The Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp has provided a premium Jewish day camp experience for over 25 years and has successfully operated specialty camps for over 15 years at all its locations. The Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp prides itself of being the “community” day camp and opportunities are provided to all regardless of the families’ financial situation.
The Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp experience is the ultimate equalizer, providing a neutral “playing field” for campers and staff to enjoy meaningful Jewish summer camp experiences and to learn and grow from each other. Campers are recruited as young as 12 months in a parent and tot program, while half day drop off programs begin at 2.5 years of age. Currently, camp is offered at two main locations (in Vaughan and Toronto) and the catchment area extends from Newmarket to downtown Toronto.
Last summer over 1200 campers were engaged in Jewish day camping at The Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp. In addition, 75 campers participated in Youngstars Hockey Camp, a specialty ice hockey program at York University, which is a Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp and JCC Chai Sports collaborative program.
Featured Activities at The Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp
Evan Roth is the Director of The Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp and has been affiliated with Jewish summer camp for 20+ years as a camper, C.I.T., staff, supervisor, and as an Assistant Director. Evan brings a contagious positive attitude and a wealth of knowledge, experience and skill to camp and the camping industry.
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Prior to joining the Centre Camp families, Evan worked at a Camp Northland (a Jewish overnight camp) where he honed his skills in operations, programming, camper care, customer service and Jewish identity building in the role of Assistant Director. His enthusiasm for the potential of Jewish camping, and its power to shape and transform lives is infectious to all those around him and fueled by the belief “today’s campers and staff are tomorrow’s leaders.”
Evan is also passionate a Toronto sports fan (Leafs, Blue Jays, and Raptors) and is an aviation enthusiast.
Three more reasons why we love Evan:
His passion for safe and nurturing environments: He has served in several volunteer roles at the Ontario Camp Association (OCA). He has been a Senior Standards Site Visitor since 2015, a role that required him to assess camps to ensure that they were healthy, safe and nurturing environments.
His commitment to professional development: He was a member of the planning committee for the annual OCA professional conference to ensure that the industry remains best in class.
His connection to the broader Jewish community: He is a volunteer Chapter Advisor for BBYO, where he mentors teenagers to help them reach their full potential and grow into dynamic leaders.
"Hosting Shlichim during the summers remains a wonderful experience for our family. Each year we meet dynamic and fascinating young Israelis with whom we maintain contact long after the summer has gone. Our kids are the greatest beneficiaries of the experience, finding in the Shlichim individuals who they come to regard as older siblings. It is an event we look forward to every year with good reason and plan on continuing for years to come."
- Soberman Family, The Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp, Prosserman JCC
Connecting with Israel
“Although it was so new, Israel brought upon me a familiar sense of belonging much like what I feel at Camp Chi every summer. The ability to be in a place where one feels so free and proud to be a Jew is a feeling that makes me so proud to be involved in my Jewish heritage.”
- Joshua Krawitz, 17, Camp Chi, JCC Chicago
- Joshua Krawitz, 17, Camp Chi, JCC Chicago