Camp Wise
Camp Wise is the overnight camp of The Mandel JCC. We serve over 500 children each summer, with 70 percent of our campers coming from the Greater Cleveland area, and the other 30 percent coming from all over Ohio including, Columbus, Akron, Dayton, and Toledo along with New York, Pennsylvania, California and all across the country! Camp Wise has consistantly been voted the best and top overnight camp in northeast Ohio. Over the last three years more than $5 million has been invested in Camp Wise to make this overnight Jewish Camp even more wonderful and exceptional to campers of all ages.
Since its first summer of operation in 1907, Camp Wise has grown from a basic “fresh-air” camp for underprivileged children, mothers, and babies, into a modern residential camping facility. The camp was founded by the Council Educational Alliance (the forerunner of the JCC) , Council of Jewish Women and Federation for Jewish Charities (now known as the Jewish Federation of Cleveland), on property generously donated by Samuel D. Wise
Camp Wise was originally situated near Euclid, Ohio, at Stein-on-the-Lake, Interurban Stop 133. In 1924 when the camp was moved to Painesville, Ohio, newspapers printed stories about the camp that “promises to be the model camp of the entire country.” With a growing number of campers and a need for better facilities, Camp Wise was relocated again in 1966 to its present site in Burton, Ohio. Halle Park, the name of the site encompassing both Camp Wise and the JCC’s Anisfield Day Camp was a gift made possible through the generosity of Eugene and Blanche Halle.
Through its proud 100-year history thousands of children have shared unforgettable Jewish camping experiences and developed lifelong friendships through the overnight summer camping programs at
Check out this short video of Camp Wise!
Click here to visit The Mandel JCC's Camp Wise Website.
