bus. We will make an effort to contact you in order to allow you to pick up your camper from a later stop.
    • A fee of $10 per half hour (or portion thereof) will be assessed after the scheduled arrival time for the last stop, should a bus counselor be required to wait with your camper. Please be mindful of our bus counselors, and arrive on time.
    • With written permission, campers aged ten and older may walk home from their bus stop.
    • Please notify us in writing, by 12pm of the applicable day, regarding any changes to pick-up arrangements, such as if your camper will not be taking the bus on a given day.

Bus Schedule

Cambridge and Brookline

Kaleidoscope Bus #1:

  1. Harvard Square, Bennett Street & Charles Hotel | 7:45am | 5:10pm
  2. Harvard & Verndale | 8:00am | 4:55pm
  3. Babcock & Freeman | 8:07am | 4:48pm
  4. Lawrence School (Francis & Harrison) | 8:15am | 4:40pm
  5. Daniel F. Ford Playground (Davis & Emerson) | 8:25am | 4:30pm

Framingham, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston

Camp Grossman Bus #27. (This bus is shared with Camp Grossman. Stops and times are subject to change.)

  1. McAuliffe Library, 746 Water St., Framingham | 7:45am | 5:10pm
  2. Shaw’s Plaza near CVS, Route 20, Sudbury | 7:55am | 4:55pm
  3. Wayland Plaza Stop & Shop, 400 Boston Post Road | 8:05am | 4:50pm
  4. Town House Road, @394 Boston Post Road | 8:13am | 4:40pm

2023 Rates & Dates

Rates

2 Weeks 4 Weeks 6 Weeks 8 Weeks
Campers Entering K–8 $1,450 $2,850 $4,300 $5,700
CITs Entering Grades 9-10 $1,090 $2,130 $3,220 $4,260
CITs Entering Grades 10–11 $725 $1,400 $2,125 $2,800
Discounts

Sibling Discount: Save $50/session for the second and each additional sibling in a family.

JCC Members: Save $50.

Session Discount: Get $50 off each session when you register for any full 4-week session (savings are reflected in pricing above).

Dates

Session 1 (Weeks 1–4) June 26–July 21
Session 2 (Weeks 5–8) July 24–August 18
Option A (Weeks 1–2) June 26–July 7
Option B (Weeks 3–4) July 10–July 21
Option C (Weeks 5–6) July 24–August 4
Option D (Weeks 7–8) August 7–August 18

Add-Ons

Extended Day (4–5:45pm) +$125/week
Early Drop-Off (8–9am) +$75/week
Bus Transportation +$75/week

CITs may benefit from extended days and early drop-off at no extra charge.

Girl playing hop scotch.

FAQs

What Dates Do I Need To Know About in 2023?

  • Jan 4–Feb 1: Sessions/weeks may be dropped or changed, subject to availability.
  • Feb 1: Financial Aid applications due online.
  • After Feb 1: Deposits are not refundable.
  • May 1:
    • Full payment is due, or a payment plan must be in place and no refunds will be issued. You cannot drop weeks after this date.
    • All camp forms and lunch orders are due.
  • June 26: First Day of Camp
  • July 4: There will be no camp on July 4, in celebration of Independence Day.
  • July 20–21 & August 16–17: Arts Festivals
  • July 20 & August 17 at 6pm: Upper Camp Performances

What Should I Bring To Camp?

Packing List

  • Water bottle (labeled)
  • Masks (just in case)
  • Bathing suit, towel, swim cap (first days only)
  • Lunch (Dairy, parve, fish, or vegetarian; or preorder kosher-certified lunch in your CampInTouch account. Please do not bring peanuts, meat, poultry, or shellfish to camp. Lunches brought from home are stored in air-conditioned rooms.)
  • Sunscreen & bug spray
  • Snacks
  • Hat

Clothing
To ensure quick return of any lost items, please label all clothing, water bottles, towels, and bathing suits with your camper’s full name. Additionally, please check the weather forecast and provide appropriate clothing, including secure footwear such as sneakers or sandals (no flip-flops please).

Valuables
To avoid loss or damage, please refrain from sending items of high monetary or sentimental value to camp. Additionally, the use of all electronics, including cell phones and handheld devices, is prohibited.

Sun Safety & Hydration
To ensure their well-being during outdoor activities, children should come to camp with sunscreen applied and a labeled water bottle. Our staff will provide opportunities for reapplying sunscreen, refilling water bottles, and they will encourage regular hydration throughout the day.

What Food Is Provided?

  • All campers are served ice pops in the afternoon.
  • All food supplied by the camp is kosher certified and nut-free.
  • Campers should bring a healthy, peanut-free snack from home every day.

Camp Kaleidoscope offers a variety of individually packaged, healthy lunch options prepared by Zayde’s Market. You may preorder from your CampInTouch account. Campers are welcome to bring their own dairy, parve, fish, or vegetarian lunches.

