Welcome
Dear Ramah Families,
We are so excited to welcome your child to our camp this summer! In just a few short weeks, we will be wearing our camp t-shirts, dancing to Israeli music, playing games, and smiling as our chalutzim (campers) arrive at camp!
Between now and then, we are certain that you will have many questions. We are sure you are both a little nervous and also very excited. Please know that this is normal for first time campers and families. We hope that this magazine will answer some of the questions you might have about our camp program. We try to make information available in many places. In addition to reading this fun, colorful book, please check out our Camp Handbook that is written for our camp population at large and available on your CampMinder account. And of course, you are always welcome to contact any of our year-round staff by phone or email for more information.
Please know that we are eager to receive feedback on the Ramah experience from you and your children. We are always looking to grow, improve, and evolve. Our youngest campers represent the beginning, the present, and most importantly, our future. We sincerely hope that this welcoming experience initiates your child and your family into a Ramah journey that lasts a lifetime!
Eliav Bock Talia Horowitz Zach Usmani Camp Director Director of Camp Wellness Summer Assistant Director
Inspired by Camp Ramah in California
The National Ramah Commission acknowledges with thanks the generous support of the Zell Family Foundation in making the Open Door program possible.
Ilanot/Metaylim Sample Daily Schedule
7:00AM
7:40AM
Kima (Wake Up)
Aruchat Boker (Breakfast) 8:30AM
T’filot (Prayers) & Shmirat
HaGuf (Caring for our Bodies) 9:30AM
Nikayon and Hachanah (Morning Prep Time) – Cleaning bunks, applying sunscreen, filling water bottles, getting ready for the day’s activities 10:00AM
11:10AM
Perek Bet (Activity B) 12:20PM
Perek Aleph (Activity A)
Aruchat Tzohorayim & Shira
(Lunch & Song Session) 1:10PM
Sha’at Menucha (Rest Hour) 2:20PM
3:30PM
4:40PM
5:40PM
6:15PM
7:00PM
8:00PM
Perek Gimmel – Zman Edah (Age Group Project-Based Jewish Learning Time)
Perek Dalet (Activity C)
Perek Hey (Activity D)
Perek Kef (Free time in the tent circles)
Aruchat Erev (Dinner)
Peulat Erev (Evening Activity)
Lilah Tov (Goodnight) & – 9:00PM
Harga'ah (Calming Activity)
Campers rotate through the various activities with their tent:
Rock Climbing
Arts & Crafts
Campers can choose from a variety of fun basecamp activities
Mountain Biking • Rock Climbing • Animal Care
Art • Farming • MASA skills • cooking
While at base camp, our chalutzim enjoy meals together as a community, participate in daily t’filot (prayers) and Jewish learning, and forge connections with their peers through a variety of programming options. We also make time for shira (song session) and rikkud (Israeli dancing) as often as possible!
NOTE:
There are five activity periods – two in the morning and three in the afternoon. Some of these activity periods may be combined to provide campers more time in a specific activity.
Younger campers have the opportunity to get a taste of each activity as they rotate with their bunk, while the older ones choose specific activities on which to focus.
Masa' ot – Backcountry Excursions
Backpacking • Rock Climbing • Mountain Biking
Wildcraft • Art • Rafting
At Ramah in the Rockies, our campers participate in masa’ot, or backcountry excursions, every other week! While our youngest chalutzim start small but strong with a 2-night camping trip on camp property, older campers spend three, four, or five days exploring the Colorado backcountry!
Masa is an opportunity for campers to hone their outdoor skills, challenge themselves, and connect with a new group of friends. With options ranging from rock climbing to white water rafting to night navigation, every camper is sure to have an unforgettable adventure.
Each masa is unique: some chalutzim may be backpacking for eight hours a day, while others spend four hours learning to set up a top-rope course before practicing rappelling or climbing. However, no matter which masa they participate in, all of our campers return to base camp dirty, smiling, and confident in themselves and their ability to conquer life’s challenges!
Sample Summer Schedule
First Day of Camp: Welcome!
Chuggim by Ohel & Leveling with the Edah
Chuggim by Ohel or Edah (basecamp activities by bunk or age group; e.g. animal care & dance)
Chuggim by Ohel or Edah (e.g. mountain biking & art)
Morning Chuggim & Afternoon Shabbat Prep (e.g. mining)
Shabbat, Havdalah & Israeli Dancing DAY 7
Yom
Meyuchad: Special
Themed Day (Israeli Culture Day!)
Yom Sport (Color War!)
8
Chuggim by Ohel or Edah (e.g. outdoor cooking & farming)
L’hitraot to Two-Week Campers –See You Next Summer!
Masa (Backcountry Excursion) Preparations
Yom Meyuchad: Special Themed Day (Yom Kef, Fun Day!)
