CAMPER

HANDBOOK

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the Gan Yisroel Chai family! Below is the handbook with everything you and your daughter will need to know about camp. It is short and easy to read; make sure to read it thoroughly!
While some stuff your daughter doesn’t really need to know, the parts marked "👧" are for her to be made aware of before signing up, and to review before camp. This way she knows what to expect and can best prepare for an amazing experience.

Safety is #1

Our top priority in camp is the health and safety of every individual in our jurisdiction. Our camp nurse is highly knowledgeable and we trust her expertise for most incidents that may arise.

In the event, C”V, that there is a medical situation that she deems necessary to outsource:

  • Our nurse is in contact with our local doctor for consultation

  • Local 911 services are close by

  • Urgent Care is ten minutes away

  • A hospital is twenty-five minutes away

    Additionally, both directors are certified in First Aid and many staff members have CPR and/or First Aid certification.

Camp Nurse

👧 If a camper doesn’t feel good or is concerned about something, she can visit the nurse during hours. Our kind and loving nurse will check her out and see what she needs to feel better. If a camper doesn’t feel good for more than thirty-six hours, the nurse will contact the parent/guardian to discuss the next step.

The nurse’s hours are after breakfast, during rest hour, and after dinner.

If a parent would like to be in touch with the nurse, they can contact the camp office. The nurse will reach out to the parents as soon as she’s finished dealing with the campers in her office.

Medications

Many campers may be taking medication while in camp, and if your daughter is one of them, we’re going to need to know about it in advance. This way, we can make sure she’s getting what she needs and that her medication is safely stored. Make sure to fill out the medication form in your daughter’s portal. If necessary, the nurse will call you to understand what your daughter needs. We will keep all information about medications private and confidential.

👧 Campers are not allowed to keep any medication with them. If any camper has a concern about having access to her medication, she can discuss with the nurse the best way to ensure she is comfortable while maintaining safety.

We also don’t administer drugs or medication unless a licensed doctor prescribes it.

As for if a camper needs basic, over-the-counter medication like painkillers or antihistamines, the nurse has it for her. Please do not send your daughter with any of that stuff. This includes homeopathic remedies. We’ll have to hold onto it for her, anyway. 

Please fill out the waiver for over-the-counter medication in your daughter’s portal.

For all medication that you send with your daughter, please make sure it’s marked clearly with the following:

  1. Your daughter’s name
  2. Her doctor’s name
  3. The name of the medication
  4. The required dosage

Medical Insurance

Every camper must have medical insurance in order to come to camp. If C"V there’s an emergency and she needs to see a doctor, health insurance is imperative.

Check to make sure that your daughter’s insurance covers out-of-state medical expenses if you don’t live in state. If it doesn’t, please make sure to get a plan that will cover any expenses. Travelers insurance is easy and cheap to get.

If any medical expenses are paid by camp on behalf of the camper, the parent/guardian is required to reimburse camp.

Other Treatment

If a camper requires any other treatment during camp, e.g. dental or orthodontic emergencies, the parent/guardian can pick up the camper and bring her to the treatment, bringing her back when she is finished.

Urgent Care/Hospital Visits

If there is an emergency, camp will consult with our local doctor and decide if she should be brought to the local urgent care, local hospital, or go to a hospital elsewhere. The parent/guardian will be notified.

If a camper C”V needs to be hospitalized for a prolonged stay, responsibility will be transferred to the parent/guardian.

Allergies

If a camper has any type of allergies we must be informed about them before camp. Please fill out the relevant information in the medical form. We will reach out to discuss the best way we can accommodate the allergies.

We cannot take responsibility for anaphylactic allergies.

  • Lactose Intolerance/Dairy Allergy
    • Camp has almond, soy, and rice milk available
    • Any dairy meals will have a dairy-free option
    • Regretfully, we cannot take responsibility for a dairy allergy and therefore will not be able to accept campers with anaphylactic dairy allergies
  • Celiac/Gluten and Wheat Allergy
    • We will have a full menu for those who need gluten-free food that has been kept separate from any gluten products
    • The gluten-free food will need to be requested from the camper’s waitress
  • Sesame
    • If applicable, we will have sesame-free options available
  • Nuts
    • Unfortunately, camp will not be able to be nut-free. Camp cannot take responsibility for anaphylactic nut allergies.

For the campers who require food substitutions including gluten-free options and dairy-free cheese, there is a $250 fee to cover the added expense of specialty food and staff effort to keep the food safe and appetizing for your daughter.

Dress code

All campers and staff receive 8 camp shirts to wear each day of camp. The cost is included in camp tuition. Wearing the camp shirt is mandatory every day besides for Shabbos.

