Frequently Asked Questions
about the Ramah
Jerusalem Day Camp
Updated for Summer 2009
|
What is the Ramah Jerusalem Day
Camp? |
|
What's new for 2009?
Long Day! Following the success of 2008's longer day, the RJDC will continue to entertain and engage campers until 3 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday, and until 1 p.m. on Fridays. Hot Lunch! We will offer our campers a hot, kosher, meat-based lunch every day except Fridays. Vegetarian campers should indicate such on their registration forms, and we will provide a vegetarian entree. Returning families should note that our day ends 30 minutes earlier than in 2008.
Hebrew! We are attempting a more "formal" informal Hebrew program for the summer of 2009. Stay tuned!
Who attends the
The camp is designed for English-speaking children entering Kindergarten
through ninth grade. (Minimum age: 5 years). Approximately 20-25% of our
campers are the children of English-speaking Israelis, while the remainder come
from the
Why can't my younger child come to camp? He or she is very mature.
If your child will turn five on or before December 1, 2008 AND will be entering
kindergarten in the fall, please contact us to inquire about registration. We
regret that we cannot accommodate children who are younger than 5 years old;
neither do we have access to information about summer programs for younger
kids.
My child does not speak English well. Can he or she still come to camp?
No, if your child is not fluent in English, he or she will not be able to
register for camp. The purpose of the camp is not to provide an English
immersion program for Israelis or others who would like to learn English, but
rather to provide a fun, stimulating environment for Israeli campers who want
to maintain their English abilities and for foreign campers who want an
authentic Israeli experience, but in English.
Where can I get information about programs for younger/older children?
Ramah does not maintain a listing of other camps. However, every spring the
AACI (Association for Americans and Canadians in
How are campers divided into groups?
Campers are divided by grade. Each group includes both boys and girls: Shevet
Yehuda (K/1), Shevet Galil (2), Shevet Golan (3/4), Shevet Negev (5/6), and
Shevet Sharon (7/8/9). There is one group for each Shevet, but a larger Shevet
might be split into two smaller groups for some activities.
Will children in different groups see each other throughout the day?
All campers have snack, lunch and swim together most days, so they see each
other often during the day. Campers also see each other more frequently on some
field trip days. Our oldest group (Sharon) does once weekly programming for one
of our younger groups (Yehuda or Galil), and we have a weekly all camp program.
How early can I drop my child off in the morning, and what's the latest I
can pick him or her up?
Drop off begins at 7:50 a.m., and pick up continues until 3:10 p.m. Please be
on time in the morning, as our camp day begins promptly with announcements,
songs, and tefillah (morning prayers), and please be prompt at pick up in the
afternoon. Campers are usually at the pick up location by 2:55 p.m. Campers
must be signed in and out with their counselors.
|
|
|
Campers making illusion
spinning tops at the |
My child needs more than one t-shirt because we don't have access to a
washing machine.
Each child receives one t-shirt free of charge. You can order additional
t-shirts on your child's registration form.
Does the camp provide transportation?
Transportation to camp is not provided. The camp is located directly on a bus
route (#22) from the center of town or Rehavia. It is within short walking
distance of three bus routes (#4/4A, 18, and #24), and of the following
neighborhoods: San Simon, Katamon, and Kiryat Shmuel. It is a short cab-ride
from Rehavia, Talbieh, the German Colony and Baka (among other neighborhoods).
For ideas regarding apartments to rent in
If your child will be arriving at camp or departing from camp alone or with someone other than a parent/guardian, you must provide us with a signed note on or before the first day of camp.
Is the camp suitable for children from all Jewish backgrounds?
The camp is affiliated with the Masorti (Conservative) Movement, but both
campers and staff come from varied backgrounds and levels of observance, from
Orthodox to secular and everything in between. Our program, including Tefillah
(prayer services), is developed with this in mind. We aim to create a
pluralistic atmosphere, encouraging the understanding and respect of others.
Each day begins with a musical Tefillah in the Ramah spirit, using our own
Siddur. On Friday afternoons parents are invited to join their children for an
Oneg Shabbat (Joy of Shabbat) program. All activities at camp are co-ed.
