vrue vn-r - Camp Ramah Wisconsin

What’s Up at Camp Ramah?
?vrue vn-r
TIPS FOR SENDING
YOUR KIDS TO CAMP!
SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE
PACKING LIST
Inside!
Welcome
‫ברוכים הבאים‬
Dear Parents and Campers,
We are so excited to share this publication and hope it will convey the deep commitment we
have to fostering a fun, healthy, developmentally-appropriate, joyful Jewish environment for
our campers.
When asked what makes Camp Ramah in Wisconsin so special, our campers inevitably cite
the friendships that they have made. These friendships develop so deeply because they form in a
context of self-exploration, learning, challenging oneself along with marked intellectual and physical growth. As a
result, they feel deeply connected to the peers who have been part of their journey of self-development, at first over
the course of weeks, and eventually over the course of years.
What makes Ramah special in the eyes of parents is the vibrant Jewish experience combined with the professionalism
of our staff and our focus on camper care. Our professional team makes time before the summer to speak with
all of our new campers, in order to best prepare to meet the needs of each and every child. We also have a team of
adult, professional staff trainers who work all summer long with our counselors to help them become attuned to
the specific developmental needs of the children in their care.
We welcome you to the Ramah Wisconsin family and look forward to partnering in the important work of building
Jewish lives.
Jacob Cytryn
Yael Bendat-Appell
DirectorAssistant Director
The National Ramah Commission acknowledges with thanks the generous support of The AVI CHAI Foundation
and the Zell Family Foundation in making this program possible.
Sample Daily Schedule
(Kochavim)
‫ קימה‬Kimah (Wake Up)
8:15AM ‫תפילות‬
Tefillot (Praye
rs)
9:00AM ‫בוקר‬
‫ ארוחת‬Aruchat Boker (B
reakfast)
9:45AM ‫ נקיון‬N
ikayon (Clean
up time)
10:15AM ‫ספורט‬
Sports
11:10AM ‫ פעולה מיוחדת‬Peulah Meyu
chedet (Special Arts
Project)
11:55AM ‫חתיף‬
Hatif (Snack)
12:05PM ‫שחייה‬
Schiya (Swim)
1:20PM ‫ﬠברית‬
Ivrit (Hebrew
Games)
2:00PM ‫צהריים‬
‫ ארוחת‬Aruchat Tzohora
2:45PM ‫מנוחה‬
‫ שﬠת‬Sha’at Menucha (Re im (Lunch)
st Time)
3:45PM ‫תרבות‬
Tarbut (Art,
Music, Dance
4:40PM ‫ת צריף‬
‫ פעול‬Peulat Tzrif (Cabin )
Activity)
5:35PM ‫חתיף‬
Hatif (Snack)
5:45PM ‫כיף לי‬
Keif Li (Fun
for me!)
7:00PM ‫ת ﬠרב‬
‫ ארוח‬Aruchat Erev (Dinn
er)
8:00PM ‫ פעולת ﬠרב‬Peulat Erev (Ev
8:45PM ‫ לילה טוב‬Lilah Tov! (Goodn ening Activity)
ight!)
7:45AM
Tips for New
Camper Families
Before Your Child Goes to Camp
• Encourage as many sleepovers as possible at
friends’ homes.
• If your child doesn’t know anyone going to camp,
you might want to call the camp office and try to
arrange a play date or an email pen pal with another
camper.
• Discuss strategies with your child if he/she has
a difficult time falling asleep or waking up early
(i.e. reading, drawing).
• You may want to pack a letter in his/her bag to
open upon arrival at camp.
• Send a letter or an email to camp a couple of days
before your child leaves so he/she will get it on the
first day of camp.
• Send your camper with stationery, stamps, and
pre-addressed envelopes.
Important Tips to Share with Your Child
• Help your child set realistic expectations. Remind
your child that not every day at home or school is
perfect. Likewise, not every day at camp will be
perfect, but they can look forward to a lot of fun
activities and meeting great new people.
• Consider sending your child with something that
helps him/her to feel safe and familiar at night, like
a blanket or stuffed animal.
• If your child is feeling anxious about going off to
camp, you can talk about other times that your child
experienced anxiety and ended up getting through
the situation just fine.
• Please do not send your child with valuable things
that might get lost or damaged. Note: the 2015 Parent
Handbook (online at www.ramahwisconsin.com)
lists items that your child should not bring to camp.
Please follow these guidelines carefully.
• If your child does not already make his/her own
bed on a daily basis, you might want to start getting
him/her in the habit now.
What to do While Your Child
Is Away at Camp
• Write letters frequently and keep them light
and upbeat. Emailing your child through your
CampMinder account is also a great option.
