Camp Life | Herzl Camp

Herzl Camp is a welcoming, independent camp where young people become self-reliant, create lasting Jewish friendships, and develop commitment and love for Judaism and Israel. Herzl creates a vibrant Jewish community of future leaders. Founded by a committed group of Midwestern Jews in 1946, since then over 30,000 campers have spent their summers in Webster, WI, immersed in our unique brand of joyful Judaism.

Located on 120 acres in Webster, WI on the shores of Devils Lake, Herzl Camp offers summers filled with friendship and fun! Accredited by the American Camp Association and located just 2 hours north of the Twin Cities, campers and staff come from Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, Indiana, Tennessee, Canada, Israel, Hawaii and beyond to try something new and be part of long-standing Herzl traditions.

Camp Sessions

Our sessions are designed to fit your child and your families’ schedule. Younger campers start with shorter program lengths, choosing from a 1, 2, or 3 week program. As campers age and become more independent, campers have the opportunity to stay for longer periods of time. For campers in 5th-8th grade, we offer 1-week specialty camps which can be added to a longer program or can be an opportunity to try camp as a stand-alone week. Click here for program dates and tuition.

Health & Safety

Herzl Camp provides medical coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with nurses and doctors on site. Our Marpeah (Health Center) staff care for all routine health issues at camp without charge. Emergency services are provided at nearby Burnett County Medical Center, a fully-equipped trauma center.

Food

We serve three healthy kosher meals and a nosh (snack) each day. Meals are served family-style with vegetarian options for all meals. Whole grains, fresh veggies and ripe fruit are always on the menu.

Screen-Free Summers

Herzl Camp is screen-free! Our campers disconnect from electronics and enjoy a summer spent outdoors, playing games and making friends. This time in nature and in community creates opportunities to develop important social skills.

Jewish and Israel Education at Camp

As an independent, pluralistic camp, we’ve created uniquely “Herzl” Jewish and Zionist programming and education. At Herzl Camp, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, and Modern Orthodox children pray and learn together daily.

Through daily experiential programming, we build camper connections to Judaism and their Jewish community. Each morning, campers and staff share Zman Kodesh and take a deep dive into Jewish values, prayer, and Torah. We do this through a variety of activities including music, meditation, art, movement, drama, or cooking.

Throughout the week, campers participate in several programs centered around Israel. In addition to specific educational programs about Israel, we weave Israeli culture, food, dance, and music into daily activities. We also bring Israel to life through our Israeli staff and our Israeli camper exchange program.

Shabbat is a restful time at Herzl and rich with tradition. Throughout Shabbat, we alter our activities to make the day more restful, more reverent, and different from the rest of the week. Shabbat services are led by a different camper program each week with guidance from our staff. We dress in white and welcome Shabbat with song and a caravan to services. Candles are lit. Hands are washed. Kiddush. Motzi. A delicious meal followed by Birkat and singing. The Torah is read. Shabbat ends with the entire camp participating in camper-led Havdala together.

Camp is for Everyone

At Herzl, we believe that camp is for everyone! Whether a camper needs support for nutritional, medical, social or behavioral, or physical needs, Herzl Camp staff are here to make the summer successful. We work to make sure that campers of different backgrounds and needs can participate and can create meaningful experiences, long-lasting friendships, and unique Jewish moments .

To do this, we partner with parents, learning as much as we can about our campers, and a building a individual camp plan for those who need it. We provide one-on-one staff or a point person to help campers navigate the camp world. Our facility is ADA accessible and we have a variety of programming to meet everyone’s interests.

Accreditations and Memberships

Herzl Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. This means that we meet or exceed the industry standards in over 300 measures of health, safety and professionalism. Herzl Camp is also a proud member of the Association of Independent Jewish Camps, a group dedicated to pursuing best practices for independent Jewish camps.