My wonderful niece was rejected from camp

↑ notshanarishona

Today at 2:34 pm

amother OP wrote:

Of course it's fair . A camper that's been going to camp since they were in fourth grade should get kedima before new campers applying for the first time in 8th grade . How do you think the returning camper got in the first time ? The same way the new camper applying now will get in. A camper that's been to a camp for 4 , 5 years should get a slot before new campers . Once the old campers get slots then they give the opened slots to new campers . That's how it works . A lot of times old campers don't return so there are more slots for new campers . It's only menchlich that returning campers should get priority before new campers . That's how it is in every single camp .

well what about a girl who has been applying every year but never gets in since she missed that coveted slot the first year? Or the girls whose parents can only afford to send them one or two years? Should they never get that chance?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Today at 2:52 pm

amother Mimosa wrote:

You still didn’t clarify did they say no room at all or you can come second half but not first half?

At first she didn't get in at all , then when her mother called they said they can try to make room for her second half . She can't go second half. They go second half to visit family. All her friends are going first half like they've been going for years. Question is , what happened to her first half spot ??

amother

↑ OP ↓

Today at 2:56 pm

notshanarishona wrote:

She can get a chance just like everyone else that applied for the first time. The girls that have been going for a while also had a hard time getting in and some even didn't get in the first year. Proper camp etiquette is that returning campers get kedima. The camp saves their spot when they apply. That's also what priority registration means. Once they register returning campers there's usually a few spots for new campers. The returning campers were also new campers at one point and also had a hard time getting in .

amother

↑ IndianRed ↓

Today at 2:58 pm

notshanarishona wrote:

Isnt that the need that new camps are expected to fill?

↑ Bnei Berak 10

Today at 3:06 pm

amother OP wrote:

I doubt the director of the camp is on imamother. How about sending a mail as suggested?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Today at 3:15 pm

Bnei Berak 10 wrote:

I doubt the director of the camp is on imamother. How about sending a mail as suggested?

That would make the most sense but there's no way to reach the director. No email or phone number. I'm assuming because then they'd get inundated with calls and emails. I'll tell my sister to try and find out the directors email .

amother

Magenta

Today at 3:16 pm

What does a returning camper mean anyways?
If one girl came in 6th and 8th and another came in 7th and 9th, who gets kedima if they both want to come for 10th?

Of course there can be more returning campers than slots on any given year.
It makes sense to so first come first serve.

They should also be keeping up with the growth.
All chassidishe camps add bunkhouses as the numbers multiply.

Why do yeshivish schools not add classes and bunks as time goes on?

We're not in the 90's anymore.
Our communities have grown, and our facilities need to expand as well.

amother

↑ Mimosa ↓

Today at 3:19 pm

amother Magenta wrote:

They have added a lot of bunks the last few years. Why are you accusing anyone if you don’t know?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Today at 3:22 pm

amother Magenta wrote:

If a girl came 6th and 8th and another girl came 7th and 9th then it's fair game . But if a girl came 4th,5th,6th, 7th and now 8th she should get kedima before the girls that came 6th and 8th. I'm not sure why this is such a hard concept to grasp .

amother

Jetblack

Today at 4:11 pm

As a camp staff member, I can tell you that it’s probably not personal to your niece. I don’t have an answer as to why your niece did not get in. I’m sure that she’s as wonderful as you say she is. Unfortunately there’s simply not enough space. And yes, some camps have expanded and are continuously expanding. They are honestly trying to accommodate as many wonderful girls as possible. BH there are lots and lots of wonderful girls in our community.
That being said, I understand that you are frustrated but opening up a thread that will likely lead to LH in a public forum is NOT the right thing to do.

amother

Trillium

Today at 4:23 pm

Raisin wrote:

if she is so wonderful with such great midos maybe she would be happy to know that a first time camper who never got to go to camp is going to camp?

OP didn't say her niece is a malach with superhuman middos...

amother

Cerise

Today at 4:48 pm

The Agudah of Illinois girls camps (Agudah Midwest, Maarava, MTM) have priority registration for returning campers and siblings of campers who attended the previous summer. I really really respect this and it's such a stress off my head. They say straight out that as long as you apply during priority registration period, returning campers are guaranteed a slot pending reference check (not sure they actually call but I guess this gives them an 'out' in cases of behavior problems) and even siblings are given slots before new campers (siblings it says pending space and reference check but they can apply when returning campers apply, before new campers). Yes the flip side is that it does make it harder for new campers from new families to break in. I don't have a great answer to that. But I do see new camps opening all the time. I'm the past couple of years: Livavi, Machaneinu, Menucha, Tal, Bnos Malka, Kesser Shenla. Why can't new campers apply also to new camps?

amother

↑ IndianRed

Today at 5:54 pm

amother Jetblack wrote:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Can you help me understand one thing though? What happened to the returning camper's slot. If she attended last year, and they're are prioritizing returning campers, how did her slot disappear?

amother

↑ Ruby ↓

Today at 6:04 pm

amother Jetblack wrote:

How can a camp not have enough space for returning campers. Bunks move up year to year.
Girls build life long relationships with their camp friends and a relationship to the camp the builds year and after year.
If a girl returns sequential years they need to be guaranteed a slot.
I can’t even imagine starting in a camp that doesn’t offer such security.

I wonder if it is lashon hara bec many ppl do pick camps with the belief that their daughter will continue in the camp year after year creating life long memories and friendships.

There should never be a reason to accept a single new camper over a returning camper.

amother

↑ Lightgray ↓

Today at 6:20 pm

amother Ruby wrote:

You want slot guarantees?

amother

↑ Ruby

Today at 6:23 pm

amother Lightgray wrote:

You want slot guarantees?

There should first be acceptance of returning campers.
Then siblings.
Then new campers. Maybe alumni kids.

But yes all slots go to returning campers before a new camper is ever accepted.

My closest friends today are girls I returned to camp with year after year. From all over the USA. That is how our friendship was built. And then we returned as staff together. I can’t even imagine if one of us had not been reaccepted.

I can’t be the only one that treasures my memories of returning to camp year after year and treasuring the familiarity. And knowing the songs. For some kids camp is a lifeline. To suddenly not accept is very unfair.

amother

Cyan

Today at 6:34 pm

A reasonable explanation is that too many returning campers requested first half, I am assuming your niece did not check off the option to allow a switch to second half since they are going away to family. If 30 kids went last year first half and 30 kids second half and this year 45 requested first half then 15 of those 45 will be rejected if they are not ok with switching to second half.

amother

↑ Lightgray

Today at 6:37 pm

amother Cyan wrote:

Reasonable explanation. Makes sense.