Learn more by clicking on each session below.
Atid
2nd–4th grades
(Cabins)
Kallah
3rd–5th grades
(Cabins)
Kibbutz HaTzofim
4th–7th grades
(Tents)
Gesher
6th–9th grades*
(Cabins)
Moshavah
8th–9th grades*
(Tents)
Chalutzim
10th–11th grades
(Cabins)
Chalutzim Ba’Aretz
11th–12th grades
Moshavah Midwest
11th–12h grades*
Avodah
11th–12th grades
Atid (a taste of camp)
Entering Grades 2–4 | 5 Days | August 5 – August 9
WHERE THEY LIVE
- Cabins with 8–12 other campers their age and 3–4 counselors.
- Bathrooms are either attached or a quick walk to a washhouse.
WHAT THEY DO
- Everything! Our youngest campers get a chance to get a taste of all of the great things camp has to offer!
WHAT’S UNIQUE?
- Atid is great for campers who are away from home for the first time. Our nurturing staff are ready to welcome each new camper and help them adjust in their own way to being in this new setting.
Kallah (classic summer camp)
Aleph | Bet | Gimmel |
Entering Grades 3–5 2 Weeks June 15 – June 28 |
Entering Grades 3–5 2 Weeks June 30 – July 12 |
Entering Grades 3–5 3 Weeks July 14 – August 2 |
WHERE THEY LIVE
- Cabins with 10–14 other campers their age and 3–4 counselors.
- Bathrooms are either attached or a quick walk to a washhouse.
WHAT THEY DO
- Kallah campers get a thorough introduction to the overnight camp experience.
- The Kallah staff focus on helping campers make new friends, learn both independence and team work as a bunk, and develop confidence in trying new things at camp.
- To see an example of what all campers do during a typical day, click here.
WHAT’S UNIQUE?
- Our counselors are trained to help our youngest campers navigate being away from home and learning to live in a group.
- Programming and activities for Kallah are created with attention to the developmental needs of elementary school age kids to ensure each kid has a successful summer at camp.
Kibbutz HaTzofim (outdoor living)
Aleph | Bet | Gimmel |
Entering Grades 4–7 2 Weeks June 15 – June 28 |
Entering Grades 4–7 2 Weeks June 30 – July 12 |
Entering Grades 4–7 4 Weeks July 14 – August 9 |
WHERE THEY LIVE
- Platform tents (with bunk beds) with 10-14 other campers their age and 3-4 counselors.
- The tents are a short walk from a washhouse – brand new for Summer 2025!
WHAT THEY DO
- Tzofim is modeled after Kibbutz-style living in Israel. In this unit, campers help create their community, assist at meal times, tend the camp garden, and visit the animals on our small farm.
- Throughout the session, Tzofim campers learn about communal living, problem solving, gaining responsibility, and taking care of each other.
- To see an example of what all campers do during a typical day, click here.
WHAT’S UNIQUE?
- Tzofim is great for campers who are excited about the outdoors and will enjoy a chance for rustic living.
- In Tzofim Gimmel, the campers plan and host the camp-wide talent show, Oconomostock!
Gesher (focus, choice, and community)
Aleph | Bet |
Entering Grades 6–9 4 Weeks (June 15 – July 12) 2 Weeks (June 15 – June 28) |
Entering Grades 6–9* 4 Weeks (July 14 – August 9) 2 Weeks (July 14 – July 26) |
*10th graders will be permitted with approval.
WHERE THEY LIVE
- Cabins with 10–14 other campers their age and 3–4 counselors.
- Bathrooms are either attached or a quick walk to a washhouse.
WHAT THEY DO
- Gesher is generally a 4-week unit, however campers may opt for a 2-week experience.
- In Gesher, campers can design their own experience. In the mornings, Gesher campers choose an intensive that allows them to to develop and practice new skills in an area that resonates with their interests. For four-week campers, the intensives culminate in the Gesher Expo, during which campers can display their session-long projects and demonstrate their incredible growth. In the afternoons, Gesher campers participate in a series of electives called chugim. Gesher campers love the freedom to select and focus on their favorite OSRUI activities, whether podcasting, climbing the ropes course, or creating beautiful works of art. Campers also go on two field trips during the session — one trip that corresponds with their intensive and one trip that the entire unit does together (two-week campers only go on one field trip).
