The Louis August Jonas Foundation:
Inspiring youth and building global leaders.

TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS FOR TEENS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE!

For more than 95 years, LAJF has been committed to helping young people grow intellectually, ethically, and globally. Our mission is to develop in promising young people from around the world a lifelong commitment to compassionate and responsible leadership for the betterment of their communities and the world.

Discover our programs below:

 
CAMP RISING SUN

Camp Rising Sun (CRS) is a four-week, in-person leadership summer camp in Upstate New York, for teens aged 15-16 from around the world.

the ethical leadership experience

The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE) is a two-week online leadership program for teens aged 15–18, from everywhere in the world.

 

Featured video:
95 Years of Camp Rising Sun

2025 marked 95 years of Camp Rising Sun. Since 1930, our programs have shaped the lives of more than 6,500 alumni from dozens of countries around the world.

As we celebrate more than 95 years of impact, see how a summer at Camp becomes a lifetime of meaning. Click the video to the right to watch.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more!

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read the latest on our blog

 
Featured
2026-27 GEJ Scholarship Award Recipients
2026-27 GEJ Scholarship Award Recipients

Join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2026-27 GEJ Scholarship Awards! These CRS and TELE alums and former staff members embody the values of leadership, excellence, and commitment to social justice across a variety of fields and disciplines. We congratulate them on all of their achievements and look forward to seeing what they do in the future! Please click to meet this year's scholarship recipients.

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Celebrating the 2026 Boys & Non-Binary Session
Celebrating the 2026 Boys & Non-Binary Session

Summer at Camp has concluded and we are celebrating our second session of 2026, the Boys and Non-Binary session! Click for a recap and photo gallery of the highlights.

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A Glimpse into Summer 2026 Session I!
A Glimpse into Summer 2026 Session I!

Get a glimpse inside the first session of 2026, our Girls and Non-Binary session! Click for a recap and photo gallery of the highlights.

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Upcoming Events

 
Featured
Career & Community Connections: Climate, Environment & Sustainability
Sep 16
Career & Community Connections: Climate, Environment & Sustainability

Join us on Zoom! Connect with fellow CRS & TELE alumni in the climate, environment, and sustainability space! Whether you’re exploring your future career, just starting out, or have years of experience, join us for a relaxed, virtual gathering with small-group conversations and light facilitation. Click to learn more and save the date!

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Pioneer Academics 5th Annual Co-Curricular Summit
Sep 19
Pioneer Academics 5th Annual Co-Curricular Summit

LAJF will be tabling a booth representing Camp Rising Sun and The Ethical Leadership Experience during the Program Fair at the 2026 Pioneer Co-Curricular Summit on Saturday, September 19. The Program Fair will take place from 10:30 to 11:30am, and there is also a full day of other programs scheduled. Click for more information and visit their website here. We hope to see you there, and please spread the news to anyone in your network who may be interested!

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Camp Rising Sun Through the Years

 
 
 
CRS Alumni Directory

LOUIS AUGUST JONAS FOUNDATION
6 RISING SUN LANE
RHINEBECK, NY, 12572, UNITED STATES
+1 (212) 686-1930
contact@lajf.org
CRS Parents, please contact: +1 (845) 392-7090

The Louis August Jonas Foundation (LAJF) and Camp Rising Sun (CRS) have a long-held commitment to the principles of diversity, stemming from our mission. In that spirit, LAJF and CRS do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, sexual orientation, nation of origin, gender, sex, or gender identity.