A weekend for the whole family!
GFC JFAM Family Camp is an immersive weekend at GFC for the entire family. For families with children of all ages, but especially geared towards families with at least one child 8 years old or younger. Adults – there is programming just for you, too! Experience camp together as a family, enjoy activities planned just for you, and meet new friends. GFC JFAM Family Camp specializes in helping families relax, have fun, and spend quality time together while building community, engaging with and learning about Jewish rituals and customs, and soaking up the camp magic.
What is JFAM?
JFAM, the Jewish Family Camp Initiative, is a groundbreaking program founded by the FJC (Foundation for Jewish Camp). URJ Greene Family Camp is fortunate to be chosen as one of seven Jewish camps in the country for the inaugural cohort of JFAM. The JFAM mission aligns with our own: to bring year-round Jewish engagement and outreach to families and help families feel a sense of belonging in the Jewish community and a connection to meaningful expressions of family rituals and traditions.
Is JFAM a Greene Family Camp event?
YES! JFAM powers our Family Camp weekends. For families with young children, we offer age-appropriate programs and supplies to help facilitate a welcoming environment for all.
Is there special pricing for JFAM participants?
YES! If your family has a child or children 8 years or younger, you are eligible to receive discounted tuition for Family Camp!
If this is your first time participating in a Greene Family Camp JFAM Family Camp, your family will receive 50% off the total tuition.
For your second JFAM Family Camp at GFC, your family will receive 25% off the total tuition.
For your third JFAM Family Camp at GFC, your family will receive 10% off the total tuition.
*Only families with a child/ren 8 year or younger are eligible for this JFAM grant. No additional application is required.
URJ Greene Family Camp and JFAM believe every Jewish family belongs at camp and seeks to warmly welcome all family structures, multi-generation families, families with members who do not identify as Jewish, families of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and families with children and/or adults with disabilities.
Family Camp Coordinator
Valerie Klein – GFC Family Camp Coordinator
In addition to being the Family Camp Coordinator for Greene Family Camp, Valerie Klein is also the Director of Education at Adat Chaverim Religious School in Plano, Texas. She has a bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in early childhood and earned a master’s in religious education (M.A.R.E) from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. Camp is Valerie’s happy place. After over 15 years on faculty and then running the Avodah program during the summer, she is excited to share that joy with families during the year-round family events. Valerie’s additional experiences in Jewish education include teaching kindergarten at the Fort Worth Hebrew Day School, teaching religious school to all ages, being a BBYO advisor, leading the URJ Garin Greene Israel tour as well as living and working in Israel for 2 ½ years. Valerie lives in Frisco with her husband David Klein and is the proud mother of 3 phenomenal young women who grew up at GFC.
Please reach out to Valerie Klein, at vklein@urj.org, with any questions.
Sample Schedule
The weekend will begin on Friday with arrival between 4-5pm and conclude on Sunday before lunch. View a sample weekend schedule here.
Travel
URJ Greene Family Camp is about 30 minutes south of Waco and 1.5 hours north of Austin, on I35. The address is:
1192 Smith Lane
Bruceville, Texas 76730
GFC is nestled in Central Texas amongst hills, trees, and a lake. This natural setting provides our campers and families with the fullness of unsurpassed beauty and charm. We have multiple indoor and outdoor spaces, sports and arts facilities, beautiful scenery, and the best sunsets in Texas!
Approximate drive times from Texas metro areas:
Austin- 1.5 hours
Dallas- 2 hours
Houston- 3 hours
San Antonio- 2.5 hours
Packing and Weather
Closer to the weekend, we will email out a packing list to all participants. Weather in central Texas can be unpredictable, so we always urge everyone to check the weather as the weekend arrives to pack appropriately.
Family Camp FAQs
Whether this is your first or fifth time at Greene Family Camp, you may have questions about Family Camp. Please read our Family Camp FAQs here.
If you have further questions, please reach out to Valerie Klein, at VKlein@urj.org.
Artist in Residence
Each Family Camp, and over the summer, we invite guest artists and musicians to help complete our camp community.
Previous musical artists in residence have included Billy Jonas, Isaac Zones, Joanie Leads, and more!
Supervision
Adults are responsible for supervising their children when they are with them (meals, family programs, bedtime, etc.). Staff will be available to help supervise throughout the day and will supervise children when parents/guardians are in adult programming.
Children 2 and younger are welcome to join programs but will need an adult with them.
Tuition
Adults (18+): $325*
Youth/Teens (3+): $225*
Babies (0-2): Free
Thanks to our JFAM grant through the Foundation for Jewish Camp, we are able to offer tuition subsidies for families with any child 8 years or younger, with no additional application required.
If this is your first time participating in a Greene Family Camp JFAM Family Camp, your family will receive 50% off the total tuition.
For your second JFAM Family Camp at GFC, your family will receive 25% off the total tuition.
For your third JFAM Family Camp at GFC, your family will receive 10% off the total tuition.
Register for JFAM Spring Family Camp
Year-Round Program Scholarship Information
URJ Greene Family Camp is pleased to offer partial, need-based financial support to help families and children attend year-round programs.
A significant portion of the assistance we provide is made possible through the generosity of former campers, parents, partner organizations, and friends of GFC. We are extremely grateful for their support and commitment to making camp accessible for families throughout Texas and Oklahoma.
Scholarship form for Participants and their families:
- Families/Campers MUST register for an event before scholarship funds can be determined.
- Please email gfc@urj.org if you are applying for scholarship funds. GFC will not process registration payments until after scholarship funds have been applied to your account.
- For each child/participant for Spring Camp, you must have a separate scholarship application. The Family Camp application is for all members of a family.
- Scholarship applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served, rolling basis.
- Our team works directly with your congregation (if applicable) to create a scholarship package that meets your needs.
- All scholarship applicants must submit their scholarship application and complete their registration at least one month prior to events.
- After submitting a scholarship application, families will be contacted by a GFC full time staff member regarding their scholarship award.
Youth Advisors, Clergy or staff awarding scholarship on behalf of their congregation should e-mail scholarship information to gfc@urj.org with participant, event, and scholarship amount information.
Year-Round COVID-19 Policies
We strongly urge and ask that all members of the community have the COVID-19 primary vaccination series also receive the COVID-19 Bivalent Booster,
which has been available in the US since September 2, 2022, for people ages 12+ and since October 12, 2022,
for children 5-11 years old.
Click here to learn more about the URJ COVID Vaccine requirements >
Year-Round Cancellation & Refund Policy
If you need to cancel, the registration fees you paid will be refunded or credited as follows:
Cancellation up to 30 days prior to event date – 90% of fees are refundable.
Between 29 days and 14 days prior to event date – 50% of fees are refundable.
Within 13 days of an event, we will not be able to issue any refunds for cancellations unless there is a documented medical emergency.
If you have a documented medical emergency and must cancel within 13 days of an event, you will be refunded 75% of the fees you paid.
All cancellations must be in writing. We will only accept cancellations by email to gfc@urj.org. Please allow up to three weeks after the conclusion of the event for your refund or credit to be processed.