- To see an example of what all campers do during a typical day, click here.
GESHER INTENSIVES
- Aquatics: Campers will participate in enhanced programming at the pool and lake, including team-building activities, special games, connections with nature, and water safety and rescue. Extra opportunities for tubing, water slides, and paddleboarding also make this intensive a blast!
- Sports: Campers will channel their inner athlete, competing in classic sports like basketball and volleyball as well as OSRUI favorites like archery, ninja warrior course, and gaga. Through play, campers will learn sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership that will extend far beyond the field or court.
- STEM Exploration: Campers will design and conduct exciting experiments in subjects ranging from rocketry to robots, technology to engineering, and more. Campers will explore how things work and what Judaism can teach us about science.
- Culinary Arts*: Campers will work alongside our instructors to develop their cooking and food preparation skills, culminating in a cooking competition that shows off everything they learned. Campers will come home with an understanding of menu creation, basic cooking abilities, and some very yummy recipes.
- Making a Musical*: Campers will produce and star in their very own show, complete with original dialogue and songs from some favorite Broadway musicals. Campers will have opportunities for both on- and off-stage artistic exploration, including singing, acting, set design, tech management, and more.
* Please note that the Culinary Arts intensive and the Making a Musical intensive are only available to campers who enroll in the four-week Gesher session.
Moshavah (outdoor adventure and challenge)
Aleph | Bet |
Entering Grades 8–9* 4 Weeks June 15 – July 12 |
Entering Grades 8–9* 4 Weeks July 14 – August 9 |
*We recommend that 8th graders attend Moshavah Aleph and 9th graders attend Moshavah Bet – although both grades are welcome in each session. 10th graders also permitted with approval.
WHERE THEY LIVE
- Platform tents (with bunk beds) with 10–14 other campers their age and 3–4 counselors.
- Moshavah campers live in their own community village on the edge of camp.
- The tents are a short walk from a washhouse – brand new for Summer 2025!
WHAT THEY DO
- The Moshavah experience centers around developing independence, both individually and as a group.
- Moshavah camping trips are a beloved opportunity for campers to explore their Jewish connection to teva (nature), develop team-building and group decision-making skills, and expand their own resilience.
- To see an example of what all campers do during a typical day, click here.
WHAT’S UNIQUE?
- Mosh campers prepare for and go on two overnight camping trips (a 2-night trip and a 3-night trip) in Southeastern Wisconsin. The trips include backpacking, biking, canoeing, and rock climbing.
Moshavah campers spend multiple nights away from OSRUI on overnight camping trips. To ensure the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of campers, campers must have a baseline level of physical fitness, which includes the ability to walk or hike for several miles and engage in moderate physical activities. Additionally, campers must be willing to engage in challenging activities, follow safety protocols, be flexible and open to new experiences, and engage in positive teamwork and communication. Please connect with our Wellness Team with any questions or concerns about your camper’s ability to be successful in this program.
Chalutzim (Hebrew immersion)
Entering Grades 10–11 | 7 Weeks | June 15 – August 2
WHERE THEY LIVE
- Cabins with 10–14 other campers their age and 3–4 counselors.
- Cabins are a quick walk outside to a washhouse.
WHAT THEY DO
- Chalutzim is the capstone OSRUI experience – combining a full summer of fun, friends, and OSRUI favorites with the experience of being immersed in Hebrew language with Israeli counselors. For over 50 years, this milestone program has been one of the most highly anticipated summers that OSRUI campers get to take part in.
- In one summer, campers typically achieve the equivalent of an entire semester of public high school language proficiency, while they explore their connection with the land and language of the Jewish people.
- This one-of-a-kind program also includes all of the fun of camp including daily choice activities, swimming and boating, and opportunities to make camp magic for younger campers.
- To see an example of what all campers do during a typical day, click here.
WHAT’S UNIQUE?
- Alumni of this program, regardless of their Hebrew knowledge before the summer, report that their comprehension of, and connection to, the Hebrew language grows.
