Madatzim Leader paints a camper’s face as part of the teen-led program. Credit: A. D. Schmidt 

By Caroline Mellow  

This summer, JCamps debuted a brand-new teen camp program, Madatzim Leaders. This is a leadership-focused camp program for campers entering seventh through ninth grade that incorporates classic camp experiences. Madatzim Leaders spent time learning skills for connecting with younger campers, planning fun and meaningful programs, all while having fun with friends at camp!  

Every Madatzim Leader was paired up with a younger camp bunk for their whole week in order to build relationships and better connect as a leader. Madatzim campers who attended multiple weeks at JCamps had the option of sticking with their same bunk and furthering those connections or broadening their skills by working with a new bunk from a different age or program.  

Interspersed throughout their time learning and volunteering with the younger bunks, Madatzim campers took field trips around the city for sweet treats and beat the summer heat at different pools in Austin.  

When reflecting on the summer, one Madatzim leader shared that his favorite part of camp was working with campers with different abilities, while another shared that their favorite part was field trips for ice cream and other treats.  

The summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean that Madatzim is. Current sixth through eighth graders can participate in Madatzim Leaders at JCamps break camp days. At break camps, Madatzim campers have been assistant coaches in the gym with Assistant Athletics Director Tommy Romano (also known as Coach Taco), helped with arts and crafts, and taken exciting trips off site to get coffee and a treat.  

Registration is currently open for Madatzim at break camps, and priority registration for Dell JCC members for summer 2025 opens in late January.