Professional Development & Learning

LEAP
Leadership Engagement and Advancement Program

Applications for the 2027 cohort of LEAP are open!

Apply by October 30, 2026.

Apply to LEAP Today!

LEAP

About the Program

The Leadership Engagement and Advancement Program (LEAP) is a skill and capacity-building training program designed for Board Chairs and Vice Chairs of JCamp 180 affiliated camps. It is customized, interactive, and free of charge. Created in 2019 to offer support to camp lay leaders, the program has been developed in response to clients’ requests for “additional Board and Governance support." 

Learn About the Impact of the Program from LEAP Grads:

Our Programs

Upcoming Offerings

Camp GPS

LEAP - Leadership Engagement and Advancement Program

Enrollment Program

Major Gifts for Your Camp

Travel Reimbursement Policy

If that scenario resonates with you, take this LEAP

Train with peers and experts who will help you identify, focus, and work on your camp’s needs, challenge your assumptions on governance and offer alternatives without judgement. Your participation in LEAP will empower you to become the agent of change you hoped to be when you took on the role of board chair.

Download our one-page LEAP Brochure

Program Outcomes and Deliverables:

At the end of the program, the participants will:

  • Network of Peers

    have a network of peers to rely on for the rest of their life

  • Board Meeting

    be able to run a board meeting in half the time with twice the results

  • 3 Steps

    have learned the 3 steps to deal with a difficult or underperforming board member productively

  • Library of Tools and Templates

    have a board chair library of tools and templates, including a clear board chair calendar

  • Top 10 Facilitative Skills and Techniques

    have mastered top 10 facilitative skills and techniques to focus and engage fellow board members

  • Relationships

    have built stronger relationships with the lay and professional leaders, and donors at their camps

  • 1 “Leap”

    have made 1 “leap” that resolved his/her most challenging “chair” issue

The training and skills I learned through LEAP have helped me tremendously in my new role as Board Chair for Jewish Federation of San Diego.

David Bark, Immediate Past President, Camp Mountain Chai

Program Cost and Benefits:

Through the generosity of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, this Program is offered to board chairs (and vice chairs) of JCamp 180 participating camps free of charge.

Food and accomodations are paid by JCamp 180. Participants are responsible for their travel to and from retreats.

JCamp 180 Travel Policy

LEAP Grant

Participating camps may be eligible for financial assistance to help them implement their strategic steps, goals, and plans in the area of Governance and Board Development. These LEAP Grants (up to $3,000 per eligible camp in the current cohort of LEAP) may be awarded upon the camp-participant articulation of their LEAP plans and goals.  A separate application will be required to be completed by eligible participants in the program to access these funds. Projects may include:

  • Event logistics related expenses to support a board function  
  • Hiring outside governance-related expertise to bring new skills, training, or education to the board
  • Investing in board development (i.e., professional development)
  • Board work and stewardship
  • Etc.

LEAP is a well-designed and organized leadership program for Camp Chairs and Vice-Chairs. It is an intensive learning experience that covers the critical challenges and issues that camp leaders confront each year. Learning with a small group of committed leaders and sharing ideas and experiences provided me with a unique and valuable perspective on how to enhance my work with our professional staff and lay leadership team. I not only enjoyed my time with the LEAP participants but made new friends and colleagues who I know will be supportive long after the program ends. Working with Natasha was clearly a highlight of the year together. I highly recommend LEAP to camp leaders looking to improve their leadership skills and gain new insights to the emerging challenges we all face in overseeing successful Jewish camp experiences for our communities.

Mark S. Anshan, Vice-Chair, URJ Camp George Council

More About LEAP

Successful completion of LEAP requires the participant to:

  • be in good standing (attendance, engagement, homework completion)
  • reach at least one personal “leap” (stretch goal) set by them at the beginning of the program.
  • create a clear Governance and Board Development plan

Successful completion of LEAP requires the participant to:

  • be in good standing (attendance, engagement, homework completion)
  • reach at least one personal “leap” (stretch goal) set by them at the beginning of the program.
  • create a clear Governance and Board Development plan

The training will be delivered in 3 retreats (a mix of in-person and online offerings with calls and video conferences in between). The following is the tentative 2026 LEAP cohort schedule – if you are considering applying, please mark these dates on your calendar.

