About
Camp Seneca Lake is a Jewish overnight camp that builds Jewish identity and community. Camp Seneca Lake provides a meaningful summer camp experience where children from all backgrounds develop independence, form lifelong friendships and build their Jewish identity in a safe, compassionate community. CSL is described as a safe, compassionate community with a warm and nurturing environment.
• Ages: 8–17 years old
In the summer of 1928, Aaron Rose brought 30 campers from Rochester NY to a campground in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, which became Camp Conesus. A new property was purchased in 1939 that became Camp Seneca Lake, and Camp Seneca Lake has been operating for over 95 summers. Camp Seneca Lake is associated with the JCC of Greater Rochester.
Camp Seneca Lake serves youth and teens entering grades 3–12. Each cabin consists of 6–12 campers, and each cabin is staffed by at least 2 college-aged counselors. Many of the counselors are former Camp Seneca Lake campers themselves, and the staff are described as highly trained.
CSL is a supportive and inclusive community where people of all backgrounds are welcome, including those who are Jewish, not Jewish, and interfaith. Participants are invited to participate in Jewish rituals in the way that feels comfortable to them. CSL believes that all human beings are created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. CSL is committed to the full inclusion, acceptance and equity of people of all gender expressions and identities, and affirms the right of all people, including gender nonconforming and transgender individuals, to be referred to by their name, gender and pronouns in its programs.
CSL supports campers with special needs in many ways during the summer. CSL always has onsite camp mental health professionals available to meet with campers as the need arises, and hires extra staff with special training to help support campers with a wide range of Mental Emotional Social Spiritual Health (MESSH) concerns.
CSL states that camp life fosters a strong sense of responsibility, self-reliance, independence, and self-worth. Its mission states that it will provide a fun, adventurous program with immersive, experiential learning that builds Jewish identity, facilitates personal exploration, cultivates an appreciation of nature, and establishes the importance of Jewish community. The mission also states that adventurous outdoor experiences create a connection and appreciation for the environment in the Finger Lakes region, that CSL provides a space and community to build lifelong friendships and develop interpersonal relationship skills, and that intentional and meaningful programming establish the importance of a Jewish identity and create a deep connection to a tight knit community that is strong at its core.
Parents describe CSL as a hugely important part of their children’s lives and something that motivates their children throughout the school year. One parent describes CSL as a very special and unique place that offers children a place to feel a part of their community and not to be judged, where they can be themselves. Another parent reports that their son came home from camp comfortable, in love with the place, excited, and happy after only a week, and that camp helped him see what a special place and community it is. A further parent shares that, a week after returning home, their son was still singing fight songs, telling stories of his adventures, staying more physically active than before, and that camp offered him an opportunity to challenge himself and feel more confident about who he is and what he is capable of doing.
Last updated February 6, 2026.
• Ages: 8–17 years old
In the summer of 1928, Aaron Rose brought 30 campers from Rochester NY to a campground in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, which became Camp Conesus. A new property was purchased in 1939 that became Camp Seneca Lake, and Camp Seneca Lake has been operating for over 95 summers. Camp Seneca Lake is associated with the JCC of Greater Rochester.
Camp Seneca Lake serves youth and teens entering grades 3–12. Each cabin consists of 6–12 campers, and each cabin is staffed by at least 2 college-aged counselors. Many of the counselors are former Camp Seneca Lake campers themselves, and the staff are described as highly trained.
CSL is a supportive and inclusive community where people of all backgrounds are welcome, including those who are Jewish, not Jewish, and interfaith. Participants are invited to participate in Jewish rituals in the way that feels comfortable to them. CSL believes that all human beings are created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. CSL is committed to the full inclusion, acceptance and equity of people of all gender expressions and identities, and affirms the right of all people, including gender nonconforming and transgender individuals, to be referred to by their name, gender and pronouns in its programs.
CSL supports campers with special needs in many ways during the summer. CSL always has onsite camp mental health professionals available to meet with campers as the need arises, and hires extra staff with special training to help support campers with a wide range of Mental Emotional Social Spiritual Health (MESSH) concerns.
CSL states that camp life fosters a strong sense of responsibility, self-reliance, independence, and self-worth. Its mission states that it will provide a fun, adventurous program with immersive, experiential learning that builds Jewish identity, facilitates personal exploration, cultivates an appreciation of nature, and establishes the importance of Jewish community. The mission also states that adventurous outdoor experiences create a connection and appreciation for the environment in the Finger Lakes region, that CSL provides a space and community to build lifelong friendships and develop interpersonal relationship skills, and that intentional and meaningful programming establish the importance of a Jewish identity and create a deep connection to a tight knit community that is strong at its core.
Parents describe CSL as a hugely important part of their children’s lives and something that motivates their children throughout the school year. One parent describes CSL as a very special and unique place that offers children a place to feel a part of their community and not to be judged, where they can be themselves. Another parent reports that their son came home from camp comfortable, in love with the place, excited, and happy after only a week, and that camp helped him see what a special place and community it is. A further parent shares that, a week after returning home, their son was still singing fight songs, telling stories of his adventures, staying more physically active than before, and that camp offered him an opportunity to challenge himself and feel more confident about who he is and what he is capable of doing.
Last updated February 6, 2026.
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