Camp Ramah in the Poconos is a
summer camp
A summer camp or sleepaway camp is a supervised program for children conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as ''campers''. Summer school is usually a part of the academ ...
affiliated with the
National Ramah Commission
Camp Ramah ( he, מחנה רמה, Machaneh Ramah) is a network of Jewish summer camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement. The camps operate in the United States, Canada, and Israel. All Ramah camps serve kosher food and are ''Shabbat''-obs ...
. Opened in 1950, it is located in the
Pocono Mountains
The Pocono Mountains, commonly referred to as the Poconos , are a geographical, geological, and cultural region in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They overlook the Delaware River and Delaware Water Gap to the east, Lake Wallenpaupack to the north, W ...
in
High Lake, Pennsylvania (but is addressed in
Lakewood, Pennsylvania
Lakewood is a village in Preston Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. Lakewood is on Pennsylvania Route 370 (PA-370), approximately east of Thompson, Pennsylvania and about southwest of Hancock, New York. The Preston Township ...
, since High Lake does not have its own
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...
or
ZIP code).
As with other Ramah camps, Camp Ramah in the Poconos is focused on
Jewish education
Jewish education ( he, חינוך, ''Chinuch'') is the transmission of the tenets, principles, and religious laws of Judaism. Known as the "people of the book", Jews value education, and the value of education is strongly embedded in Jewish cul ...
. Its program has an educational focus and includes
Zionism
Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after ''Zion'') is a Nationalism, nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is ...
, the Jewish lifecycle, and ritual. The camp seeks to maintain a connection with the State of
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
and uses
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
as the language of official instruction, communication, and education. The official
prayer book
A prayer book is a book containing prayers and perhaps devotional readings, for private or communal use, or in some cases, outlining the liturgy of religious services. Books containing mainly orders of religious services, or readings for them are ...
of Camp Ramah in the Poconos is
Siddur Lev Yisrael
Siddur Lev Yisrael is a siddur written by Cheryl Magen and published by the Ktav Publishing House. The siddur was developed in part, as an initiative of Camp Ramah. Lev Yisrael is influenced by the ideology of Conservative Judaism and is the pri ...
, authored by former director Cheryl Magen.
History
In the 1950s, Hebrew was the official spoken language at Ramah. At an alumni reunion in 2009, former campers, in their seventies, recalled phrases they had learned at Ramah like “Let’s go swimming,” or “Please pass the salt.”
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 at Ramah Poconos are:
Each Edah is led by a Rosh Edah (Unit Head) who supervises the counselors in each individual bunk.
After the two 4-week sessions conclude, the camp runs the Tikvah Family Camp. A camp experience for the entire family for families with Jewish children with developmental disorders and/or social learning disorders. The program offers parents, and their siblings the unique opportunity to together experience the magic of Jewish summer camp. The overnight program incorporates Jewish learning, recreation, spiritual reflection, and plain-old-fun in the beautiful natural environment of Camp Ramah in the Poconos.
Staff
![Tzevet-dancing Camp Ramah Poconos](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Tzevet-dancing_Camp_Ramah_Poconos.jpg)
The staff of Ramah Poconos is composed largely of former Ramah campers. Many campers 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
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
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.
''Mishlakhat''
In addition to the regular staff, Ramah Poconos, together with the
Jewish Agency for Israel
The Jewish Agency for Israel ( he, הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל, translit=HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el) formerly known as The Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. ...
, 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.
Activities
The campers are permitted to choose two regular activities, like arts and crafts, Radio Ramah (WCRP), teva (nature), mitbachon (baking and cooking), creative dramatics, and many others. Some sports available for campers include basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, hockey, softball, volleyball, 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
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...
,
drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art in which an artist uses instruments to mark paper or other two-dimensional surface. Drawing instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, various kinds of paints, inked brushes, colored pencils, crayons, ...
,
ceramics
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcelain ...
, 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 cappella groups.
Waterfront and sports
All waterfront staff are certified lifeguards, and many have a history of competitive swimming or boating.
Ramah Poconos boasts excellent sports facilities, including a newly reconstructed baseball field and three basketball courts. Programs include 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).
Tikvah Family Camp
The Tikvah Family Camp is a five-day overnight program that provides Jewish children with developmental disorders and/or social learning disorders, their parents, and their siblings the opportunity to experience together a Jewish summer camp.
See also
*
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism, known as Masorti Judaism outside North America, is a Jewish religious movement which regards the authority of ''halakha'' (Jewish law) and traditions as coming primarily from its people and community through the generatio ...
*
United Synagogue Youth
United Synagogue Youth (USY) is the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). It was founded in 1951, under the auspices of the Youth Commission of what was then the United Synagogue of America.
USY operates in the ...
*
Camp Ramah
Camp Ramah ( he, מחנה רמה, Machaneh Ramah) is a network of Jewish summer camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement. The camps operate in the United States, Canada, and Israel. All Ramah camps serve kosher food and are '' Shabbat''-o ...
References
External links
*
The National Ramah Commission"Research Findings on the Impact of Camp Ramah," 2004Records of the National Ramah Commission, 1951–89Ramah Poconos Facebook Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Camp Ramah In The Poconos
Poconos
Buildings and structures in Wayne County, Pennsylvania
Pocono Mountains
Youth organizations based in Pennsylvania
1950 establishments in Pennsylvania
Ramah in the Poconos
Zionism in the United States