Investor UPDATE 2022
Yaakov parent Tzevet
Over the course of COVID, my kids socialized very little, and it seemed to me like they were not communicating very much with their friends. Their camp friends were the only exception, and even that wasn’t as much as I would have expected. It sort of seemed like they were root bound potted plants, in that they looked fine, but their world was too small, so they weren’t really growing anymore. Camp last summer changed everything. After they came back, they seemed so much more engaged with life, more interested in friendships and new experiences, and more hopeful and excited about the future. Like root bound plants, they needed some new soil and a bigger pot. Camp didn’t just give them a fun time after a year and a half of isolation. Their experiences over the summer opened them up to new possibilities and enabled them to grow in new ways. With heartfelt appreciation, Hartley I’m writing to thank you for training me so well on being an outdoor leader. Last week I went with a couple of buddies to Shenandoah for a backpacking trip over spring break. The other guys I was going with were much more experienced , so I expected to be staying in the background for the most part. The first night though, I was surprised that they naturally looked to me for guidance. This was a little bit confusing, as I’m not a super natural leader and certainly not in the friend group. Soon I realized that it wasn’t what I knew but how I was trained. You trained me as a backcountry leader — not only in knowing practical skills, but as a leader of others. Kol HaKavod to you all for effectively training your counselors (and campers) so well — making us leaders in the real world.
A Note from Rabbi Eliav Bock Executive Director
The past 2+ years have pushed us into a new-normal where children have learned to live with disruptions in their everyday lives. Many have spent countless hours engaging with screens instead of hanging out with their friends in person. Despite this new reality, camp is one of the few places that remains an oasis where campers and staff connect with each other and build community, face to face.
Our Kehillah Kedosha (holy community) is grounded in joyous Jewish living and learning. Once again, 575+ youth are spending their summer on our ranch challenging themselves intellectually, physically and spiritually. Whether celebrating Shabbat, climbing majestic rock faces or packing up together for a backcountry excursion, our campers learn lessons that remain with them long after they leave the ranch.
Thank you for believing in our mission and enabling us to shape the lives of hundreds of Jewish youth who are passing through our camp this summer. Together, we are shaping the lives of the Jewish leaders of tomorrow.
THANK YOU for helping us emerge stronger and more resilient from two existential crises over the past five years Looking back over the past four seasons, we have: Opened a carbon neutral wellness center that runs on solar and geothermal energy Pivoted to running camp during a “new normal” with COVID present in communitiesour Completed a $1.3 million treatmentwaste-waterplant Invested in new mental, emotional, and healthspiritualsupport and programs
campersSERVEDand staff over three in-person summers 1,500 Opened a new dining hall where the whole camp can eat, sing, and dance together Modified younger camper program to nurture connectionsinterpersonaldeeper Spun TherapyWildernessBaMidbaroffinto its own 501(C)3 Completed a new administrative center & staff lounge Altered staffing model to allow for more camp alumni to return to work at camp
During the 2022 season, we are: NEW IN 2022 Piloting a new six week JOLI (Jewish Institute)LeadershipOutdoorprogram newPermitting masa routes Nurturing leadershipthepotential in each staff member through supportive and effective training, feedback, and challenge Expanding our Ohel Yisrael (Israel tent) and partnering with the NGO HachadashShomerto strengthen our Israel education
This summer: 22 Israeli staff members will work at camp Campers and staff will spend 2,260 nights sleeping in tents on masa’ot US fromwillcamperscome31states atrepresentedcamp 575+ campers and staff will come through our doors and call Ramah Rockies home this summer
Our new strategic plan aims to create a virtuous cycle where campers and staff take the values of camp home with them into their communities and remain part of Ramah in the Rockies community for years to come.
By 2025 we will have achieved the following: Facilities Staff Campers Construct a new water retention pond to secure our water rights for the next generations of our staff will have grown up with us as campers of campers return to camp year after year Convert to solar energy throughout the site Invest in the staff experience with added training and mentoring so that staff can become active leaders in their communities outside of camp too Each program area has a clear aspirational arc that permits campers to make specific gains in every program area year after year Create systemssustainable physicalmaintaintoourplant Become an industry leader in opportunitiescareerstafftransparencyradicalofsummersalariesandadvancement Create opportunitiesmore to deepen the relationships that campers have with each other and the staff Rehabilitate the old-lodge site as a new prayer, dance and performance space 75% 80%
We rely on your gifts — of all sizes — to sustain the magic of camp for years to come. We especially want to celebrate the new gifts received over the past 14 months. Your ongoing support and investment in our community enables us to continually impact the lives of 500+ Jewish youth each summer! (MONTHLYMENSCHTOTALMAKERSDONORS) 35 $100,000+ 2 donors = $200,000 in gifts $36,000+ 4 donors = $223,750 in gifts $10,000+ 16 donors = $294,940 in gifts $1,000+ 81 donors = $223,864 in gifts $1+ 274 donors = $66,462 in gifts TOTAL = $1,009,016 346 Unique Donors May 1, 2021 to May 1, 2022
HELP US GROW & SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITY! Ways to give: pledgesMulti-year Cash gifts Gifts assetsappreciatedof scholarshipsneed-basedAnnual $140,000 needed Annual Programswellnesstrainingstaff& $60,000 needed Paying off our mortgage & thenamingranch $5 million needed pondRetention Water is a ourorretentionWecommodityvaluableinColorado.mustconstructapondby2024,wewilllosemostofcurrentwater-rights. $1 million needed $200,000 raised maintenance&improvementsInfrastructureheavy We need to continuously maintain our property making needed updates. $300,000 needed $50,000 raised DevelopmentProgram2022-2024 We must continue to invest in creating new, innovative programs and existingre-invigoratingones. $150,000 needed $60,000 raised Solar Arrays to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our energy bill $200,000 needed $200,000 raised Our goals over the next 18 months Completed!
300 S Dahlia Street Denver, CO 80246 (303)www.ramahoutdoors.org261-8214 Ramah in the Rockies is a Colorado not-for-profit 501(c)3 public charity and your donation may qualify for a tax deduction (Tax ID #20-4078988). ramahrockiesramahrockies.smugmug.com Thank you. Ramah in the Rockies changed my life forever and I love it. Ryan JOLI ’21 Ramah in the Rockies
