Rabbi Zalmy Kudan Partners With CKids To Launch Cutting-Edge Camp Staff Training Platform
The Rebbe often spoke about the unique power of summer camps to shape a child’s Jewish identity, calling the experience a vital part of their growth. However, today’s counselors face a new world: working with children shaped by constant connectivity, shorter attention spans, and rising levels of anxiety.
To meet these challenges, noted educator and shliach Rabbi Zalmy Kudan has launched a new digital training platform in partnership with CKids International at Merkos 302, designed to prepare staff with the tools they need to engage, support, and inspire a generation growing up in the TikTok era.
Available on ChinuchTools.com, the platform offers a comprehensive library of pre-recorded sessions tailored specifically for Gan Israel camps. With over two decades of leadership in Jewish education and camping, Rabbi Kudan brings deep expertise to the project, shaped by his years as a Shliach in Santa Barbara, California, and as Educational Director of Lamplighters Jewish Academy in Oxnard.
The platform builds on Rabbi Kudan’s longstanding commitment to professional development, empowering nearly 2,000 counselors each year for the last ten years. His work has been instrumental in elevating the professional standard of Jewish camps and schools across the globe.
The initiative aims to streamline staff preparation by offering high-quality video trainings, interactive quizzes, and instant certification, all accessible anytime, anywhere.
“The Rebbe emphasized the critical role staff serve in camp, even calling their work ‘Shlichus of the Aibeshter Mammosh’,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “When we invest in our counselors, we invest in the entire camp experience. This initiative ensures every staff member is empowered with the skills and inspiration they need to make a lasting impact.”
The sessions feature Rabbi Kudan’s unique training style, honed through over a decade of leading interactive workshops for schools and camps. Built-in progress tracking and certification help camp directors ensure their teams are prepared well before the first camper arrives.
“Our goal was to create something practical and powerful,” said Rabbi Kudan, who also serves as Vice President of Education for Camp Gan Israel International and is a certified Emotion Code Practitioner. “These courses are clear, engaging, and designed specifically for camp counselors. Whether it’s their first summer or their fifth, they’ll come away confident and ready.” He added, “We’re giving staff real, usable tools that not only prepare them for camp but serve them as they continue through life.”
Gan Israel camps of all sizes can take advantage of exclusive discounted pricing, with additional savings available for small camps. Full Access Packages allow entire teams to enroll in all available courses at once, maximizing value and efficiency.
For more information, visit ChinuchTools.com