All items are kosher-certified and nut-free, and include a dessert of cookie, pastry, or fruit.

Cost: $10.95/lunch

 

What Are Your Health & Safety Procedures?

Camp Kaleidoscope is staffed by a registered nurse (RN), and a physician is on call. In case of an emergency, the local hospital is less than five miles away from JCC Greater Boston.

Camp Kaleidoscope is in compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health policies and is inspected and licensed by the City of Newton Department of Public Health. As part of that relationship, we have been asked to share commonly asked questions about Meningococcal Disease.

Parents may request copies of background checks, health care policies, discipline policies, as well as procedures for filing grievances.

What Are Your Security Procedures?

All visitors must show their JCC pass or ID for admission into the building. Only campers and camp staff may enter through the auditorium door. Parents must enter the building through the front entrance.

Policies

Payments, Cancellations, and Terms & Conditions

Payments & Cancellations

  • Camp Kaleidoscope now requires a separate deposit for each session or week. The deposit(s) are strictly tied to those specific sessions and/or weeks. A deposit of $75 per week is due upon registration.
  • Sessions or weeks may be dropped or switched, pending availability, without loss of deposit, until February 1.
  • Sessions may not be split in order to drop individual weeks.
  • Payment Dates:
    • After February 1: Deposits are no longer refundable or transferable.
    • February 1–May 1: Sessions may be dropped, and all fees paid will be refunded, except the deposit(s).
    • May 1: Full payment is due, unless a payment plan is in place, or written notice to withdraw/disenroll has been received. Families are financially responsible for all sessions and/or weeks registered.
      • If full payment has not been received by May 1 (and a payment plan is not in place), the remaining balance will be charged to the method on file on or about May 2nd.
    • Tuition is non-refundable after May 1. This includes: no refunds for illness, partial sessions/weeks attended, or change of plans.
  • Camp Kaleidoscope does not charge a fee to be on our waitlist. If you are waitlisted and a spot opens up, we will contact you by email and/or phone. Families have 36 hours to respond to accept the spot before we contact the next camper on the list.
    • Families may remove their name from the waitlist by email at any time.
  • Payment of camp tuition may be paid in the following forms:
    • By check
    • By Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
    • By credit card.
      • A convenience fee may apply depending on the method of payment. If you elect to pay by physical check, please note that payment must be received and processed before the installment date, to avoid having that payment charged to the method on file.
      • A $25 processing fee will be added to your invoice for any check or EFT returned unpaid, or credit card declined.
  • There are four payment options available at the time of registration:
    • You may elect to pay in full at the time of registration.
    • You may pay in two installments (in March and in May)
    • You may pay via a monthly payment plan.
    • You must select your payment option at the time of registration. Any registration after May 1 requires full payment at that time.

Discipline Policy

Camp is an exciting, fun, sociable, and nurturing experience. Campers are expected to be respectful of each other, counselors, and the facilities. All efforts are made to work with campers and parents to provide a positive and meaningful experience at camp.

Bathroom
All campers are expected to use the restrooms independently at camp. This includes having ample awareness to get to the bathroom in time, manage clothing, wiping, flushing, and washing hands — independently. No camper shall be punished for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet. In the event of a bathroom accident, the camp nurse will assist, if necessary, and parents will be notified. Camp staff and parents will work together with the camper to address the situation, and reasonable accommodations will be made as needed.

Behavior
If a camper distracts their group, willfully disregards directions, is disrespectful, or otherwise disrupts an activity, they may be asked to leave the group for a short period of time. The teacher or counselor will discuss the behavior with the camper, and, if applicable, they will return to the group. Children will be given reminders and redirection in order to encourage positive behavior. Staff members will empower children to make positive choices and to practice empathy and cooperation in group settings. No camper shall be denied food.

If the behavior continues or recurs, the camper may be brought to the office or senior staff for a time-out or break, when applicable, depending on the camper’s age and abilities. The camper will rejoin their group after an appropriate period of time. If the problem persists, parents are notified, and a plan may be implemented. If a child has specific behavior issues, all efforts will be made to work with parents to implement procedures or programs for managing the behavior, in a manner appropriate for camp.

Dangerous Behavior
If a camper behaves in a manner that is dangerous or destructive, staff will immediately remove the camper from the situation and call a supervisor. Staff will discuss the situation with the camper or campers involved and explain that the behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable, and parents will be informed. Parents are notified as soon as possible if a camper should hit, push, bite, or otherwise hurt another member of the camp community, or if they are the object of such behavior. A camper who hits or hurts another person or engages in dangerous or destructive behavior will be sent home. In this case, parents may be required to pick up the camper during the camp day. A parent conference is required before the camper may return to camp.

Repeated Dangerous Offenses
If a camper repeatedly endangers themselves or another camper or staff member; repeatedly breaks camp rules; participates in repeated demeaning or hurtful behavior; or knowingly damages property; they will be required to leave the camp. Refunds will not be awarded in these cases.

