NY/PA - July 24, 2016 - Over 1,000 high school-aged kids spending their summer at Jewish camps in the Pocono and Catskill mountains in Pennsylvania and New York were given a valuable lesson in political discourse this week, learning about the BDS movement and what they can do to help fight against it. And after they heard the presentation, they wanted more.

“In one camp, the kids complained beforehand because this was their time for playing ball,” said former member of Knesset Dov Lipman, director of Public Diplomacy in the Vice Chairman's office of the World Zionist Organization. “But when it was over, I was stunned - we told the campers that they were free to leave, but that we would stay behind if they wanted to continue the discussion. In some camps, almost the entire room stayed behind to ask questions and learn more about how they can help Israel. They didn’t want to leave!"

Lipman partnered with Paul Friedman, Tri-State Area High School Coordinator of StandWithUs, for the first-ever Israel Advocacy Summer Camp Tour July 19-21.  They visited six Jewish summer camps in the pilot program: Morasha, Dina, Seneca Lake, Lavi, Ramah, and Mesorah.

“We have long recognized the need to begin Israel engagement early, and to educate Jewish teens so that they can reach out effectively to others, sharing with them their intrinsic connection to Israel,” said StandWithIsrael Israel Executive Director Michael Dickson. “We are proud to be partnering on this meaningful initiative, and we expect the result will be more informed Jewish teenagers who are more active about Israel as a result.”

Ross Zuckerman, assistant director of Camp Seneca Lake, commented: "Our campers were extremely moved by the presentation, and couldn't stop talking about it after."

Another camp director said the fact that it took place in camp and not school drilled home to the campers how critical it is.

"These students may go to pro-Israel schools and grow up in Zionist homes, but they still go to college campus unprepared for the anti-Israel onslaught they will face,” Lipman noted. “It is critical that we prepare them for this at the youngest of ages and engage them in Israel advocacy at the high-school level.  This six-camp tour is a pilot which we hope to bring to Jewish camps and schools throughout North America in the years to come."