We will accommodate campers and staff who do not wish to swim during the Nine Days. Campers/staff who prefer not to swim will have another appropriate activity available for them. Other camp activities, including music, dance, and sports, will continue as usual, as will field trips to various locations.We do not schedule a field trip on the Fast of 17 Tammuz (Thursday, July 9).
What about children with physical or developmental disabilities?
We are happy to speak to individual parents, assess situations, and offer
recommendations as to whether we can accommodate a particular child. Please
contact the
Can I send my children to Ramah's "Israeli Day Camp"?
Ramah's Hebrew-speaking day camp, which also takes place at the
|
|
|
Preparing a Biblical feast
at Neot Kedumim |
FOOD AT CAMP
Is food provided by the camp kosher?
Yes. Camp provides a daily (parve) mid-morning snack of a roll and drink, which
many parents choose to supplement with chips, a fruit, a granola bar, or
something of that nature. Ramah will provide a hot lunch daily (except on
Fridays), at which vegetarian food may be requested in advance. Sometimes counselors
plan food-related activities for their group time, and in those cases the food
is kosher dairy or pareve. Food-related activities following lunch will be
pareve, of course.
My child has a severe food allergy. What should I do?
Tell us about it. Remind your child to be vigilant about checking labels before
purchasing any snacks on field trips and asking about questionable food in the
cafeteria. There are no milk products in any food served at camp.Please send an
epi-pen or other allergy medication and request a medical release form
from the
What about water?
Ramah tries to ensure that children and staff drink a minimum of
The tap water in
|
|
|
Enjoying some free time at a local park after a
morning at the |
GENERAL CAMP QUESTIONS
Why does my child have to carry his/her things around all day?
Ramah Jerusalem day campers enjoy days full of activities across our campus.
Campers have only a short walk from one activity to the next, and at each
location they are able to put their bags down in a spot that is both
safeguarded and easily accessible for extra drinks of water, applications of
sunscreen, etc.
We have learned from experience that making sure campers have their bags with them throughout the day -- rather than in a central storage room -- means that their gear is always readily available to them, and has a much lower chance of being lost. Of course, it is best to keep your camper's bag as light as possible.
If your child has trouble carrying his or her bag, please send fewer or lighter items, and make sure that the bag isn't the culprit - some backpacks are pretty heavy when they are empty. Bags with wheels are useful for our youngest campers, but keep in mind that these bags are usually heavier than lightweight backpacks.
You might think about sending a small bottle of water or sunscreen instead of a larger one, a small towel instead of an adult sized one and lighter flip flops in place of heavier, bulkier water shoes.
Do not send swim gear on trip days unless we tell you otherwise. On days when we will return in time for swim, campers who have their swim gear in separate, marked plastic bags (such as a supermarket bag) will be able to leave them in a secure location at camp until we return.
Should my child bring money to camp to buy drinks/snacks?
We all know that kids like to buy themselves a treat when they're on a trip.
however, with experience as our guide, we have designed the following
guidelines:
Campers can bring up to 20 shekels to purchase a drink and/or snack during
trip days. (This is ample money to purchase an ice cream or candy bar and a
soda or juice.) We usually will not have time to visit gift shops. Likewise, we
ask that when parents accompany their
children on certain family field trips, they refrain from spending more than 20
shekels per person out of fairness to children whose parents could not
accompany them on these trips. Also, to avoid mix-ups, counselors are not
permitted to hold money for their campers, so please be sure
that your child has a secure place to hold his/her money. These guidelines help
ensure that children do not lose large sums of money, and they ensure that all
campers have an opportunity to enjoy themselves during trips.
A note about kashrut and field trips: Not every food kiosk has a kosher certificate. Some do not have them because they are open on Shabbat; others serve both pizza and hot dogs, albeit separately. To avoid confusion, we recommend that campers stick to pre-packaged ice creams, candies, chips, and other snacks that are certified kosher, or cold drinks.
What is the camp schedule like?
