Camp for Everyone?

I don’t have much experience with going to camp, and whatever experience I have is from a very long time ago. My parents sent me to an overnight camp when I was nine years old in hopes I would learn not to be shy. At least, that is what my parents told me when I asked them why they sent me at such a young age. I don’t remember much about camp, but I don’t think I liked it very much.

To learn more about camps, I had to ask others who had more positive experiences. It was a privilege to speak to my sister’s husband, Rabbi Yitzchok Schwarz, who has been the head counselor of Camp Kol Torah in Cleveland for almost 50 years – ever since before he and my sister were married. Their children are born and bred campers. I asked Rabbi Schwarz how campers have changed over the years. “When I was a camper, I used to come to an activity 10 minutes early in anticipation,” says Rabbi Schwarz. “Today, the boys are much more distracted. Many of them have devices to listen to music and lots and lots of nosh. The boys are not so eager for activities because they have other interests.” It seems that kids in camp have changed just like the rest of society.

Rabbi Schwarz is proud of the number of boys who come back to camp year after year. He and his fellow staff members strive to make camp a happy place. This applies not only to the campers but also to the counselors. The fact that the head staff has been the same for so many years adds an element of stability to the camp. Everyone knows what to expect.

 My nephew Menachem, Rabbi Schwarz’s son, told me about his camp experience. “Camp is life altering,” says Menachem. “It gives the person the chance to develop personality traits that he didn’t know he had. School is a more buttoned-up environment, but camp allows a person to let loose and learn to feel good about himself. I was a camper for many years, and then I became a counselor. One year, I was color war general. I tried to speak to every single kid on my team and make him feel important. I am still using the skills I learned in camp in my career today,” Menachem adds. “I think that many of today’s leaders were cultivated in yesterday’s camps. People learn to be less inhibited and become friends with many more people.”

My grandson, who went to camp for many years as a camper and as a counselor, confirmed what Menachem said. “Camp has good vibes. People are happy instead of uptight and tense. Camps give you energy for the whole rest of the year.” Another grandchild mentioned that she enjoys camp because “…in school, there are all different types of girls; in camp the girls are more alike.”

Should Every Child Go to Camp?

Not necessarily. As with most institutions, not everyone likes camp. One young woman who went to overnight camp for many years says she would not send her own children. “There was too much emphasis on being popular and too many snobby girls who did not want to be friends with me,” she says. “The social scene in camp was not for me.”

Here are some ideas that I heard from camp directors.

According to  Chaya Faigie Bar of Camp Tal “Camp is a microcosm of the larger world. If a child is struggling outside of camp, the problem does not magically disappear in camp. A child needs to be physically and emotionally healthy to benefit from camp. Also, if a child gets very homesick, it may not be wise to send him or her.”

“Parents need to know their child’s personality and abilities,” adds Ruchama Landa of Camp Swirl. “They can do research, enabling the child’s success by sending them to the right camp.”

Shayna Goodman, of Camp Orah, says, “Most children do benefit from summer camp. The activities are geared towards all types of kids. Unfortunately, there are some kids who don’t always get all the benefits of camp. Children who thrive in a firm and structured atmosphere may find it difficult in camp because the environment is more relaxed than school. That doesn’t mean they should not attend camp! It just means sometimes the adjustment is more difficult for them. Additionally, campers who need individualized attention in school can benefit from having a shadow in camp so they can feel comfortable and cared for.”

Chaya Bruria Sachs says, “Sometimes problems stem from a lack of communication from the parents. If parents are open about their child’s needs, the camp can be honest about whether they are equipped to handle those needs. If a child has physical or behavioral challenges, they may need a more specialized camp that has the proper staff and setup. The key is doing your research and finding the right camp with the right chevra.”

If a Child Is not Happy

What can a parent do if their child does not like camp?

Chaya Bruria Sachs of Shira Talent Camp says, “First speak to the child and get to the bottom of why they are unhappy and try to help them solve problems on their own, depending on their age. Don’t right away jump in for them and call the camp. Many issues resolve on their own after a few days of getting used to a new situation and new dynamics. Sometimes, the child has certain expectations that were not met – like a certain kid who they thought would be in their bunk, or, in the case of our camp, they were hoping for the lead role in the play or to be placed in a specific group. To them it is the end of the world. But with time, they usually find that they are happy. This builds resilience and flexibility.

