ABOUT CAMP BEN FRANKEL
a #1 rated Jewish Summer Camp Five Years in a Row
in parent satisfaction surveys conducted by the Foundation for Jewish Camp
in parent satisfaction surveys conducted by the Foundation for Jewish Camp
Camp Ben Frankel’s mission is to build a lifelong camp family for Jewish children from all backgrounds to explore their identities in an inclusive and welcoming environment, one amazing summer at a time.
By providing a rich and engaging program that combines Jewish values and traditions with fun and educational activities, CBF seeks to instill a sense of pride and belonging in its campers. Through positive role modeling, mentoring, and guidance, the camp’s staff work tirelessly to inspire campers to become leaders and to make a positive impact in their communities.
Camp Ben Frankel is a nonprofit Jewish overnight summer camp and a program of the Jewish Federation of Southern Illinois, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN 37-0661214). Founded in 1949, CBF serves children ages 6-17 from throughout the US, Canada, and Israel. As a nonprofit, we are supported by donors and Federation funding, which allows us to provide need-based financial assistance so that cost is never the reason a Jewish child cannot attend camp. Camp Ben Frankel is accredited by the American Camp Association.
Welcome to our Camp Ben Frankel website! My name is Aaron Hadley and I’ve had the privilege of being Camp Ben Frankel’s director since 2017. I passionately believe that summer camp helps kids thrive – now so more than ever before. At CBF we work hard to build a place that is welcoming to anyone in search of a loving Jewish community. We want campers to thrive. We want our staff to thrive.
We believe that begins by creating a place that helps everyone feel truly safe, accepted, and loved and then giving them the chance to share and create incredible experiences with their camp family – and to leave filled with joy, happiness, and Jewish pride.
Aaron “H” Hadley
Director
The key to an amazing camp experience
Executive Director
After a 20 year hiatus, Aaron rejoined Camp Ben Frankel in 2017 and has overseen its growth into an industry-leader with a reputation for programmatic and operational excellence. Prior to CBF, he oversaw the nationwide operation of 100 camps serving more than 6,100 children as Chief Operating Officer of Camp Kesem National, a charity for children touched by a parent’s cancer. He helped build the world’s largest peer support service for cancer fighters as Director of Operations at Imerman Angels Cancer Support and spent eight years as the Associate Director at B’nai B’rith Beber Camp in Wisconsin. Aaron has been a featured speaker at conferences and invited to provide continuing education for teachers.
Assistant Director
Sarah first attended Camp Ben Frankel at age 11 in 1999 and she returned for many summers as a camper, counselor, division head, and leadership team staff member. She is thrilled to have returned to CBF where she oversees camp’s operations and programming.
Sarah graduated from Barnard College with a degree in both Jewish Studies and Women’s Studies. She received her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis and has practiced both civil and criminal defense litigation. Sarah taught Hebrew school for many years in New York, Columbia, MO and St. Louis.
Having grown up and attended synagogues in Edwardsville and Alton, IL, and St. Louis, MO, Sarah is familiar with our federation and camp communities.
Operations Manager
Dir. of Camper Care and Inclusion
Jarred serves as Camp Ben Frankel’s Director of Camper Care and inclusion. He is a social worker who received his MSW from Loyola University Chicago. Jarred has worked in clinical and school settings for 10+ years.
Director of Community Security
Scott brings over three decades of experience in security, safety, and protective services to Camp Ben Frankel. As the founder of Scott Biondo Consulting, he has collaborated with businesses and government agencies nationwide.
Camp Ben Frankel’s mission is to create a welcoming, inclusive, lifelong community for Jewish children, teens, adults and families of all backgrounds.
We have been rated #1 in parent satisfaction among 100+ North American Jewish overnight camps, four consecutive years, 2022–2025, in the CSI surveys administered by the Foundation for Jewish Camp in the following categories:
At CBF we combine the wisdom of industry best-practices, decades of experienced leadership, strategic partnerships, and an open-minded approach to develop programs and activities that meet or exceed the high expectations of our campers, parents, and camp staff. Safety comes first. Camp Ben Frankel is proudly accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA).
