Camp Ramah in Canada

Camp Ramah in Canada
מחנה רמה בקנדה (Hebrew)
Address
Summer Address: 1104 Fish Hatchery Road, Utterson, Ontario
Year-Round Address: 3845 Bathurst Street Suite 310
Toronto, Ontario, M3H 3N2, Canada
Information
Religious affiliation National Ramah Commission, USCJ
Director Dr. Ron Polster
Assistant Director Aviva Millstone
Grades 2-10
Language English, Hebrew
Founded 1960
Enrollment 450-500 Canada United States United Kingdom Israel

Camp Ramah in Canada, (Hebrew: מחנה רמה‎ Machaneh Ramah) is a Jewish summer camp located in the community of Utterson in the town of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.[1][2][3][4][5]

The Max and Beatrice Wolfe Campus is located on Skeleton Lake, a two and a half hour drive from Toronto. Part of the National Ramah Commission, Ramah camps in the United States, Canada, and Israel are all religious camps governed by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.[6][7][8]

In 2009, Camp Ramah in Canada was attended by 450 Jewish youngsters, from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel.[9]

List of edot (units)

  • Garinim (entering 2nd grade; less than 1 week long)
  • Shorashim (entering 3rd grade; 1 or 2 weeks long)
  • Nitzanim (entering 4th and 5th grade; 4 or 8 weeks long)
  • Arazim (entering 6th grade; 4 or 8 weeks long)
  • K'firim (entering 7th grade; 4 or 8 weeks long)
  • Tzirim (entering 8th grade; 4 or 8 weeks long)
  • Nachshonim (entering 9th grade; 4 or 8 weeks long)
  • Magshimim (entering 10th grade; 8 weeks long)
  • Tikvah (Program for campers with learning and social disabilities; 6-week sessions)
  • Alonim (entering 11th grade; 8 weeks long)

Activities

Judaica

For younger campers, each day includes a "Tarbut Yisrael" perek with staff members from Israel ("mishlachat"). Also important is yahadut, where campers explore Judaism from different angles in many courses offered by the camp. Israeli culture is also learned in shira (song) and rikud (dance).[10][11]

Agam

Waterfront activities take place at the agam, Ramah's section of Skeleton Lake.[12][13][14] Daily, campers take swimming lessons designed to meet the requirements for swimming and lifeguarding skills. Campers who take the Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross courses take an exam at the end of their session in order to achieve certification, which can be used to apply for many lifeguarding positions. The other part of the agam perek is boating, where campers sail, canoe, kayak, and water-ski or wake-board on Skeleton Lake. There are levels to achieve in each area by completing skill and knowledge tasks. On Shabbat, campers can partake in the free swim. Other agam activities include point swims, water trampolining, a sailing trip, and excursions to a waterfall.

Chug

A perek of every day is devoted to chugim, which are 2-week electives in the arts and hobbies field. Choices have included woodworking, ceramics, arts and crafts, beading, photography, hip hop dance, rock climbing, zumba, cooking, newspaper, and radio, but the choices change every year, and even during camp, depending on what talents the staff bring to the table. More eccentric choices of the past have been cartooning, mad science, nature survival, and rhythmic gymnastics.

Sports

Campers play sports during this perek, but any time is game time, whether with one's cabin, the edah, or the more intense staff leagues. Some of the main sports played are basketball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, ultimate frisbee, floor hockey, and baseball. Some other games that have popped up over the years include dodgeball, ga-ga, cricket, croquet, golf, handball, and aerobics.

Yom Sport

Yom Sport is the annual Camp Ramah colour war. Campers are divided into four teams, each led by two Alonim "captains". Captains for each team are one boy and one girl who must put their names forward for the role, and are voted on by their edah. There is one male rosh and one female rosh, who serve as "heads" of the colour war, and who also are voted on by their edah. Two male judges and two female judges who must write an essay to be chosen by the edah staff.

The judges are the only ones who know how Yom Sport is judged, and they are sworn to secrecy. Yom Sport opens with an Alonim-lead break out in the dining hall at lunch, designed to get the entire camp's attention. Later in the day, the campers aside from Alonim are given the two colors of their team, which is the only information they will receive until opening ceremonies. When everyone is dressed in layers of their respective two colors, everyone gathers in front of the Beit Am Gadol (gymnasium) for a first show of ruach, or spirit.

Soon, everyone enters the lavishly decorated Beit Am Gadol, and witnesses opening ceremonies, created by the Alonimers. This introduces the storyline, the villains, the roshes, the judges, and the captains. After this, everyone separates into team meetings led by the captains, and the judges and roshes wander from meeting to meeting to explain the rules of Yom Sport.

