Meet Barry Fulton, LAJF’s new Executive Director! As a CRS alum, former Camp Director, and longtime board member, Barry’s journey with CRS comes full circle in this exciting new role. Barry shares more about what this role means to him in his welcome letter—click to read it!
Get to know our Summer 2025 Team! Meet Jackson, one of our Program Coordinators at LAJF and a Co-Assistant Camp Director.
Each summer at Camp Rising Sun is a reminder of what’s possible when young people from around the world come together to grow, lead, and connect. This year, we’re thrilled to welcome an incredible and diverse group of campers, but we’re also reckoning with who isn’t here and why.
Click to read this open letter to the CRS community from LAJF Director of Programs, Elyem Chej.
This week, we learn more about Instructions time from the 2016 Instructions Counselor, Ritham Mehta (‘11, ‘14-‘16). Instructions are vital to the Rising Sun program. Instructions provide Campers an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership skills by teaching an instruction to their peers. It also provides alumni and friends an opportunity to engage with the campers, as they visit Camp for the day and share their professional knowledge.
This week, in our CRS summer staff series, we hear from Sonia Wargacka (‘10, ‘16, ‘17), the 2016-2017 Projects Counselor. Sonia discusses why she values projects, and how projects empower campers. “There is a lot to say about empowerment when we talk about hammers, table saws, construction, and painting. Enabling all of our campers to make projects happen and be the change they want to see first at Camp, and then in the world, is for me one of the most important elements of Camp Rising Sun.”
This week's Why I Give features Alex Claycomb a camper from 2011. In his post, he discusses three main reasons why he gives back to LAJF/CRS, including how his first year of Camp affected him. "The camp season we experienced [in 2011] was only possible because of the continued generosity of those who came before us. That message struck me and I’ve given ever since."
Throughout December, we will be highlighting the stories of former Camp Rising Sun counselors to hear what they valued most in their program areas. This is to increase awareness and understanding of how donations make these opportunities possible. This week, Antonella Cornejo (CRS ’16-’17) reflects on two summers working in the CRS kitchen and the importance of cultural meals to the camp experience.
Applications for the 2018 Rising Sun season is now open. We encourage you, alumni and friends, to nominate a camper or staff member for CRS '18, as you know better than anyone else what qualities are needed for campers and counselors to thrive at Camp Rising Sun. Read more about the qualification here.
Today, we hear from another CRS parent about the transformational effects of CRS. Carlos Guerrero, a parent of a 2016-2017 camper, describes that "as parents, we see a huge difference in our son. CRS gave him a voice, a sense of belonging, confidence, maturity, and unconditional friendship. It opened his eyes to the world and gave him the maturity and determination to be a better student, family member, and friend."
LOUIS AUGUST JONAS FOUNDATION 6 RISING SUN LANE RHINEBECK, NY, 12572, UNITED STATES +1 (212) 686-1930 CONTACT@LAJF.ORG
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.