Date Date Location
In-person Winter Launch  January 31-February 1, 2027 Orlando, FL
In-person Spring Retreat May 16-17, 2027 Chicagoland
Online Fall Final Retreat Dates TBD September 2027 Online
In-person Program Graduation Dates TBD TBD

The program was very helpful in focusing me on the critical function of our Board of Directors and specifically my role in facilitating that. Natasha has been an expert in distilling what is most critical for each participant in the program. She has deftly balanced the skills of the participants, highlighted and supported our growth opportunities ,and matched all that with the needs of each specific camp’s lifecycle. Wow! The experience has been worthwhile, fulfilling, and provided an excellent foundation for present and future Board service.

Joshua Charlat, Board Chair, Camp Ramah in Canada

Applying to LEAP

Applications for the 2027 Cohort of LEAP are open! 

Apply by October 30, 2026.


Apply to LEAP Today!
Have Questions?

Program Curriculum

The curriculum will be delivered by topic specialists, peers, and the LEAP program director

The sessions will utilize various learning and facilitative models and techniques.  Much of the time will be spent practicing the tools we learn and using each other to hone the skills we acquire.  Homework will be given to continue practicing between the sessions. 

The program is built around the following curriculum:

Welcome to the Board Chair position

  • Nature or Nurture (Are leaders born or made?)
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Personal skills, capacity, strengths and limitations

Getting the job done

  • Leadership skills and tools
  • Communication and facilitation skills
  • Support system

Partnership with your Executive Director  

  • Governance vs. Management
  • Trust and communication
  • Boundaries and pitfalls

Partnership with your Board

  • Board management and benchmarking
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Support structures

Partnership with the Chair-elect

  • Succession planning
  • Mentoring

Transition and farewell

Participation in LEAP gave me the opportunity to assess my strengths and areas for improvement as a leader in the camp community and beyond. I appreciated the variety of resources made available to me as a LEAP participant and the interactive info sharing and learning opportunities. By far the most valuable gain from my LEAP experience was meeting a cohort of leaders from around North America that I could count on for advice, resources, connectivity and community! These meaningful connections will most certainly last far beyond our year together in LEAP! I am grateful for the LEAP opportunity.

Jordana Levenick, Board Chair, Camp B'nai Brith Oregon

LEAP Participants

Participant Camp
Rachael Arons Gelman Camp Moshava Wild Rose
Madison Bader Rosen Camp JORI
Barbara Birnbaum Camp Deeny Riback
Marc Blumberg Pinemere Camp
David Brot URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI)
Basil Chaltas Beber Camp
Amanda Gelfant Camp Massad of Manitoba
Rachel Gross Camp Ben Frankel
Matthew Korch Camp Solomon Schechter
Amy Laski Camp Northland-B'nai Brith
Josh Podietz Camp Ramah in the Poconos
Stacey Slomka Ramah Darom
Elizabeth Sollish Tamarack Camps
Hal Ungar Camp Judaea

Past Leap Grads

2019

Participant Camp
Mark S. Anshan URJ Camp George
Richard Blank Camp JORI
Josh Charlat Camp Ramah in Canada
Loren Chylla Camp Wise
Laura Drachler Camp Daisy and Harry Stein
Richard Friedman Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
Fanny Korman Camp Tel Yehudah
Gary Lazarus URJ Henry S Jacobs Camp
Jordana Levenick B'nai Brith Camp Oregon
Michael Marion URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy East
Rebecca Powell B'nai Brith Camp Winnipeg
Matt Rosensweet Camp Livingston

2020

Participant Camp
David Bark Camp Mountain Chai
Stacey Cohen Camp Northland-B'nai Brith
David Jacoby Sephardic Adventure Camp
Stuart Katz Camp Ramah in New England
Odelia Shargian Camp Shomria NY
Richard Slutzky Hazon/Isabella Freedman
Arielle Wasserman Camp Moshava Ennismore
Cassie Weinstock JCC Ranch Camp

