Are there new staff members at camp?  

Each year, Camp Ramah welcomes new staff members to all of our camps. People who are new to camp bring with them fresh ideas and perspective. New staff members find themselves welcomed into the staff community very quickly. During staff week, there are lots of opportunities to meet everyone who works at camp.

When do I have to be in camp?

For staff, the summer consists of a staff week in addition to the eight-week camping season, for a total of nine weeks.Most of our camps require staff to arrive in camp in the middle of June and stay through mid to late August.If you are unable to work at camp for a full summer, there are job opportunities that only require a one-month commitment.

Do I have to be religious to work at Camp Ramah?     

Camp Ramah is the camping arm of the Conservative Movement.All meals provided at camp are kosher, and shabbat is observed. Each staff member is required to attend tefillot (prayers) daily. Men, as well as women who choose to do so, are required to wear kippot as well as tallit and tefillin when appropriate. Regardless of your Jewish religious practice during the year, you need to feel reasonably comfortable working with children in these areas and living within such a religious structural framework. At the same time, you will have the opportunity to explore and expand your religious outlook.

How do I know which camp to work at? Do I get to choose?   

The Ramah camps are found throughout the United States and Central Canada. Campers and staff members are assigned according to region and home community. We try to match up the skills of the staff member with the needs of our various camps.If you have family or friends who already attend a specific camp, you may request to work at that camp.

Who will my campers be?  

Campers at the overnight camps range in age from 9 to 16 and are organized by age group into edot (divisions). All campers live in bunks or cabins of 12 to 15 campers.Each cabin has two to four live-in staff members. Our day camps serve children between the ages of 5 and 10.

Do I need any special certifications to work at camp?

If you work on the waterfront or as outdoor staff, appropriate skill levels and certification is required. We always welcome people who are certified in CPR and First Aid. In some cases, our camps will assist you in increasing your skills by sending you to special courses. 

What is a typical day like at camp? 

The camp day is broken up into different time periods of approximately one hour in length.These periods are devoted to recreational and educational programming such as swimming, arts and crafts, outdoor education, Judaic classes, and Hebrew. Specialist staff work during the majority of these periods as instructors and educators. If you are bunk staff at camp, your primary responsibility is to see that your campers complete their daily routine from wake-up through bedtime.Although counselors do not work as specialty instructors, they are responsible for planning and implementing programming on a cabin and edah (division) level.  

How many campers and staff members are there at camp?

The number of campers and staff vary from camp to camp.At our overnight camps, you can expect to find 400 to 550 campers and approximately 200 staff members. Our day camps serve 130 to 470 campers each session with a staff ranging from 25 people in the smaller camps to 170 people in the larger camps. 

Where will I live while at camp?

All staff members are provided with housing at camp. If you are a bunk counselor or a college-aged specialist, you will live in a bunk with campers. Additional staff members are housed in staff buildings in which you may share a room and/or a bathroom. 

What do I bring with me to camp?  

Along with your staff handbook, you will receive a suggested packing list. Remember to bring clothes that are appropriate for Shabbat.You will need to provide your own bedding and linens as well as personal items and toiletries.Some of our camps provide bedding and linens for staff members arriving from overseas. Camp has many educational resources available, but feel free to bring favorite games and stories to supplement your work with the campers. 

What type of food can I expect?    

Three kosher meals a day are provided in the hadar ochel (dining room).There is always a vegetarian option, and special dietary needs are addressed. The camp provides a snack for staff in the evening in conjunction with the staff activity. Additional snacks can be purchased from the canteen. 

How do I do my laundry?   

Each of our camps provides different accommodations for staff laundry. You may have the option of sending your clothes to the laundry service.In that case, your clothes are usually returned within a day or two. Coin operated washers and dryers for staff use only are available in most camps.

What is Shabbat like in camp?  

Shabbat is a special time in camp that is set apart from the rest of the week by a different tone and schedule. There are services Friday night and Saturday morning as well as havdalah Saturday night. Staff members are expected to observe Shabbat in accordance with the standard of the camp community so that everyone, regardless of religious observance, feels comfortable.In camp, what we wear on Shabbat also reflects the holiness of the day. On Friday night, women wear casual skirts and dresses or nice pants and men wear slacks or nice shorts.

What do staff members do in camp when they are not working?

Each staff member has down time during the day when they are not directly responsible for campers. This time can be used as you please to rest, visit with friends in camp, and take care of personal needs.

What do I do at night?     

After staff members have completed their duties for the day, they often have down time to relax, socialize, or participate in staff program. In the evening, there are different types of staff programs including movies, bar-b-ques, organized sports, karaoke, luau, 60’s night, etc.

When do I have time off?  

Staff members generally receive six days off during the course of the summer.Most staff members receive a designated day each week based upon their role in camp. In other words, all teachers would receive the same day as the other teachers. In addition to the six days off during the summer, there are certain nights when staff members are allowed to leave camp.

How long is a day off?

Each of our camps set the specific timetable for when days off begin and end. The two most common models for days off are the overnight day off and the daytime day off. The overnight day off begins mid-afternoon and concludes around the same time the following day.The daytime day off begins before seven in the morning and concludes at midnight that night.Whether or not your day off is an overnight day off depends upon the camp that you work at.

What do I do on my days off?  

There are many different options for your days off.There are towns and cities nearby where you can shop, eat, see a movie. A wide range of outdoor activities such as hiking and swimming are also available in these areas. Some camps are close to tourist destinations such as New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.

How do I get places on my days off?     

Many staff members bring cars with them to camp and will invite others to join them. In some cases, rides or cars are available to get to town or the nearest bus or train. Sometimes, there are organized staff trips to exciting tourist destinations.

Can my children come to camp with me?

If your children are camper age, they enroll in camp and live in a bunk like every other camper.As a staff member, you receive a discount on your child’s camp tuition for the summer. If your child is not old enough to live in a bunk, there are alternate programs.For children ages 2-7, there is a day program with recreational and educational activities.Younger children must have babysitters while the parents are at their jobs. It is the responsibility of the parent to hire the babysitter and pay his/her salary.A deduction is taken from your salary to cover the room and board for your babysitter. If you need help finding a babysitter, our camps can offer suggestions.

Can my spouse come to camp as well?  

Your spouse is welcome at camp. If your spouse is able to come to camp for the summer, there are a variety of job opportunities available to him/her as well. If your spouse cannot join you in camp for the entire summer, he/she can visit camp on the weekends.

What is it like to work at a Ramah Day Camp?     

The five Ramah day camps provide quality recreational and Jewish educational programming in the context of a day camp. The campers arrive by nine in the morning and leave by four in the afternoon.Our day camps employ a variety of qualified staff members who prefer to live at home for the summer.Camp Ramah in Nyack is unique in that the campers live at home with their families while the staff members live at camp.

What is it like to live at Camp Ramah in Nyack?    

Camp Ramah in Nyack is a great experience for staff members.Your campers go home at the end of the day while you stay at camp.At camp you will hang out with other staff members, plan programs for your campers, and participate in staff programming.All staff members are provided with housing in which you may share a room and/or a bathroom.For more information about laundry, days off, Shabbat, etc., please refer to the overnight section of the FAQ’s.