Is there a need for another good solid BY sleepaway camp?

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Forum -> Chinuch, Education & Schooling -> Summer Camps

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amother

Tangerine

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 9:01 am

Just chiming in that my daughter is on the border age-wise for sleepaway camp and after exploring all the options, we decided to wait another year and go back to day camp due to lack of options. Basically, some of the camps listed here attract a jappier crowd (cringe, sorry!), too diverse (a month away from home is too long to risk inappropriate conversations, exposure, books that she can’t ‘unpack’ at home with parents the way she could if something comes up in school one day), or are really not cost conscious (pressure for stupid swag as discussed above for no particular purpose, paying out all tips to unknown counselors, waitresses, etc in advance along with camp tuition???!!!).
FYI Plan is pioneers next summer along with a nice chevra from school also not comfortable with Sternberg until that division/age.
So yes. If your camp will fill those gaps, you will be flooded.
As far as the increased demand for July, I really don’t understand it but it is definitely a thing. Not related to when the 9 days fall out. It is consistent every summer regardless of the Jewish calendar. I don’t think 6 weeks is the answer because as was stated above, those girls are stuck after. Can’t get an August job and most families not going to pay for another camp in August that their daughter will miss the first couple of weeks.

↑ seeker

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 9:33 am

One issue with just a 6-week camp is that it's a long time to commit to all at once. Sternberg used to have a 6 week trip and a 3 week trip. A lot of people would go for the 3 weeks the first time and then if they liked camp enough they would go for longer the next year. That also added up to 9 weeks which filled more of the summer since we all know the gaps between school and camp are too long for many people.

Seems like out of NY, especially certain places, start school much earlier in August than the NY schools do. So if you cater to a more out of town crowd then you might find skewing earlier and/or shorter could work. I don't know enough about the market to say; my perspective is all as a single consumer from NY.

amother

↑ Whitesmoke

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 9:44 am

ChutzPAh wrote:

That’s not as lucrative for the camp- they are not making full use of their grounds so I doubt the backers would be interested in this.

If a camp does only first half many boys camp only to second half and rent grounds.
Or some camps split the grounds. Girls first half. Boys second.

Lakee ↓

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 1:52 pm

Hi would love to message you privately but came up as op I am looking a for a job as married staff so if you could be in touch with me I would so appreciate it!!

amother

Acacia

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 3:11 pm

Hi! I never post, but you asked such an amazing question about camps, I MUST reply!! I agree 100% that a nice, normal not happy camp is needed !!!! Sent our girls to what we thought was the most “out of townish” of all the camps, and it was def. jappy, with many campers AND staff wearing Hardtail 80$ shirts and bringing all personalized stuff. Our girls did make friends B”h, but the pressure was on! Sending girls to camp is expensive enough, but having the pressure to spend 1,000$ on their clothing that gets ruined anyway, is so ridiculous!! I hope you, or someone else with talent and gumption will realize this need and start a great, fun, cool, camp without all the silly extras .... I know there is a tremendous amount of pressure amongst camps to “outdo” each other with their activities etc but it’s ENOUGH! If you have an incredible staff that has positive energy and respects the girls, inspiring Shiur, (Which unfortunately isn’t always the case, because so much effort is spent on the professionalism of the songs and swag..) and fun wholesome summer activities, the girls will have an amazing time!! Hatzlacha Rabah!

amother

Quince

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 3:16 pm

We need a camp like Sternberg used to be (at least second half)! No frills, pure fun, but good solid girls.

amother

Plum

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 3:47 pm

Yes. So much yes.
My daughter didn't get in where we initially applied and was waitlisted to all 3 camps.
It was very difficult. We did manage to figure something out but it went through such unnecessary stress.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 4:12 pm

Thank you all for all these amazing replies.

The more I talk to people, the more I’m getting into it. We will definitely be more low key wholesome type. My program director and I both work in Chinuch in a more ootish community and we both get it. The day camp we ran, very much had this reputation but we didn’t own it and the owner decided to shut down and lease the building to another day camp with a guaranteed income. Obviously this won’t happen for this summer but we need to start gearing up now if we want to open registration in October/November.

Please do continue with all of your responses and recommendations.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 4:15 pm

Lakee wrote:

Hi would love to message you privately but came up as op I am looking a for a job as married staff so if you could be in touch with me I would so appreciate it!!

Too early to know how it will all pan out. But I’m sure if we go ahead, you will see ads all over and you will be able to reach out. PR is a very important element in order for a camp to take off.

Beingreal ↓

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 4:35 pm

I would also love to join as married staff. Can you advertise here if you go ahead? I am I don't have access to Mishpacha or Binah.

↑ Lakee

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 4:40 pm

Usually these jobs are taken so quickly and not really advertised that's why I thought maybe we can get first dibs Very Happy

↑ Beingreal ↓

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 5:26 pm

I pmd you.

amother

Clover

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 5:44 pm

There is a big need for something affordable that caters to the oot communities. My dd is only in 5th grade but I've been hearing that if I don't send her next year (going into 7th), she won't be able to get into camp at all. This is a huge pressure since I'd prefer not to send her so young but I cant risk her being stuck at home without summer plans since there is nothing to do locally.
Another pet peeve of mine is that the aguda camps (maarava, MTM, midwest) have a large "in town" presence. I'd love to see a camp that truly caters to oot BY style girls.

amother

Azure

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 6:10 pm

amother [ Clover ] wrote:

Hi this totally some kids aren't ready to go to camp at age 11 but then if you want to go at age 13 and you don't have a sibling who went you are out of luck.

amother

Tulip

Fri, Apr 29 2022, 7:15 pm

Also interested in a camp position! Can you please post an email address where we can contact you?
Thanks!

amother

↑ Daphne ↓

Sat, Apr 30 2022, 10:11 pm

amother [ Clover ] wrote:

my daughter applied going in to 7th, first day application opened up and still didn't get in to maarava or agudah midwest. If you don't have connections or an older sister who went, it's really very hard to get in. consider yourself worned.

and yeah it would be nice if there was a camp that was really for OOT BY style kids. Supposedly maarava used to be and then more and more "in towners" started coming. I don't care where people are from in reality, just what "type" they are. As I said previously we are sending to maayan in the end but realized that some people would want more yesheivish then that.

#BestBubby

Sat, Apr 30 2022, 11:42 pm

I think camps should have uniforms - something comfortable for playing sports.

And limit of two shobbos dresses.

It took about 30 years for Bais Yakovs to adopt uniforms.

Time for camps to get with the program.

↑ Beingreal ↓

Sun, May 01 2022, 8:06 am

I diagree. A dress code is just fine. Adopting a uniform won't make camp fun, but just more stifled.

amother

↑ Daphne

Sun, May 01 2022, 9:34 am

on shabbos someone told me that in her girls' lebavitch sleepaway camp they have these great tznius, comfortable t-shirts that lie really nicely in all different colors and the girls just wear those. she said it makes things so much easier. those t-shirts do sound nice but I also think girls need to be able to wear their own clothing and still get along. for nineth grade I went to a highschool with no uniform and people were very chilled. then I switched to a school that had a uniform and I felt like the kids took clothing more seriously because they had less opportunities to wear their own clothing. I will admit that it might have also been location specific, they were in different places but I don't know...

↑ Beingreal ↓

Sun, May 01 2022, 9:41 am

Wearing the same camp shirts is not such a bad idea...

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