Camp Lavi Statement

Statement from Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services

August 20, 2026

Over the past several weeks, Ohel has had the opportunity to engage in extensive and meaningful conversations with numerous groups of concerned Camp Lavi parents, alumni, staff, and community members regarding the future of Camp Lavi. We listened carefully and appreciated the passion, commitment, and deep sense of responsibility expressed by so many people who care about this very special camp. Throughout these discussions, one principle became paramount to us: whatever path we pursued, Camp Lavi must remain Camp Lavi.

Accordingly, in every conversation with groups interested in moving forward with the acquisition, we made clear that preserving Camp Lavi—its identity, traditions, culture, coeducational model, and the community that generations of families have built—was critically important to us.

We are pleased to announce that Ohel has now finalized an agreement with a group that has committed to preserve Camp Lavi and continue operating it in the tradition that its families know and love. Among the many thoughtful groups with whom we engaged, this group demonstrated its deep roots in Camp Lavi, its understanding of what makes the camp so special, and, importantly, its ability to move quickly and decisively to provide the certainty necessary to prepare for a successful Summer 2027 season. The new group will introduce itself and share its plans with the Camp Lavi community shortly. We believe that announcement should appropriately come from them.

We also want to acknowledge the extraordinary effort made by others within the Camp Lavi community who worked tirelessly to develop an alternative path forward. Their commitment to Camp Lavi was never in question, and we have tremendous respect for the time, energy, and passion they devoted to trying to bring their proposal together.

Throughout the process, Ohel worked with this group, providing multiple opportunities, including additional time, to put themselves in a position to move forward. Unfortunately, given the timing requirements of the bankruptcy process and the need to provide certainty for Camp Lavi’s next season, there came a point when we simply could not wait any longer. We recognize their disappointment, but ultimately Ohel had a responsibility to move forward with the group that was prepared and able to execute within the required timeframe. We sincerely appreciate everything they did in an effort to protect a camp they care so deeply about.

For Ohel, this represents a positive conclusion to what has been an extraordinarily complicated process. For more than five decades, Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services has served children and families throughout the Jewish community with compassion, dignity, and an unwavering commitment to helping every individual reach their potential. Through Camp Kaylie, we have also spent nearly 20 years demonstrating the extraordinary impact of bringing typically developing children and children with special needs together in an inclusive camp community.

Most importantly, we are pleased that Camp Lavi now has a clear path forward. Its traditions can continue. Its community can remain together. Its campers can look forward to returning to the camp they love. And a group with deep connections to Lavi will have the opportunity to guide its next chapter.

Ohel wishes the new ownership group, the Camp Lavi leadership, and every Lavi camper, parent, alumnus, and staff member tremendous success. We wish the same for every organization working to strengthen Jewish life and serve our community. We look forward to watching from a respectful distance as Camp Lavi continues to flourish, grow, and build upon the traditions that have made it so meaningful to generations of families.

Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services

About Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services

For more than 55 years, Ohel has provided transformative social services and mental health services. Beginning as a small foster care agency for Jewish children, today Ohel cares for thousands of individuals through a broad range of programs, including global trauma resources, mental health counseling, housing and day programs for people with developmental and psychiatric disabilities, and older adult services. Ohel’s Camp Kaylie welcomes children of all abilities to a summer of inclusive fun.