We work closely with strategic partners whose missions and values align with ours to help better serve our community. Partners include the Foundation For Jewish Camp, JCamp180, Keshet, StandWithUs, Jewish Camps USA, Life and Legacy, and Jewish Federations across the country. In October 2020, we were presented with the JCamp180 Outstanding Board Leadership Award.
We believe that the single most important key to ensuring that campers thrive is having great camp staff. If the staff are talented, passionate, responsible – and fun! – they’ll keep kids safe and provide a summer experience that provides lifelong happy memories.
We work hard to ensure that our staff have a great experience, are treated well, and meet our high standards for excellence.
Staff satisfaction survey scores rated Camp Ben Frankel one of the best Jewish camps to work at in North America
Campers with disabilities, LGBTQ+, Jews of Color, immigrant families, Russian speaking Jewish families, interfaith families: we are firmly committed to an ever-evolving culture that is inclusive and welcoming.
CBF was rated #1 in parent satisfaction amongst 100+ North American Jewish Camps
Members of our staff and board of directors attend training conferences throughout the year to continually improve by learning from best practices, strengthening our programs, and studying emerging trends.
All of our staff complete a rigorous screening and training program that includes interviews, reference and background checks, 30 hours of pre-camp online training, plus 1-2 weeks of on site training before campers arrive.
Camp Ben Frankel participates in the Cornerstone Fellowship, a program that offers Jewish educational training and professional development to exemplary returning camp staff.
Health and Safety is always our first priority. We follow recommendations by leading experts like the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of Camp Nurses, and the American Camp Association.
We use training, experience, and good judgment as guides towards the primary responsibility of ensuring each camper’s physical and emotional safety.
We endeavor to create an environment where every camper makes friends through fun and joyful experiences.
We provide opportunities for each camper, from any Jewish background, to create meaningful Jewish experiences to ensure they feel positively connected with Judaism, tikkun olam, and Israel.
We support and celebrate each camper’s individual needs by valuing diversity, guided by the belief that every Jewish child deserves a welcoming Jewish community that supports their emotional, physical, and financial needs.
We create an environment that welcomes curiosity and embraces innovation by supporting campers as they develop the skills of independence, responsibility, confidence, and resilience.
We encourage campers to feel immersed and present in camp’s rich experiences in order to appreciate the unique community and activities that camp offers.
We aim to build a lifelong community of campers and staff who respect and support one another through open communication, respectful debate, and shared experiences.
Embracing diversity and practicing acceptance are essential. We promote mutual understanding and empathy.
This, in turn, leads to more harmonious and productive relationships in our camp.
CBF rates #1 in activities in surveys of all North American Jewish camps, conducted by the Foundation for Jewish Camp, including in categories such as programming that allows campers to develop new skills, performing arts, and sports programming!
Each week campers choose their activities from a combination of classic camp activities and an array of innovative options powered by the creativity of our staff. Our counselors thoughtfully plan the curriculum with the help of experienced educators to ensure activities are high quality and fun. Highlights of each session can be found below.
visit our local stables to ride each day and advance your horseback riding skills as well as learn about caring for horses.
experience every climbing activity we offer throughout the entire summer including rock wall, climbing net, rock climbing, ropes course, zipline, giant swing, leap of faith, teambuilding course as well as outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, shelter building, outdoor cooking, and orienteering.
learn and improve your cooking skills with new recipes each day, culminating in a trip to a local bakery for a tour and tasting!
embark on a mega adventure that carries through all three weeks and concludes with a trip to a local D&D themed park.
In addition to all the first and second session activities, full season campers can participate in intersession, featuring:
Our aquatics program is a great way for campers to enjoy swimming, splashing, and safely playing in the water. Water safety always comes first and includes an instructional swim program. Activities include swim instruction, free swim, splash park, splash pad, canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and fishing.
We combine skill instruction with the freedom and support to experiment and be expressive. Activities include cooking, baking, ceramics, jewelry making, tie dye, drawing and painting
Our campers and staff love unleashing their imaginations and putting their minds to work while gaming. We offer role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons as well as strategy games like Settlers of Catan, Magic The Gathering and Pokemon. We also offer classic board games and chess club.
