A Second Life for Camp Gear, A First Chance for New Memories
October 16, 2026
Somewhere in Jewish Atlanta, there’s a sleeping bag tucked away in a closet. Maybe it went on years of campouts. Maybe its owner has grown up and moved on, leaving behind a duffel bag, a few camp T-shirts and a lifetime of summer memories.
Somewhere else, there’s a child who is already dreaming about their very first summer at Jewish camp next year.
What if those two stories could come together?
That’s the idea behind JCamping‘s Camp Gear Shuk, a free exchange of gently used camp supplies that gives beloved gear a second life and helps families prepare for Jewish camp.
And this year, 13-year-old, Carson Medwed is helping fill the shelves.
For Carson, Camp Barney Medintz is more than a summer destination. It’s where he reunites with friends from Florida, Colorado and Alabama, friends he rarely sees anywhere else.
“It’s a place to be myself and to have great experiences,” Carson said.
After six summers at Camp Barney, Carson knows what those weeks mean. The campfires. The songs. Celebrating Shabbat together. The friendships that pick up right where they left off, even after months apart.
When he began planning his bar mitzvah (coming of age tradition) project, Carson wanted to share that experience with other kids.
“I always love camp, and I think other kids should be able to go too,” he explained.
This past spring, Carson rallied school friends, camp friends and family friends to collect new and gently used sleeping bags, lamps fans, duffel bags, towels, bedding, and other essentials for Federation’s upcoming Camp Gear Shuk.
Their basement began filling with donations – over 1,000 pieces of gently used camp gear.
“I’m just very proud of him that he’s making an impact in the community in an area that he really loves,” Carson’s mom, Lindsay said.
And before the Shuk even arrives, Carson’s generosity has already reached another family.
When a parent unexpectedly struggled to afford camp supplies this summer, Federation connected the family with the Medweds, who shared supplies from Carson’s collection.
A child went off to camp with gear they might otherwise have struggled to afford.
Through JCamping, Federation brings camps and families together, serving as a trusted resource and helping remove barriers to meaningful Jewish experiences. It’s part of Federation’s commitment to Jewish Education, one of its core impact areas.
On November 1, the Camp Gear Shuk returns alongside Federation’s annual Camp Fair, where families can meet representatives from regional Jewish overnight camps and local day camps, explore their options and find the right fit. Families can also take home donated camp supplies, completely free.
The next day, November 2, applications open for JCamping need-based scholarships and One Happy Camper incentive grants, helping make Jewish camp more financially accessible.
Federation donors make these connections possible, supporting the resources, partnerships and financial assistance that help more children discover the friendships, traditions and sense of belonging that make Jewish camp so special.
For Carson, camp has already given him seven summers, and counting, of memories.
Now, thanks to him and so many others across Jewish Atlanta, another child may be getting ready to make their very first.
Give your child a summer of memories that last a lifetime.
Explore Jewish camp opportunities, discover financial assistance and learn more about the upcoming Camp Fair and Camp Gear Shuk through JCamping.