The weather is warming up, the school year is winding down. It’s time for summer vacations, outdoor barbecues and evenings filled with concerts, friends and fun.
Here are six great ideas from The Associated and its agencies on how to make the most of your summer.
Family Fun
This August, pack up for an amazing week of summer camp – only this time, bring the whole family. Enjoy night hikes, games, swimming, farm animals and ziplining, while bonding with other Jewish families at Family Farm Camp.
Camp then culminates with an incredible Shabbat celebration. Schedule your plans now – for the week of August 16. Learn more at adamah.org.
Food and Friends
This summer, slow down, unplug and build an incredible community over Shabbat dinner! The Associated’s Young Adult Division (YAD), Pearlstone and OneTable have teamed up for a monthly Shabbat initiative that brings people together all across our community.
Whether you want to host your own Shabbat dinner or join as a guest, this is your chance to create meaningful connections with like-minded individuals. And the best part? Pearlstone will provide a delicious kosher farm-to-table meal once a month, elevating your Shabbat experience to a whole new level! Imagine an incredible meal while enjoying the warmth of community and the richness of Jewish tradition.
Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to slow down, unplug from the week and build lasting friendships over Shabbat dinner with OneTable, YAD and Pearlstone. Join us for an unforgettable experience that will nourish your soul and uplift your spirit! Learn more at associated.org/getinvolved/20s-30s/shabbat-initiative/.
Music in the Meadow
Save the date for one of the hottest (and coolest) events of the summer. On Sunday, July 23, bring a chair, blanket, picnic and beverage of your choosing and come out to Pearlstone for The Associated’s Music in the Meadow. Meet up with friends for some live music, featuring the area’s favorite bands, refreshments and more. Learn more at associated.org/event/music-in-the-meadow.
Read for Rewards
Are you ready to enjoy thrilling adventures, solve mysteries and bring Jewish stories to life? Go back in time or into the future?
If so, curl up with your favorite books this summer, while checking out the Summer Reading Program from the Jewish Library of Baltimore and PJ Library.
From June 2 – September 1, read as many books as you can from the Jewish Library of Baltimore and earn a prize for your reading achievements. This program is open to all children and teens, birth through age 18. Join us for our Summer Reading kick-off event on June 2.
Whether it’s stories before bedtime, a book by the pool or an escape from the heat, discover the magic of reading this summer. Check out the Library website at associated.org/jewishlibrary for more details.
Go to Camp
Want the summer of a lifetime? Sign your child up for one of our amazing camp experiences.
If you are a rising first through eighth grader, check out Adamah’s Tiyul Adventure Day Camp, located on the Pearlstone campus in Reisterstown. Hike in the meadows, swim in the creek (or the pool with water slide), test yourself on the high ropes courses, show off your creative side with nature-based crafts and of course, meet new friends. At the same time, you’ll get the chance to connect to the traditions of earth-based Judaism. Learn more at adamah.org.
Or sign up for an unforgettable summer of new friends and fun at one of J Camps many programs. Practice your tennis swing, master your athletic skills or discover your creative talents with guidance from Baltimore’s top artistic professionals and organizations. Pick from one of the many specialty camps, or choose J Day Camps, featuring swimming, nature, arts and crafts, gaga and more. Programs run from one week to up to eight weeks. Learn more at jcampsbaltimore.org.
Arts and Culture
This June, during Pride Month, check out the JCC’s Queer Jewish Arts Festival. Enjoy Glitter, Gefilte, Guilt and Guts: Stories by People who are Jewish, Queer and Here, a Stoop Stories production. The evening, celebrating multifaceted identities through storytelling, will be held at Creative Alliance on June 1. Then stop by the Gordon Center for the Performing Arts on June 22 as stand-up comedian, actress and television writer Judy Gold brings her quick wit to a hilarious evening of comedy you won’t want to miss.
Finally, check out our impressive visual art exhibit by a Jewish Queer artist, located in the Meyerhoff Gallery at the Gordon Center, all month long.
Then this summer, check out some oldies but goodies, with tribute artists performing classic hits from your favorite bands. Enjoy concerts at the Gordon Center from tribute bands for legendary artists Bob Seger, Bruno Mars, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Daryll Hall and John Oates and more. Learn more at gordoncenter.com.
Go to associated.org for a complete calendar of summer programming.
Pearlstone, the JCC, the Gordon Center and The Jewish Library of Baltimore are all part of The Associated system and receive a significant portion of their funding thanks to donations to The Associated’s Annual Campaign.
Israeli-Americans Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin talked about the pain of losing their 23-year-old son, who was kidnapped and later murdered in the Oct. 7th tragedy.
A committed philanthropist and community leader, Russel was president of R&H Motors.
The mother of four was a native of Winchester, Virginia, who spent most of her life in Northwest Baltimore.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.