FAQ

Bedtime and falling asleep at camp are different than at home. We frequently find that bedtime is a time when new campers miss home most. Talk to your child/ren about what it will be like to go to bed without you there to say goodnight. Talk a little bit about bedtime at camp. Campers will be in cabins with between 8 and 11 other campers and 2 or 3 counselors. After the evening activity, campers use the restroom, brush their teeth, and change into pajamas. Then there is usually a short bedtime activity in the cabin such as sharing something they enjoyed that day or are looking forward to the next day, or listening to the counselors tell a story.

At Camp Stein the bathrooms and showers are separate from the cabins in a standalone building. We have two bath houses at camp. Both have recently been refurbished and are very nice. The need to shower and go to the bathroom outside the cabin can take some time for a new camper to get used to. Each bathhouse has multiple toilet stalls (each with a door) and multiple shower stalls (each with a curtain). Talk about going to the bathroom with your camper/s. It is not uncommon for new campers to experience “bashful bowels”. Knowing what to expect can be helpful. If you normally help your child in the shower, go over some ways for them to be independent in that task and practice at home before coming to camp. Counselors will be in the shower house during shower hour but are not able to help kids ‘soap up’ or ‘rinse off’. Have your child practice washing their own hair if you usually do this with them. Help them find ways to check if all the soap has rinsed out afterwards, etc.

We have many items at each meal including multiple options for each meal. There is always a main course that includes a protein, vegetable, and starch as well as the salad bar. At breakfast, cold cereal, yogurt and oatmeal are always available. At lunch and dinner, sun butter and jelly sandwiches are always available. Meals are served family style with serving bowls at the table. Some favorite meals at camp are French toast sticks, bagels with omelets, grilled cheese with tomato soup, chicken nuggets with French fries, and pasta with vegetables. Whole fruit such as apples, oranges, and bananas are always available throughout the day.

Each meal is approximately 45 minutes to an hour in length. We want to ensure every camper and staff member has adequate time to eat their meal.

We do blessings as a camp community before and after our meals, and then share important information for the full community after each meal. This may include reminders about laundry, letter writing, or something special in the schedule.

Each afternoon, we provide a snack that may include items such as granola bars, gummy snack packs, graham crackers or cheese crackers. A couple times each week, every cabin has the opportunity to visit the ‘shuk’ for a special snack in exchange for a letter home. These snacks include popsicles and various candy items.

We are a “nut-sensitive” facility meaning we do not serve anything that is labeled “may contain peanuts or tree nuts”. We do occasionally have ingredients that are labeled “processed in a facility that also processes nuts”. We have a separate serving area in the kitchen & dining room for any food allergies or dietary restrictions. We cater to most dietary restriction including (but not limited to) gluten free, celiac, lactose intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, etc. If your camper has a food allergy or other dietary restriction, please have a discussion with your camper before they come to camp so they understand that they will be taken care of, but their meal may not be on the table with everyone else’s. Be sure to include all allergies and dietary requirements on your camper’s pre-summer forms.

We are kosher style. While we do not have separate cooking facilities for dairy and meat, we do not serve dairy and meat at the same meal. The meat served in camp is not strictly kosher, however we do not serve shellfish, pork, or other inherently non-kosher meats. If a camper would like, we can provide kosher chicken on Shabbat and it will be prepared separately. Please include this with the camper’s dietary restrictions on the pre-summer forms.

Before your child leaves for camp, have conversations about camp. Talk about the normalcy of missing home. Our staff is well trained to support campers who are missing home. If your camper expresses fear around being homesick while at camp, we strongly believe it is VERY important NOT to tell your child you will pick him/her up “if it doesn’t work out”. Have a conversation about strategies to help them understand that it’s ok to miss home, and what they can do or who they can talk to about this while at camp.

We often encourage campers to write home or write in a journal as this can help them process their feelings. A successful summer is about a camper’s ability to pace themselves and to settle into the routine of camp. In the case on ongoing situations which prevent a child from enjoying camp, our Camp Care Team will be in touch with parents to discuss strategies moving forward and keep you updated. We generally discourage phone calls home but in situations of extreme homesickness it can be helpful to put kids on the phone with their parents. 

We have two to three medical professionals on camp at any time while campers are present. Campers have access to see one of the team members throughout the day if needed. Medications are distributed typically four times each day – every meal as well as bedtime. Our team also accommodates other medication distribution times as necessary. If necessary, camp utilizes an urgent care and hospital facility nearby in Prescott. Parents are notified any time a child needs to leave camp for medical care.

On Opening Day, all medications are checked-in with our medical team. Parents also have an opportunity to discuss any questions with one of our nurses at this time. Camp stocks a variety of over-the-counter medications, you only need to send prescription medications with your camper.

The first day of camp has its own special schedule. Once they arrive at camp, they participate in a swim check (we want to be sure everyone is safe at the pool!), they move into their cabin and unpack, have a picnic lunch and start to get know their cabin-mates.

Just before dinner on each opening day, we come together as a camp community to officially begin the session. For campers arriving for Session Bet or our shorter Bonim sessions, they are officially welcomed and introduced to a variety of our staff team at this gathering.

During our first dinner together, campers learn the dining room routine and get used to eating together as a community.