COVID-19

In the event that Camp Kaleidoscope must close your child’s bunk, or all of camp, due to state or local mandate, Camp Kaleidoscope will do our best to fit you into another week, session, or JCC camp program as you prefer. If we are unable to accommodate you, JCC Greater Boston will credit your account for use in a future program.

Financial Aid

Thanks to the support of generous individual and foundation donors, JCC Greater Boston makes every effort to offer financial assistance to campers in need. For more information, or a confidential conversation, please contact us. Applications are due February 1.

Financial aid applications must be made online before February 1, at which time all submitted requests will be reviewed. Requests made after February 1 will be reviewed individually and are dependent upon funds remaining. Awards are not guaranteed year to year or for weeks added after February 1. If you are unable to accept the award, you must submit a written request to either reduce enrollment or withdraw. You must submit this request within two weeks of award notification in order to receive a refund of any deposit(s) connected to the withdrawal.

Additional weeks may be added after the deadline has passed, however, there is no guarantee that the aid will be the same. Financial aid is not transferable between camps.

Campers with Special Needs

Camp Kaleidoscope’s inclusive program seeks to enhance the social, emotional, physical and developmental needs of all children. If your camper has a 504 plan, an IEP, or receives special services, you must fill out the Special Needs Pre-Registration Form within your CampInTouch account.

We strive to offer the best camp experience possible for children who need extra support. A limited number of spaces are available for children with mild developmental disabilities. Interviews are required. Enrollment may be limited to one or two sessions. All bunk groups are inclusive.

Campers with mild disabilities participate in all camp activities. Upper campers entering grades 4-8 must be able to navigate between classes independently throughout the JCC Campus. Parents may be required to provide one-on-one aides if necessary. Please review our discipline policy, above.

For more information, email kaleidoscope@jccgb.org.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up

Attendance & Extended Day

Absence: If your child will be out for the day, please email the camp office at kaleidoscope@jccgb.org or call 617.558.6523.

Pick-Up Policy: Campers will be released to parents/guardians or those listed on your registration form. If your camper will be picked up from camp by anyone else, please let us know. Dashboard cards will be mailed to you to help us recognize your car. Additional cards are available at camp.

Extended Day and Early Drop-Off: Available by the week. Please sign up within your CampInTouch account. We regret that there is no extended day on the last day of camp, August 18.

Drop-Off

Morning drop-off is 8:45–9:00am. Cars drive through the loop, dropping off in designated areas.

Early drop-off is 8–8:45am. Park in the lot and escort your camper or pull up to the drop-off area by the theater, as instructed.

Pick-Up

  • Pickup is at 4:00pm. Be patient – we have a lot of cars driving through. Please do not arrive earlier than 3:50pm. You may park in the lot and walk over, or join the pick-up line.
  • Parents pull up to the curb next to the sidewalk. Campers should not walk through traffic to enter cars. Please follow our staff’s directions to ensure safety at pickup.
  • Dashboard cards will be mailed. Campers are released to drivers with a card; drivers without a card may be asked for ID. Notify the office in advance if your child is going home with someone not on your dismissal list.
  • Extended day is 4-5:45pm. Park in the lot and walk into the building to meet your child.

Join the Camp Kaleidoscope Team

Camp Kaleidoscope is currently fully staffed. Please feel free to fill out our application to be considered if we have any openings in the future.

Counselor playing with her campers.

Meet the Team

Betty Lehrman Headshot.

Betty Lehrman

Director, Camp Kaleidoscope

At the helm of Camp Kaleidoscope since 2009, Betty brings decades of experience in education, the arts, and camps since the nineties. She has a diverse background, including teaching middle school theater, directing arts camps and theater programs, serving as interim executive director of the Performing Arts Center of MetroWest, producing concert series and festivals, and supervising student teachers at Simmons College. Additionally, Betty has a background in professional storytelling, with a focus on Jewish tales of tradition and wisdom. She holds a teaching license, a bachelor’s in theater from Northwestern University, and a master’s in theater education from NYU.

Taaron Pitino Headshot.

Taaron Pitino

Assistant Director, Camp Kaleidoscope

Taaron brings extensive experience in teaching, therapy, and management to her role at Camp Kaleidoscope. She has been a part of the team since 2011 and has served as assistant director since 2012. Her background includes serving as lead teacher in both integrated and special needs pre-school classrooms, working in private practice as a Greenspan developmental therapist, and managing retail operations. She holds a bachelor’s in English and Jewish studies and a master’s in education and special education, both from Boston University.

Contact Taaron:  kaleidoscope@jccgb.org  617.558.6523

Get in Touch

JCC Camp Kaleidoscope
Leventhal-Sidman JCC
333 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA 02459
617.558.6523
kaleidoscope@jccgb.org

Get In Touch

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