• Be matter-of-fact about your day. Kids like to know
what you are doing but not that you are having a lot
of fun without them!
• Add as much humor as you can.
Mail letters to:
• Try not to emphasize how much you miss them.
Child’s name and
cabin number
Camp Ramah
6150 E. Buckatabon Road
Conover WI 54519
• If you have concerns about your camper, contact
Robin Rubenstein, Parent Liaison, by email at
rrubenstein@ramahwisconsin.com and she will
get back to you as soon as possible.
Packing List
10–12 t-shirts
sweatpants
6 pairs of jeans or
ts
8–10 pairs of shor
arm)
/nightgowns (1 w
as
m
ja
pa
of
irs
pa
3
ts/boxer shorts
12 pairs underpan
cks
12–15 pairs of so
l)
Bathrobe (optiona
only)
s – one piece suits
2 swimsuits (girl
s
5 kippot and clip
)
, optional for girls
(required for boys
ses/contact lenses
1 extra pair of glas
king shoes
1 pair sturdy wal
oes for sports
1 pair athletic sh
boots
ant shoes or rain
st
si
-re
er
at
w
ir
pa
1
oes or flip-flops
1 pair shower sh
avy/1 light)
2 sweaters (1 he
s
4 long sleeve shirt
3 sweatshirts
1 fall jacket
at
1 durable rainco
2 hats
ily use)
2 blankets (for da
wcases
Pillow and 2 pillo
(2 fitted, 2 flat)
4 twin size sheets
Comb/brush
4–6 bath towels
2–3 beach towels
ower caddy
Portable plastic sh
sh or body wash
Soap and soap di
Comb, brush
toothpaste
Toothbrush and
Shampoo
llant
creen, insect repe
Sunglasses, suns
ttle
Reusable water bo
floor
keep shoes off the
to
g
ba
oe
sh
ng
gi
Han
2 laundry bags
tteries
Flashlight and ba
stamps
Pens, stationery,
for b’nai mitzvah
Tallit and tefillin
rts for decorating
2 plain white t-shi
camping trip
Sleeping bag for
)
(not for Kochavim
e, swim
cket, baseball glov
Optional: tennis ra
instrument
le camera, musical
goggles, disposab
Shabbat – for Friday night
ng
and Shabbat morni
BOYS s
Dress/polo shirt
Slacks or khakis
GIRLS dress pants
Skirts, dresses or
with sleeves
Shirts or blouses
on what to bring
Additional details
to camp
(and not to bring)
andbook at
are in the Parent H
nsin.com
www.ramahwisco
Packing Tips & Advice
Do I pack my child’s favorite t-shirt? What if it gets lost? Should I send up enough pairs
of socks for one per day or more? What’s the best way to label clothing? These may be a
few of the questions going through your mind as you begin the packing process. Below are
a few tips offered by veteran camp parents who have perfected the art of packing for camp.
And yes, it is most certainly an art!
• Pack WITH your child, not at night after he or she is fast asleep. You may be
surprised about what clothing items your child doesn’t want to leave home
without. More importantly this helps familiarize them with what is in their
luggage so that upon arrival at camp when they begin the unpacking process
it’s easy for them to pull out their bedding to make their bed and to locate
pajamas and whatever else they may need.
• Provide tools for organization. If you can imagine that your child’s cubby
may easily become a black hole of clothing where it could be challenging
to find a pair of clean socks, you may want to consider sending up certain
items like socks and underwear in mesh laundry bags. • Ziplock bags are your friend! Use them for the following:
• Underwear – send extra
• Socks – send extra
• Shabbat Outfits
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Sunscreen
• Pack a waterproof basket for all of your child’s toiletries.
Once at camp, the counselors will instruct your child to put
their toiletries into this basket, and it will be used daily to help
keep your child organized.
• Order sticker nametags in advance and LABEL LABEL LABEL.
Use sticker labels or iron-on labels to label everything that you
send with your child (including the clothing they wear on the
bus). Believe it or not, the stickers stay on even after numerous
washings. Please take the time to label everything you are
sending up to camp including water bottles, flashlights, even
shoes. Labels help bunk clean-up go smoothly and allow us
to return items left around camp before the session ends.
The good old-fashioned permanent marker method often
results in hard-to-read names or only initials, and you’d be
surprised how many kids there are up at camp with the
same initials!
• Please don’t pack anything valuable or expensive.
Who Will Take Care of My Child at Camp?
DIRECTORS OF CAMP RAMAH
Director – Jacob Cytryn
Assistant Director – Yael Bendat-Appell
Parent Liaison –
Robin Rubenstein
Parents are our partners.
