The campers gathered Sept. 24-27 at Camp Ramah California in Ojai to recharge, build friendships, and have fun
Bring back the s’mores, color wars, campfires—and now Bubbe’s beer garden, as Trybal Gatherings brings its multi-day Jewish overnight camp experience for young adults to the rolling hills of Ojai Valley at Camp Ramah California’s landscaped grounds, just outside of Los Angeles. From September 24-27, over 100 Jewish young adults will come together to recharge, make new friends, lean into camp nostalgia, and relax among the orange groves and painted sky sunsets. First-time campers can receive a $175 scholarship from NuRoots at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.
“Some participants are reliving their young camp years, while others are experiencing camp for the first time,” says Carine Warsawski, CEO of Trybal Gatherings, which runs the camps around the country. “They come together to form a tiny Jewish community in real time, connected by this powerful shared experience. Of course, activities like slip n’ slide, kickball, and a silent disco help make it all possible.”
10 Israeli campers will join the Southern Californians at camp, a respite for the Israelis and an opportunity for North Americans to build a personal connection with peers across the world.
“The weekend was full of moments that stretched me in the best ways: joining spontaneous dance circles, trying creative workshops I’d never imagined doing, and having late-night conversations that went way beyond small talk,” said Adi Chen of Tel Aviv, who participated in Trybal SoCal last year. “I found myself opening up, listening differently, and learning from everyone around me. What surprised me most was how much community can form in such a short time when people show up with kindness and authenticity. I felt supported, seen, and inspired – and that energy stayed with me long after I got home. It reminded me that Judaism isn’t just about tradition; it’s about people, connection, and continuing something bigger than ourselves.”
Added camper Claudia Greenspan, “Trybal felt like something extremely familiar yet also brand new. I felt immense pride in guiding my team through Color War, drawing on a sense of spirit and sportsmanship that I haven’t felt since my own days as a camper over ten years ago. But I was also surprised by how many people of different ages, professional backgrounds, and geographies converged on the camp with the same goal: to make new Jewish friends.”
In addition to the ropes course, pool party, mountaintop yoga, country wine brewing, color war and other activities, campers will celebrate Shabbat and Havdalah (marking the end of Shabbat) under the stars. For some, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with Jewish experiences they may not have engaged in in years at a life stage when, as research shows, they are developing their Jewish identity outside of the structure of their immediate family.
“Campers curate the experiences that they find meaningful and resonant,” added Warsawski. “People come with different needs, various Jewish backgrounds, and from different situations in life—but they come together out of a shared desire to meet new people and feel connected to something bigger than themselves.”
More information is at trybalgatherings.com/socal.
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About Trybal Gatherings
Trybal Gatherings is the leading provider of Jewish camp experiences for young adults and their friends. Set in picturesque landscapes across North America, our Gatherings are designed to let you plug into a dynamic community during an unforgettable weekend escape.