Camp is one of the best places to unleash your imagination in a safe and supportive environment. Campers can choose from activities such as performing in the all-camp musical, improv, dance, singing, book club, creative writing, camp newspaper, guitar, ukulele, rock band, song writing, drumming, music appreciation, and song leading. Our performing arts program rates #1 in parent surveys from the Foundation for Jewish Camp
We offer a variety of creative STEM activities and projects for campers. Examples include robotics, model rocketry, Rube Goldberg machines, and interactive experiments.
One of our core values is “creating immersive experiences” and we love to make the most out of our natural surroundings and help campers foster a relationship with the environment. Programs include horseback riding, high ropes, rock climbing and rock wall, zip line, giant swing, leap of faith, teams course, hiking, camping, outdoor cooking, shelter building, archery and fire building.
Our sports program rates #1 in parent surveys from the Foundation for Jewish Camp. We love sports at CBF and our approach focuses on teambuilding, skill-building, sportsmanship and respect led by skilled role models. Campers can choose from activities such as basketball, baseball, softball, personal fitness, yoga, meditation, martial arts, ping pong, spike ball, running, frisbee, volleyball, soccer, flag football, capture the flag, and more.
Honor Heritage. Respect Tradition. Build Pride.
Camp Ben Frankel is an inclusive, pluralist Jewish community. We welcome campers from all Jewish backgrounds. We nurture a connection to Israel and impart the beauty, meaningfulness, and relevance of Judaism and Hebrew into our campers’ everyday lives.
Our goal is to empower campers with the freedom to explore, learn, and find meaningfulness in a joyous, safe, and encouraging atmosphere.
We have a kosher kitchen and celebrate Shabbat and other Jewish holidays that occur during the summer. Motzi and Birkat are recited at every meal.
Camp Ben Frankel is proud to welcome campers from multifaith Jewish families and we work hard to make sure that our approach to Judaics is accessible to everyone. In fact, each member of our full time staff comes from a multifaith family! Every member of your family is part of our camp community
Camp Ben Frankel is proud to use one of the 1564 scrolls that survived the Shoah (the Holocaust). Thanks to the Memorial Scrolls Trust they have been carefully restored and loaned to Jewish organizations all over the world. Our torah originated in Brno, Moravia and is scroll MST#188 helps our community learn the joy of shabbat at our weekly camp shabbat services as well as during camp at special camper bar and bat mitzvah celebrations.
To learn more please visit the Memorial Scrolls Trust website.
We nurture a proud connection to Israel through special programs and daily activities that teach campers and staff about the religious, historical and cultural importance of Israel to the Jewish people. Our camp community includes Israeli campers and counselors.
Since 2024, we have brought Israeli campers to CBF through our own Israeli Camper Respite Program. Israeli campers live together in bunks with our American campers, creating important opportunities for cultural exchange and building friendships. Since 2025, we have also taken part in the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Campers2Gether program, bringing in a group of Israeli teens each summer from communities most affected by the war.
Dir. of Camper Care and Inclusion
Jarred serves as Camp Ben Frankel’s Director of Camper Care and inclusion. He is a social worker who received his MSW from Loyola University Chicago. Jarred has worked in clinical and school settings for 10+ years. In his clinical practice, he has worked with a diverse clientele, specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy for depression and anxiety. Additionally, he has worked as a school social worker in the Chicagoland area, as well as with Zion, Illinois School District 6.
Jarred has his Masters Degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University, and was a seventh and 8th grade teacher in the Chicago Public School system. He joined Camp Ben Frankel in 2019 and is thrilled to continue helping children and staff thrive at camp! In his free time, he enjoys book collecting, writing and playing basketball.
Director of Community Security
Scott brings over three decades of experience in security, safety, and protective services to Camp Ben Frankel. As the founder of Scott Biondo Consulting, he has collaborated with businesses and government agencies nationwide, conducting security vulnerability assessments for a wide range of critical infrastructure sectors—including healthcare, communications, energy, public health, food and agriculture, and transportation. His work has supported organizations of all sizes in building safer and more resilient environments.