As campers settle into the routine of camp, they will build relationships and participate in fun activities. It’s not unusual for them to feel a little unsure of camp their first day of their first summer. Our counselors are trained in how to welcome our campers and begin building their cabin community right away. They will take some extra time with individual campers as needed to ensure everyone is settling in and having a positive experience at camp.

A packing list and more information about what to bring and what to leave at home is provided with the Parent Manual early in the Spring. Our packing list is based on session length and the laundry schedule. Be sure to pack with your camper. They need to know what they are bringing and where it is so they aren’t surprised or confused when they are unpacking. Be sure to label all belongings as part of your preparation process. When items are left around camp, it’s much easier to reunite them if they have a full name (not only a last name).

We suggest packing in collapsible luggage that has wheels. We store luggage outside of the cabins in storage spaces. We recommend 2 pieces of luggage plus a backpack or other smaller ‘carry-on’ style bag for them to keep with them on the bus.

Our office during the summer is open 9am – 5pm Sunday through Thursday, and 9am – 4pm on Friday. The office is closed from Friday at 4pm through Sunday at 9am for Shabbat. Of course, in an emergent situation our phones are answered 24 hours a day by our security guard when the office is not open. If you need to reach us at camp for any reason, please feel free to call or email. Often times, our office team will take a message and the appropriate person will return your call or email within 24 hours. Keep in mind, during the summer our team is usually out and about on camp, participating in programs and checking in with staff and campers.

We take birthdays seriously at camp so they feel special and celebrated! At lunch or dinner, the whole camp will sing to our birthday campers and their cabin will have cupcakes to celebrate! Some counselors choose to decorate the cabin, so you are welcome to send special decorations from home, too. Please, do not send any food items.

You can also talk to your child on their birthday – we are happy to arrange a phone call! Please reach out to us to schedule the call. One thing to consider: if you believe your camper may miss home more if they hear your voice, you may want to reconsider a call.

Camp communicates with families in a variety of ways. Prior to arrival for the summer, you’ll receive an email with an introduction to your camper’s unit head and a little about what they will get to do while they are at camp. Within the first week of camp, you’ll receive a cabin update along with a cabin photo from your camper’s counselors. We also send weekly emails on Fridays to give you a general recap of the week and ‘goings-on’ at camp. This will include an update from each unit.

If there is a medical concern, one of our medical team members will reach out to you. Any time a camper needs to stay overnight in the infirmary, is prescribed medications by our team, or needs to go off-camp for additional medical care, a member of our medical team will reach out to you.

If we see on-going behavioral challenges with your camper, you may receive a call from a member of our camper care team to provide you an update.

Camp also regularly posts photos accessible through your CampInTouch account. Photos are posted every day except on Shabbat/Saturday. Keep in mind – some campers run to the camera, and others run from the camera at camp.

We use both traditional USPS mail as well as an email option via CampInTouch. When you pack, be sure to show your camper where their stationery and stamps are for their use. We encourage you to pre-address and include stamps on the envelopes. While campers are welcome to write home as much as they like, campers are strongly encouraged to write home two times a week.

A second option is to use the email system included in CampInTouch. This will look like email to you, but letters are printed and given to campers with other mail. When you send them an email, you can also choose to include a ‘reply sheet’ which allows them to write back in a similar way – their letter will be scanned in and will come to your inbox.

Camp has a no package policy: Please refrain from sending packages to your camper. If they have forgotten something specific (clothing, hairbrush, socks, etc.), please call our office before sending anything to camp. Please refrain from sending food, candy, etc. to camp. Packages will be held in the office until your camper’s closing day.

We will never force a camper to participate, but will encourage them to try an activity new to them. Our staff is trained in encouraging campers to participate, and will discuss with them to understand why they may not be interested. The camper’s cabin mates and counselors are there to support one another, and this includes as part of a decision to try a new activity, try to go higher on the rock wall, or even to try a new food in the dining room.

All campers except Bonim have an overnight trip outside of camp. Our Bonim campers have a campout evening program on camp and then sleep in their own beds. All trips occur during the first two weeks of each 4-week session (during the Aleph session). If a camper is not interested in camping out, we encourage you to consider enrolling in a Bet session. As our campers get older, their trips are a bit longer in length. Rishonim and Kadimah travel away for one night, Chavurah will travel out of camp for two nights, and LTP and Ozrim will travel for three nights.

We also visit a nearby lake for canoeing/kayaking. Every camper in Kadimah and older will have the opportunity to go at least one time during their session.

We strongly discourage bringing any electronics to camp as camp is not liable for any damage or loss of an item. We do not allow any cell phones, gaming devices with screens, nor any devices that connect to the internet.

Many campers choose to bring a digital or disposable camera to use at camp and capture fun moments and memories. These are allowed as long as they do not rely on nor connect to the internet.

Some campers like to listen to music or read for a bit before they fall asleep. Any music devices must use headphones and should be a small, individual use device. We encourage small mp3 players or something similar, as long as they do not have a screen with games and do not rely on nor connect to the internet. While we encourage traditional books (and have some in our mini-libraries around camp!) campers are allowed to bring an e-reader (such as a kindle) as long as it does not rely on nor connect to the internet.

If your camper is preparing for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah and needs recordings to practice, we can hold their device in our office safe and provide it to them when they participate in B’Mitzvah tutoring. If you’d like more information about this, please contact our team at camp.