The PJ Goes to Camp program for the summer of 2017 has ended. Our program has proudly awarded over 1,000 grants to children who attend 129 different camps throughout North America. With the camp season well in progress, and a waiting list for late summer campers well beyond the number we expect to be able to serve, we are no longer accepting applications OR names to be placed on our wait list.
Please do not call the PJ Goes to Camp program office to request an access code or check on your status on the wait list. If you previously placed your name on our wait list it will remain there, although the probability of receiving a grant from PJ Goes to Camp after July 10, 2017 should be considered very low. PLEASE NOTE that there are additional funding partners of the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s One Happy Camper program from whom you may be eligible for a grant, and you should consider completing an application for a One Happy Camper grant without a PJ Goes to Camp access code. A link at the bottom of this page will take you to the One Happy Camper page where you can complete that application.
The PJ Goes to Camp program for the summer of 2018 is scheduled to begin accepting applications on October 1, 2017. Applications received before that date will be deleted as the system is reset on that date. Please check back after 10/1/17 for more information about the program.
The information shown below is for referral only, and does not reflect the availability of grants after May 19, 2017.
Increasing attendance at Jewish Camps is a goal of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF). That is why, in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC), HGF has designed a program to encourage families to send their children to Jewish overnight camp for the first time.
PJ Goes to Camp (PJGTC) is a funder of FJC's One Happy Camper program. PJ Goes to Camp offers incentive grants of up to $1,000 towards first time camp tuition for PJ Library* participants, siblings, and alumni.
In this document:
Learn more about the program
How does the program work?
Who is eligible?
Is anyone not eligible?
Jewish day school grants
Which camps are included?
How much money are the incentives?
Are there restrictions?
How to apply for a PJGTC access code
Summary of the Application process
About One Happy Camper
Application links
Legal disclaimers
*Throughout this document, PJ Library refers to both PJ Library® and PJ Our Way®
Please read the information that follows to find answers to most questions about PJ Goes to Camp and/or One Happy Camper. If you have questions that are not answered on this page, please contact PJ Goes to Camp by sending an email to pjgtc@hgf.org or by calling 413-276-0735. If you call, please note that the large number of calls makes it likely that you will be asked to leave a message on a voicemail system. Please leave a phone number AND email address where you can be reached.
PJ Goes to Camp is one of over four dozen funders of the national One Happy Camper program. These national funders coordinate first time campership grants to maximize the number of children across North America who receive a grant. In many communities the One Happy Camper partner is the local Jewish Federation. The PJ Goes to Camp Program is actually two related, but separate programs.
Program 1 : For public school students: This program provides grants to campers who attend public and non-Jewish private schools in otherwise unserved regions in North America. These campers, or their siblings, must be or have been a recipient of PJ Library books. PJ Goes to Camp provides campership awards primarily to campers who live in regions where there is no other local funding partner. In communities or regions where there is an alternative funding partner, your One Happy Camper grant will be awarded by that partner rather than through the PJ Goes to Camp program. A camper cannot choose his/her funding source, nor may she/he receive grants from both the local partner and PJ Goes to Camp.
It is not necessary for you to determine who your funding partner is. When you submit a request for a PJ Goes to Camp access code, we will identify if a local funding partner is available for grants to residents of your community and inform you how to proceed. Although there are basic program regulations that are common to all participating regions, each funding agency may have its own sub-set of rules – an example of which is the minimum length of camp session to qualify for a grant. PJ Goes to Camp neither sets nor over-rides regional rules.
Program 2 - For students who attend a Jewish day school: This program provides grants to children who attend a Jewish day school (or Yeshiva) in most of North America. If your local One Happy Camper funder provides campers grants to Jewish day school students, you will be directed to apply for a grant through that local funder. Because the demand for these grants far exceeds the available funds, these grants are awarded through a lottery that is held in early November. If your local community provides grants to day school students, PJ Goes to Camp will direct your application to your local funding agency if it is appropriate to do so.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to receive an incentive award, a camper must be:
1. a PJ Library* subscriber, alumni or sibling of a PJ Library subscriber or alumni who was enrolled in PJ Library on or before September 1, 2016. The PJ Goes to Camp program office will verify this eligibility prior to distributing an access code.
2. a resident in a community that is not currently nor has ever been a participating supporter of the One Happy Camper Program. (Residents of a community that withdrew from the One Happy Camper program are not eligible for a PJ Goes to Camp incentive.)
3. attending camp in the summer of 2017 for a session of 12 consecutive days or longer.
4. attending a non-profit Jewish overnight camp in the summer of 2017 for the first time. First time campers are children who have not attended a Jewish overnight summer camp in this or any prior year for 12 consecutive days or longer.
We ask that applicants identify the camp (listed on www.onehappycamper.org/findacamp) to which they intend to register prior to submitting their application for a One Happy Camper incentive award. Not all camp registrations are open when our program begins, but you MUST know what camp your child will be attending. Camper registration and qualification for a 2017 summer session will be verified with the camp before the grant is finalized.