2021

Participant Camp
Carole Balin Camp Young Judaea
Barbara Baumann Camp Young Judaea Midwest
Jeff Cohen-Laurie Camp Young Judaea
Jeanne Ellinport URJ 6 Points Sports Academy
Jeffrey Green URJ Camp Harlam
Gretchen Gross Camp Centerland
Sheara Guttman HD Camp Gesher
Gary Kahn B'nai B'rith Camp Oregon
Will Lennon Camp Moshava Wild Rose
Stacy Palbaum Camp Alonim
Leanna Rinzler In the City Camps
Jonathan Schwartz Camp Solomon Schechter

2022

Participant Camp
Rick Carson Camp Northland-B'nai Brith
Alyson Gampel URJ Camp George
Elizabeth Goertzel URJ Camp Kalsman
Atara Jacobson Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
Michele Metsch URJ 6 Points Sci Tech Academy
Jessica Miller Switzer BB Riback
Mindy Opper Camp Judaea
Art Verity Camp JCA Shalom (Shalom Institute)
Elizabeth Waksman Ramah New England
Jennifer Weber URJ Eisner and Crane Lake Camps
Lauren Wysmuller Eden Village Camp

2023

Participant Camp
Andrew Barnett Camp Ramah in the Poconos
Avi Edelman Habonim Dror Camp Moshava
Robin Eisenberg URJ Camp Coleman
Ruby Gelman Camp Yavneh
Brian Hertzman Camp Livingston
Jordan Hirschfield URJ 6 Points Sports Academy
Jeffrey Kagan URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy
Josh Shpayher Camp Moshava Wild Rose
Stacy Van Wagoner B'nai B'rith Camp Oregon
Isaac Varon Sephardic Adventure Camp

2024

Participant Camp
Rachel Bart Camp Shomria NY
Lindsay Braunig URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp
Theresa Dupuis Camp Mountain Chai
Stacie Friedman NJY Camps
Jonathan Gerber Moshava Alevy
Dan Klein Tamarack Camps
Ali Reich URJ Camp Harlam
Bruce Rosenbaum Camp Wise
Jessie Wainer URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy

2025

Participant Camp
Keren Brown Habonim Dror Camp Gesher
Lara Dutta Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa
Andrea Felzer Marmon Perlman Camp
Mike Fisherman Camp Young Judaea Texas
Civia Gerber Camp Judaea
Joe Gold URJ Camp George
Sam Kazer URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy
David Miller Habonim Dror Camp Galil
Evan Reiss URJ Camp Coleman
Jeffrey Scheer Camp Ramah New England
Danielle Schmelkin URJ Eisner and Crane Lake Camps
Mira Sussman Habonim Dror Camp Tavor

2026

Participant Camp
Rachael Arons Gelman Camp Moshava Wild Rose
Madison Bader Rosen Camp JORI
Barbara Birnbaum Camp Deeny Riback
Marc Blumberg Pinemere Camp
David Brot URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI)
Basil Chaltas Beber Camp
Amanda Gelfant Camp Massad of Manitoba
Rachel Gross Camp Ben Frankel
Matthew Korch Camp Solomon Schechter
Amy Laski Camp Northland-B'nai Brith
Josh Podietz Camp Ramah in the Poconos
Stacey Slomka Ramah Darom
Elizabeth Sollish Tamarack Camps
Hal Ungar Camp Judaea

What's the benefit of LEAP?

Hear what LEAP graduates say about the program.

Watch Video Testimonials

LEAP Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. They are welcome to participate together

Both. The world of nonprofit leadership and governance is changing so rapidly that even the most experienced Board Chair/Vice Chair will find a lot of new and useful information in LEAP.

Yes

  • It’s designed specifically for the nonprofit Jewish camp sector
  • It’s designed to be a community of practice
  • It offers ongoing financial and mentoring support after the Program
  • It’s hands-on and focused on specific individualized deliverables

Yes. They’ll be asked to contribute information. As a key partner to your Top Professional, you are also strongly encouraged to communicate with them directly about LEAP.