Camp Raanana
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Camp Raanana is a pluralistic Jewish day camp that strives to create a transformative and fun summer experience. We provide each camper and staff member a safe environment that nurtures identity, builds character, and promotes a true sense of community.
Camp Raanana has held a special place in the heart of this community for decades. The summer of 2025 still resonates in the minds of campers, counselors, and families connected to our JCC day camp, and the Raanana team is eager to carry forward its positive momentum into the summer of 2026.
Located at the Cedar Lake Outdoor Center in Chelsea, MI, 30 minutes from the Ann Arbor JCC, nestled in Michigan’s white pines, Camp Raanana features old forest paths, an archery range and, of course, the famous waterfront right on Little Cedar Lake. The number of camper groups and their sizes can vary from one week to the next, with placement being flexible to best fit each camper’s needs.
The Lake is a point of pride at Camp Raanana. The lakefront area is always a little cooler and breezier than the rest of camp, and for so many campers it is their favorite place to play. Camp Raanana is thrilled to welcome back Anna Wetzel for the summer of 2026, her second consecutive season as Waterfront Director. For 4 years, Anna was a YMCA Summer Camps Lifeguard, and as a Special Education Teacher she continues to teach children how to swim during the academic year, and of course, she is CPR/AED certified.
Many campers improve in their swimming ability throughout the course of the summer, but formal lessons are not built into the regular camp day schedule. Following a swim assessment at the beginning of each week, campers are allowed in sectioned off areas varying in depth depending on their ability. At Camp Raanana, we strive to help campers gain a greater sense of comfort and confidence in a natural water setting. Minos, aquatic plant life and sand can take some getting used to, but campers adjust and learn to love playing in the lake with friends and counselors.
Camp Raanana Atid Program
Our Middle School and entering High School campers join the Atid Leadership Program (7th-9th Grade). Atid, which means future in English, is a program specifically designed to meet the needs of our older campers while challenging them to grow as individuals. Atid weekly programming consists of some days at our campsite participating in traditional camp activities, and excursion days via a passenger van to either service projects or field trips in the community. Some of the activities from summer 2025 included a leadership conference, volunteering at the Farm on Jennings and with Jewish Family Services and field trips to Treerunner, ZapZone, the Detroit Zoo, a Tigers game, and more.
On Mondays and Tuesdays, Atid enjoys programming at the Cedar Lake campsite with the rest of Raanana, sometimes joining younger groups in activities where they have the opportunity to lead by example and act as positive role models for the younger campers. Atid also participates in its own programming at camp including discussion based activities about the importance of nature, spending time outdoors and building relationships with new friends in this summer camp setting.
Camp Raanana is for everyone. Rooted in the Jewish value of שמירת האדמה (shmirat ha adama/caring for the earth), our camp’s mission is to help children create unforgettable memories, foster lifelong friendships and grow while immersed in nature.
At least one senior (18+) and junior counselor lead each group in their activities, where they strongly encourage participation and always aspire for a good try. Camp Raanana engages in Jewish, Israeli and Hebrew programming by singing songs to celebrate Shabbat, performing skits to learn Hebrew words and learning about Israeli culture from the Ann Arbor Shinshinim (Israeli High School graduates).
Exploring Judaism, Israeli culture and the Hebrew language through song, play and arts and crafts, campers at Raanana connect these experiences to our camp values and carry them to effect positive change in their lives and the world around them.
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.