Camp Mesorah’s special needs program has been operating for the past ten years as a viable sleep-away camp experience for young men and women. These individuals exhibit developmental delays, Down syndrome and various deficits. Initially opened in collaboration with Yachad and Camp Mesorah, it presently is administered solely by Camp Mesorah and its staff.

The Program caters to a maximum of 16 young adults usually ranging in age from 20 – 33. The focus of the program is vocational in nature where all participants are employed for specific and necessary jobs such as day camp counselors, kitchen staff, waiters and office workers etc. These exact placements are made appropriate to prerequisite skills and wishes. The counselors will serve as nighttime supervisors, day-to-day liaison personnel and job coaches. 

Integration is the key word in describing the program. Obviously a greater sense of job responsibility, expanded skill performance and increased duties are a direct result of the program. However this inclusion with all the other campers and staff leads to a more normative life in the general Jewish community. These staff members eat in our regular dining room, participate in Jewish practices such as being the “Shliach Tzibur”, and get involved in the camp programming. Shlomo Brazil, one of the founders of Camp Mesorah and a well known special educator for over 30 years explained, “These staff members do more for our kids and staff than we do for them”. They truly strengthen the entire camp environment.  Hence, the name of the program, "Chazak."