- The Chalutzim madrichim (counselors) are Israelis who are spending their summer at camp or OSRUI alumni who can speak Hebrew fluently.
- We welcome campers of all ability levels – and have multiple programs available each year to help campers prepare for the summer.
Moshavah Midwest (A Tiyul Unlike Any Other)
Entering Grades 11–12* | 2½ Weeks | July 23 – August 19
*10th graders will be permitted with permission.
Moshavah Midwest is a two-and-a-half-week program that incoporates biking, canoeing, and tent camping throughout Wisconsin. Participants will learn outdoor leadership and camping skills, all while deepening friendships and experiencing the quintessential magic of an OSRUI summer.
After orientation and preparation at OSRUI, campers will embark on a trip where they canoe through Southwestern Wisconsin to the Mississippi River, bike on a system of 4 converted railroad trails spanning from the Mississippi River at the Minnesota border, and spend Shabbat at the familiar Devil’s Lake State Park. Services and Jewish learning are a part of each day. Shabbat, the highlight of the week, will be a well-deserved day of rest and community. This remarkable tiyul will be a celebration of the power of the group traveling together as well as an exploration of each teen’s physical, emotional, and spiritual self. Moshavah Midwest will be led by experienced adventurers and veteran OSRUI staff, along with other specially trained staff. Each night will be spent camping out in tents at campgrounds along the way. Canoes and bicycles will be provided by OSRUI, as will tents and cooking gear. Personal gear will be the responsibility of each participant. The Moshavah Midwest packing list will be available in the Spring.
Moshavah Midwest campers spend multiple nights away from OSRUI on camping trips. To ensure the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of campers, campers must have a baseline level of physical fitness, which includes the ability to walk or hike for several miles and engage in moderate physical activities. Additionally, campers must be willing to engage in challenging activities, follow safety protocols, be flexible and open to new experiences, and engage in positive teamwork and communication. Please connect with our Wellness Team with any questions or concerns about your camper’s ability to be successful in this program.
Chalutzim Ba'aretz (NFTY in israel)
Entering Grades 11–12 | Dates TBD
Chalutzim Ba’aretz is a unique traveling Jewish community, immersing you in the language of the land as you explore ancient Jerusalem and modern Tel Aviv, the beautiful Galilee and the stunning Negev Desert. This exciting 4 week summer experience was created especially for teens who want to do more than just practice Hebrew. Unleash your language skills to converse and collaborate, debate and discover. You’ll finish your meaningful and exciting journey to Israel with new confidence, amazing memories, and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Learn more at: https://nftyisrael.org/camp-trips/osrui/.
Avodah (internships, work, and study)
Aleph | Bet | Aleph + Bet |
Entering Grades 11–12 5 Weeks June 10 – July 12 |
Entering Grades 11–12 4 Weeks July 13 – August 9 |
Entering Grades 11–12 9 Weeks June 10 – August 9** |
Avodah is the ultimate chance to come back to camp with friends for the last summer of getting to live together in a cabin before becoming bunk counselors.
During Avodah, our rising 11th and 12th graders complete their journey to staff members while building a sense of pride, ownership, and accomplishment in the OSRUI space, place, and program. Avodahnikim rotate through various volunteer opportunities throughout their summer in order to “try out” the different kinds of staff roles at camp. There are rotations in both the programmatic and operational parts of camp including Site Team, AV team, Office team, Arts program team, Sports program team, Teva/Adventure program team, and more. They also participate in daily opportunities to deepen Jewish identity and explore connection to Israel through Limudim, Ivrit, and Jewish leadership. Avodahniks prepare t’filot and prepare to teach Ivrit to younger eidot.
Participants can choose to attend Aleph (5 weeks), Bet (4 weeks**), or both (for a total of 9 weeks). Graduates of Aleph or Bet will experience working in at least 3 areas of camp and complete 20 hours of counselor training, gain practice leading programs for each other and other eidot, and learn lots of life skills. Those who stay for the full summer will get to continue all that they did in the first session, plus the option of having a permanent placement in a volunteer area of camp. Avodahnikim can earn up to 50+ hours/week of community service hours.
**Avodah Bet participants may join for staff week – June 11-16