The Louis August Jonas Foundation

Applying to TELE is straightforward. Here’s how it works:

1. Submit your application at www.lajf.org/apply.

2. Applications are reviewed in waves — the sooner you apply, the better your chances of securing a place and a scholarship.

3. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a 15-minute interview. Relax — it’s a conversation, not a test. We want to hear about you, your interests, and why TELE feels right for you.

4. Admissions decisions are sent on a rolling basis.

   Optional: attend a free information session before you apply. We’d love to answer your questions.

We review applications in two waves. Applying in Wave 1 gives you the best chance of securing a place and a scholarship — we expect most scholarship seats to be filled before Wave 2 opens.

• Applications Open:
  Wave 1 - March 16
  Wave 2 - March 20
  Wave 3 - April 3
  Wave 4 - May 2

• Deadlines:
  Wave 1 - March 19
  Wave 2 - April 2
  Wave 3 - May 1
  Wave 4 - June 1

• Interviews:
  Wave 1 - March 28-30
  Wave 2 - April 11-13
  Wave 3 - May 9-11
  Wave 4 - June 6-7

• Decisions By:
  Wave 1 - April 2
  Wave 2 - April 16
  Wave 3 - May 13
  Wave 4 - June 9

You are welcome to apply if:

• You will be between 15 and 18 years old at the start of the program

• You are available for the full two-week online session

• You can communicate in English

You can apply from anywhere in the world. You do not need leadership experience, perfect English, or a specific background. We are looking for curiosity, openness, and a genuine interest in the world.

Each TELE participant joins one of two two-week sessions in July or August. The sessions are largely the same — the main difference is the cohort of people you’ll be with.

Session 1: 29 June - 10th July 

Session 2: 20th July - 31st July

The program fee for TELE is $399.

We don’t want cost to be a barrier. Generous partial and full scholarships are available — but they are limited and awarded on a needs basis. Applying early gives you the best chance of receiving financial support.

If you have questions about scholarships, please contact us at apply@lajf.org.

Not sure if TELE is right for you? Join a free online information session to hear from our team and ask any questions you have.

• 2026 applications will open this November.

• Attend an information session (optional).

• Submit your complete application by the deadline for your region. (See deadline section below.)

• Applicants selected for the interview phase will be invited to an interview by the selection committee of their region. Expect this invitation between January 15th and March 1st.

• Prepare for your interview, relax, and be ready to talk about yourself, your passions, and why you are interested in attending Camp Rising Sun.

• Interviews will take place between January and March. Specific dates will depend on our selection committee.

• LAJF will begin to send out admissions decisions (admitted, waitlisted, rejected) in March. The exact date depends on where you are applying from.

• We will host an admitted students and families information session (date TBD) with recent campers and their families.

• If you are admitted, you must register to confirm your place within a week of being admitted.

• We will accept candidates from the waitlist starting in April.

• Your selection committee will be available to offer you support before and after the program.

December 15th:

• Ecuador

• Kazakhstan

• Kyrgyzstan

• Palestine

• South Africa

• Tajikistan

• Uzbekistan

January 15th:

• Netherlands

• Vietnam (The Dewey School)

• Ukraine

• USA - California

• USA - General

• ALL OTHER REGIONS

February 1st:

• Greece (Anatolia and American Farm School)

• Germany

• Spain

• Finland

February 15th:

• Israel

• Zambia

• Denmark

• Latvia

• USA - New York/New Jersey/Connecticut

• USA - Colorado

• Peru

February 22nd:

• Hungary

March 1st:

• France

• Poland

• USA - Nebraska

• USA - New Mexico

March 15th

• USA - Minnesota

April 11th:

• Japan

• You can apply from anywhere in the world.

• You should be at least 15 years old when your camp session starts and you cannot have turned 17 by the end of your camp session. (With a birth date between August 28th, 2009 and June 28th, 2011)

• You must be available for the whole four-week in-person session in upstate New York. 

• You must be able to speak English. English is essential for understanding safety instructions and for maximizing the benefits of the CRS experience.

• Children or grandchildren of any previous Camp Rising Sun alumni interested in participating in CRS must apply as legacy campers. Please follow this link.  

• International campers will require a valid passport and visa (if applicable). Campers living in the United States do not need a passport to apply, register, or attend the program. 

• Accepted applicants must complete a full medical (physical and mental health) evaluation prior to arrival and provide proof of vaccination, including being fully vaccinated for COVID-19.  Exemptions will be granted.

You will have to submit the following materials by the application deadline for your region.

1) A completed 2026 CRS application.

2) One (1) reference. This reference should be an adult who knows you well (teacher, guidance counselor, principal, a coach, club leader, religious adviser, or scoutmaster, etc.) References must be adults who are not members of your family.

The references are due by the application deadline for your region.

Campers of all gender identities are welcome and encouraged to submit an application for whichever session would be most comfortable for them to attend.

Please note campers are expected to stay with an LAJF provided host family one to two days before camp starts and one or two days after camp ends. You can also make your own arrangements to arrive at the meeting point in New York City on the first day of camp.

Girls and Non-Binary Session: June 28th - July 25th, 2026

Boys and Non-Binary Session: July 31st - August 27th, 2026

Camp Rising Sun is a full scholarship program. Admitted campers pay no tuition to attend our program. When families or local alumni associations cannot afford travel costs to and from camp, LAJF has some funds to provide need-based financial assistance to cover travel costs. These funds are limited. 

Camp Rising Sun relies on contributions from alumni, friends, and participants like you to make this possible. If you are accepted to CRS, you will be asked to fill out a donation equity worksheet which will help you to get a sense of what might be a reasonable contribution based on your financial position relative to our global community. We recognize the diverse economic backgrounds of our participants, and completing this survey helps each family to consider the amount they wish to contribute.

Please check out our frequently asked questions sections here: lajf.org/programs-faq

LAJF will host information sessions during the application cycle. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

We’d love to see you!

Local selection committees will also host information sessions. Please check with them to find dates and locations.