Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
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Mission Statement
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires is a vibrant summer camp community, where children grow in a beautiful and safe setting, surrounded by life-long friends and nurtured by spirited role models. From sports to the arts, swimming to outdoor adventure, camp is infused with the best of the traditions and values of Conservative Judaism: love of mitzvoth, Hebrew language, and the land and people of Israel; commitment to inclusion and Tikun Olam; and the joy of learning and prayer. Ramah is a transformative Jewish experience for its campers, staff, families, and the communities of the New York metropolitan area — a place where Judaism is lived, Shabbat is cherished, and every moment is elevated.
About This Cause
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires (CRB) was founded in 1964 as part of the Jewish Theological Seminary’s camping movement, a program conceived to connect Jewish youth with the Conservative movement and cultivate Jewish leadership. CRB was the 6th Ramah camp to open. The camp is located in Wingdale, NY (Dutchess County), on more than 250-acres with a beautiful lake. CRB serves families from the New York metropolitan community, including New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Northern New Jersey. CRB’s property is owned by the Jewish Theological Seminary, who has granted the camp long-term use. The property has an A-Side for younger campers (incoming grades 4 – 7) and a B-Side for older campers (incoming grades 8 – 11). While the younger and older campers have different schedules and programming, they are viewed as one camp, and do come together for camp-wide programming and for Shabbat. Camp Ramah in the Berkshires serves approximately 700-775 campers over the course of each summer. Each summer, approximately 20% of our camper families rely on financial aid to enable their children to enroll in camp. We are proud that, through the generous support of community members, we are able to fully meet the needs of every family who applies for such aid. The camp maintains a year-round staff in Englewood, NJ of nine full-time employees, and several part-time employees. Its summer staff consists of approximately 250 individuals focused on camper care, and approximately 50 non-camper facing staff. There is a year-round facilities staff at the campsite of six full and part-time employees. Our campus includes: ● 21 Camper Bunks on A-Side with private bathrooms and showers ● 23 Camper Bunks on B-side with private bathrooms and showers ● Kosher Dining Hall ● High Ropes Course ● State-of-the Art Theater ● Health Center ● New Visual Arts (Omanut) Building and Studios ● Outdoor Amphitheater overlooking the lake Our Athletic Facilities include: ● 16,000 square foot gym including high school regulation basketball court and 4 mini practice courts, 2 dance studios and a full weight room ● State-of-the-art regulation sized soccer and ultimate Frisbee fields, with in- ground irrigation system ● 4 additional basketball courts ● 5 tennis courts, with a practice wall ● 2 softball fields ● 1 standard volleyball court ● 2 sand volleyball courts Our Outdoor Adventure Facilities include: ● Biking, camping, hiking and rock scramble facilities on site ● Climbing Wall ● Low Ropes Challenge Course ● High Ropes Challenge Course ● Two Fire Pits ● Organic Farm ● Petting Zoo Aquatics on our beautiful Lake Ellis include: ● Swimming Areas, Lap Lanes ● Boating including Stand up paddle boards, paddle boats, canoes and kayaks ● Water trampoline ● Summit Climbing Wall and floating obstacle course CAMP PROGRAM The CRB experience combines stimulating programming in arts, athletics, outdoor adventure and informal Jewish Education. ● All campers participate in Jewish learning, Hebrew language and Israel-focused programming, and daily tefilot (prayers). ● Most campers (grades 3-9) participate in instructional swim, and all have the opportunity for free swim. ● Campers are offered a wide range of program options, and their opportunity to choose their own programming expands each year. ● Arts programming includes fine arts (including pottery, glass making, painting, drawing, sewing, digital arts, woodworking, jewelry making, and other crafts) and performing arts (singing, dancing, theater, puppeteering, musical instruments, and more). ● Outdoor adventure programming includes farming, high and low ropes courses, nature exploration, hiking, biking, outdoor camping and cooking, canoeing, rock climbing, farming, and animal care. ● Sports include softball, basketball, soccer, Frisbee, tennis, volleyball, cross country, competitive swimming, yoga, and dance. ● In addition to the regular camp programs, there are many special programs that occur throughout the summer, including a 2-3 day arts clinic, a 2-3 day sports clinic, a camp-wide song-fest (zimriyah) and dance-fest (rikudiyah), inter- and intra- camp athletic competitions, trips for older age groups to locations such as Boston and Washington, DC, and outdoor adventure trips with extensive hiking, biking, and boating. BREIRA B’RAMAH Breira B’Ramah is a four-week inclusion program for campers with mild to moderate learning, social or emotional challenges, such as ADHD, high functioning autism, pragmatic, receptive and expressive language issues, and anxiety. This program is designed for campers entering fourth through seventh grades. Campers live in bunks with typical campers and are integrated into all activities, guided by dedicated, trained staff. Campers in the Breira program receive assistance in the areas of social skills, conflict resolution, communication and frustration tolerance as well as support with organizational and sensory challenges. Each Breira camper is placed in a typical bunk. The bunk, in addition to the assigned counselors, is staffed with a third counselor specially selected and trained to support the Breira camper through coaching the camper and modifying the camp program as appropriate. The counselors are carefully chosen for their qualities of leadership, personal values and caring that enable them to relate to and motivate young people. Throughout the summer, the Breira campers are part of the Camp Ramah environment, which encourages independence, social development and behavior awareness. During the summer, campers receive special support services designed to address their individual needs and capitalize on their strengths. Such supports aim at improving their self-esteem and better integrating them in the Camp community. STAFF The majority of each summer’s staff is age 18-23 (65%). Each year we hire 40 staff members on shlichut from Israel. We also bring to camp approximately 30 Jewish staff from around the world, including UK, Argentina, Australia, Russia, South Africa, and Sweden. All staff members participate in a weeklong pre-camp intensive training program, and many participate in specialized training during the off-season, generally specific to their roles in camp. Camp also employs a group of summer professional staff, including rabbis, educators, social workers, artists, coaches, doctors, and nurses. LEADERSHIP Camp Ramah in the Berkshires is an independent 501c3 organization governed by a 30-member Board of Directors, that includes a ten-person Executive Committee. Board members are elected to serve terms of three years. Additionally, Camp has a 25-member Advisory Council, with members elected to serve terms of three years. ALUMNI COMMUNITY We have an estimated 12,000 alumni of CRB, and the vast majority live in the tri-state area. In 1990, a group of alumni founded the “Ramah Berkshires Alumni Association” in order to more formally engage alumni, particularly during the stage of life between leaving staff and “returning” to the camp community as parents. The RBAA is organized by a volunteer “hanhalah” and supported by CRB year-round staff. Each year the RBAA sponsors a number of events, including the very active Ramah Basketball league (RBA), a well-attended Labor Day Weekend reunion at Camp, and several tzedakah, networking, and social focused events over the course of the year. The alumni also actively participate in National Ramah’s “Reshet Ramah” activities in NYC, including holiday events and a monthly Ramah Friday night minyan.