Round Lake Inclusion at NJY Camps

Round Lake Inclusion at NJY Camps offers campers activities such as horseback riding, swimming in the lake, skateboarding, archery, climbing, and time at the animal center. Campers also take part in arts and crafts and STEM activities, and some participate in community service projects. The program includes access to speech therapy, occupational therapy, and academic enrichment, as well as internship experiences in areas like the animal center, arts and crafts, STEM, and the administrative offices for older campers in Teen Village.

• Ages: 7–17 years old

Round Lake is an inclusion program at Camp Nah-Jee-Wah and Cedar Lake Camp for children with a wide array of needs, and campers in the program are fully integrated into the camp experiences at these camps while receiving additional support. The program is built upon a philosophy of opportunity and choice for all campers, and each experience is described as being designed to help develop confidence, independence, and improve peer interaction, as well as to have fun and feel secure in the camp environment. Round Lake campers ages 7 to 11 reside in dedicated bunks at Camp Nah-Jee-Wah, while campers 12 years and older live in dedicated bunks at Cedar Lake Camp.

Professionals are available to provide speech therapy and occupational therapy according to campers’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) at no extra cost, and tutors offer academic enrichment in both individual and group settings. A mental health professional is on site to provide support to campers and staff, and campers benefit from a high counselor to camper ratio. Staff utilize visual aides such as schedules and calendars to provide predictability and routine, and every staff member participates in a specific, week-long training program, with counselors receiving routine support and guidance through in-service sessions and hands-on supervision.

Round Lake campers ages 15–17 in Teen Village participate in an internship program 4–6 days a week, with placements that include the animal center, arts and crafts, STEM, and the administrative offices. Teen Village campers also travel on field trips one or two days per week to participate in community service projects, including a visit to the AFYA Foundation, an agency committed to sending surplus medical supplies to countries in need. Tzevet B’Yachad (TBY) allows Round Lake alumni to return to camp as staff members with needed support to have a meaningful and enriching work experience.

All lead staff are professionals in their fields, including teachers, social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and Jewish educators, and many counselors are college students majoring in education, psychology, social work, or a related field. One parent shared that Round Lake is where their daughter “finally found her people” and described seeing photos of her smiling with friends she looks forward to seeing each year. Another parent described Round Lake as “an extraordinary place” for their son, noting his joy in forming friendships with counselors from around the world and his return home “more confident and independent.” A third parent reported that their daughter has attended camp for three summers, including a seven-week stay, and that she participates in horseback riding, swimming in the lake, skateboarding, archery, and climbing, and has formed close friendships with bunkmates and counselors.

Last updated July 21, 2026.