When Jamie Blicher drops off her 7-year-old twins, Ethan and Bennett, at Lessans Camp JCC each morning, she breathes a sigh of relief.  Many of the day-to-day stresses of raising twins with disabilities disappear, and her kids get to just be kids at a place where they are seen, valued, and fully included.

From swimming to arts and crafts, even the rock wall, they participate side-by-side, just like all the other 7-year-olds. The only difference is that they each have their own dedicated counselor, who is there to offer the additional support they need so they can thrive alongside their peers.

Inclusion isn’t just part of the mission statement for Lessans Camp JCC—it is truly at its core. Not only does the camp work to make sure that all activities are accessible to all of its campers, counselors, and staff, but it also looks at inclusion from a broader sense.  The camp is open to people of all backgrounds, nationalities, and faiths.

For Jamie, the difference is profound.

“Everywhere I go, I’m constantly looking for ramps, special doors, and other ways to make sure spaces are inclusive,” she says. “Here, I don’t have to worry about any of that. My kids feel like all the other kids. They feel important, they feel special—and they’re not defined by their disabilities here.”

This is the Blicher family’s third summer at Lessans Camp JCC, a program of the Bender JCC, one of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s core partners. Our funding plays a critical role in making this experience possible—helping to cover the cost of dedicated counselors so that children like Ethan and Bennett can participate fully in camp life.

Jamie says that support is life-changing.

“Medical bills are incredibly expensive … The fact that camp is funded for them to have their own counselors takes such a weight off our shoulders. Having something this inclusive and affordable is such a gift!”

Through the partnership between The Jewish Federation and the Bender JCC, Lessans Camp JCC isn’t just a place for sports, games, crafts, and songs—it’s a place where inclusion is in action every single day. It’s a place where children form strong Jewish identities, build friendships, and feel truly at home.

As Jamie puts it, “Here, my kids aren’t defined by what they can’t do—they’re celebrated for everything they can.”

This impact is made possible through the generosity of our community. Your support of Federation ensures that Ethan, Bennett, and every camper can join every activity, every friendship, and every joyful moment of Jewish summer camp.