“After some time, if the child is still unhappy, reach out to the camp,” Mrs. Sachs continues. “Many times, the situation is completely different from the way the child or parent perceives it, so it pays to be open minded and willing to hear the camp’s perspective. Other times, something may happen in camp that the camp is not aware of, and if it is brought to our attention, we can help resolve the issue. If things are discussed in a calm and friendly manner, the camp will want to do all they can to help the child. Very often, kids take their cues from their parents, so if a parent makes a big deal out of something and blows it out of proportion, so will the child. In almost every case, if the parent, child, and camp are willing to work together and put forth the effort, there is no need for the child to stop attending camp. In general, fewer issues tend to crop up in camp than in school, simply because there is much less pressure and stress.”

Ruchama Landa of Camp Swirl adds, “Speak to the camp director. She can help! Maybe the camper can skip an activity she doesn’t like and help the director instead. Maybe she can pick a friend to put on a skit for the camp during lunch. Maybe the director can help her navigate whatever is hard for her or speak to a camper and/or staff member to help the situation.

Chaya Faigie Bar of Camp Tal, an overnight camp, says, “First, we need to distinguish why the child is unhappy. The first few days of camp are an adjustment, so a parent shouldn’t be too worried if a child seems unhappy during this time. (That’s why camps limit calls home the first week!) If unhappiness persists, the parent should work with the camp director or camp mother to figure out (and resolve) the issue. Sometimes it’s as simple as a bad mattress or lost laundry. It may require a bunk switch. Respectful communication is the key. Help us understand your child because (as I always tell parents) you know your child best, and we need to work together to best help your child. In my experience, parents are amazingly supportive because they know that we truly care for their child.”

Are Camps too Expensive?

Not every family can afford to send their kids to camp. Here is what Tova wrote to me, “My daughter wants to go to sleep-away camp, and I’m happy to send her. When I investigated the prices, though, I was floored. Camp these days is not four weeks. It’s now three weeks, and the amount that they charge is ridiculous. Do I send her to camp? Do I tell her, ‘Sorry we can’t afford it, and you can’t go like all your friends’? Are other parents saying it’s too expensive but giving in because ‘everyone’ is doing it? Something needs to be done about this. That’s my opinion for now.”

One can hear Tova’s frustration and, I am sure, that of many other families. The question is, is camp worth the expense?

Mrs. Chaya Faigie Bar said: “It devastates me that a child cannot attend camp due to finances. If a parent tells me that they cannot afford camp, I do everything possible to quietly raise the funds. We established a special Camp Tal scholarship program and a non-profit organization to subsidize those who need it.”

Don’t Miss the Deadline

There are all kinds of camps – from small backyard camps for young children to formal day camps for school-age kids to specialty camps that focus on such things as performances, travel, and, of course, overnight camps. Each camp is different, although the goal is the same: giving kids a fun summer.

Almost every child does go to some kind of camp, and for many teens camp is the first employment opportunity. Although it might seem early to be worrying, now is the time to make a decision about camp this coming summer. It helps secure a spot for your children, and it helps the camp directors plan ahead. As Hadassah, an 11^th grader who has been running a backyard camp for a few years, advises, “Don’t leave the camp director hanging. Give them an answer in a timely manner about whether you are sending your child.”

Not every camp is for every child – camps and campers are like a shidduch – so try to find the camp that matches your child’s personality. Many camps fill up quickly, so do your research and make your decision soon for a happy and successful summer.

Camp Lemaalah: “At Camp Lemaalah, we create a fun and safe environment where every kid can thrive, boost his confidence, develop and improve his peer interactions, and have a geshmak in his Yiddishkeit,” says Tova Scherer. She and her husband, Rabbi Shai Scherer have more than 20 years of working in chinuch, in both schools and camps. We hire experienced rebbeim for each grade level to be in camp all day (not just for shiur) to oversee our talented counselors and junior counselors and to act as premier role models. We spend a good part of our staff training on teaching the staff ways of building up each camper throughout each activity – whether learning, swimming, sports leagues, woodworking, weekly trips, overnights, kumzitzes, cooking creations, skits, color war, or bus rides.

“A child who struggles academically may have a harder time succeeding in school; whereas in camp there are many ways a child can be successful. For example, we had a group of lebidik boys who had trouble sitting still for a shiur. A very talented counselor took this group for special learning sessions outside and then rewarded them for good learning with leadership opportunities. This group made up motions for the camp song and went around to each bunk to teach them. What could have been seen as a problematic experience was transformed into fostering future leaders in klal Yisrael.”