Choice Chuggim
Choice Chuggim –chalutzim choose some of their activities for the week (e.g. archery or rock climbing)
Masa with the Ohel!
Masa with the Ohel!
Choice Chuggim Choice Chuggim
Return from Masa & Shabbat Preparations
Shabbat, Havdalah & Israeli Dancing
DAY 28 DAY 29
Yom Pack, Camp-Wide Carnival, Banquet & Farewells
L’hitraot! — See You Next Summer
Masa Preparations for Backpacking Trip
Edah-wide Backpacking Masa!
Edah-wide Backpacking Masa!
Morning Activities & Afternoon Shabbat Prep
Shabbat, Havdalah & Israeli Dancing
Return from Masa & Last Shabbat
Shabbat, Havdalah & Israeli Dancing
Tips for Ilanot/Metaylim and New Families
Before Your Child Goes to Camp
• Encourage as many sleepovers at family members' or friends' homes as possible (group sleepovers are even better).
• Do a family sleepover in your living room or backyard to get kids open to a new sleeping environment!
• If your child doesn’t have friends going with them to camp, get in touch with us and try and arrange for a play date (virtual) with one or two other Ramah campers in your area (if possible).
• Discuss strategies with your child if they have a difficult time falling asleep or if they wake up early (e.g. reading, drawing).
• You may want to pack a letter in their bag for them to open when they arrive at camp.
• Send a letter to camp a couple of days before they leave so they will get it soon after they arrive.
• Send your camper with stationery, stamps, and address labels for anyone that they might want to write to while at camp. Pre-addressing and pre-stamping envelopes sometimes helps, too.
• If your child does not already take care of all of their hygiene needs independently, work with them on that now.
What to do While Your Child Is Away at Camp
• Write letters frequently but keep them light and upbeat. You can also email your child through your CampMinder account and create guest accounts for family and friends to send emails too!
• Add as much humor as you can.
• Try not to emphasize how much you miss them or write about fun things they are missing.
• It’s common for campers to be homesick the first few days and send sad letters. Remember that snail mail takes a few extra days, and by the time you receive the letter your child has probably already adjusted.
• If you have concerns about your camper, contact the yoetzet (parent liaison) by email or phone, and they will get back to you as soon as they can, typically within 24 hours.
Important Tips to Share with Your Child
• Help your child set realistic expectations: Remind your child that when they are at home or in school, not every day is perfect. Likewise, not every day at camp will be perfect, but overall they will have a good time.
• Send your child with something that allows them to feel safe and familiar at night…a blanket, stuffed animal, or other item.
• If your child is feeling anxious about going to camp, you can talk about other times that your child experienced anxiety and ended up getting through the situation just fine.
• Do NOT send your children with items like food, candy, electronics or other prohibited items, as they will be confiscated on the first day. We want children to have a positive encounter with staff on their first day of camp, and we want camp to be a place of giving and sharing. Please set your child and us up for success. If your child is traveling with a cell phone, please discuss with them that all phones must be turned in upon arrival. We will ensure that phones are stored safely and returned to your camper before leaving on their last day.
What camper parents say…
Ramah in the Rockies has been a wonderful place for our sons. I truly credit camp with contributing to my sons' confidence, maturity, Jewish neshamah and being able to find the best in others and appreciate that.
Thank you for an amazing experience for my guy. He came home with story after story about the great experiences he had! He will definitely be back next year! From the staff to the kids, base camp to Masa’s, he has only shared about the most positive opportunities that were afforded to him. I love that my LA boy got exposure to so much!
I can't thank you enough for providing such an incredible summer. She described it as her best time at camp yet. :) When asked to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, she said 2,367!
She had an amazing, amazing experience. It is obvious, to both my husband and me that she was challenged both physically and mentally. Thank you to all of you for creating such an excellent, memorable, and meaningful experience for her. It is clear that her time spent in the Rockies with you all was exceptional!
I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful experience that he had at camp this summer. It is every Jewish parent's hope that summer camp will allow their child to spread their Jewish wings. He is overflowing with stories from the summer and I get the sense that he has absorbed every teachable moment. He is beginning the countdown until next June...
She absolutely loved her time with you in Colorado. We have been impressed that she did hiking, biking and a number of other activities that frankly, we wouldn’t have been able to get her to participate in on our own!
