Inclusion at camp February is JDAIM (Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month), a month where we are encouraged to recognize and celebrate diverse identities and abilities in our community. As we observe and participate we want to share some of the ways that...

Celebrating Joe Heinecke Joe Heinecke, our longtime Physical Plant Manager, was recently honored by the URJ on the 40th anniversary of working at OSRUI. Everyone who has set foot on our campgrounds in Oconomowoc, has benefited from Joe’s hard work and commitment to...

Young Alumni Connect A team of OSRUI young alumni have been meeting over the past several months to create pathways of continued involvement with camp and to grow new support among the next generation of alumni. We are grateful for their passionate commitment to camp!...

Why Working at Camp is the Best Thing You Can Do With Your Summer!  By Dylan Singer, Assistant Director  There are many things you could do with your summer, so why come spend it at OSRUI? While our year-round staff might be a bit biased, we believe this is the best...

Alumni Spotlight: Dana (Nadel) Pais Camper and Counselor 1994-2002 The OSRUI community is filled with wonderful alumni. We are excited to highlight some of our alums, what camp means to them, and learn more about what the great work they are bringing to the world....

The Joys of Ivrit By Rafi Ellenson  Rafi (he/him/his) is thrilled to come back to OSRUI as Rosh Ivrit! Rafi was last at camp in 2017 as Rosh Chalutzim and before that as a music specialist, songleader, and madrich (counselor). Between his time on tzevet (staff) and as...

Happy Hanukkah - Year Round Team Happy Hanukkah from the entire OSRUI year-round team! As we continue to give the Gift of Camp this Hanukkah season we wanted to take this opportunity share the gifts that camp has given to us (along with some fun camp photos)! This...

It’s Transgender Awareness Week. This is a time to recognize, honor, and celebrate transgender and gender non-conforming people in our community.

"Ana-a-a-a-achnu ohavim et Tiferet...v’ein acheret...”  The words of this cheer carry so much truth – we love Tiferet and there really is no other program like it. For three decades, Tiferet, its campers, staff, faculty, and artists have created beautiful artwork and...

By Debbie Locketz LICSW One of my favorite times at camp is on opening day when we come together to sit at the Bitan.  It is during this time that I get to look out and see our entire community. Those new to camp and those that have been to camp before. Those from...

What’s New This Year? We are so excited to be in person in Oconomowoc this summer! Here are a few highlights of what is new for 2021. New for 2021: Gesher Updates  We are so excited to expand the Gesher program to create an unforgettable summer experience including...

Summer 2021 Registration FAQs By Beth Rodin, Associate Director, and Debbie Locketz, Assistant Director – Camp Care and Enrollment  We are excited to be planning for an in-person program for Summer 2021!  The health and safety of our families has always been and will...

Shanah Tovah – Happy New Year!   It has been wonderful to see so many of our camp families on our OSRUI virtual programming throughout the summer and to see your smiling faces in our Zoom boxes and social media feeds. But, we know it hasn’t been the same as the magic...

The idea of working together as a team towards a common goal is something that gets highlighted repeatedly each summer at camp.  Maccabiah (OSRUI’s 24-hour team competition) is just one example of how we can take all our campers' unique strengths and differences and...

Prior to and during ever summer we put a lot of thought and planning into how our community will be safe while altogether. Safe both in the physical sense but also in the social emotional way as well. Over the past few years, we have created a code of conduct for all...