👧 Campers must dress in accordance with the following dress code. In Gan Yisroel Chai, the clothing must look like this:

  • No changes may be made to the camp shirts, including cutting or writing on them for the duration of camp.
  • Shirts cover the collarbone and elbows fully without tugging. Keyholes are closed properly.
  • “Oversized” short-sleeved t-shirts will not be allowed.
  • Skirts cover the knees fully while sitting and dancing, with no slits or openings even below the knee.
  • Clothing isn’t tight or form-fitting.
  • Legs fully covered at all times without gaps anywhere. Socks on top of leggings must be crew length or higher (no ankle socks).
  • Fishnet or lace tights are not allowed.
  • Nightwear is completely Tznius and the standard of Tznius is maintained inside the bunkhouse at all times.
  • Shabbosdike clothing is worn on Shabbos, giving extra honor to our queen.
  • One-piece bathing suits at the pool. Fully Tznius outside of the pool gates.
  • No nail polish or stick on nails allowed.
  • No beads, cornrows, or hair dye in hair.

If a camper has an article of clothing that isn’t part of our dress code, we will hold on to it until the end of camp. 

Tip: try on the clothing you plan to bring to camp before packing it to make sure it still fits and follows the guidelines of camp’s dress code.

Media

👧 Books and magazines that are written and published by frum authors are welcomed in camp. Do not bring any non-Jewish media to camp. Any media that doesn’t align with the camp standard will be taken away and not returned. 

When singing songs together anywhere in camp, only Jewish tunes and lyrics are acceptable. This helps maintain the attitude of respect toward the standards of other campers and contributes to an atmosphere of helping each other grow without outside influences and distractions.

Electronics

👧 Our campers come to camp to form powerful friendships and grow in ways that aren’t always possible during the year. One major advantage we have in camp is that we don’t have any technology distracting our girls. We all know how good it feels to be unplugged and free of the compelling draw of electronic devices. 

We therefore have a very strict electronic policy. We do not allow any devices besides a basic digital camera. This includes smart watches (Fitbits, etc.). If any devices are found, they will be taken away and not returned. We will also have to evaluate if the camper can remain in camp.

If a camper needs to bring an electronic device with her for her trip to camp, her counselor will collect it from her on the first night and give it to the camp office where it will be stored safely until the end of camp.

Other Supplies

For electricity technicalities and fire safety, we do not allow any food appliances such as mini-refrigerators, sandwich makers, hot water urns, or coffee machines. Additionally, we do not allow gadgets such as pocket knives, lasers, or lighters. Any implement deemed unsafe by camp will be confiscated.

If you are bringing a clip-on fan to camp, please make sure it is battery-operated as we do not have sufficient power to accommodate plug-in fans.

Lice

All campers must be lice-free and are checked for lice upon arrival at camp. If a camper has lice in camp, we will charge a fee of $350 minimum to have it removed. Lice removal pricing is dependent on the provider who is available at the time the lice is found, as well as hair length and type.

Calling Home

👧 Each bunk will have an activity to call home once a week. We will email out the calling schedule at the start of camp. We ask that calls are kept short, with a quick check-in that everything is going well.

If a camper requires a longer phone call, she can approach the camp office to request additional phone time at another point to ensure the smooth running of bunk phone calling.

Visitors

👧 The optimal camp experience is undisturbed by outside visitors. For some campers, visitation can severely affect their camp experience. Therefore, there will not be visiting day.

Exceptions are made for unique circumstances, including Bas Mitzvahs or health reasons.

For safety reasons, any visit needs preathorizatoin. Unauthorized visitors will be turned away.

For specific circumstances, get in touch with the directors at:

Leaving camp

Our general policy is that we do not allow campers to leave camp. If a camper has a reason to leave camp, please get in touch with the directors at office@cgichai.com to make special arrangements. Camp will not take responsibility for transportation.

If a camper misses home (we prefer to call it home missing, not homesick. It’s healthy to miss those you love!) and wants to leave camp, we will go through our home missing procedures together with both the parents and camper.

We reserve the right to send a camper home during camp for issues that come up medically, emotionally, or behaviorally. 

We will not give refunds, reductions, or credit if a camper leaves early for any reason.

Packages

👧 Camp is a place for girls to feel equal to their peers; everyone is living in the same quarters and enjoying the same activities. Without trips to the store and exposure to new products, they have an opportunity to be happy with what they have in the present moment. 

We do not accept packages in camp, save for packages with essential items only. Those packages will need to be cleared by the office before a camper receives them.

Please do not send non-essential items, as they will not be delivered to your daughter. This will help us avoid any discomfort on your daughter’s part.

Emails

To send an email to your daughter, please log in to your portal and follow the instructions to email a camper.