On the actual day of Yom Sport, edot cycle around to each of the stations where they compete to score points for their team. The stations are sport, track and field, crazy games, agam, and special project (or Peulat-X), with one free perek during the day, during which campers are encouraged to run around camp cheering for their team. The competition part of the day concludes with marathon, a grueling race which includes almost the entire team performing tasks such as canoe portaging, eating, hair-braiding, human-pyramid-building and running. Each team has several cheers, and throughout all of Yom Sport, everyone cheers as loud as they can. Alonim celebrates their success of the day by showing off their, ruach while the rest of the camp must endure silent dinner, where losing points is a penalty for talking. Finally, at closing ceremonies, a dramatic battle between the captains and the villains ends in the implication (but never an explicit announcement) of the winner.

Year Theme Teams Captains Judges Roshes
2001 Biomes Mountain, forest, desert, sea Avi Steindel, Talia Leszcz, Jordan Frisch, Pamela Wiznitzer, Maya Tobias, Noah Michael Wikas Ira Goldstein ???
2002 Music genres Jazz, hip-hop, country, rock Talia Sukol, Josh Diskin, Casey Weiss, Jonathan Beitner, Ashley Minuk, David Kurzman, Katie Feldman, Jordan Sherman Jeremy Pappas ???
2003 Playing cards Diamonds, hearts, spades, clubs Jacob Batist, Rachel Jacobson, Jory Stern, Lauren Goodman, Aaron Abramson, Adam Weiner Daniel Ennis, Susie Muller, Sam Rosenbaum, Leigh Rapaport Ariel Lefkowitz, Bailey Gallinger
2004 Directions South, east, west, north Josh Borodin, Daina Zweing, Hannah Malvin, Katy Tile, Jacob Gallinger, Leslie Rosenberg Kayla Pappas, Noah Leszcz Josh Kramer, Carly Minuk
2005 Super powers Elasticity, speed, flight, invisibility Susan Schwartz, Shayna Rootman, Arielle Strub, Arlee Stern, Shale Farber, Matt Kurzmann, Micah Timen, Menachem Weiss Eran Markose, Ezra Smyser, Dani Shaul, ? Willie Balk, Yael Disenhouse
2006 Ancient civilizations China, Egypt, Aztec, Rome Dalia Kimmel, Noah Simmons, Adin Lenchner, Leah Silverman, Sari Tile, Aaron Goss, Rayna Boyarsky, Josh Benchimol Melody Mostow, Michael Chaikof, Naomi Reimer, Robbie Nelson Ayla Lefkowitz, Noah Leibtag
2007 Movie genres Horror, action, romance, comedy Darrien Sherman, Max Farkas, Alix Gropper, Ari Kurzmann, Kendall Maxbauer, Eli Greenspan, Tara Wakter, Jeremy Shapero Eric Silver, Gabe Weinstien, Adina Goldberg, Samara Zaifman Emma Nadjgoldberg, Ray Abramson
2008 Monsters Mummy, Frankenstein, ware-wolf, vampire Judah Batist, Aliza Zigler, Jacob Diskin, Tamar Kodish, Ben Welkovics, Sophie Mortner, Jacob Cohen, Nava Rosen Josh Jaffe, Elie Farkas, Leah Friedlander, Tali Moed Ben Green, Yael Spiegel
2009 Board game warriors Pirate, knight, Viking, ninja Ari Eisen, Ari Crane, Becky Wasser, Oren Lefkowitz, Erica Mindel, Adam Strub, Ava Fagin, Stephen Shapero Noah Schoen, Micah Sukol, Elie Laskin, Leora Mietkiewitz Ari Hubert, Emily Mostow
2010 Native Tribes Maori, Rajput, Navajo, Zulu Sari Klaczkowski, Jordana Herblum, Isaac Kurzmann, Daniel Welkovics, Corey Kamen, Eden Shapiro, Zac Kaufman, Michelle Zive Ilan Levy, Jonah Weinstein, Jacqueline Craig, Orli Bogler Ilana Kramer, Jacob Green
2011 Natural disasters Tornado, tsunami, earthquake, volcano Matt Fidel, Vanessa Farkas, Suzy Weiss, Noah Gropper, Jonah Baron, Erika Streisfeld, Tamar Eisen, Josh Eisen Talya Nevins, Josh F. Goldberg, Hillary Weiner, Justin Wakter Alissa Abrahami, Max Sherman
2012 Explorers Sailor, Miner, Hiker, Astronaut Alex Green, Jesse Adler, Micah Laskin, Ashley Offenheim, Jonah Silverman, Abbie Rappaport, Daniel Rosenstein, Francine Fishbein Steve-O Dressler, Gabi Herman, Aaron Tannenbaum, Ilana Wolf Jon Green, Yael Hubert
2013 Extinct Animals Megalodon, Sabretooth, T-Rex, Mammoth Shayne Friedman, Daphne Logan, Maxwell Charlat, Ruth Oshlag, Max Samuels, Shira Eisen, Josh Finkelstein, Quinn Halman Dan Schechner, Erin Evans, Jonathan Strom, Meera Landau Noah Chaikof, Leora Nevins
2014 Planets Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune Mikey Woolfson, Jolie Sherman, RJ Tabachnick, Mia Groedel, Adam Gropper, Lauren Reiner, Josh Small, Lexi Michaels Sam Grobman, Anna Rosenstein, Jonah Levitt, Laura Flatt Matthew Pollock, Natalie Urbach

