Camp Ramah In California

What Camp Ramah In California does

Camp Ramah in California, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Jewish summer camp founded in 1956 and headquartered administratively at 6505 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, with its physical operations on a 450-acre campus in Ojai Valley adjacent to Los Padres National Forest. The organization operates a residential summer camp serving Jewish children and teens (rising 3rd through 11th grade), with differentiated programs including standard 4-week sessions at $6,730, 2-week Gesher introductory sessions at $3,620, Amitzim integrated camping for campers with disabilities at $7,730, and the Ezra vocational program for young adults with disabilities at $6,880. The organization is affiliated with the National Ramah Commission (one of 11 Ramah overnight camps in North America), operates under the educational auspices of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University, and is accredited by the American Camp Association.

Beyond summer programming, Camp Ramah runs the Zimmer Retreat & Conference Center year-round as a venue rental operation accommodating up to 500 participants across 66 hotel-style rooms, 16 bunk cabins, and 33 canvas tents, plus seasonal programs including Passover Camp (April 21-30, 2027), Ohr Lanu Family Camp for families of children with special needs, and the Ramah Seminar in Israel travel program for rising 12th graders. The operating model combines tuition revenue with substantial philanthropic support through the Shomrei Ramah Society ($1,800+/year giving society), the Alon Binyamin Legacy Society for planned giving, endowment gifts starting at $100,000, and grants from foundations including Samueli and Winkler Lowy. Technology stack is limited to commodity tools: CampInTouch for enrollment, Blackbaud for donor management, Google Forms for inquiries, Vimeo for video content, and JustGiving for crowdfunding — there is no proprietary software product, mobile app, or AI capability.

The customer base is highly distributed across individual Jewish families in Southern California, with over one-third of campers receiving financial aid and nearly half using external funding resources. Marketing relies on community networks through Jewish Federations, synagogues, USY, and the One Happy Camper program. Day-to-day operations are led by CEO Rabbi Joe Menashe, COO Katie Weiss, and Chief Experience Officer & Camp Director Ariella Moss Peterseil, supported by a year-round staff of 11-50 plus a large seasonal summer workforce. The companion sub-brand Ramah Day Camp LA extends the addressable age range downward.

Name

Camp Ramah In California

Legal name

Camp Ramah in California

Website

https://ramah.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Ramah in California is a nonprofit Jewish summer camp founded in 1956, operating residential summer programs, Tikvah inclusion programs for individuals with disabilities, and the year-round Zimmer Retreat & Conference Center on a 450-acre Ojai Valley campus serving Jewish families across Southern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jewish Summer Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

Keywords

• Jewish summer camp
• Residential youth camping
• Inclusive camping programs
• Retreat conference venue
• Jewish youth education

Headquarters

HQ city

Encino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Tuition: Primary revenue stream from residential summer camp programs. Tuition varies by program length and type: standard 4-week sessions at $6,730, 2-week Gesher programs at $3,620, specialized Amitzim program at $7,730, and Ezra vocational program at $6,880 for 2026. Additional fees include application fees, medication fees, and credit card processing fees.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Donations from alumni, families, and supporters including annual contributions, endowment gifts, legacy/planned giving, and event-specific fundraising. The Shomrei Ramah Society requires annual contributions of $1,800 or more. Endowment gifts start at $100,000 for named scholarships or program endowments.
3. Zimmer Retreat & Conference Center Rentals: Year-round retreat center rental revenue from nonprofits, schools, faith-based groups, and community organizations for conferences, educational programs, leadership retreats, and lifecycle events. Accommodates groups up to 500 participants with various lodging and facility options.
4. Passover Camp Programs: Specialized Passover vacation programs at the camp facility. April 21-30, 2027 with flexible stay options including full encampment and half-session options. Includes meals, programming, and accommodations.
5. Merchandise and Swag Sales: Branded merchandise including apparel (tanks, hoodies), accessories sold through Liquid Screen Design-powered online swag store (ramahincalifornia.itemorder.com).
6. Gesher L'Chuppah Plaques: Commemorative plaque sales on the Gesher L'Chuppah bridge for couples who met at camp. Small plaques available for $540, large plaques for $3,600.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Camp Ramah in California is a nonprofit Jewish summer camp operating residential camp programs for Jewish children and teens (rising 3rd–11th graders) on a 450-acre campus in Ojai Valley. Offerings include multi-week summer sessions, specialized Tikvah inclusion programs for campers with disabilities (Amitzim and Ezra), seasonal programs such as Passover Camp and Ohr Lanu Family Camp, the Ramah Seminar in Israel travel program, and year-round venue rentals through the Zimmer Retreat & Conference Center.

Product overview

Camp Ramah in California operates a suite of Jewish overnight summer camping programs centered on its 450-acre Ojai Valley campus, including multi-week residential camp sessions for rising 3rd–11th graders, specialized Tikvah inclusion programs (Amitzim and Ezra) for campers with disabilities, and seasonal programming such as Passover Camp and Ohr Lanu Family Camp. Year-round, the Zimmer Retreat & Conference Center serves external groups with venue rentals, kosher catering, and lodging for up to 500 guests. The organization also administers named giving societies (Shomrei Ramah Society and Alon Binyamin Legacy Society) for fundraising, and families interact with a CampInTouch web portal for enrollment and staff applications. The offering is best characterized as a program portfolio rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zimmer Retreat & Conference Center: Year-round retreat and conference center located at the camp grounds in Ojai, California, serving nonprofits, schools, faith-based groups, and community organizations.
• Tikvah Program
• Gesher L'Chuppah
• Ohr Lanu Family Camp
• Passover Camp

