At Camp Kadimah, Jewish and secular programming is combined to foster Jewish identity and overall confidence in an active, fun environment. Camp offers a wide variety of specialties including land sports, instructional swimming, water skiing, sailing, canoe and kayaking, drama, arts and crafts, scouting, Israeli song and dance, and other cultural programming. Campers are also able to choose electives “chugim” that rotate throughout the summer.

The Kadimah Program

A typical Day’S schedule

  • 7:40am - Wake Up

  • 8:00am - Mifkad (flag pole)

  • 8:15am - Breakfast

  • 8:50am - Make Your Bed!

  • 9:15am - Peulah 1 (Arts)

  • 10:00am - Morning Snack

  • 10:30am - Peulah 2 (Sports)

  • 11:30am - Peulah 3 (Swim)

  • 12:35pm - Lunch

  • 1:15pm - Rest Period

  • 2:15pm - Peulah 4 (Boating)

  • 3:00pm - Afternoon Snack

  • 3:30pm - General Swim

  • 4:30pm - Chugs (choice activity)

  • 5:15pm - Free Time / Showers

  • 6:00pm - Mifkad

  • 6:15pm - Dinner

  • 7:15pm - Evening Programs

Peulot (Activities)

Swim

Kadimah proudly offers daily swim lessons for all of our campers. We use the National Lifesaving Society standard, and offer lessons from Level 1 up to the Bronze Medallion courses for our most advanced swimmers. Lake William is an incredible place to pass your levels and grow increasingly comfortable in the water.

WATER SKI

Whether you’re a veteran skier or a first-timer, our dedicated water ski staff will show you how to ride the wake and speed along Lake William. Or, if you prefer to enjoy the lake views from a tube this is another thrilling option!

Sail

There’s nothing quite like stepping into a sailboat on a breezy day on Lake William. Our sail staff will show you the ropes (literally), and help campers pass their badges and become expert sailors.

Canoe

What’s better than going for a nice relaxing canoe ride on a warm sunny day? Not much! Learn the tricks of the trade with Kadimah’s fine canoe specialists, who teach campers how to properly paddle, and perform various maneuvers in the water, including T-Rescues and exits and entries.

Kayak & Pedal Boats

Camp Kadimah itself is a beautiful place, but the lagoon really takes the cake. Try racing your friends through the kayak obstacle course or floating beside waterlilies. We also have four-seater pedal-boats to cruise around the lagoon and take in the Maritime scenery.

Sports

Kadimah’s sports program includes all the classics: basketball, floor hockey, softball, tennis, flag-football, ultimate-frisbee, pickleball, and more. Throughout the summer our campers have the opportunity to learn and refine their skills in each sport, and play in fun filled games.

Mel-Yad

From the hebrew word Melechet-Yad (מלאכת-יד), meaning “handicraft”, Mel-Yad is Kadimah’s arts and crafts program. Unleash your creativity with various projects throughout the summer (including painting, pottery, tie-dye and much more) and show off your work!

Bama (Drama)

Aaand action! Bama, hebrew for theatre or stage, is Kadimah’s drama program. Learn to improv, build up your confidence in front of a group, and channel your inner Lin-Manuel Miranda with our great Bama specialists.

Rikud (Dance)

Think you have the moves like Jagger? Rikud, Hebrew for dance, is the perfect opportunity for our campers to learn all of their favourite Kadimah dances! From the classic box step to the shimmy and shake, we’ve got it all.

Shira (Song)

Shira, hebrew for singing, is where all the camp classics are taught so all of our campers are ready to join in when we are sitting around the campfire. We cover the oldies as we all contemporary Israeli music. Play an instrument? Bring it along! We love a good jam session.

Tzofiut (Scouting)

Tzofiut, Hebrew for scouting, is where our campers learn how to survive in the wilderness. Pitch some tents, tie some knots, learn archery, and develop important team-building and collaborative skills in the great outdoors.

Sababa

Awesome, cool, good vibes.. Sababa is hebrew slang that can be used in almost any context. Kadimah’s incredible Israeli staff develop and run engaging programs about all things Israel. From cooking Israeli pita and shakshooka, to learning about Israeli society, Sababa is always an adventure.

