If you're having trouble viewing this email, you cansee it online.
In This Issue:
Q&A With Barry Fulton and Victoria Enriquez
Host Campers This Summer!
Register: Global Alumni Assembly Panel - May 2nd
Legacy Camper Apps — May 15th Deadline
Two Ways to Support Our Programs
GEJ Scholarship Applications Open June 15
Join the Governance Committee
Cameron's Corner: E.D. Hall Renovations
Upcoming Events
April is a month of fresh energy and a real sense of community picking up momentum across LAJF. There have been a number of moments this month where the energy in the room—or on Zoom—has felt undeniable. Below is a little Q&A with our Executive Director, Barry, and Director of Advancement, Victoria, about their takes on this month:
Q: What were the highlights from this past month at LAJF?
Victoria: The Women’s Brunch was a standout moment for me. Watching connections unfold so naturally at the event was incredibly special. What really stayed with me was the sense of support throughout the room. People weren’t just meeting or reconnecting, they were actively showing up for one another, sharing stories, offering encouragement, and creating a feeling of real connection across generations.
Barry: For me, it was the Career & Community Connections Zooms, particularly the conversations focused on the education field. Seeing alumni across generations come together in dialogue was really powerful—including one conversation where alumni at very different stages were swapping advice in a way that felt both honest and generous. With conversations ranging from first jobs to long-term career pivots, our time together was grounded in a real willingness to share and support one another. As I listened, I found myself feeling both proud and inspired by what this community continues to be.
Victoria: The way people were engaging with one another in really meaningful ways and even forming plans to stay connected beyond the event. There was a real sense of care and attentiveness throughout the room that made those connections feel genuine.
Q: What stood out from the Career & Community Connections Zooms?
Barry: The depth of conversation. It was meaningful to watch those who have been on their journeys for years help guide those just beginning—offering insight, encouragement, and a sense of possibility.
Q: What do these moments say about the LAJF community?
Victoria: They highlight how warm, welcoming, and supportive the LAJF community is at its core. Time and again, there’s a genuine openness where people are showing up for one another. That sense of shared support doesn’t just feel good in the moment, it builds something lasting.
It’s incredibly inspiring. Seeing how people lead with kindness and intention within this community continues to shape how I think about leadership and connection, and it motivates me to keep fostering spaces where those values can grow.
Barry: And that support here is real—people show up for one another, whether in person or virtually, helping to shape each other’s paths forward.
Help Us Welcome Campers from Around the 🌎 — Hosting 2026
Hosting for CRS is a meaningful tradition that connects our NYC-area community with incoming campers from around the world. For many visiting New York or the U.S. for the first time, hosting offers a warm and memorable start to their CRS journey, while creating a unique opportunity for connection and cultural exchange for both campers and hosts.
This year, we’re prepared to welcome over 80 campers and would greatly appreciate your support! Hosting is flexible and doesn’t require a large space or extra beds. LAJF offers a small stipend to help cover items like air mattresses, cots, or sleeping bags. We also provide a hosting guide of what to expect when hosting campers to ensure your confidence in making the experience easy and enjoyable!
If hosting isn’t possible for you this year, we also need help with:
Doing home visits to ensure host spaces are safe and comfortable
Assisting with airport pickups/drop-offs or transportation between locations for departure day
Supporting our NYC tour to give campers a fun and welcoming introduction
Hosting Dates:
Girls & Nonbinary Session—June 26–28, 2026
Arrival: June 26 (campers arrive at varying times throughout the day)
Departure: June 28 (coach departs at 10:00 AM from the Cloisters in Manhattan)
Boys & Nonbinary Session—July 29–31, 2026
Arrival: July 29 (campers arrive at varying times throughout the day)
Departure: July 31 (coach departs at 10:00 AM from the Cloisters in Manhattan)
If you’re interested in hosting or volunteering, click the button to fill out the form and Chayel will be in touch.
Register for the Global Alumni Assembly Panel — Hosted by Recent Campers on May 2nd!
The Ambassadors of the Recent Camper Network are pleased to invite you to our Global Alumni Assembly Panelthis Saturday, May 2nd at 2:00pm EST!
This panel will feature CRS alumni Yena S. Purmasir ('08, '09, '11, '15, '16), Orian Marx ('97, '98), and Alan Arias ('03, '04, '10) as they discuss The Next Era: AI and the Future of Work. Drawing on their experience with AI tools, products, and global workforce trends, they will explore how work models are evolving and share insights on strategies and career decisions in response to these changes.
We look forward to having you join us in this thoughtful and engaging discussion! Please register below.
The Recent Camper Network Ambassadors are a group of recent campers dedicated to keeping their CRS and TELE experiences alive long beyond their final day at Camp. As ambassadors, they work to connect with their broader alumni community, develop projects such as this one, fundraising in support of incoming campers, and use social media to continue sharing their experiences with the program, CRS, and TELE.
Share the Gift of CRS— Legacy Applications Due May 15th!
