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Sending your child to Camp can be confusing and difficult. Many times being a first-time parent is scarier than being a first-time camper!
At Camp Solomon Schechter we do our best to make the process easy and painless. Please read through our Frequently Asked Questions and don’t hesitate to call us if the answer to your question isn’t there.
Q: What are the cabins like?
A: Our beautiful, clean, rustic cabins at Camp Solomon Schechter hold 10-14 campers, two counselors, and an Oded (counselor-in-training). All are equipped with a bathroom and shower inside, and a porch area for shoes and wet clothing. There are cubbies in each cabin where campers can unpack their clothing, allowing for a tidy and sanitary living space. The cabins are cleaned daily by campers and staff.
Q: What accommodations are there for campers with special needs?
A: Camp Solomon Schechter’s policy of inclusion means that we try to accommodate as many campers as possible, but our programming is not geared towards campers with special needs. Campers unable to readily communicate with other campers and staff, toilet and groom themselves, or move about the cabin without assistance will need to provide their own integration aid to assist them during camp. It is up to the parents to find and secure the needed 24-hour integration aid for their camper with special needs. Your local Jewish Family Services is often a good starting point, AmeriCorps is another good option.
Q: When do we have to register for camp?
A: We recommend registering your children for camp in fall, as many of our sessions could fill up by winter.
Q: How does my child get to and from camp?
A: Camp Solomon Schechter provides transportation from Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Vancouver, BC, and Spokane. If you are coming from outside one of these locations, you can either arrange to have your child take the closest bus, or you can bring your child directly to camp. If your child requires a flight, we will work with you to arrange an accompanied pick-up and drop-off at the airport.
Q: I want to send my child to camp, but I don’t think we’ll be able to afford it. Is there financial assistance available?
A: Camp Solomon Schechter has limited funds for scholarships. In the Seattle area, the first place to contact for financial assistance is the Jewish Educational Committee at saral@jewishinseattle.org. In the rest of the Northwest, the first place to look for scholarship is in your synagogue, then the Jewish federation and Jewish family services in your area. In the western states first time campers in 6th, 7th and 8th grade that attend a three week session could get scholarship from onehappycamper.org Oregon campers may also contact the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation. If you still need assistance, after trying all these venues, e mail or call the director who heads our Scholarship Committee at our Seattle address, explaining your circumstances, and stating clearly how much assistance you will need before you will be able to send your child to camp. Please keep in mind that most scholarship funds are dispersed in February and that late enrollees may find it difficult to find financial assistance from any resource after late spring.
Q: How do the activity periods work at camp?
A: For our younger, Aleph and Echad campers, our program consists of cabin rotations, where each cabin rotates from activity to activity throughout the session. In our Bet and Gimmel sessions, we focus on individual choice, where campers are encouraged to make choices for themselves, and try several different activities in a session. Campers in these sessions sign up for activities in 5-day rotations, allowing them to challenge themselves and learn new skills at each activity they choose. Look at a typical day at camp.
Q: What if my child has special dietary needs?
A: Camp Solomon Schechter is a Kosher camp, meaning that all food both in and out of the chadar ochel (dining hall) is Kosher. At every meal, we have a vegetarian and vegan and lactose intolerant options. CSS is a peanut and tree nut free facility. Not all specific food allergies can be accommodated by out kitchen. And because we are a kosher facility we cannot allow your camper to bring special food from the outside into camp. Our Kashrut certification requires that all food at Camp Solomon Schechter be purchased and prepared by our kitchen.
Q: We’re going to be driving from Seattle to Portland while our child is at camp. Can we just stop by to say hello to our camper?
A: Open House is the only day during the summer when visitors are allowed at Camp Solomon Schechter. If you would like to see camp and experience camp life for yourself and your family, please consider attending one of our fabulous Family Camp programs! As much as we love all of you, visitors can be disruptive to the camp program and difficult for children who miss their parents. In addition, visitors coming and going decreases our ability to provide a secure and safe environment for your children.
Q: Can my child request specific bunkmates?
A: While registering online you include your campers’ cabin requests. We allow for three requests, we cannot guarantee these, and mutual requests get priority. Please remember that one of our goals at Camp Solomon Schechter is for every camper to make new friends and break down social barriers - therefore, we try to never create a cabin consisting entirely of children from one school or synagogue.
Q: My child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah is in the fall. Can they prepare at camp?
A: Absolutely! At Camp Solomon Schechter we have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring program available. We will set your child up with one of our staff members trained in tutoring, and they will work together throughout the session to make sure your child is prepared for the big day! Please contact the camp office to get a Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring form.
Q: Do I really need to complete the medical form and have my child’s physician sign the form each year?
A: Yes! Washington state law requires that the physician sign the medical form each year, whether or not it’s time for your child bi-annual physical. The medical form needs to be completed each year because our nursing and medical staff rely on it should there be a medical emergency involving your child. Medical forms are kept in our infirmary, away from the camp office, and the infirmary staff will not have time to search for contact information or past medical history in our office files should your child need immediate treatment or emergency care.
Q: Do I have to fill in all the blanks on all the forms each year?
A: No! If you register online our data base will transfer your information next year. Only the medical, emergency, and transportations forms need to be completed in full each year; for returning campers, the registration form and other forms need only have the campers name, birthday, and whatever information has changed in the last year, such as school grade or T-shirt size. (We would prefer the parents fill in ALL contact information as well. Address, all phone numbers, emails, etc.)
Q: Why must all changes be in writing?
A: To help assure the safety and well-being of all our campers, we need all changes regarding enrollment or transportation in writing.
Q: What about mail at camp?
A: The best and fastest way to communicate is through the bunk notes on Bunk1. We deliver bunk notes and send out bunk notes daily. You will be able to write to your camper and your camper will be able to write back through the US postal service, so please make sure your camper has stamps, pen or pencil, and some paper. You will have to sign up for the Bunk1 service, which includes camper e-mail replies (which are faxed to Bunk1, scanned and emailed to you).
For reasons of health (allergies) and kashrut, we do not allow food in any packages being sent to camp, and all packages mailed to campers are subject to search for contraband. Confiscated food is donated to a local food shelter. If you wish to send your camper a package, please consider using a commercial care package service, such as Sealed With a Kiss or The Wrinkled Egg. We prefer commercial packages because we know where they are from and they do not include food.
Q: What if I have more questions?
A: Call us at 206-447-1967. E-mail us at info@campschechter.org. We are here to answer questions and make your camper’s experience (and yours) a positive one.
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©2010 Camp Solomon Schechter