LAJF Programs are defined by experiential learning.  Participants try new things, plan projects, lead and follow their peers, and grow their community.  By taking leadership roles, each participant learns what it means to be accountable to others and true to their own leadership styles.  They learn decision-making, organizational, and problem-solving skills while strengthening their notions of teamwork and group identity. 

Staff members act as models and mentors, ensuring safety while encouraging exploration and innovation.  Participants and staff offer each other continuous feedback so that students may challenge themselves, fail sometimes, and learn from their mistakes – all in a safe space. Counselors ensure that the pace of the program allows this time for reflection, time that is often missing from our increasingly fast-paced lives.

Camp Rising Sun and the Ethical Leadership Experience are both highly experiential programs, and although the share the same mission, there are some clear differences. Camp Rising Sun is a four-week in person experience, where being outdoors and caring for our grounds and surroundings play a big part. The Ethical Leadership Experience is a virtual program, with joining a call for 4 hours a day and do some offline independent group work. In both programs, participants build strong communities, challenge each other and make life-long friendships.

The main elements of our in-person and our virtual programs include: 

  • Instruction: Campers choose from daily presentations and workshops offered by staff and fellow campers on subjects including: world affairs, personal growth, leadership, philosophy, ethics, cultural differences, music, art, drama, nutrition and fitness, nature and individual interests.

  • Project Time: Campers work each day in self-chosen, peer-led groups on projects designed to improve the community. Different leadership styles are modeled and project management skills are practiced. In the past, participants have built a tree house, written letters to local politicians, or collaborated on a video essay.

  • Evening Program: Often student planned and executed, these full-communit programs develop mutual understanding as well as intellectual and artistic growth. 

  • Self-Structured Time: During self-structured time, participants pursue a personally meaningful activity such as practice a sport or instrument, continue an instruction or project, take a swim in the pool, join a discussion, or write in their journals.

  • All-Camp Activity: This may be a political simulation event, a theatrical production, or some other activity that involves the whole community of campers.

Read the Camp Rising Sun curriculum in full here.