If you've been thinking about giving your child or grandchild the Camp Rising Sun experience, now is the time. The Legacy Camper Program offers children and grandchildren of CRS alumni aged 15–16 the full CRS experience. Legacy applications are due May 15th — and we're happy to talk to any prospective applicants. Just send us an email at echej@lajf.org.
Two Ways You Can Support CRS & TELE:
Do you know a school, community org, or youth-serving institution? We're looking to meet more partners who would be great fits for selecting participants for The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE). Reach out to Elyem at echej@lajf.org if you would like to make an introduction. Partner-nominated applications are due June 1st.
Are you a Posse Alum? We would like to connect prospective Posse Scholarship nominees with CRS and TELE alumni who have been through the Posse process. If you are a Posse alum and would be open to this, please email Chayel at cmoses@lajf.org.
GEJ Scholarship Apps Open June 15th
Alumni of Camp Rising Sun and The Ethical Leadership Experience (including staff members) are eligible to apply for GEJ Scholarships. Scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year will be awarded in August 2026 to students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university located in the United States.
Learn more about the opportunity on our website: lajf.org/gej-scholarship. Click below to be notified when the applications open:
We are currently seeking new members for LAJF’s Governance Committee—a group that plays a key role in supporting Board development, strengthening governance practices, and identifying Board leadership. This group reviews the foundation of the LAJF structure and makes sure everything runs smoothly. Are you passionate about shaping the future of LAJF? Come and help guide the future of our community!
Committee service is a meaningful way to contribute to LAJF’s mission and can be a pathway to Board service. Committee members typically serve three-year terms and participate in up to six meetings per year, with additional opportunities for deeper engagement.
We welcome alumni and community members with interest or experience in governance, leadership, strategy, or organizational development. To express interest or learn more, please contact Cindy Abramson by emailingcindy.abramson@gmail.com, or Steven Yuniver by emailing syuniver@gmail.com.
No one wants anything – or anybody – to fall through the cracks, and thanks to Dalton Melious, our Assistant Facilities Manager, that’s not going to happen. When cracks start appearing, Dalton is ready, willing and able to lay down a firm footing. After years of wear and tear and a few too many leaks, the bathrooms in E.D. Hall on the Red Hook campus needed some serious attention. Over the winter and spring, Dalton has been reinforcing the floors and replacing the pipes, toilets and showers. Thanks to his hard work, the E.D. Hall bathrooms will soon be better than ever! Thanks, Dalton!
Upcoming Events and Updates
Global Alumni Assembly Panel: AI and the Future of Work Saturday, May 2 | 2pm EST | Virtual Register Here
This is a fully camper-led initiative, organized by members of our Recent Camper Network (recent CRS and TELE alums).
This panel will feature CRS alumni Yena S. Purmasir (’08, ’09, ‘11, ‘15, ‘16), Orian Marx (’97, ’98), and Alan Arias (’03, ’04, ‘10) as they discuss The Next Era: AI and the Future of Work.
Career & Community Connections: Social Impact & Nonprofit Work Wednesday, May 20 | 9:00–10:30am or 6:30–8:00pm ET | Virtual Register Here
Connect with fellow CRS & TELE alumni working in — or curious about — social impact and nonprofit careers. Whether you’re exploring your path, early in your journey, or bringing years of experience, join us for a relaxed, virtual gathering featuring small-group conversations and light facilitation.
These Zoom sessions are designed to be flexible — drop in for a few minutes, stay for the full time, or anything in between.
This is part of our monthly Career & Community Connections series:
—June 17: Public Service & Government —September 16: Climate, Environment & Sustainability —October (date TBD): Law, Justice & Human Rights
We hope you’ll join one (or both!) sessions to meet peers, exchange insights, and build cross-generational connections across the LAJF, CRS, and TELE communities.
Reunion in Germany Friday, May 22 - Sunday, May 24 Email to RSVP
CRS alumni in Germany are excited to invite you to the Camp Rising Sun Reunion in Germany!
Dates: Friday, 22 May – Sunday, 24 May Location: Erkrath, near Düsseldorf (just 10 minutes by train)
We’ll gather in a charming private forest – affectionately called our “Wäldchen” – complete with a lean-to and a cozy fireplace. This spot hosted an amazing reunion back in 2022, and we can’t wait to bring back the magic!
Contact Doro (CRS Clinton ‘00, Stendis ‘01, Red Hook ‘06) by emailing dorothee.wachsen@gmail.com, if you consider coming!
LAJF LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group NY Pride Gathering (Allies Welcome) Saturday, June 13 | 1-4pm | Cork, NYC RSVP Here
We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming LAJF Pride Gathering: For All of Us—a celebration of community, connection, and Pride.
Join fellow alumni, campers, staff, and friends of Camp Rising Sun and The Ethical Leadership Experience for an afternoon of joy, reflection, and togetherness—featuring music, light refreshments, and programming led by our LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group. All are welcome!
Support the next generation of campers as they begin their own journey!
.png)