Approximately five days a week, campers are at the Goldstein campus, where they
participate in specialist-led activities (arts & crafts, sports, drama,
music, Israeli dancing, etc.), group time and swim. On trip days (approximately
once per week) campers depart after Tefillah and return to camp in time for
either swim and lunch or lunch. To see a sample daily schedule, click here.
What about organized sports?
Specialists and counselors teach Israeli children's sport games, such as
Mahanayim, Gaga, and Chaye Sarah, in addition to relay races, flag football,
obstacle courses, soccer, basketball, and other games. Our younger campers also
enjoy parachute games.
|
|
|
Shevet Yehuda playing
Parachute Games |
What kind of security arrangements are there on trips?
Security is always Ramah's top priority. The
What about swimming?
Campers have approximately 45 minutes of free swim on most non-trip days. There
is no instructional swim. The Goldstein campus has two pools: a full size pool
and a shallower children's pool. The pools are indoors, with a sliding glass
wall and roof that opens to the outside. A swim evaluation is held for all new
campers on Sundays. The pools are staffed by certified lifeguards and counselors
are in the pool with their campers, providing extra supervision. Campers and
staff who are uncomfortable with co-ed swimming are free to wear a white
t-shirt/nylon shorts over their swimsuits; campers who prefer not to swim
should have a note from their parents. This year, camp does not conflict with
the first nine days of Av, though the last two weeks of camp are part of the
Three Weeks between the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha b'Av.
Campers/staff who prefer not to swim during that time will have another
appropriate activity.
Will my child learn Hebrew at camp?
Programming at the camp is done in English, but Hebrew is incorporated into
many activities and songs. Hebrew vocabulary and phrases are used and dialogue
with Hebrew speakers is encouraged, but familiarity rather than fluency is the
objective. In 2009, we are trying to build a stronger Hebrew program through
music and games that enriches the language abilities of campers who know little
or no Hebrew while also challenging day school students and bilingual campers.
What is the Leadership Program?
Shevet Sharon (entering grades 7, 8 and 9) participates in a Manhigut (Leadership) Program. In addition to regular camp activities, this group is involved in planning and implementing special programming for the theme activities, and also spends some time working with younger groups as counselor (or specialist) assistants. The group volunteers once per week at a local nursing home, Beit Alicia.
What can we do while our kids are at camp?
While your children are in the day camp, consider enrolling in the RAMAH
There are also several Jewish learning programs around the city that are
open to tourists. You might check out those offered by the Conservative Yeshiva, Pardes,
or the Hartman Institute.
Some of the field trips are open to parents and other family members. We
can't come on those trips, but would like to come on another trip. Is that ok?
Trips marked "parents invited" are designed for the enjoyment of all
participants, regardless of age. Other programs have limitations of space or
programming in which we cannot accomodate other participants. We're happy to
provide you with directions so that you can go on your own at another time,
though.
|
|
|
|
Tie-dye, music, Color War sack races, and fun time
in the pool! |
|
|
|
|
What is the staff to camper ratio, and who are the staff?
The camp is supervised by a Director and an Assistant Director who each have
extensive experience and training in Informal Jewish Education, camping, and
education. The minimum counselor to camper ratio for our youngest campers is 1:
6, and it does not exceed 1:10 for our oldest campers. Senior staff members are
post-army or are college students; junior staff members are most often Israeli
high school students who are entering at least 11th grade. Most staff members
are Israeli residents who are fluent in English and conversant in Hebrew and
have had prior experience working with children, usually in the framework of
camp and/or youth movements. All counselors go through an intensive training
seminar prior to the beginning of the camp season and participate fully in all
camp activities throughout the summer. Specialists have had experience working
and teaching in their particular fields.
How do I apply to work in the Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp?
Our counselors and specialists are Israelis or foreigners who have spent the
entire previous academic year studying in
Contact us for more information
Fax: (011-972)-2-679-2069
Tel. (011-972)-2-679-0243
Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp
POB 31709 Jerusalem 91316
[Home] [Programs]
[What's New] [Educational
Materials] [Alumni]
[Photo Album] [Links]
[Write to us]
� Ramah Israel, 2000-8