Camp Ramah in the Poconos

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Camp Ramah in the Poconos is a summer camp affiliated with the National Ramah Commission. Opened in 1950, it is located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, in the mountain region of Wayne County in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Ramah Poconos is approximately three hours driving time from both New York City and Philadelphia.

As with other Ramah camps, Camp Ramah in the Poconos is, first and foremost, focused on Jewish education. As such, every aspect of its operation is infused with some sort of an educational theme, whether it be Zionism, the Jewish lifecycle, or ritual. The camp seeks to maintain a strong, living connection with the State of Israel and uses Hebrew as the language of official instruction, communication, and education.

Staff dancing outside of the dining hall
Staff dancing outside of the dining hall

Contents

[edit] Divisions (Edot)

Campers are split up into divisions by grade and age. These divisions are called Edot the plural of the word Edah (עדה) which means group in Hebrew. The Edot which are currently at Ramah Poconos are:

  • Notzetzim - נוצצים (sparkles), entering 4rd and 5th grades.
  • Tzi'irim - צעירים (young ones), entering 6th grade.
  • Khalutzim - חלוצים (pioneers), entering 7th grade.
  • Bogrim - בוגרים (mature ones, graduates), entering 8th grade.
  • Machon - מכון (foundation or institute), entering 9th grade.
  • Shoafim - שואפים (those who strive), entering 10th grade.
  • Gesher - גשר (bridge), entering 11th grade.

[edit] Staff

The staff of Ramah Poconos is composed largely of former Ramah campers. Many campers continue to return as counselors and specialists for several summers while they are in college. After college, they can continue to come back as the head of the age groups or in other positions. Camp Ramah encourages new recruits and give staff members who recruit others a bonus payment. Staff are trained on a perpetual basis throughout the summer beginning with the week before the campers come. This "staff week" is named after and funded by an endowment in honor of Director Emeritus, Cheryl Magen. It is spent drilling safety procedures, camp rules, activity planning, and many other important things into the staff members. Throughout the summer, counselors and other staff members have Hadracha, (transliteration of הדרכה the Hebrew word for guidance) sessions that continue to train the staff in all necessary areas. Senior counselors are expected to mentor the junior counselors, so their Hadracha sessions spend a lot of focus on how to teach the younger counselors. Junior counselors are taught how to deal with issues for the first time. All staff is encouraged seek guidance from other staff at any time.

[edit] Mishlakhat

In addition to the regular staff, Ramah Poconos, together with the Jewish Agency for Israel, brings 40-50 Israeli staff members to camp each summer. These Israelis are a full part of the camp and participate in all areas of the camp. By contributing to the immersive environment of the camp, Israeli staff members enhance the quality of Jewish education at Ramah Poconos. Although every Israeli staff member has historically been assigned to a camper bunk, beginning in the summer of 2007, the assigned staff member eats with their bunk at mealtime.

[edit] Current leadership

The current director is Todd Zeff and the camp is currently lacking an assistant director following the controversial dismissal of Toby Ayash in early 2008. Her termination and the ensuing scandal caused a major embarrassment to the camp. Todd Zeff and the president of the board conspired to covertly terminate Toby's employment by not renewing her contract (due to expire following the 2008 summer) without consulting the executive board members or soliciting input from the community. Todd Zeff then falsely announced that Toby had opted to leave camp of her own volition in an attempt to cover up the decision. Following the announcement the community responded with outrage expressed in a letter campaign and the creation of a Facebook group petitioning the decision. The board then voted to buy out the remainder of Toby's contract and dismiss her immediately in an attempt to close the issue.

[edit] Activities

Basic outdoor living skills are taught in camp through age-appropriate experiences, culminating in backpacking and overnight hikes and canoe trips. Ecology, the Jewish connection to nature, and camping skills are integrated with group-building and personal achievement challenges. The campers are permitted to choose two regular activities, like arts and crafts, Radio Ramah (WCRP), teva (nature), mitpachon (baking and cooking), creative dramatics, and many others. Some sports available for campers include basketball, baseball, tennis, hockey, softball, volley ball, archery, and flag football.

Additionally, Ramah Poconos offers many opportunities for campers to express their creativity within the context of Judaism. The camp drama program puts on several plays each summer, all of which are performed entirely in Hebrew. The arts and crafts building has plenty of opportunities for painting, drawing, ceramics, and other forms of artistic expression. The music program gives singing lessons to the campers about 2-3 times a week and often offers additional musical activities, such as bands and a capella groups.

Campers in the WCRP studio
Campers in the WCRP studio

[edit] Radio Ramah

Furthermore, Camp Ramah boasts the world's first camp radio program. WCRP is a real radio station (1200 AM) that can be received from anywhere in the camp (Note however, that it is private and non-registered. The call letters WCRP are registered to 88.1, a radio station in Guayama, Puerto Rico [2]). With the exception of Shabbat and Tisha B'Av, one can listen to the latest music from Israel and the diaspora, while making sure to catch the camper-generated radio specials and shows.

The radio program exposes campers to the many aspects of the Jewish experience through music, talk shows, and special programs. Additionally, campers of all ages have a regular rotation schedule to produce and broadcast content.

The station is powered entirely by Linux and other Free software programs.

The equipment including all mixing boards, consoles, transmitters and other components are provided by Radio Systems, Inc. Prior to the installation of a new Radio Systems transmitter in 2007, Radio Ramah was broadcast simultaneously in two frequencies with 640AM on girls campus and 650AM on boys campus.

[edit] Waterfront and Sports

The view of the Ramah pool and lake as seen from boys campus
The view of the Ramah pool and lake as seen from boys campus

The camp's pool and lake provide the setting for Red Cross certification, and instruction in boating, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and windsurfing. All waterfront staff are certified lifeguards, and many have a history of competitive swimming or boating.

Sport choices include basketball, baseball, floor hockey, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, and tennis. Ramah Poconos boasts excellent sports facilities, including a newly reconstructed baseball field and three basketball courts. Special sports programs include inter-camp games, yoga, martial arts (including Krav Maga), Ramah Tennis Open, and Maccabiah, the two-day color war, and the campers between Notzetzim (entering 5th grade), and Machon, (campers entering 9th grade) are divided into four colors and participate in dozens of Olympic and made-up mini-games during the second session only (mid-july to mid-august).

Beginning in the summer of 2007, famous basketball player Tamir Goodman will spend time at Ramah Poconos to run a special basketball clinic, and almost every child will get to play, talk, and interact with him, whether they are in the basketball sport or not.

[edit] The discontinued Kesher program

The camp formerly offered a 5-day and 10-day Kesher Program for Jewish deaf or hard of hearing children and adults from all over the United States, to enable them to begin, or further develop, a Jewish identity within the format of a family camp program. The campers lived together in bunks with counselors who were also deaf, and experienced the full Camp Ramah program, including Jewish living, education, tefillot, and recreational programming, while being integrated into the larger camp program for electives and evening activities. The program was discontinued after the departure of Director Emeritus Cheryl Magen in 2003. As such, Ramah Poconos is the only overnight Ramah camp in North America without a special needs program [1].

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The National Ramah Commission's webpage on the Tikvah programs. [1] Accessed 2007-6-11

[edit] Links

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