OUR PROGRAM
Camp Gan Israel of Birmingham, AL is a traditional, but unique summer program for Jewish children from Kindergarten thru 12 years of age. Located at the Chabad Education Center on Overton Road, CGI offers a wide range of activities for all tastes and talents.
We’ve developed leading-edge activity programming that includes creative activities and performing arts, water sports, athletics and special puzzles, hunts, and challenges. Programs are tailored to meet your child’s needs and we encourage our campers to make choices, take risks and accept new challenges.
Whether it’s learning karate, improving their soccer game, cheering with friends, or learning how to make hamentashen, your child will have a summer filled with memories that will last a lifetime.
SWIMMING
At Camp Gan Israel, we swim and/or do water activities on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We have certified lifeguards at the pool and any water activity. All campers, including rising Kindergarteners, go to the pool. Each camper must take a swim test before going into the deep end. In addition the lifeguard, there are counselors stationed all around the pool. For new swimmers, we have numerous floating devices for the children, including floaties, tubes, and noodles. Feel free to send your own. Whatever you do send to camp - towels, bathing suits, bags, floating devices, sunscreen, etc. should be clearly labeled with your child’s name and last name.
TRIPS
Trips are a big favorite in camp. Trip days are normally Tuesday and Thursday. All campers and staff wear a camp t-shirt on trip days.
The campers are always treated to a fun, safe, and exciting field trip to attractions and locations that include the best Birmingham has to offer. We are always on the lookout for new and popular places to visit, so the list is constantly changing. Our destinations include Oak Mountain State Park, Red Mountain Park, McWane Center, Let's Play, Grants Mill Station, Skates 280, and more. We culminate the summer with a grand trip, our older campers going to an overnight at Stone Mountain and Six Flags over Georgia, and our younger ones at the Splash Pad.
WATER PARK
Camp Gan Israel owns giant inflatable water slides and water tag zone. These are a special treat during the heat of an Alabama summer day. Boys and girls participate separately, and there is always adequate supervision at water activities.
SPORTS
Sports in camp include baseball, football, soccer, kickball, basketball, and more. This summer we are so excited to welcome Coach Mark as our sports director! Coach Mark brings his many years of coaching youth sports to Camp Gan Israel this summer to not only teach our campers great skills and give them a great time, but also to build their self-confidence and teach good sportsmanship.
ARTS AND WOODWORKING
Camp Gan Israel is the place to express your inner actor, painter and builder. From drama to art, from woodworking to TV style game shows, the kids get to shine and have fun doing so.
GAME ROOM
Our in-house fun room includes ping-pong, air-hockey, foosball, basketball challenge and a variety of arcade games. This room is used as a regularly scheduled activity during the day, but doubles as a before– and after-camp activity as well.
SPECIAL GUEST STARS
Entertainers and experts come to camp to show us what they’ve got. Magicians, animal trainers, drum masters and more come through our doors and usually leave as impressed with our campers as we are of them.
ARCHERY
Our instructors are specially trained to be archery masters, to ensure safety and maximum fun. We have professional grade equipment, multiple targets and a roomy range where everyone can shoot at his or her comfort level.
BAKING
From Challah making on Fridays, to cake decorating workshops, to our very own Gan Izzy Chopped, campers show off skills and learn new ones while making delicious and varied foods. All strictly kosher, of course. Bon Appétit!
GOOD OL' FASHIONED FUN
With scavenger hunts, races, games, activites and more, Camp Gan Izzy infuses Judaism and good values into everything we do.