Summer in New England: It’s hot and humid, but there’s something absolutely magical about it, especially if you have a refreshing lake to relax by! One of the best places to experience that summer magic is at any of the three Cohen Camps located across the region.
The Cohen Camps are Jewish summer camps with almost one hundred years of history behind them. Designed for kids aged 7-15, they’re rated among the best summer camps in the U.S., and thanks to AmeriCamp, you could spend your summer getting paid to work there as a camp counsellor!
Keep reading to learn all about the three Cohen Camps and how AmeriCamp helps international applicants find jobs at (and visas for) summer camps in the U.S. Or, if you’re ready for an American summer you’ll never forget, start your AmeriCamp application here!
About Cohen Camps
The Cohen Camps are vibrant communities that foster Jewish identity and create memories that last a lifetime. There are three camps in this family: Camp Tevya in New Hampshire, Camp Tel Noar in Massachusetts, and Camp Pembroke, which is the only all-girls Jewish camp in New England.
For decades, these camps have been helping young people build confidence, deepen their Jewish connections, and form lifelong friendships. As a camp counsellor, you become part of this legacy, helping to shape the experience for campers while growing personally and professionally.
Their History
The Cohen Camps were founded by Eli and Bessie Cohen in 1935 with a vision to provide young Jewish people with an enriching and fun summer experience rooted in Jewish values. What began as a single camp has grown into a family of three distinct but united camps, each offering its own traditions and culture.
Their Mission
At the heart of the Cohen Camps is a mission to strengthen Jewish identity, create friendships, and develop strong character in a nurturing environment. The camps aim to build future Jewish leaders by encouraging campers to explore their heritage in ways that are meaningful, fun, and relevant.
Through traditions, celebrations, learning experiences, and the everyday magic of camp life, Cohen Camps help young people feel proud of who they are and where they come from. Being a camp counsellor, you’ll help carry out this mission every day, whether you’re running a tennis lesson, eating a Kosher lunch with your campers, or hanging out around the campfire at night.
Where You Fit In
At the Cohen Camps, counsellors play a vital role in shaping the campers’ experience and bringing the camp’s mission to life. You’re not just a supervisor, you’re a role model, a mentor, a friend, and a leader.
From running a soccer game to cheering on your bunk during colour war, your presence and energy directly impact the lives of the young people around you. No matter your background, if you’re enthusiastic, responsible, and excited to grow alongside others, there’s a place for you at Cohen Camps.
Cohen Camps: A Family of Three Jewish Summer Camps
Whether you’re looking to work in an all-girls environment, a co-ed setting with a tight-knit community, or a larger camp that’s full of action, there’s a Cohen Camp that’s the right fit for you! All three camps offer a supportive, values-driven environment where counsellors and campers celebrate Jewish life together.
Camp Pembroke
Located in Pembroke, Massachusetts, Camp Pembroke is the only all-girls Jewish camp in New England. Designed for girls aged 7-16, it offers a nurturing, empowering environment where campers can develop confidence, leadership, and self-expression. For campers, Camp Pembroke offers 3.5-week and 7-week sessions. There’s also a shorter 2-week option for first-time campers.
Staff members at Camp Pembroke play an essential role in creating a sisterhood where girls support one another, try new things, and embrace their identities. With activities ranging from arts and athletics to dance, water sports, and shira (singing), Pembroke is a place where girls thrive, and where female role models make a lasting impact.
Camp Tel Noar
Camp Tel Noar, located in Hampstead, New Hampshire, is a co-ed camp known for its smaller size and strong sense of community. It’s perfect for counsellors who value close-knit relationships and meaningful connections. Plus, an incredible 97% of campers return each summer!
Tel Noar combines a well-rounded (and famously fun) camp program with a focus on personal development and Jewish values, encouraging campers to grow intellectually, socially, and spiritually. Working as a counsellor at this USA summer camp, you’ll have the chance to be a mentor, teacher, coach, and friend, sometimes all at once!
Camp Tevya
Camp Tevya in Brookline, New Hampshire, is the largest of the three Cohen Camps and has a long-standing reputation for excellence. With its vibrant Jewish community, broad range of activities, and huge lakeside campus, Tevya offers something for everyone. Campers (and counsellors) come from across the U.S. and abroad, creating a diverse and fun environment.
