Countdown to Camp: 2023 Community Updates

Ramah Day Camp approaches camper care with a holistic perspective and as an ongoing process. This approach may include:

• Camper Care Intake Form and conversation (if appropriate)
• Consultation and collaboration with camper’s school and mental health team before summer
• Conversation with parents before and during the summer on supporting your child at camp
• Partnering with parents regarding camper care concerns and questions
• Individualized Camper Care plans

The Camper Care Team includes full-time registered nurse and mental health professional. The Camper Care Team supports all of our staff with:

• Pre-Summer head staff training sessions
• Staff Week trainings for all team members
• Transfer of Information and camper-specific trainings with counselors and staff members
• Ongoing training on Individualized Camper Care Plans
• Weekly staff mental health check-ins

CHILD SAFETY COMMITTEE

We have formed a Child Safety Committee, consisting of our professional leadership team, Board Members, medical professionals and mental health professionals.

The Child Safety Committee will establish and maintain policies and procedures to ensure the safety of our campers. The Committee will be responsible for providing appropriate guidance and counsel to our camp leadership team with regard to the implementation of such policies and procedures.

CHILD SAFETY RESPONSE TEAM

We are establishing a Child Safety Response Team, beginning summer 2023. The Team will be composed of the professional summer leadership team and a group of medical and mental health professionals that will serve both our day and overnight camps.

The Child Safety Response Team will meet regularly throughout the summer and be alerted immediately if any report of physical and/or sexual misconduct affecting a camper arises. They will be empowered to recommend the appropriate response based on a consistent and unbiased application of our policies and best practices.

Any concerns may be directed to childsafety@ramahday.com or to Executive Director Jacob Cytryn.

YEAR-ROUND FOCUS ON CAMPER CARE:

• National Ramah Commission Child and Workplace Safety Summit
• The Aleinu: Safeguarding Our Children campaign is a program of Sacred Spaces that enables youth serving organizations to implement ten Best Practices for child protection. Camp Ramah in Wisconsin / Ramah Day Camp in Chicagoland are participating in the Chicago area cohort.
• Awarded Yedid Nefesh Grant from Foundation for Jewish Camp to address MESSH in holistic ways. Supporting Camp Ramah to hire qualified mental health professionals on staff, enhance counselor training, integrate wellness programming into activity areas.
• Development Webinars from American Camp Association & Foundation for Jewish Camps

STAFF HIRING & TRAININGS

• Thorough hiring process, including interviews, background checks, and reference checks
• Counselor training on developmental and age-appropriate camper behaviors
• Harassment and Abuse Prevention Training
• Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Our Camper Care policies, published in our Staff Handbook, are shared with staff prior to the start of camp, reviewed during staff training week, and referenced as needed throughout the summer. In addition this summer our staff will attend a boundaries and abuse prevention training led by expert Rahel Bayar.

Summer 2023 Forms are now available in your CampMinder account.

• Due Now
  • Camper Care Intake Form
• Due May 1
  • Ramah Day Camp Travel Form
  • Medical Forms (Health History, Physical, Immunizations and Health Insurance)
  • Friendship request (Note: Friendship request forms will not be considered until the Camper Care Intake Form is completed.)
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Card

The “Camp Ramah in WI & IL” App provides a one stop shop for staying in touch
with camp this summer, including:

• Customized News Feed for your camper(s)’ eidah (age group)
• Transportation updates
• Camp photos
• Calendar to keep track of key dates
• Contact information
• And much more!

Download the app today! Check your email for the registration code or email registrar@ramahwisconsin.com.

STAFF

• We have a licensed nurse on-site at camp from 9:00AM – 3:30PM daily.

MEDICATION

• Indicate your camper’s medication on the Health History form in CampMinder
• In addition, email nurse@ramahday.comwith medication information, including dosage and instructions
• Send clearly labeled medication on the first day of camp

ALLERGIES

• Indicate allergies on Camper Care Intake Form and/or Health History form
• Individual Allergy Action Plan will be established with Dina Greenberg and Camp Nurse
• Send clearly labeled Epi-pens, Auvi-Qs, and/or medication on the first day of camp
• Camp will provide Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free alternatives when appropriate

Symptomatic Campers

Campers who arrive at camp symptomatic – fevers, vomiting, significant respiratory congestion, or feeling too unwell to participate in camp activities – will be sent home immediately.

Campers who develop symptoms – fevers, vomiting, significant respiratory congestion, or feel too unwell to participate in camp activities during the camp day – will immediately be sent to the nurse. Parents/guardians will be called to pick up their camper.

All symptomatic individuals will need to be picked up from camp within 1 hour of notification. They will not be permitted to ride the bus.

Illness Notifications

We will notify the entire camper group via email if a camper has the following:

• COVID-19
• Influenza
• Strep
• Pink Eye
• Lice

The National Ramah Commission Medical Committee and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin/Ramah Day Camp Medical Committee have a long-established history of robust vaccination requirements. These vaccination requirements have been developed and are regularly reviewed based on the latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

In support of our commitment to the health and safety of all members of our community, this includes vaccinations for COVID. The primary COVID-19 vaccine series is required for all Ramah Day Camp staff and campers who are eligible. The COVID-19 bivalent booster is strongly recommended. This is in accordance with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This requirement is subject to exemption by completing this form.

• We partner closely with the Secure Community Network, a project of the Jewish Federations of North America – including special Jewish summer camp guidance
• We continue to maintain our strong relationship with the Wheeling Police Department, including pre-summer site visit, staff week training and periodic visits and check-ins throughout the summer
• Through JUF, Foundation for Jewish Camp and National Ramah Commission we continue to monitor local and national security developments
• We partner with Houston Security, who provides two armed security guards on-site during all times campers are present on our campus
• We have a comprehensive security plan in place including security cameras and perimeter fence
• We undergo emergency training with all of our staff and campers

Click here to read our full COVID-19 policy for Summer 2023.

Based on your feedback, we are increasing our proactive outreach and communication with you throughout the summer so you can experience the magic of your campers’ Ramah summer and stay aware of camp happenings.

This summer you can expect:

• ‘Get To Know Your Counselors’ via email before the first day of camp
• Meet Your Counselors and Rashei Eidah (Unit Head) at Ramah Day Camp Orientation on June 18th
• Communication on staffing changes to your campers group (if longer than a week)
• Personal phone call from your campers Rosh Eidah (Unit Head) during first two weeks of camp

Emails

Camp will be emailing important information throughout the season. Additionally, weekly emails from Ramah Day Camp will be sent on Fridays. For any questions, concerns or updates regarding your camper, you may email the camp office at office@ramahday.com.

Phone Calls

Ramah Day Camp’s Leadership Team welcomes parent phone calls each day. If you need to check in on your camper, call the camp office at (847) 537-9700. Our team will get back to you promptly. Call with any question, concerns or updates.

Website

Visit our website at www.ramahday.com to view your Family Dashboard for resources including our community updates and the camp calendar. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Ramah Day Camp App

The “Camp Ramah in WI & IL” App provides a one stop shop for staying in touch with Ramah during the summer including:

• Customized news feed for your camper’s eidah (age group)
• Transportation updates
• Camp photos
• Calendar to keep track of key dates
• Contact information for the leadership team