01/06/2026
Dear Friends,
When I came to Harrisburg nearly a year and a half ago, one of my immediate goals was to engage as many of you as possible to play an integral role in our future. This year, I assembled a group of community members to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to help guide us over the next five years. This work was rooted in a simple but difficult truth: our community is evolving, and our resources remain strained. Thus, we must make thoughtful decisions now to ensure a sustainable future rooted in shared Jewish values.
A cornerstone of our long-term vision is the development of Green Hills Swim Club as a revitalized, three-season second site for Harrisburg JCC programming. We envision Green Hills as a home for aquatics, wellness and fitness activities, intergenerational engagement, and our JCC Day Camp. We believe deeply in the potential of Green Hills as a treasured asset for our Jewish community.
However, as part of our strategic planning process, and after months of careful review, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily pause operations at Green Hills for Summer 2026. JCC Day Camp will be held at the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life this summer.
This decision was not made lightly. It followed a detailed assessment of the property’s current physical condition and the significant maintenance and capital improvements required to safely and responsibly operate Green Hills into the future. It also came after a thorough review of our financial position. The Federation has incurred significant debts, both carried forward from many years of operating at a financial loss, as well as new debt associated with our investment in the community via our acquisition and renovation of the Grass Campus. Additionally, our financial review revealed that Green Hills and JCC Day Camp have operated at considerable annual losses. Continuing to operate the site without addressing these underlying challenges would further jeopardize the long-term stability of our JCC.
The location may change, but our commitment to creating a vibrant, high-quality camp experience that reflects our values and standards is unchanged. The Grass Campus will be transformed into a dynamic camp environment featuring classic camp activities alongside new and expanded program tracks. These will include creative water play on the Etter Family Green, indoor and outdoor sports, STEAM programming, fine arts, fitness, field trips, and more, designed to engage a wide range of interests and age groups.
Meanwhile, pausing Green Hills operations will allow us to take a responsible step back; one that gives us the time and space to design a realistic plan, raise the necessary funds, and complete essential maintenance and improvements. Our goal during this period is not to abandon Green Hills, but to preserve and elevate it so it can serve future generations of our community and be a source of pride for us all.
We know that the past several years have been challenging, and this move represents yet another adjustment for families. Change is difficult under any circumstances. It is especially challenging when it involves losing access to a beloved space, even if only temporarily. I myself am a JCC Day Camp parent who has made priceless memories with my daughter at Green Hills these past two summers. Thus, I am especially sensitive to how this adjustment will impact the families that we serve. Our promise to you is to be transparent, accountable, and to have continued dialogue as we navigate this transition together.
More details and camp registration information will be shared soon. We are grateful for your patience, your candor, and your continued belief in the strength and future of our Jewish community. We remain hopeful about what lies ahead for Green Hills and we look forward to welcoming our children to a meaningful and enriching JCC Day Camp experience at the Grass Campus in Summer 2026.
Sincerely,
Zach Benjamin
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg
