Green Hills Swim Club

Dear Friends,

When I came to Harrisburg nearly a year and a half ago, one of my immediate goals was to engage as many of you as possible to play an integral role in our future. This year, I assembled a group of community members to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to help guide us over the next five years. This work was rooted in a simple but difficult truth: our community is evolving, and our resources remain strained. Thus, we must make thoughtful decisions now to ensure a sustainable future rooted in shared Jewish values.

A cornerstone of our long-term vision is the development of Green Hills Swim Club as a revitalized, three-season second site for Harrisburg JCC programming. We envision Green Hills as a home for aquatics, wellness and fitness activities, intergenerational engagement, and our JCC Day Camp. We believe deeply in the potential of Green Hills as a treasured asset for our Jewish community.

However, as part of our strategic planning process, and after months of careful review, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily pause operations at Green Hills for Summer 2026. JCC Day Camp will be held at the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life this summer.

This decision was not made lightly. It followed a detailed assessment of the property’s current physical condition and the significant maintenance and capital improvements required to safely and responsibly operate Green Hills into the future. It also came after a thorough review of our financial position. The Federation has incurred significant debts, both carried forward from many years of operating at a financial loss, as well as new debt associated with our investment in the community via our acquisition and renovation of the Grass Campus. Additionally, our financial review revealed that Green Hills and JCC Day Camp have operated at considerable annual losses. Continuing to operate the site without addressing these underlying challenges would further jeopardize the long-term stability of our JCC.

The location may change, but our commitment to creating a vibrant, high-quality camp experience that reflects our values and standards is unchanged. The Grass Campus will be transformed into a dynamic camp environment featuring classic camp activities alongside new and expanded program tracks. These will include creative water play on the Etter Family Green, indoor and outdoor sports, STEAM programming, fine arts, fitness, field trips, and more, designed to engage a wide range of interests and age groups.

Meanwhile, pausing Green Hills operations will allow us to take a responsible step back; one that gives us the time and space to design a realistic plan, raise the necessary funds, and complete essential maintenance and improvements. Our goal during this period is not to abandon Green Hills, but to preserve and elevate it so it can serve future generations of our community and be a source of pride for us all.

We know that the past several years have been challenging, and this move represents yet another adjustment for families. Change is difficult under any circumstances. It is especially challenging when it involves losing access to a beloved space, even if only temporarily. I myself am a JCC Day Camp parent who has made priceless memories with my daughter at Green Hills these past two summers. Thus, I am especially sensitive to how this adjustment will impact the families that we serve. Our promise to you is to be transparent, accountable, and to have continued dialogue as we navigate this transition together.

More details and camp registration information will be shared soon. We are grateful for your patience, your candor, and your continued belief in the strength and future of our Jewish community. We remain hopeful about what lies ahead for Green Hills and we look forward to welcoming our children to a meaningful and enriching JCC Day Camp experience at the Grass Campus in Summer 2026.

Sincerely,

Zach Benjamin
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg

As JCC Summer Camp season comes to a close, a reminder that our swimming pool and facilities are open through Labor Day with the following hours:

Mon - Fri from 4pm - 8pm
Sat - Sun and Holidays from 12pm - 8pm

Look forward to seeing you on a sunny day soon!

This Thursday, 8/7, Green Hills Swim Club will be closing the pool at 6pm so we can cheer on our friends at JCC Summer Camp's Finale -- we look forward to celebrating another great year of camp!

Please be advised that on SATURDAY, 7/19, Green Hills Swim Club will be CLOSED to our general membership. The pool will unfortunately be unavailable and other amenities will be engaged by a private event. We deeply appreciate your understanding and hope to see you during other times throughout the week.

Wednesday, 7/16: With severe storms approaching, Green Hills will be CLOSED for the remainder of the evening. Stay dry, stay safe.

Monday, July 14th: Green Hills Swim Club will be CLOSED this evening due to impending rain and storms.

Send a message to learn more

Happy 4th! We are open extended hours 12-8pm on Friday, July 4th.

Wednesday 7/2: Green Hills Swim Club is OPEN this evening. Please note the grounds are quite muddy after flooding from severe storms Tuesday. The Snack Bar will be closed this evening - though limited complimentary snacks will be available while supplies last.

Green Hills will be closed this evening, Tuesday July 1st, due to severe weather.

Send a message to learn more

6:15pm Monday 6/30: Green Hills will be closed remainder of the evening due to impending storms

Green Hills Swim Club is open tonight (Wednesday 6/25)! 4-8pm - come cool off in the pool 🏊‍♂️

🦩Flamingos are so easy to celebrate, you can do it standing up (on one leg!) Join us this Sunny Sunday for our Flamingo Fiesta.