We are thrilled to announce that after many years of dreaming, hard work, and planning, the Ramah Sports Academy (RSA) will officially open in summer 2018 on the beautiful campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

The RSA Board of Directors, in partnership with the National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary, has entered into an agreement with Fairfield University to begin operations next summer. Facilities include top-level collegiate athletic fields, gymnasiums, an indoor pool, fitness and conditioning facilities, and various additional recreational programmatic resources.

Campers will learn from experienced coaches, utilizing state-of-the-art training techniques. In this first summer, campers will choose to “major” in basketball, soccer, tennis, swimming, or baseball, and will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy additional sports offerings and a wide range of elective activities.

RSA will offer three two-week sessions over the course of the summer. These intensive athletic experiences will take place within the inspiring Jewish environment that has been the hallmark of Ramah camps for over 70 years.

Campers will live in a dormitory designated exclusively for RSA in a beautiful, wooded, private area of the campus, with its own kosher kitchen as well as prayer spaces, lounges, and camp offices.

The Ramah Sports Academy has received generous start-up funds from the Jim Joseph Foundation and The AVI CHAI Foundation through the Specialty Camp Incubator of the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC). FJC Incubator advisers, together with National Ramah, have been working closely with RSA leaders to ensure best practices in all areas of operation, including health and safety, camper care, recreational excellence, and informal Jewish education.

The RSA board and National Ramah are raising additional funds to create educational curricula on topics such as Jews and sports, sportsmanship and Jewish values, antisemitism in sports, and Israeli athletes, as well as to establish a substantial scholarship fund to make camp affordable for all interested families.

As we plan for summer 2018, we would love to hear your ideas regarding how best to attract even more families to the Ramah experience at RSA. Please consider completing this short survey.

Visit the RSA website to learn more.

Introducing Ramah Sports Academy