Incentives are available to residents of the United States and Canada who meet all other eligibility requirements. Families may request and receive an incentive grant for more than one child if each is attending camp for the first time.
Families with more than one eligible child must enter each child separately. Each child must have a separate access code and, if day school students, each child must be separately entered into the day school student lottery.
Because each camper can receive only one grant through the One Happy Camper program, PJ Library children who live in a community that locally sponsors the One Happy Camper program may be directed to their community program prior to being considered for a PJ Goes to Camp incentive. Should your child be eligible for a local grant, the rules and terms of your grant will be determined and controlled by the rules of that organization and NOT by PJ Goes to Camp.
Previous recipients of a PJ Goes to Camp or any other One Happy Camper incentive are not eligible to receive an incentive for the 2017 camp season.
PJ Library children who live in specific areas of Western MA, Northern CT, or Southern VT may be eligible for special campership incentives directly from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Please check at www.hgf.org for regional camperships.
The PJ Goes to Camp program does not provide grants to residents who reside in the catchment area of communities that were, but are no longer, partners in the One Happy Camper program. Applicants from these non-participating communities (Arkansas, Dallas, Memphis, TN, Miami and Palm Beach County FL) will be notified of their ineligibility.
Residents of Kansas City, New Orleans and Orange County CA must apply for grants that are offered and administered by a local agency. PJ Goes to Camp applicants from these communities will be directed to their local agency.
Jewish Day School Grants:
Children from throughout North America who currently attend a Jewish day school and who otherwise qualify for a PJ Goes to Camp incentive are eligible for a LIMITED NUMBER of PJ Goes to Camp day-school incentive awards. Because of the high demand for these awards, they are distributed by lottery. Please read the section below titled "HOW TO APPLY - Campers who attend Jewish day schools" for special application requirements for day school students.
Day school students interested in receiving a PJ Goes to Camp incentive must register for the lottery at BOTH the PJ Goes to Camp access code request site and at the One Happy Camper registration site by November 13, 2016, to be eligible to receive an incentive grant for the summer of 2017.
Which camps are included?
All of the more than 150 non-profit Jewish overnight camps in North America listed on Foundation for Jewish Camp's website.
How much money are the incentives?
The PJ Goes to Camp grants will be awarded to first-time campers attending a camp listed on www.onehappycamper.org/findacamp. Incentive awards are $700 for a session of 12 to 18 consecutive days or $1,000 for a session of 19 consecutive days or longer. Grant awardees who do not attend camp for 12 or more days (for any reason) will forfeit their grant and grant amounts will be adjusted for campers who attend camp for less than 19 days but more than 12 days for any reason.
PJ Goes to Camp grants awarded through the One Happy Camper program are paid directly to the camp in the camper’s name. Funds are distributed to participating camps monthly beginning in April, 2017. Camps are required to verify that each recipient meets all eligibility requirements (including, but not limited to, first time camper status and length of stay) prior to the payment being made. They must also verify the camper attendance.
Are there restrictions?
This is a general incentive program, and is NOT based on camper financial need.
Campers may receive only one incentive campership through the One Happy Camper program or the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. If the camper receives an incentive from another One Happy Camper sponsor, they are not eligible for a PJ Goes to Camp incentive.
There are a limited number of PJ Goes to Camp incentives for 2017. Please read the section on "How to Apply" for details regarding the application process.
All applications for PJ Goes to Camp incentives are processed through the Foundation for Jewish Camp's One Happy Camper website. The One Happy Camper website is scheduled to activate for the 2017 camp season during the week of September 18, 2016. One Happy Camper applicants who seek funding through the PJ Goes to Camp program will be requested to provide a PJ Goes to Camp access code to complete the required One Happy Camper on-line application.
1. Request a PJ Goes to Camp / One Happy Camper access code: As part of the application process you will need a PJ Goes to Camp access code. Access codes are distributed to individual campers through the following processes:
- Campers who attend public or non-Jewish private schools: PJ Goes to Camp access codes for campers who attend a public or non-Jewish private school will be available beginning October 1, 2016, and will continue to be distributed on a "first-come, first-served" basis until all available incentive grants are awarded. Campers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to assure availability of the limited incentive funds. For the summer of 2016, our funds were fully committed to campers by the prior December.
A PJ Goes to Camp access code can only be obtained by completing an access code request at: www.pjlibrary.org/pjgtc/referralcode. Because it may take up to a week for the camper's eligibility to be confirmed and the code returned to you by e-mail, please plan your registration time accordingly. Please DO NOT call or email the PJ Library office to obtain your PJ Goes to Camp access code. Requests received in these manners will not be honored.
The PJ Goes to Camp access code you receive will be unique to your camper. Each camper must request and submit her/his unique access code as part of the One Happy Camper program registration. Duplicate or multiple uses of an access code will invalidate all applications with that code.