Ilanot/Metaylim Packing List
CLOTHING
10 short-sleeve shirts (3 non-cotton, 1 hometown/state)
4-6 pairs of shorts
2 pairs of non-cotton pants
1 warm fleece jacket or pullover
1 non-cotton long-sleeved shirt
2-3 hoodies/sweatshirts/sweaters
10-12 pairs of socks (5 non-cotton)
10-12 pairs of underwear (3 non-cotton)
5-7 bras/sports bras (if applicable)
2-3 pairs of pajamas
2-4 Shabbat outfits
White top for Friday night
Nice pants or shorts
Nice shirts with no writing or logos for Shabbat morning
Dresses or skirts & blouses
1 waterproof and breathable rain jacket
1 swimsuit
(See camper handbook for details)
1-2 sun hats and 1 winter hat
1 pair of sneakers
1 pair of hiking books (BROKEN IN)
1 pair of sandals or water shoes
1 pair of shower shoes
1 pair of nice shoes for Shabbat (optional)
3+ kippot with clips (required for boys, optional for girls)
BEDDING
1 sleeping bag (synthetic [non-down] 20 degree)
1 pillow and 2 pillowcases
1 set of twin size sheets per 2 weeks at camp (required!)
1 laundry bag
2 towels and 2 washcloths
TOILETRIES
1 comb or brush
1 bar of soap with traveling holder or 1 bottle of body wash
1 bottle of sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher)
1 bottle non-aerosol insect repellent
1 toothbrush, 1 tube of toothpaste, and floss
We will provide an all-in-one shampoo/ body wash. Campers are welcome to bring their own toiletries if they prefer.
1 plastic caddy or bag to carry toiletries to the shower
Non-aerosol deodorant (if applicable)
Menstrual hygiene products if applicable
1–2 tubes of lip balm
OTHER
2 canteens/water bottles – 1 liter
1 extra pair of glasses/contact lenses
Flashlight/Headlamp and batteries
Digital watch – no WIFI compatibility
Pens, stationery, stamps
Small backpack/daypack (optional)
SUGGESTED: inexpensive camera, sunglasses, extra stamps, books, journal, playing cards or other travel size games (non electronic!)
REMEMBER, ON SHABBAT…
Shoulders must be covered by either sleeves or shoulder cover-up for all t'filot. Skirts, shorts, and dresses need to meet our modesty policy.
Packing Tips & Advice
Do I pack my child’s favorite t-shirt? What if it gets lost? Should I send enough pairs of socks for one pair 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 when they are asleep or not home. 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 when they begin the unpacking process at camp 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 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 and to carry the items to and from the showers. If you have not purchased this before, you can usually find inexpensive versions at Target type stores.
• Order sticker nametags 6 weeks before packing from a website like LabelDaddy.com.
• Label, label, label (first AND last name). 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 to camp including water bottles, flashlights, even shoes. Labels make bunk clean-up occur more 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 at camp with the same initials!
• Don’t pack anything valuable or expensive. We expect your child to have so much fun at camp that the last thing on their mind is going to be keeping track of socks, underwear, nice shirts, etc.
• Please don’t pack items like candy that are not allowed at camp. These items will be collected to be disposed of and then your child is stuck in the situation of having to start camp by having something taken away from them. We want camp to be a place of giving and sharing. Cell phones and tablets must be turned in when campers arrive, and will be returned as campers depart camp.
Camp Song
Listen online: https://soundcloud.com/ramahrockies/roa-camp-song
Ha-shemesh mitoreret me’irah oti
Mi-maharim lishmor et gufi, et nafshi
Kan be’hari ha Rockies bonim kehillah
kedosha Anachnu chalutzim ba-teva etgar B’Ramah!
Chorus:
O...Anachnu me’etgarim t’atzmeinu
O...Be-Yachad mah tovu ohaleinu
Ochlim, Metaylim, v’chayim ba-teva Lomdim, sharim, v’chayim et ha-Torah
Masa, medura, rechivah al soosim, Eichut ha-sevivah, chavah, ofanayim,
Shabbat v’Yirsael tachat kochavim Shmonat alafim regel—ohavim chaverim.
Chorus
The sun rises and awakens me I hurry to exercise my body and soul Here in the Rocky Mountains, building a holy community We are pioneers in nature... Ramah Outdoor Adventure!
Chorus:
Oh, How we daily challenge ourselves Oh, Together, ‘How great are our tents’ We eat, experience and live in nature We study, sing and live the Torah!
Excursion, campfire, horseback riding Wilderness survival, farming, mountain biking Shabbat and Israel under the stars 8,000 feet high...loving friends!
