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As antisemitism rises across the US, Jewish summer camps are tightening security, and some are introducing additional rates while working to combat threats before they arise.
FBI crime data shows that between March 2025 and March 2026, the US recorded 2,421 religiously-based hate crimes, 1,395 of which were directed at Jews. There are hundreds of Jewish summer camps across North America serving tens of thousands of children each year.
The recent attack on a Michigan synagogue highlighted the dangers facing Jewish institutions and the people who depend on them, including children.
On March 12, Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, a 41-year-old American born in Lebanon, allegedly crashed his car into Temple Israel, a large reform synagogue in West Bloomfield, around 12:30 p.m. Kindergarten students and staff were forced to evacuate for safety.
An active shooter was reported at Temple Israel, a synagogue in Michigan, on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (WJBK)
AFTER THE MICHIGAN ATTACKS, JEWISH YOUTHS SHOW A RELATIONSHIP THEY CAN’T EXPLAIN
After the attack, police departments across the country increased patrols at houses of worship, Jewish centers and other vulnerable areas. As summer approaches, camps across the country are gearing up to provide children with a fun and safe summer.
Secure Community Network (SCN) National Director and CEO Michael Masters told Fox News Digital that the response to the attack in Michigan is the product of “years of preparedness” and investment in security.
“That investment led to lives saved,” Masters said.
SCN, which works with Jewish centers across North America, launched a program focused on summer camps in April 2024. The organization told Fox News Digital that since the launch of the program, it has trained more than 5,000 people associated with the camps, conducted more than 100 facility inspections and trips and received $2.2 million in funding.
Masters also talked about SCN’s recently released list of 10 questions to ask at camps before sending kids off for the summer and encouraged parents to “be persistent” when asking about safety. These questions cover a variety of topics, such as absentee camper procedures, availability of first aid kits and tourniquets and how the camp controls access to its site, among others.
“Parents should ask, ‘was your camp one of the ones that got the test?’ ‘Is your camp, one of those trained?’ ‘Do your advisers know what to do?’ And the camp should be able to answer that question,” Masters said. He added that SCN provides its training to the institutes free of charge.
“At the end of the day, summer camp is still a very vulnerable environment that we need to provide security for consultation and guidance,” SCN Director of National Programs Jim Tarasca told Fox News Digital.
Tarasca, who has worked for the FBI for more than 25 years and served as Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office, noted that many of the camps are in rural areas, presenting challenges such as communication barriers, including poor cell service. He also emphasized the importance of equipping employees to see safety as “everyone’s responsibility,” rather than the job of designated security personnel.
Teens wearing hats and harnesses while walking on an outdoor ropes course. (Imgorthand via Getty Images)
THE JEWISH SECURITY ORGANIZATION WORKS TO KEEP ITS COMMUNITY SAFE Amid Threats
While some camps include security fees in their courses, others make a separate line on their list of session dates and fees. Other camps that list a safety fee separately note that the additional charge is intended to offset the increased cost of protecting campers and staff. While security fees vary widely based on several factors, such as the length of the session and whether it’s a day or overnight camp, the cost reported by Fox News Digital rose to $250, highlighting the rising costs.
Summer Director of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) Elliot Tanzman told Fox News Digital that while the organization has always had security measures, there has been a greater focus on it in recent years, and the group is adding new methods.
As part of the security measures, NCSY has made changes to its dress code and gift giving because “we’re trying not to shout that we’re a Jewish group,” according to Tanzman. While he acknowledged that the dress codes could signal to some that the participants are Jewish, Tanzman also said that they were making an effort to be “unambiguous.”
“It’s sad to say something like that where instead of having the word ‘Israel’ on some of our t-shirts, which we had in the past because we’re part of the name of the program, we shortened it to say ‘NCSY’ or ‘JSU’ or one of our brands so that we don’t show any kind of opposition that we don’t want to hear in the summer,” said Tanzman.
A child prepares to target an archery range at Camp Silver Gan Israel in Huntington Beach, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
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Jamie Simon, CEO of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, in a statement provided to Fox News Digital said safety and security is a top priority for summer camps. The foundation, according to Simon, can provide guidance from security partners, critical communication services and more to help camps continue to operate while children and staff are safe.
“As new challenges arise, this sector is not starting from scratch: the camps are experienced, well-prepared and deeply committed to the well-being of every young person in their care,” said Simon. “This is an important time in Jewish life, and Jewish camp provides a fun, immersive, and authentic environment where young people develop pride in their Jewishness, deep friendships, and a sense of long-lasting belonging.”
Summer camp has played a major role in American Jewish life for more than 120 years. Sunrise Lake Camp, founded in 1902, is one of the oldest in the country. The Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York noted that Sunrise Lake Camp was originally established to give inner-city boys a chance to experience nature and escape the heat of the city. Sunrise Lake Camp alumni include several celebrities, such as Neil Diamond, Jerry Stiller and Gene Simmons.
Fox News Digital’s Eric Mack contributed to this report.
