The Tel Aviv-Yafo 2025 Summer Camp

In the height of July 2025, the municipal summer camp “Camp Tel Aviv-Yafo” took place for the fourth consecutive year, a joint initiative of Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, the Tel Aviv Foundation, and in ongoing partnership with the Goodman Foundation.

The camp hosted approximately 704 students entering 9th grade from across the city – an exceptional community, character-building, and educational experience that has become a meaningful summer tradition in Tel Aviv-Yafo. The camp was held at Kfar Galim near Haifa, featuring ten consecutive days of activities, challenges, team-building, personal empowerment, and connection to core principles.

One of the camp’s unique decisions is temporary disconnection from mobile phones – participants deposit their devices upon arrival and spend ten days without screens. Despite the initial difficulty, the teens report that the break from phones actually helped them deepen social connections, make new friends, focus on themselves and their surroundings, and most importantly – be present in the moment. Staff report a noticeable positive change in atmosphere and quality of interaction among participants.

During the camp days, a wide range of educational, character-building, and social activities took place – leadership workshops, circle discussions, sports activities, debate, art workshops, nature tours, and group challenges – all creating a safe, supportive, and enriching environment.

On August 5th, Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor Ron Huldai, Municipal Education Director Dalia Lin, and Nadav Peretz, VP of Partnerships at the Tel Aviv Foundation, paid a special visit. During their visit, they spoke with the guidance and educational leadership teams and heard directly from the campers about their personal experiences, challenges, sense of independence, and the meaning they’re experiencing at camp.

The partnership with the Goodman Foundation, which has supported the camp since 2020, expanded this year with a contribution of nearly one million shekels, enabling extensive subsidies for the camp and broadening participation to youth from across the city and diverse populations.

The Tel Aviv Foundation is proud to be part of an initiative that creates profound and meaningful change in the lives of young people in Tel Aviv-Yafo. “Camp Tel Aviv” is living proof that partnership between a municipality, philanthropic foundation, and committed community – can create a better and more progressive educational reality.