- Campers who attend Jewish day schools: Because there is greater competition for grants by campers who attend Jewish day schools, these incentive grants are awarded by lottery. Day school students who wish to receive an incentive award must register for the day school student PJ Goes to Camp lottery.
Lottery Application Process: To enter your camper into the lottery for a PJ Goes to Camp/One Happy Camper incentive award, you must complete the following TWO actions:
- Complete the PJ Goes to Camp access code application at www.pjlibrary.org/pjgtc/referralcode no later than 11 P.M. EST November 13, 2016. By completing this application you will be entered into the day school student lottery. An access code will be sent to you ONLY if you are selected in the lottery
- Complete the first section of the on-line application at www.onehappycamper.org Without an access code, this application will only permit you to complete the first portion of the application. You must, however, complete the first portion of the application to be entered into the lottery drawing.
Each child must be entered separately for the lottery and once awarded, incentives are not transferable.
Lottery selections will take place on or around November 15, 2016. Campers who are selected through the lottery process will be notified shortly after the date and will receive a PJ Goes to Camp access code with which they MUST complete the grant application at the www.onehappycamper.org website. They will have three working days to complete their One Happy Camper application. Incentive grants for applications not completed within that time interval will be forfeited. The PJ Goes to Camp access code you receive will be unique to your camper. Duplicate or multiple uses of an access code will invalidate all applications with that code. Families who are not awarded PJ Goes to Camp incentives will be notified and be placed on a waiting list should additional incentive grants become available.
2 Complete the One Happy Camper application at www.onehappycamper.org. All grants are awarded through the One Happy Camper program so you MUST complete the One Happy Camper on-line application to receive a PJ Goes to Camp grant.
- Campers who attend public or non-Jewish private schools: Once you receive your unique PJ Goes to Camp access code you should complete your One Happy Camper application as soon as possible. Campers who do not complete the One Happy Camper application will not be eligible to receive a grant. As part of your application you will be asked to enter the PJ Goes to Camp access code that you were provided. Enter this code at the bottom of the first page of the application.
- Campers who attend Jewish day schools: Campers who are selected in the day school student lottery MUST complete the One Happy Camper application they began earlier in the process. As part of your application you must enter the PJ Goes to Camp access code that you were sent when you were informed that you were selected in the day school student lottery. Enter this code at the bottom of the first page of the application. The One Happy Camper application must be completed within one week of receiving your access code or your grant will be forfeited.
Summary of Campership application process
for Public School Students
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Step
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Action
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After October 1, 2016, request a PJ Goes to Camp access code.
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When you have received your access code complete a One Happy Camper grant application at www.onehappycamper.org inserting the access code you were sent onto page 1 of the application.
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Access codes must be used to complete a One Happy Camper grant prior to 11/30/16 or within five days of being distributed.
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Summary of Campership application process
for Jewish Day School Students
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Step
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Action
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1
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After October 1, 2016, and before 11:00 PM EST November 13, 2016, enter the PJ Goes to Camp lottery.
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Before 11:00 PM EST November 13, 2016, complete the initial sections of the One Happy Camper grant application at www.onehappycamper.org
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3
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Results of the day school student lottery will be communicated by November 18, 2016.
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4
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If you are informed you have been selected in the lottery, you will be sent an access code with which you must complete the balance of the One Happy Camper grant application within 5 days of notification (by November 25, 2016).
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5
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Campers not selected in the lottery will be placed on a waiting list in order of their lottery selection.
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Campers provided grants from the waiting list must complete the balance of the One Happy Camper application within three days of being sent their access code and informed of their new status.
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7
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After November 13, 2016, campers may place their names on the wait list by completing a request for a PJ Goes to Camp access code.
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The PJ Goes to Camp program is one of a number of national funders of the national One Happy Camper program. You do not need to have a PJ Goes to Camp access code to apply for a One Happy Camper grant. The One Happy Camper application process directs each application to a suitable funding agency. Only applications with a PJ Goes to Camp access code will be considered for funding by the PJ Goes to Camp program. Once you have received a PJ Goes to Camp access code – either as a result of the day school lottery or through the public school application process, you MUST complete your program application at the One Happy Camper website.
PJ Goes to Camp is a funder of the One Happy Camper program. Program guidelines and restrictions of the One Happy Camper program will determine incentive eligibility, award and payment procedures within the limits of the One Happy Camper program. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation reserves the right to limit the number of PJ Goes to Camp incentive grants that are awarded through the One Happy Camper program and to determine eligibility of applicants based on available funds for each category of incentive award. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure that their application is complete and submitted within the time restrictions specified by the program and that they meet all eligibility and camp attendance requirements of the program. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation will be the final determiner of an applicant's PJ Library related eligibility as well as for determining the recipients of awards granted through the lottery system. In case of dispute, the decision of the PJ Goes to Camp director of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation shall be final.