We welcome you to be in
touch if you receive a letter
with concerning information.
We may turn to you for
helpful strategies if your child
experiences challenges.
Staff Trainer – Yoetzet
Rosh Aidah – Unit Head
Madrichim – Counselors
The Marp – Infirmary Staff
Four nurses and
two doctors on call
“I love that Ramah
has planted a seed in
my child’s soul that
will grow as he needs it
throughout his life.”
“Camp Ramah is the place
my daughter feels the most
comfortable, the place where her
happiness, leadership and
goofiness can all shine.”
“Ramah provides a fantastic
setting for kids and the chance
to play and hang out in a safe,
Jewish environment.”
“Our children love their
Ramah counselors, who are
outstanding role models.
The kids sense that, and love
being around them.”
“I love Ramah for all the
things my children don’t know
they’re getting! For the sense
that being actively Jewish is a
really welcoming, fun, spiritually
expanding experience to be
appreciated and celebrated.”
What camper parents say…
Word Games
CAMP RAMAH CROSSWORD PUZZLE
ACROSS
2
4
9
10
11
Aidah name for 4th graders
The Hebrew word for “boys”
This type of boat is a favorite for many campers
Bring this to camp so you won’t get a sunburn!
Everyone meets for lunch in the Chadar ________
CAMP RAMAH WORD SEARCH
DOWN
1The Hebrew word for your cabin porch
2The central grassy area in camp, where everyone loves
to hang out!
3A camp activity that uses a bow and arrow
4A sport you play at camp with a ball and a hoop
5 The oldest age division at camp
6 The name of the camp infirmary
7 The Hebrew word for “girls”
8A type of meal we eat outside on Wednesday nights with
hamburgers, hot dogs, (plus veggie options) and watermelon!
WORD SCRAMBLE
Try your best to unscramble the words below!
B’hatzlacha! (good luck)
1. EALK ONUKTBACAB
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
2. NOCEROV
__ __ __ __ __ __ __
3. RHSO DIHAA
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
4. STEB ESDFNIR
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
5. SLABLEAB
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
AGAM
CAMPRAMAH
CHADAROCHEL
COUNSELOR
FRIENDS
ROPESCOURSE
SHABBAT
FUN
SINGING
BASEBALL
SAILING
PEULATEREV
6. MWSIIGNM
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
7. TABIKR ZAHOMNA
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Hebrew Words Commonly Used at Camp
‫אגם‬Agam – lake
‫עצמאים‬Atzmayim – Tikvah vocational program
‫בנים‬
Banim – boys
‫בנות‬
Banot – girls
‫ ברכת המזון‬Birkat Hamazon – the prayer after a meal
‫ ברכת המוציא‬Birkat Hamotzi – the prayer for bread before a meal
‫בוגרים‬
Bogrim – aidah name for 9 graders
‫ חדר אוכל‬Chadar Ochel – dining hall
‫עדה‬
Aidah – a division in camp divided up according to grade
‫גרעינים‬
Garinim – aidah name for 5 graders
‫חלוצים‬
Halutzim – aidah name for 6 graders
‫ככר‬
Kikar – central grassy area
‫כוכבים‬
Kochavim – aidah name for 4 graders
‫מכון‬
Machon – aidah name for 10 graders
‫מרפאה‬
Mirpa’ah – (known as the “Marp”) – infirmary or health center
‫מרפסת‬
Mirpeset – porch or patio area
‫ ניקוי המחנה‬Nikui HaMachaneh – camp clean up
‫נבונים‬
Nivonim – aidah name for 11 graders
‫ פעולת ערב‬Pe’ulat Erev – evening activity
‫פעולות‬
Pe’ulot – activities
‫ ראש עדה‬Rosh Aidah – a division head
‫רוח‬
Ruach – spirit
‫שחייה‬
Schiyah – swimming
‫שואפים‬
Shoafim – aidah name for 8 graders
‫סוללים‬
Sollelim – aidah name for 7 graders
‫תפילות‬
Tefillot – morning, afternoon or evening prayers
‫זה‬
!‫עברית‬
‫ תקוה‬Tikvah – aidah for campers
with special needs
‫צוות‬
Tzevet – staff
‫צריף‬
Tzrif – cabin
‫ישון‬
Yishun – story in cabin before bedtime
th
th
th
th
th
th
th
th
Winter Address
65 E. Wacker Place
Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-606-9316
!
p
m
a
C
t
a
See You
!‫שלום‬
Summer contact info: 6150 E. Buckatabon Road, Conover, WI 54519 • Phone: 715-479-4400 • Fax: 715-479-9258