Camp On the Go: Yirmiyahu Lauer has been running a unique camp for 18 years. “Other camps spend most of their day on campus playing ball and other activities and take a special trip once a week. At our camp, we do the opposite. We play a little bit of sports, but we go on trips every single day. A few of the trips last for almost 24 hours and end with a neitz Shacharis. The point of our camp is to give each boy a great experience after a long year of working hard. It is like one long recess!”

Shira Talent Camp: “Shira Talent Camp is a performing arts day camp,” says Chaya Bruria Sachs. “Although there are other such camps, I don’t believe there are any that do exactly what we do. We perform a live, full-length, high-school-level professional musical drama each summer with middle school girls. We do two shows at the end of the summer that hundreds of women and girls attend. The girls are involved with every aspect of the show, even creating their own costumes and helping to build the sets and props! Shira Talent Camp is for girls who love the stage and are willing to put in the time and stamina it takes to accomplish such a feat in less than eight weeks! The campers are not only talented but come with a work ethic and a desire to grow and succeed. They learn skills that turn them into better performers, which leads to more confidence in general. No matter what a child’s level is when she enters, she comes out of camp more advanced, having built on the skills she already possesses.

“The campers have regular camp activities as well, but it’s a small part of the day compared to rehearsals and workshops. Shira Talent Camp is not your regular camp experience! It is more structured so that the kids can accomplish all that they do. We see so much growth in the girls from year to year. They work hard, but it is a different kind of work – not the academic kind they are used to all year long. I feel very privileged that Hakadosh Baruch Hu has granted us the opportunity to offer this one-of-a-kind experience to so many girls over the years.”

Camp Orah: Shayna Goodman, a teacher, has taken over as the director of Camp Orah, the camp her mother ran for many years. “Orah is a camp that many different ages, and we have many ‘Orah families.’ Siblings look after each other and get to do many of the activities together. Carnivals, sitting on the bus, and camp play, etc. the campers love when they can see their siblings during the day. Another thing that is special about Orah is that we have tremendous achdus and positive energy both from our staff members and campers! Counselors and campers alike come from different schools, but at the end of the summer, everyone leaves with amazing memories and a boost for the school year. They work as a real team and our campers feel that. Our staff has a great time with their campers and with each other. The counselors work very hard, and we treat them with appreciation gifts and staff late nights so that they feel re-energized and ready to give your children their all.

Orah is not a backyard camp, but it still has a homey feeling and the qualities of a small group while catering to many ages. We try our best to tune in to the needs of our campers to ensure that their summer is a huge success. 

Camp Swirl: “I try to provide a stimulating, packed day filled with fun and laughter,” says Ruchama Landa, “as opposed to school, which can be stressful for kids. In school, there are expectations that can be hard for them: for example, sitting quietly during a long class, staying in the lunch room during lunch even though you want to go on a walk, finishing a class assignment or test within a limited time frame, and more. In camp, the girls feel more free, which leads to independence, confidence, and a happiness that can change their lives!

“We do not plan one activity for half the day, or have boring activities, or activities that only involve a few girls, while everyone else watches. When girls are bored, it can lead to negativity, gossip, and other undesirable behaviors. When they are busy and stimulated, their best side comes out!

“My building is carpeted with cozy couches and homey furniture, yet it is big and spacious enough for indoor sports games and fun. And of course, the main thing is my wonderful campers and amazing staff members! B”H, we are privileged to live in a community with so many wonderful options. I wish everyone a summer of ru’ach and growth!” 

Camp Tal: Chaya Faigie Bar is the director of Camp Tal, a new overnight camp for girls. She says, “I want to preface this by explaining my passion for camp. My grandfather, Reb Elimelech (Mike) Tress, opened Camp Bnos and Camp Agudah because he saw the need for children to have a constructive summer. He mortgaged his own home three times to pay for the campgrounds. So, camp is in my genes! I began going to overnight camp when I was nine years old and continued going as a camper, staff, married staff, and program director for many years. If I could design the calendar, I would assign two months to school and 10 months to camp!

“I am the principal of a school during the year, so I can attest to the impact that camp has on a child. Not every child succeeds academically, but everyone can succeed in camp because there are so many options… sports, arts, performances, dancing, baking, hiking, etc. Some kids accomplish more during the one month of camp than they do the entire year. It’s also a fresh start for children who struggle socially in school – they have a new setting with new children.

“We are integrating so many exciting details into Camp Tal. But I think that what most distinguishes Camp Tal is that every aspect of our program is carefully designed to provide both ruchniyus and gashmiyus. We want the girls to have the greatest fun, but there is depth and purpose to each experience. We tap into the concept of gratitude; we cultivate an exhilarating atmosphere that produces genuine growth.”