Working at this USA summer camp, you’ll be part of a dynamic team that brings energy, structure, and warmth to every part of camp life. Whether leading an ultimate frisbee session, planning evening programs, or joining the spirited Shabbat celebration, Tevya offers the chance to be part of something big and meaningful.
Benefits of Working at a Jewish Summer Camp
Working at a Jewish summer camp shapes your leadership skills, deepens your cultural understanding, and allows you to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. You’ll get paid to experience an incredible American tradition, and you’ll meet amazing people and add some valuable skills to your resume at the same time.
Plus, your J-1 camp counsellor visa allows you to stay in the U.S. for up to 30 days after camp wraps up. That’s a whole month of travelling and exploring before you have to fly home!
Cohen Camps’ 10 Jewish Commitments
At the heart of the Cohen Camps experience are their 10 Jewish Commitments. This set of values and practices guides daily life at camp and helps campers and staff connect with their Jewish culture.
The 10 Jewish Commitments are:
- Friendship and Teamwork
- Diversity and Inclusiveness
- Shabbat
- Learning
- Rituals
- Service and responsibility
- Roots
- Israel
- Nature
- Leadership
As a camp counsellor in America at the Cohen Camps, you’ll help bring these values to life through both formal programs and everyday moments like leading a Shabbat song session, helping a camper try something new, or modelling kindness and inclusion in your bunk.
You don’t need to have a strong Jewish background to connect with the Commitments. In fact, many staff members deepen their own sense of identity and values through their summer at camp.
What to Expect at Cohen Camps
Joining the staff at one of the Cohen Camps means stepping into a vibrant, welcoming community where every day is full of energy, meaning, and a whole lot of fun. Whether it’s your first time working at a summer camp in America or you’re a seasoned counsellor, knowing what to expect can help you make the most of the experience.
The Food
One of the best parts of camp life is the food! All Cohen Camps serve Kosher meals, ensuring that everyone can eat together regardless of background or observance level. Meals are served family-style in a communal dining hall, and mealtime is about bonding, laughing, and building traditions.
The kitchens serve kid-friendly meals with a focus on fresh vegetables and fruit. There’s a salad bar available at every lunch and dinner, healthy snacks served twice a day, and fresh fruit available all day long. All three of the Cohen Camps avoid serving food containing peanuts or tree nuts, and can accommodate other allergies or a vegetarian diet with prior notice.
The People
The people are what truly make these three summer camps in America special. Campers and staff come from a wide range of backgrounds (geographically, culturally, and religiously), but they come together to form a tight-knit community rooted in mutual respect and shared experience.
As a staff member, you’ll work alongside fellow counsellors from across the U.S. and around the world, including many international staff who bring global perspectives and energy to the team. You’ll also be supported by experienced leadership who are committed to your success and well-being.
The Values
At the heart of everything at Cohen Camps are Jewish values. These aren’t just taught in lessons, but lived out in everyday moments. Campers and staff alike are encouraged to practice kindness (chesed), community (kehilla), respect (kavod), and gratitude (hakarat hatov). These values are woven into activities, conversations, songs, and traditions
Whether it’s celebrating Shabbat together or simply showing up for each other day-to-day, you’ll find that the values at Cohen Camps give the summer experience a deep sense of purpose and belonging. You don’t have to be religious or deeply knowledgeable about Judaism to connect; just open to learning, growing, and contributing to something meaningful.
What to Bring to Camp This Summer
Packing for a summer at Cohen Camps is an exciting part of the adventure, but it can also be stressful! Being organised and well-prepared is a great way to take some of the pressure off, which is why we always recommend you start packing early!
You can follow this AmeriCamp packing list for things to bring to camp as a counsellor, or you can wait until your camp placement is confirmed, as most camps send a packing list. Whether you’re headed to one of the Cohen Camps or another one of the best summer camps in the U.S., here are some packing tips to get you started.
Clothing and Footwear
Each Cohen Camp has laundry service, so you don’t need to pack a whole summer’s worth of clothes! Once a week, laundry is sent out and returned the next day. In terms of clothes and footwear, it’s a good idea to bring:
- Comfortable, casual clothes for daily activities (think shorts, t-shirts, tank tops)
- Layers for cooler mornings and evenings (hoodies, sweatpants, light jackets)
- Shabbat clothing (something a little nicer for Friday night and Saturday services)
- Swimwear (at least 2–3 swimsuits)
- Rain gear (a raincoat or waterproof jacket and boots)
- Sneakers (essential for sports and walking around camp)
- Sandals or flip-flops for the shower and waterfront
There’s not an official uniform, but counsellors at Cohen Camps wear staff shirts during the day. You’ll be provided with several of these, and more will be available for purchase if you need them.