Damage

👧 If camp property is damaged deliberately or vandalized in any way, we will hold the camper responsible for the cost of repair. We will not tolerate any vandalism, raiding, or otherwise inappropriate handling of others’ property. Any such behavior will result in immediate dismissal from camp. 

There will be certain areas in camp that will be accessible only to staff, or completely off-limits. A camper who is found in those areas will be immediately sent home.

Bunk Division

While we cannot guarantee all bunk requests will be honored, we make the effort to include at least one request in the bunk of each camper. If there is a large group of girls coming together, it is very likely that they will be divided. Even if a camper only makes one request and we recognize that it will not be beneficial to the bunk structure, we reserve the right not to honor the request. 

Our goal is to bring girls together. If a parent/guardian feels that her child should not be with a specific camper for a valid reason, we will discuss the concerns and see what solutions can be offered. While we cannot guarantee it, we will make an effort to honor that request.

Once in camp, we do not make switches to bunks.

Sleep

Bedtimes must be kept to. Overly late nights result in people getting upset and activities running late. Campers get run down and tearful if they do not have enough sleep!

Campers must remain in their respective cabins after lights out. For safety reasons, a camper found outside her bunkhouse after lights out will be sent home.

Birthdays

If a camper’s birthday/bas mitzvah falls out during camp, we will reach out to the parent/guardian to discuss the celebration options.

Parents are invited to celebrate with their daughter if she has a Bas Mitzvah only.

Food

If concerns about a camper’s eating arise, we will call the parent/guardian to create a reasonable plan together with the camper. If the issue persists, we will ask the parent/guardian to bring the camper home.

Due to the nature of our campgrounds and the animals that we share it with, we will be providing each girl with a 16”x11”x7” closed container to store her food in.

All food she brings to camp will need to fit in the container, as anything outside of the container will invite the mice, chipmunks, raccoons, and foxes into the cabin. Our cleaners will have clear instructions to throw out any food found outside of the containers daily.

Please make sure any food you send with her to camp fits in the container size mentioned above.

Canteen

👧 The canteen is open daily for campers to purchase snacks. 

You can add money to your daughter’s account through your daughter’s portal, or by sending cash with her to camp. (Suggested: $50)

Water bottles will also be available for purchase via canteen. We will not be allowing cases of water bottles on the luggage truck to camp.

Tips

Our counselors and waitresses put in special effort to ensure that each camper enjoys herself to the fullest while in camp. To show your הכרת הטוב, we strongly encourage you to send a tip as thanks. You can send the money with your daughter to camp, or via the portal once camp already starts and you know who your daughter’s counselors and waitresses are. (Suggested: $25/counselor, $15/waitress)

Please remember that showing your appreciation can also be done by verbally saying “thank you,” as well as by making an effort to cooperate and be a team player with all staff members one interacts with.

Spending Money

If you would like for your daughter to have spending money to use on trips, you can send the money with her to keep in her cabin. Camp does not take responsibility for campers’ spending money.

the word chai - Abstract design with green and beige shapes

Name Labels

Please label all clothing and personal items with the camper’s full name. Make sure they are long-lasting and clear. 

👧 Please review with your daughter everything you are sending to camp with her so she knows what she has and where to find it. Please encourage her to be responsible for her things and to check our lost and found if she is missing anything.

Valuables should not be brought to camp. Camp will not be responsible for any lost or damaged items.

Forms

Once your daughter is accepted, you will have a few forms to fill out in your portal. Please ensure that each form is completed before the due date to avoid the late fees. Campers will not receive admission cards to enter camp without all forms completed.  

Mindset

At Gan Yisroel Chai we are committed to an atmosphere of collaboration where everyone — parents, campers, and staff — contributes to maintaining the high standards and growth achieved in camp.

Every activity, Tefillah, shiur, and meal is infused with the mindset of a Chossid who is focused on the Rebbe’s horaos and inspiration to maximize the power of camp for all. We infuse chayus and joy in every aspect of camp, with only the very best, both b’gashmius and b’ruchnius.

Respect

Staff

At Gan Yisroel Chai, our staff are everything. They are the ones who make camp the incredible experience that it is. All staff members are to be treated with respect and deference. Any instructions given by any staff members are to be followed without arguing or challenging.

Property

All camp property is to be treated with respect. Campers are expected to maintain the cleanliness of their personal space as well as the general tidiness in the spaces used in camp.

Fellow Campers

All campers in camp are to be treated with respect, care, and Ahavas Yisroel as the priority of any interaction between campers. Respecting fellow campers includes respecting their personal property and space as well as their overall dignity and character.

Self

Each camper is to ensure that her behavior and choices reflect the fact that she has a precious Neshama and is a camper in the Rebbe’s jurisdiction. A good set of guidelines for such behavior is outlined above and in the camper handbook.