Other

Along with these official activities, there are other "peulot" created by the staff. Whether these peulot are done by cabin, by edah, or even with the whole camp, they vary from the highly educational to the very silly. On Yom Meyuchad, or "special day," each edah experiences a different-themed day, planned out by their staff. Some of these include Yom High School for Nachshonim, or Yom Israel for the whole camp, which is run by mishlachat (staff members from Israel). Other unofficial camp activities include laying on the migrash," chilling in a hammock, or playing freeze with one's cabin at mealtimes.

Walkbacks

A walkback is essentially Camp Ramah's version of a date. After Havdallah - the service separating Shabbat from the rest of the week - a male camper will walk a female camper back to her cabin. This usually takes the couple around the migrash at Camp Ramah, providing a "romantic" situation for both campers. Walkbacks are more common in older edot, usually beginning in K'firim. A male camper usually approaches the female camper to ask her on a "walkback."

Last Night

The last night of camp starts with a banquet, which is a special dinner put together by Alonim with a theme, sets, and higher quality food than usual. Then there is slide show, chronicling the summer in photos, and then the last peulat erev (last wills). There are countless camper traditions on the last night of camp at Camp Ramah, some docile, some frowned upon, but they continue because of the campers' undeniable love and loyalty to the camp. One of the most notable traditions is "Last Wills" on the last night of camp, where the counselors take turns comically roasting their campers. For younger edot, it is rather tame, but for the older kids it can be quite brutal. Another camp tradition along the same lines is Alonim Confessions, which also takes place on the last night of camp. During confessions, Alonimers share their deepest (often humorous) secrets among each other (i.e. Upper-deckering the girls' handicapped washroom in the Beit Am Gadol during Magshimim summer). After these ceremonies, the campers disperse and entertain themselves. Some of the most popular activities are pranks, playing with fire, cooking with hotpots, watching the sunrise, and heart-to-hearts.

Camper Banquet themes

2008: Murder Mystery

2009: Baseball

2010: 50's Diner

2011: Space

2012: Jungle

2013: Hawaiian Luau

2014: Bar Mitzvah

All Planned by the Alonim edah (unit)

Staff Banquet themes

2012: Movie Theater

2013: Great Gatsby

2014: Mexican Fiesta

All Planned by Staff

History

Camp Ramah in Canada was founded in 1960. Murray Shiff was instrumental in founding the camp, and was its first administrator.[15] Michael Wolf was the active camp director between the summers of 2003 and 2011. Ron Polster is the current camp director as of the 2012 summer. [16] Aviva Millstone is the current assistant director as of the 2013 summer. [16]

References

  1. ↑ Michigan Jewish History. Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ Folklore Canadien. Folklore Studies Association of Canada. 1981. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Women's Days Scheduled at Camp Ramah". The Hartford Courant. July 5, 1962. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  4. ↑ The Gate of Heaven: the story of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim of Montreal, 1846-1996. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  5. ↑ The Seminary at 100: reflections on the Jewish Theological Seminary and the conservative movement. Rabbinical Assembly and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. 1987. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Jewish Summer Camp: s’more fun for generations". Cleveland Jewish News. February 23, 2006. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Camp Ramah Leaders To Meet Wednesday". The Hartford Courant. February 10, 1962. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  8. ↑ Conservative Judaism: the new century. Behrman House, Inc. 1993. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Camps struggle to contain swine flu", The Toronto Star, July 15, 2009
  10. ↑ "Month a Go Go", The Canadian Jewish Chronicle, November 19, 1965
  11. ↑ Who owns Judaism?: public religion and private faith in America and Israel. Oxford University Press. 2001. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  12. ↑ Parchment: Canadian Jewish Writing. Parchment Center for Jewish Studies. 1999. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Up Front Grandma the counsellor still loves her camp life". The Toronto Star. August 17, 1995. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Township of Muskoka Lakes; Official Plan" (PDF). Docs.google.com. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Deaths". Jweekly. December 1, 2006. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Professional Staff". Retrieved 24 May 2013.

External links

Coordinates: 45°13′26″N 79°29′59″W / 45.22389°N 79.49972°W