Ramah Day Camp Philadelphia, an Elkins Park institution for the past 30 years, will close its doors after the 2026 season due to low enrollment and a financial deficit.

The camp has roughly 50 staff members and rents space at the Perelman Jewish Day School. It “provides a full range of programming in a nurturing, safe environment that brings Judaism alive in fun and engaging ways”, its website says.

Last week, a parent (who is also the chief operating officer of Penn Hillel of UPenn) published a story in eJewishPhilanthropy which said that camp’s board of directors emailed families in June announcing the planned closure.

An excerpt:

In 1947, Camp Ramah was founded because Jewish families wanted environments free from antisemitism while strengthening Jewish identity. At a time when antisemitism is rising, Jewish students are increasingly facing hostility and families are again searching for safe, joyful Jewish spaces, how can our response be to close a camp? This should be the moment when we are investing in sanctuaries of Jewish joy, not cutting off a limb because it requires some support and leadership.

This closure comes at a time when Ramah is thriving elsewhere. Ramah Poconos has continued to see steady enrollment of over 500 campers for the last two summers, according to the 2024 and 2025 annual reports. National Ramah has invested in its day camp network, with two new day camps opening in the last three years (Ramah Day Camp Greater Boston in 2023 and Ramah Day Camp Los Angeles in 2024). 

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, this summer saw 164 campers this summer, which is about half the 2014 enrollment. The downward financial trend has been happening for over a decade.

The camp will host a 30-year celebration on August 5. More details below:

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Photos: Ramah Day Camp