Camp Rising Sun Summer Program 2025 (Funding Available)

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About Camp Rising Sun Summer Program

Camp Rising Sun is a full-scholarship, summer leadership program for teenagers from more than 30 different countries and 10 U.S. states. Each summer, 60 young men and 60 young women practice leadership skills in a supportive community of peers and counselors. At the Camp Rising Sun, young people practice compassionate leadership skills, learn from each other, and build community. You'll return home with a better understanding of yourself, the world, and how you can make change in your own community.

CRS is four-weeks long and there are two sessions -one in July and one in August. The mission of the Louis August Jonas Foundation (LAJF) is to develop in promising young people from around the world a lifelong commitment to compassionate and responsible leadership for the betterment of their communities and the world.

• Sponsor Organisation: Louis August Jonas Foundation

Benefits of Camp Rising Sun Summer Program

• Camp Rising Sun is a full scholarship program. Admitted campers pay no tuition to attend the program. When families or local alumni associations cannot afford travel costs to and from camp, LAJF has some funds to provide need-based financial assistance to cover travel costs. These funds are limited.

Camp Rising Sun Summer Program Requirements

• You can apply from anywhere in the world.
• You should be at least 15 years old when your camp session starts and you cannot have turned 17 by the end of your camp session (your date of birth should be between August 25, 2008 and June 24, 2010).
• You must be available for the whole four-week in-person session in upstate New York.
• You must be able to speak English. English is essential for understanding safety instructions and for maximizing the benefits of the CRS experience.
• Children or grandchildren of any previous Camp
• Rising Sun alumni interested in participating in CRS must apply as legacy campers.
• International campers will require a valid passport and visa (if applicable). Campers living in the United States do not need a passport to apply, register, or attend the program.
• Accepted applicants must complete a full medical (physical and mental health) evaluation prior to arrival and provide proof of vaccination, including being fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Exemptions will be granted.

Application Requirements 

• You should be 15 years - 18 years old at the start of the program.
• You must be available for the full two-week online session.
• You must be able to speak English in order to make the most of the program.

Application Date and Process

• 2025 applications opened on November 27th, 2024. Click the link above to apply.

• Attend an information session (optional).

• Submit your complete application by the deadline for your region. (See deadline section below.)

• Applicants selected for the interview phase will be invited to an interview by the selection committee of their region. Expect this invitation between January 15th and March 1st.

• Prepare for your interview, relax, and be ready to talk about yourself, your passions, and why you are interested in attending Camp Rising Sun.

• Interviews will take place between January and March. Specific dates will depend on our selection committee.

• LAJF will begin to send out admissions decisions (admitted, waitlisted, rejected) in March. The exact date depends on where you are applying from.

• They will host an admitted students and families information session (date TBD) with recent campers and their families.

• If you are admitted, you must register to confirm your place within a week of being admitted.

• They will accept candidates from the waitlist starting in April.

• Your selection committee will be available to offer you support before and after the program.

You will have to submit the following materials by the application deadline for your region.

• A completed 2025 CRS application.
• One (1) reference. This reference should be an adult who knows you well (teacher, guidance counselor, principal, a coach, club leader, religious adviser, or scoutmaster, etc.) References must be adults who are not members of your family.

The references are due by the application deadline for your region.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINES

CRS applications opened on November 27th, 2024. 

Deadlines vary by region:

December 31st: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, South Africa

January 7th: Ecuador

January 15th:All Other Regions not Listed Here, Israel, Netherlands

February 1st: Palestine, Poland, Greece, USA-New York, USA-New Jersey, USA-Connecticut, USA-Colorado, USA-California, USA-Minnesota, USA-Nebraska, USA-Nevada

February 8th: Germany

February 15th: Greenland, Finland, Hungary, Denmark, Norway, Latvia

March 2nd: France

March 28th: South Korea

April 13th: Japan

Please follow the instructions you received from the Camp Rising Sun representative in your area or contact the Foundation staff at [email protected] for deadline information if you are in doubt.

*They plan to work closely with selectors in these regions regarding needs that may come up throughout the application cycle, including changes to deadlines.

Scholarship Application Portal

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