Our signature Summer of Service program benefits communities across the United States and transforms our participants in meaningful ways.  Over the six-week period our volunteers experience meaningful volunteer opportunities through a myriad of local service organizations as we physically build within our host community and create our own AJSS community.  At the conclusion of the summer our participants generally earn at least 150 community service hours.

Our program develops leadership skills in our campers so that they can more effectively assume leadership roles in colleges and universities as well as later on in life.

We live, work and play together—creating a strong bond of friendship and fellowship.  Our staff of educators, mentors, and role models live and work with our teens, providing guidance, leadership and supervision.  Housing is provided by a local community agency.

We take advantage of the unique cultural and recreational offerings of our host community with visits to national parks and nearby cities, and by participating in local events ranging from the annual rodeo to the county fair.  To enrich our understanding of our summer home and the work we are doing, we also take the time to learn from the locals about cultural and political issues.

AJSS fosters a welcoming, pluralistic community of teens who are interested in translating their Jewish values into action by examining these experiences as they relate to core Jewish values. When Shabbat arrives, we shift our focus to rest, reflection and exploration. Our teens create their own Shabbat experiences by taking advantage of a variety of opportunities that make Shabbat a meaningful experience guided by the diversity of our AJSS community.

AJSS provides a summer of new opportunities, new experiences and new friends.