Bedding and Toiletries
U.S. and Canadian-based camp counsellors are expected to bring their own bedding and linens to the Cohen Camps, but if you’re travelling from further away for your summer camp job abroad, you’ll be provided with sheets, blankets, a pillow, and towels. In terms of toiletries, you might want to bring:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Moisturiser or lotion
- Hairbrush
- Shower caddy or bag
Camp Life Essentials
Make sure you don’t leave home without these camp essentials:
- Flashlight or headlamp (plus extra batteries)
- A reusable water bottle (remember, camp days can be hot and active!)
- Backpack or tote bag for daily use around camp
- Notebook or journal for reflection or noting camp counsellor activity ideas
- Photos from home or small decorations for your bunk to make it feel like your space
Other optional items include costumes or themed clothing for special event days, a small musical instrument if you play and want to get involved in music at camp, books or card games, and a travel-size fan for hot nights in the cabin.
A Positive Attitude
Finally, the most important thing to bring is your enthusiasm, openness, and willingness to grow. Camp is full of new experiences, challenges, and joys, and the more you lean in, the more you’ll get out of it. So pack your essentials, but don’t forget your spirit of adventure!
How to Work at Cohen Camps with AmeriCamp
If you’re an international applicant dreaming of spending the summer in the U.S. as a camp counsellor, AmeriCamp makes it easy to join the Cohen Camps family. With our expertise in cultural exchange programs and the J-1 visa process, we support you every step of the way. Here’s how to get a job as a summer camp counsellor with AmeriCamp.
Fill Out an AmeriCamp Application
Your journey begins by completing an AmeriCamp application. This is your chance to showcase your personality, skills, and interests, especially any experience you have:
- Working with children (babysitting or tutoring counts!)
- Teaching
- Coaching
- Leading activities
Be sure to highlight what makes you a great fit for a summer camp environment.
Your Profile Goes Live
We’ll reach out to you to schedule a quick chat and make sure you’re a good fit for the program, as well as to answer any questions you have. Once your application is reviewed and approved, your AmeriCamp profile will go live and become visible to U.S. camps, including the Cohen Camps.
We circulate your application among our amazing camp partners across the country, and camp directors review profiles to find candidates whose strengths match the needs of their campers and programs. You may be invited to interview with one of the Cohen Camps, so keep an eye on your email and be ready to share why you’d love to be part of their team.
Interview With Camp Directors
Once your profile catches the eye of a camp director, you’ll be invited to a video interview. This is your chance to:
- Explain why you want to be a camp counsellor
- Highlight the skills of a camp counsellor, your experience, and (most importantly) your excitement
- Ask any questions about the camp’s values or programs
- Learn more about what a day at camp looks like
It’s a good idea to prepare for the interview by looking up some common camp counsellor interview questions and practising your answers. If your interview goes well and the camp feels you’d be a great fit, they’ll send you an offer letter.
Accept a Position and Apply for Your Visa
Once you accept a camp counsellor position (congrats!), it’s time to sort out your J-1 visa. Don’t worry, the AmeriCamp team does most of the heavy lifting for you. We’ll help you with the paperwork, explain the steps you need to take, and make sure you know which documents are required for the application. You’ll also need to schedule and attend a visa interview at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but we’ll help with that too!
Pack Your Bags and Get Ready for Camp!
By this point, you will have been in contact with your summer camp (and maybe even some of the other counsellors). You’ll have a good idea of what you need to bring to camp, and how you’re getting to camp from the airport. Then it’s just a matter of packing your bags and mentally preparing for the adventure ahead!
Spend Your Summer at Cohen Camps With AmeriCamp
Summer camp is an amazing American tradition, and opportunities to experience it are rare for those living overseas. With some help from AmeriCamp, you can immerse yourself in life at the Cohen Camps or one of the other best summer camps in the USA.
You’ll grow, learn, make amazing new friends, and have an incredible time soaking up the sun in a beautiful setting. You’ll have support every step of the way, you’ll earn a camp counsellor salary, and you can explore the U.S. for up to 30 days after camp wraps up.
Don’t miss this opportunity for an unforgettable, life-changing summer! Start your AmeriCamp application today.
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