By Ari Hirsch

Camp Kaylie is entering an exciting new chapter.

After 15 years of providing an unforgettable summer experience for children, Camp Kaylie is preparing to expand in a major way. This coming summer, Camp Kaylie will have a second campus, opening the door to even more campers and an exciting new future for the popular Ohel camp. In an exclusive interview with The Jewish Vues, Camp Kaylie Director Rabbi Eli Brazil shared details about the new campus, plans for Summer 2027, the tremendous response from families, and some of the new staff members joining the Kaylie team. Rabbi Brazil, will be entering his 13th summer as director in 2027.

A Second Campus Becomes Reality The idea of a second Camp Kaylie campus has been in the works for several years.

Two years ago, Ohel CEO David Mandel announced at the Ohel Annual Gala that the Harvey and Gloria Kaylie Foundation had purchased property for a second Camp Kaylie campus. The property was located five minutes from the existing campus.

David Brecher, Jay Kestenbaum, Elly Kleinman, Mel Zachter, Danial Jacobson, David Mandel and other Ohel Camp Kaylie Board members invested time and effort developing plans and obtaining the necessary permits. However, the process with the original property purchased was taking longer than expected. Then, this summer, an unexpected opportunity presented itself.

As some camps faced various challenges, a camp director made the decision to sell his camp and approached Ohel. Baruch Hashem, Camp Kaylie was able to secure the purchase of the second property. “This is a camp,” Rabbi Brazil explained. “It has a pool, a lake, a gym, a shul, and all the facilities that we need.” The exact location is not being announced just yet. Rabbi Brazil said the new campus is close to the current Camp Kaylie, and the location is expected to be announced within the next two or three weeks.

A Unique Summer 2027

Summer 2027 will be a unique transition year for Camp Kaylie.

Because of the timing of the acquisition and the need to prepare the new campus, the boys and girls will utilize the two campuses during different periods of the summer. The exact schedule and arrangements were still being finalized at the time of the interview. By Summer 2028 Be’ H, the vision is for each gender to have its own full summer campus, with both programs operating on a regular two-month schedule.

Making the New Campus “Kaylie”

The new campus is already beautiful, Rabbi Brazil said, but Camp Kaylie plans to invest heavily in it over the next year or two. The goal is to transform the property into a campus that feels just like Camp Kaylie and offers the same high level of programming, facilities, and atmosphere that campers and parents have come to expect.

More Than 1,200 Applicants!

The response to Camp Kaylie has been remarkable.

More than 1,200 applications came in during the first three days of registration.

The current Camp Kaylie campus has a capacity of approximately 500 campers, and the administration is working through the applications to accommodate as many children as possible. Camp Kaylie will continue to operate fully integrated with typical kids and kids with special needs sharing and participating in all activities and events.

The second campus will ultimately allow Camp Kaylie to serve significantly more families and provide an opportunity for children who otherwise might not have been able to attend.

What About the Staff?

With two campuses comes the challenge of building and coordinating two strong staff teams. 

Rabbi Brazil said the staffing arrangements are currently being worked out. Rabbi Shalom Rosner will continue to serve as Manhig Ruchani. Some of the existing staff will continue in their current roles with the boys and those with the girls with additional arrangements made for those who will work across both campuses.

Rabbi Eli Brazil, Avi Weber, and David Sharvit will be involved in both campuses.

And there will be plenty of new faces.

New Stars Joining the Kaylie Team Among the new staff members joining Camp Kaylie are Rabbi Yaakov Sait of Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh and Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz of Sha’alvim.

Rabbi Brazil also revealed that more key staff members are being brought on board, particularly on the girls’ side.

On the boys’ end, Rabbi Storch will be joining as a mashgiach. He will give shiurim and spend time with campers and staff, with the goal of inspiring and connecting with the boys throughout the summer. Rabbi Brazil said Camp Kaylie is continuing to look for additional “superstars” to join the team.

Two Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz’s?

There is also a humorous challenge facing the administration: There are actually two Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz’s involved with Camp Kaylie. One is Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz from North Woodmere who leads Camp Kaylie’s masmidim Kolel, while the new staff member is Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz of Sha’alvim.

A New Chapter for Camp Kaylie

After 15 years, Camp Kaylie is preparing to take a major step forward.

Rabbi Brazil said he is extremely excited about what lies ahead and views the expansion as a tremendous opportunity.

He expressed tremendous hakaras hatov to Hakadosh Baruch Hu for the way everything came together. “We always try to do things the right way,” he said. “Baruch Hashem, Hashem has helped us along the way.”

With a second campus, new staff, more space, and more than 1,200 families already showing tremendous interest, Camp Kaylie is entering a new era.

For the thousands of children and families who have made Camp Kaylie part of their summers over the past 15 years, the next chapter promises to be an especially exciting one.