Our Policy
Our Policy
Camper Staff

Camper Policy

Gan Yisroel Chai is an overnight camp geared towards Lubavitch girls from all over the world. Gan Yisroel Chai is an experience that will energize and enliven girls with Yiddishkeit and Chassidishkeit in a setting that is safe and prime for growth and connection that lasts throughout the year. Every participant — campers and staff — contributes to the atmosphere, each member making up the team that is beloved by all.

Our Mission

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.

Mindset

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.

Seder

In Gan Yisroel Chai, adhering to seder is a priority and campers are expected to attend all activities, mealtimes, tefillos, and shiurim in a punctual and present manner.

Respect

Tuition

Rates:

Grades 4-7: $2,700
Grades 8-9 (Teens): $2,900
Grade 10: $1,000

That’s it. No hidden fees for luggage, trips, shirts, or lice check.

Registration fee is $350 and is charged upon acceptance and included in the tuition. The rest of tuition is due by June 1. Payment can be submitted all at once, in two installments, or in monthly installments from February until June. Payment preferences are chosen before the application process is completed and automatic payments are made based on your choices.

If an application is not accepted, the registration fee will not be charged.

How to pay

Registration fee must be paid via credit card on our website. Tuition can be paid by credit card, check, CashApp, or PayPal. Checks can be sent to 793 Montgomery Street #1, Brooklyn, NY, 11213.

Once the registration fee is paid and the applicant is accepted, we won’t be able to refund it after a 24-hour grace window. 

If you pay by check and it bounces, we’ll ask you for a fee of $30 to cover the cost.

We only accept payment in the form of US Dollars.

Click here for our policy for families with alternate payment arrangements.

Registration

Waiting List

If an applicant is not accepted, the parent can choose to place them on the waiting list. If accepted, payments will begin automatically.

Scholarships

If you would like to apply for a scholarship, you will be able to do so when submitting an application. Please see our scholarship page to view the scholarship calculator that determines how much camp is able to grant.

There are a few camp funds that provide scholarships:

Click here to apply for the Chasdei Avrohom Eliezer Camp Scholarship

Click here to apply for the Rivka Levy Camp Scholarship (available to residents of the following zip codes: 11213, 11225, 11203, 11216, 11212, 11233. Applications open after Pesach.)

Grants

If you’re receiving a grant for tuition (from a Federation or the like), get in touch with us to work it out before you lay out the money. We don’t refund tuition after the fact.

In the unlikely event that camp does not meet the requirements needed to receive the grant, the parents are responsible to cover the funds missing.

Cancellation

Once accepted, if one decides not to come to camp, we won’t be able to refund the registration fee after the 24 hour grace period.
Cancellations after March 1 will incur a $150 cancellation fee.
Cancellations after June 1 will receive a refund of tuition only if the spot is taken by the next applicant on the waitlist (camp-determined only).

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

We don’t give refunds, reductions, or credit if a camper comes late/leaves early for any reason. 

When you’ll hear from us

We are so excited for the summer, as we are sure your daughter is, too! With BH so many applications coming in, there is a lot of technical work to take care of. You can expect to hear back from us on January 22 — כ”ב טבת, not a day before! Please don’t reach out to try to get a sneak peek beforehand. 

We reserve the right to decide who goes in each bunk. No acceptance will be contingent on a specific bunking request. 

Waiting list

If lots of girls register and there isn’t enough space in camp, we will open a waiting list. If someone decides not to come to camp, someone on the waiting list will get her spot. So if an applicant gets put on the waiting list, we don’t know when we’ll be able to tell you that she’s in, we really just need to wait. We really hope that everyone who wants to come to camp will be able to.

Bunk Requests

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.

Acceptances

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 

  • 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.

Allergies

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.

Dress Code

All of our staff are trained in the best practices of child abuse prevention. We have developed a protocol together with our advisory board to ensure all campers’ personal safety is upheld and respected.

Personal Safety

The optimal camp experience is undisturbed by outside visitors. For some, visitation can negatively affect their camp experience.

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

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

Visiting Day

Updates to Parents/Guardians

We send all acceptances and updates to parents/guardians via the email submitted in the application form, so please use an active email address when submitting the application. 

If you’re not on the email list and you want to get updates, please make sure to include your email address in the parent profile on your portal.

Once we open applications, the only way to apply is by filling out the application form until the very end and clicking "submit." If you call us to say your daughter wants to come but do not register, it’s not an application.

If for whatever reason we decide that an applicant is not the right fit for our camp, we reserve the right to refuse acceptance. 

By applying, both you and your daughter agree to follow all rules of Gan Yisroel Chai if accepted.

Important Notes

Staff Policy

Acceptance

We’re looking for girls who are responsible, warm, chassidish, caring, and fun to join our team of counselors. Good communication skills and positive energy are priorities for us.

In the application, we ask who you want to be a counselor with. However, you may apply alone if you don’t have a co in mind.

In the event that some switching needs to happen among co-counselors, we will be in touch with the affected counselors directly.

After carefully scrutinizing each application, we will choose the staff that best fit the criteria and needs of camp. We will notify all applicants of their acceptance status via email.

We do take bunk requests into consideration, but we reserve the right to make the final decision of which bunk each set of counselors gets.

Compensation

Our staff are our everything. We treat our staff with the utmost respect and regard and we are there for them at every step of the way. Besides the incredible support they can expect, they also receive weekly gifts and other surprise treats throughout the month. Counselor programs and after-hour events are scheduled often, and staff t-shirts are also provided. 

Staff housing is comfortable and clean, and we make sure our counselors are well-fed. Pay for a counselor is $250 for main camp and $350 for teen division counselors for the month.

We contribute $100 toward the flight ticket expense of any staff member. Receipts must be submitted by the given due date to receive compensation.

Dates

Before camp starts, we have a special staff orientation and training program a day before camp. All staff members are required to be there, and we will only be accepting staff who are able to make it to the training.

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First Session 5785
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Second Session CGI Chai 5785

Job Description

We are looking to accept staff members who are able to be in camp for the entire duration of the session. If a staff member needs to come late to, leave in the middle of, or leave early from camp, she must inform camp when she applies. Camp will discuss with her the necessary logistics to see if we can accommodate her.

Being a דוגמא חיה

Our staff at Gan Yisroel Chai make a priority of being a דוגמא חיה. They recognize that the campers all want to be like them and therefore make sure their behavior is always fitting for the campers to imitate.