Products and services

• Summer Camp Program Coeducational residential Jewish summer camp programs on a 450-acre Ojai Valley campus, offering 2-week Gesher sessions (rising 3rd–5th graders), 4-week Nitzanim sessions (rising 4th–5th graders), and full 4-week sessions for rising 4th–11th graders. Tuition for 2026 ranges from $3,620 (Gesher) to $6,730 (4-week).
• Tikvah Programs (Amitzim and Ezra) Specialized inclusion programs for campers and young adults with disabilities. Amitzim provides integrated camping with individualized support alongside peers. Ezra is a four- or eight-week vocational training program for young adults with disabilities, combining job-site experience, life-skill classes, recreational activities, and Jewish living. Amitzim 2026 tuition is $7,730 per session; Ezra 2026 tuition is $6,880 per session.
• Passover Camp A week-long Passover vacation program held April 21–30, 2027 at the Ojai campus offering multigenerational Jewish community experiences including festive seders, scholarly programming, recreational activities, youth programming, and kosher-for-Passover dining, with flexible stay options (full encampment or half-session).
• Zimmer Retreat & Conference Center Year-round retreat and conference center rental at the Ojai campus, serving nonprofits, schools, faith-based groups, and community organizations for conferences, leadership retreats, educational programs, youth programs, and lifecycle events. Accommodates up to 500 participants with 66 double-occupancy hotel-style rooms, 16 bunk-bed cabins, 33 canvas-wall tents, kosher dining, ropes course, archery, hiking, swimming, and flexible meeting spaces.
• Ohr Lanu Family Camp A family retreat program for children with special needs ages 4–14 and their families at the Ojai Valley campus, offering specialized therapeutic programming, parent support groups, sibling support, and inclusive camp activities. Scheduled for September 4–7, 2026.
• Ramah Seminar in Israel A six-week travel program in Israel for rising 12th graders who are former campers of the 11 Ramah overnight camps in North America, providing in-depth perspective on Israel's history and future, coordinated through the Ramah Israel office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over one-third of campers receive financial aid annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Ramah CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the National Ramah Commission, which oversees 11 Ramah overnight camps across North America. Camp Ramah in California operates under the educational auspices of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and under the Conservative Movement.
• Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Ramah in California operates under the educational auspices of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University.
• The Jewish Agency for IsraelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel to screen, interview, and hire Israeli staff members (Mishlachat) for the summer camp program. Israeli applicants must apply through JAFI Shlichut Program.
• One Happy Camper / PJ Library Goes to CampcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating camp in the One Happy Camper grant program for first-time campers attending public or non-Jewish private schools. Also partners with PJ Library Goes to Camp Fund for families who don't qualify for One Happy Camper.
• LabelDaddyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount partnership offering Camp Ramah families 25% off clothing and item labels using discount code 'RAMAH'.
• Liquid Screen DesignminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner vendor powering Camp Ramah's online swag store (ramahincalifornia.itemorder.com) for branded merchandise including apparel and accessories.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Camp Ramah in Canada: Direct peer as the Canadian overnight camp in the Ramah network. Ariella Moss Peterseil served as Assistant Director there from 2008-2012 before joining Camp Ramah in California, reflecting identical operational and programmatic model.
• Camp Tawonga: Direct peer as a Jewish residential summer camp located in the same California region (near Yosemite). Offers multi-week residential programming for Jewish youth with similar educational, recreational, and identity-building focus, competing for the same Southern California Jewish family market.
• Camp Alonim: Direct peer as a Jewish overnight summer camp in California operated by the American Jewish University (the same institution that grants educational auspices to Camp Ramah). Competes directly for the same Southern California Jewish family market.
• Camp Harlam: Direct peer as a Jewish overnight summer camp in the Reform movement serving the Northeast. Operates comparable residential programming for Jewish youth with multiple age tiers, specialty tracks, and Tikvah-style inclusion offerings.
• Camp OSRUI: Direct peer as a Jewish overnight summer camp operated by the Union for Reform Judaism in the Midwest. Offers comparable residential programming, Tikvah inclusion programs, and serves as a similar model for nonprofit Jewish camp operations with retreat center business lines.
• URJ Camp Newman: Direct peer as a Reform Jewish overnight summer camp in Northern California serving the same broader California Jewish family market. Operates multi-week residential programming, specialty inclusion tracks, and year-round retreat operations.
• Camp JCA Shalom: Direct peer as a Jewish overnight summer camp operating in California under JCC affiliation. Competes for the same Los Angeles Jewish family market with similar residential programming, age-tiered sessions, and specialty tracks.
• Camp Ramah in New England: Direct peer as another overnight Jewish summer camp in the National Ramah network serving New England. Operates the same Conservative Movement-affiliated model with multi-week residential programming, Tikvah inclusion programs, and year-round retreat operations on a comparable scale.
• Camp Ramah in Wisconsin: Direct peer as one of the 11 Ramah overnight camps in North America serving the Midwest. Operates identical Conservative Jewish residential summer programming, specialty Tikvah tracks, and retreat rental operations under the same national Ramah umbrella.
• Wilshire Blvd. Temple Camps: Direct peer as a Southern California Jewish overnight camp organization that competed with Camp Ramah before being affected by the 2017 fires. Maria Brewer, now Director of Operations at Camp Ramah, came from 14 years at Wilshire Blvd. Temple Camps, indicating close operational comparability.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RamahCalifornia
• Facebookfacebook.com/RamahCalifornia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-ramah-in-california

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Camp Ramah In California