Special Programming

The four-day highlight of the summer! A beloved, long-running tradition and one of the most exciting events of the summer. Four teams compete in our camp-wide colour war. A highlight for campers from Giborim to Machar, and a chance for all sections to come together and participate in competitions including boating, arts and craft, swim, track and field, trivia, and much more!

Maccabia

In honour of the late Richard Siegel, our Kochotniks and Macharniks compete in a full day ball hockey tournament. With teams for all skill levels, Hockey Marathon is a pinnacle of the summer.

Richard Siegel was a proud Jew, a proud child of Cape Breton, a proud husband and father. Richard’s happiest place growing up was Camp Kadimah as a camper and counselor. He reveled in the spirit, comradery and lifelong friendships that are inspired by and fostered by what was created at Camp Kadimah. The Camp Kadimah Hockey Marathon is named after Richard Siegel due to his dedication, sportsmanship, and passion for all that is Camp Kadimah.

The Richard Siegel Hockey Marathon

This camp-wide event recreates the challenging journey to Israel from Europe in the 1940s, culminating with an incredible celebration upon arriving in the Land of Milk and Honey. Campers from all sections are divided into families where they create elaborate background stories and plan their path to Israel.

Haganah

A combination of camp-wide programs and sectional activities that celebrate the wonders Israeli society and culture have to offer. Run by our CITs and Israeli staff members, campers participate in a number of events including classic Israeli folk dances, pita making, and trivia, with the day culminating in a camp-wide carnival and Tel-Aviv beach party.

Israel Day

Judaism at Kadimah

Camp Kadimah plays a pivotal role in the development of Jewish identity for both our campers and staff, offering our community a strong sense of belonging, community, and connection to Jewish life. Through daily experiences, traditions, and shared moments, Jewish values and ruach are woven into all aspects of camp, from programming and activities to interpersonal relationships and community living. Camp Kadimah is an inclusive environment where campers of all levels of observance and knowledge feel welcomed, supported, and inspired to explore and strengthen their own Jewish identity in a warm and engaging setting.

  • Camp Kadimah’s kitchen and dining hall (Chadar) are Kosher; however, we do not have a Mashgiach.

  • All camp meals begin and end with blessings.

  • Head coverings are expected of male campers and staff during meals and Shabbat services.

  • Many of our Bar- and Bat-Mitzvah campers choose to make a donation to camp a part of their coming-of-age, and are honoured at our camp’s end-of-summer Banquet. To learn more, please reach out to our office at office@campkadimah.com.

Shabbat at Camp

To many campers and staff, Shabbat is the highlight of the week. Shabbat begins with a camper-led Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday evening) service at the camp’s amphitheatre. Kadimah’s service is geared to the diversity of our camper population: a combination of English and Hebrew prayer, along with music, songs and skits, allowing campers from all backgrounds to appreciate and participate in this special evening service.

Following Kabbalat Shabbat, the camp comes together for a beautiful Shabbat dinner, where we do the traditional blessings over the wine (grape juice!), challah and enjoy a lovely meal.

After dinner is when the real fun begins. At Kadimah, we have a long-standing tradition that occurs every Friday night, after Shabbat dinner, called Oneg Shabbat. It involves the entire camp dancing and singing a series of songs and performing Kadimah’s classic dances. From the Gibbies to CITs, everyone comes ready to jump, dance, sing and sweat!

On Saturday mornings, Kadimah offers a wide range of engaging Jewish programs run by our Cornerstone Fellows. These 45-60 minute programs provide our campers with a unique way to connect to their Jewish identities, regardless of educational background or experience.

Tripping Program & Out Trips

Each section participates in an overnight camping experience during the summer. These overnights take our campers under the stars and around the campfire for an evening filled with songs and s’mores.

With so many campers coming from outside the Nova Scotia, Camp Kadimah has the opportunity to offer the experience of exploring the Canadian Maritimes. For Giborim, Goshrim, and Kochot, day-trips involve an adventure to the beach followed by ice cream in Lunenberg (a UNESCO heritage site). The Machar section travels to Halifax for their day off and visits local historic sites like Pier 21 and Peggy’s Cove.

For CITs, during the four days of Maccabia, this section participates in a five-day trip throughout the Maritime provinces.