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Dear LAJF Community,
Our 95th year has been one rooted in legacy and full of new growth. I hope many of you have had a chance to read my full end-of-year letter, and if not, I invite you to take a moment to do so here on our blog.
This year more than ever, I was reminded that what begins at CRS or TELE does not end there. Our 2025 participants shared powerful reflections about how their experiences helped them discover new strengths, friendships, and a deeper sense of themselves. One camper, Anna-Mariia from Ukraine, expressed it beautifully:
“After CRS, I felt like my voice began to matter—I started hearing it and sharing it. Camp is more than a place, people, or period of time. It is a feeling I can return to whenever I need.”
Her words reflect what is truly at the heart of our mission, that the Rising Sun community is something that is deeply felt far beyond a summer. I encourage you to read the full collection of 2025 camper stories by going to lajf.org/crsimpact95 and hear firsthand how this legacy continues to evolve.
I hope that in reading these powerful testimonials, you will consider making a year-end gift to support our team in preparing to welcome the next cohort of campers in just a few short months. Your donation today will make CRS & TELE accessible to inspiring young people next year.
Thank you for helping us carry the Rising Sun spirit forward. I look forward to all we will continue to grow together.
With warm wishes, Barrington A. Fulton Jr. Executive Director, LAJF bfulton@lajf.org
Our Program Committee Wants to Hear from You
The LAJF Program Committee's Conflict Team is looking for alumni participation. If you are interested in participating in either of the opportunities listed below, please contact Ruby Lainez at rubylainez1011@gmail.com.
Seeking Alumni From Conflict-Affected Regions for Short Listening Sessions
The Program Committee is running a small number of 30–45 minute listening sessions with alumni who grew up in places affected by conflict or whose lives have been significantly impacted by geopolitical conflict. Our goal is to understand what supported you during CRS/TELE, what felt challenging, and what small changes might help future campers. You are not being asked to speak “for a side”, we simply want to learn from your personal experience. Your insights will directly shape our support systems for 2026.
Help Us Learn From Other Youth Programs
We are also speaking with a few youth organizations that work with young people from conflict-affected regions. If you have a connection at a peer organization—such as Seeds for Peace, UWC, or another group doing similar work—we would love an introduction. These conversations help us learn what practices actually work in supporting young people in diverse, global communities. If you can connect us with someone, please reach out. Even a name or a quick intro helps enormously!
📣 Calling CRS and TELE Alumni Speakers!
On January 10 at 10:30am ET, we’re hosting Turning Camp Into Action, an interactive workshop to help 2024 and 2025 participants explore how to apply what they learned at Camp in their own lives. We're looking for a few alumni to share short stories of how CRS or TELE influenced your path — whether in activism, science, teaching, community organizing, business, the arts or more!
If you’re interested in speaking, please email cmoses@lajf.org by December 23.
📱Open Spots on Our Communications Committee
Volunteer your time to help guide our communications strategy and messaging across various social media platforms. We'd especially love to hear from you if you have professional or personal experience/expertise in communications, social media, PR, or related fields.
Please reach out to us at alumni@lajf.org with your interest by December 27.
Help Us Share the 2026 CRS Application!
Prospective campers across the world are submitting their applications for Camp Rising Sun 2026, and we'd love your continued help in spreading the word. Please reach out to us at programs@lajf.org if you have any questions about the 2026 CRS application process.
Here's what you can do:
SHARE this news with the young people in your life. Do you know a young leader who would be perfect for CRS? Send them the link to apply.
APPLYto be a second year. If you already participated this past year, you might qualify to be able to apply for a second year at CRS.
Encourage your child or grandchild to apply as a Legacy Camper. Each summer, we reserve several spots for Legacy Campers so that the tradition of ethical leadership can be passed on from one generation to the next. You can learn more on our website here.
SHARE THE NEWS about CRSwith schools, organizations, and more. Please share widely with your networks and local communities. Reach out if you would like to help us and we can share materials and resources with you.
*Another reminder about the recommended deadline for prospective international staff: We strongly encourage you to submit your staff application no later than December 31st to allow enough time for the visa process.
Spend next summer mentoring, teaching, and inspiring teenagers at Camp Rising Sun. Our positions are competitive and those who are hired find it to be an incredibly rewarding work experience. You can also forward this to someone in your life who you think might be interested.
“Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful.” - Hazrat Inayat Kahn
Our summer staff call Camp home for about two months each year, and having comfortable, functional living spaces is essential to the energy and care they bring to our campers. As with any campus that has welcomed generations of people, our facilities experience wear and tear over time, and we rely on thoughtful updates to keep the facilities safe and efficient.
During a recent inspection of the staff laundry and bathroom area, Cameron noticed that a small portion of the subfloor needed to be replaced due to leaks from the washing machine. Rather than opting for a quick fix, Cameron took the opportunity to make a meaningful, long-term improvement.
“We want our staff to have a space that’s durable and comfortable,” he shared. “Replacing the old carpeting with a commercial-grade flooring product felt like the right step forward.”
Up came the carpeting, and in its place went bright, easy-to-clean tiles, creating a fresh, more functional space for our team. The washing machine, dryer and couch will be returned once Cameron finishes painting the molding and other touch-up work, and we look forward to the summer staff making it their own with cozy touches like area rugs, bath mats, and other amenities.
Upcoming Events
OPEN BOARD MEETING: JANUARY 31, 2026, 9AM-12PM EST Our community is invited to tune in to our January Board Meeting via Zoom. You can access the Zoom meeting by clicking this link at the time of the event.
THE HELENE MATTERA WOMEN'S BRUNCH: FEBRUARY 28, 2026 Save the date for this annual event bringing together the women of the Rising Sun community. Our 2026 event will be the inaugural "Helene Mattera Women's Brunch," in honor of alumna and former Executive Director, Helene Mattera. Location, time, and details to be shared soon!
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