Chorus
Crossword Puzzle
ACROSS
3 Hebrew word for community
6 This mini version of tennis is right outside of Ohel Koby, our games tent
7 An activity at camp that uses a bow and arrow
8 You should have this with you at all times so you
DOWN
Word Games
1 On the first day of camp, everyone will be wearing this article of clothing
2 Our farm at camp has theseanimals
4 A sport we play at camp with sticks and a puck
5 At every lunch and dinner at camp you always have
Hebrew Words Commonly Used at Camp
תונליא Ilanot – Entering 3rd and 4th Grade
םילייטמ Metaylim – Entering 5th and 6th Grade
םיללוס Sollelim – Entering 7th and 8th Grade
םירגוב Bogrim – Entering 8th and 9th Grade
םירייס Sayarim – Entering 10th Grade
ילו'ג JOLI – Entering 11th and 12th Grade
ץיק Kayitz – Summer
הצולח/ץולח Chalutzim – Campers
הדע Edah – Age Group
הווח Chava – Ranch (Camp's Physical Site)
להוא Ohel –Tent
הנחמ Machaneh – Camp
תווצ Tzevet – Staff
ץעוי Yoetz/et – Camp Wellness Specialist
הדע שאר Rosh Edah – Head of Age Group
גוח Chug – Elective Activity
העגרה Harga’ah – Calm Nighttime Activity in the Tent
הרודמ Medurah – Campfire
ןויקינ Nikayon – Cleaning Bunks & Tent Area
םיינפוא Ofanayim – Biking
תונמוא Omanut – Arts & Crafts
הלועפ Peulah – Activity
םיסוס Susim – Horses
דוקיר Rikkud – Dancing
חור Ruach – Spirit
הריש Shira – Singing
סופיט Tipus – Climbing
הליפת T’filah – Prayer
ןוזמה תכרב Birkat Hamazon – The Blessings After a Meal
לכוא רדח Chadar Ochel – Dining Hall
האפרמ Mirpa’ah – Health Center
עסמ Masa – Backcountry Excursion
קרפ Perek – Activity Period
What Will I Eat?
A core part of what we do is to "lift the veil" on our food at Camp. We aim to serve sustainable food, taking into account where food is grown, how it is made (we try not to serve anything processed), and how it affects both our budget and our bodies. While we would like to say we only serve 100% local and organic food, in reality, our budget does not allow for this. We engage our campers in the conversation about the choices we have made (for example, we cannot afford to buy only organic dairy, but strive to serve only organic greens).
Bar
Lunch
Dinner
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Grilled Vegetable Pita Pockets
Vegetable
Chili & Corn Bread
Burrito Bar
Mac N’ Cheese Pizza
Everyday Items
Every Breakfast
• Cereal & Granola
• Yogurt & Cottage Cheese
• Fresh Fruit
• Hardboiled Eggs
Enchilada Casserole
Impossible/ Beyond Burgers and fixings
Every Lunch and Dinner
• Pasta and Marinara Sauce
• Quinoa or Rice
• Salad with Fresh Vegetables
Asian Stir Fry with Fried Rice
BBQ
Salmon, Rice & Green Beans
Hearty Soup & Israeli Salads
Lasagna & Bread Sticks
Chicken with Corn & Cole Slaw
• SunButter or Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich
The Basics
• Kosher – All food is certified kosher and under the supervision of the Conservative Movement.
• Vegetarian – When we serve meat or fish, there is always a vegetarian option.
• Gluten-Free – While our kitchen is not gluten-free and crosscontamination is possible, we do offer gluten-free options at most meals.
• Dairy-Free/Vegan – At every meal we strive to serve a dairy-free (usually vegan) option for campers and staff as well as offering soymilk or coconut milk at breakfast.
• Daily Snacks – We offer free, healthy snacks like fruit, popcorn, peanuts, or vegetable snacks for all campers and staff throughout the day.
Tofu Tacos
How will I get to camp?
ARRIVING AT CAMP
Meet between 10:30 am and 10:45 am leave by 11:00 am.
LEAVING CAMP
Take the bus back to Denver with all of your camp friends!
Take a flight from your hometown to Denver International Airport and arrive between 8:30–11:30 am.
Fly home on a flight leaving between 10:00 am–2:15 pm. Staff will check you in and walk you to your gate.
Drop off at camp between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. All parents must leave by 1:00 pm.
Have the family come pick you up, and say your goodbyes. Depart for your 11-month excursion before returning next summer. Pick up is between 9:30 am and 11:00 am.
Things to know about your arrival to camp:
• The ride to camp from the airport/Denver is approximately 2 hours. If you experience motion sickness, talk to your parents about ways to make that easier, and let your staff know before you get on the bus.
• Please wear your camp shirt that we will send to you in the spring. This is a great way for you to meet other campers and for our staff to find you in the airport.
• Most flights to Denver are several hours long. Have your parents help you find a book or a game that will keep you entertained for the flight. We also encourage families to pack a bagged lunch for their camper to eat at the airport.
• One of our staff (wearing the neon shirt pictured below) will meet you at your gate when you land and take you to baggage claim.
• Bring some money ($20) for snacks in the airport to and from camp.
• If your child tends to get motion sickness, please consider using Dramamine/Bonine and sending them with a plastic bag.
• Make sure you bring an empty water bottle in your carry-on so that you can fill it up with water for your flight and drive up to camp.
