The Truth About Camps – Part III

Dear “Still Recovering from Camp,”

With a heavy heart I read your article on COLive last week, where you wrote about your daughter’s negative experience working at a summer camp.

As the director of Camp Gan Israel in Morristown, I too have unfortunately heard similar tales. Over the years, my staff members have told me of their time working at other camps, both good and bad. I know many Shluchos who run top notch programs and take excellent care of their staff.

For the most part Shluchim are caring and responsible directors and mentors, but I cannot understand how others mistreat these young adults who come to help make their Shlichus a success. These negative experiences may be the reason why so many girls today are no longer looking to be summer counselors – which is an important shlichus and builds character!

This year at the Kinus, I began my camp workshop by saying – My motto is: “If our staff is happy, our camp is happy”. The #1 priority at Gan Izzy Motown is our staff. We pride ourselves on taking excellent care of our counselors, and B”H have seen tremendous results from our approach.

I may work for 10 months planning the most amazing, professional and organized camp; but it’s the staff who are front and center! They are ones who are interacting with the campers and the parents every day. If staff members are happy and are appreciated by the Shluchim they are working with, they will give their excitement, enthusiasm and positivity over to the campers. If they are unhappy, then the whole camp will suffer.

B”H, our camp has been running for over 20 years, and I still keep in touch with staff around the world, some of whom are Shluchim and Shluchos themselves. They now run camps of their own, and tell me how careful they are to treat their own staff the way they were treated here. Our counselors become part of our family!

My husband and I are looking to hire our summer staff, of girls in 12th grade and up. If your daughter would be interested, we would love for her to attend our camp, where we will do everything in our power to ensure she has an unbelievable summer.

Below, I have included our staff FAQ, which I wrote to help answer any questions prospective staff members may have. If she or anyone is interested in joining us and having the best summer of their lives at Camp Gan Israel – Morristown, they are welcome to call me 973-725-7009 or send an email to cdsolomon@aol.com.

Respectfully,
Mrs. Chana Devora Solomon

FAQ’s:

1) How long is your day camp?

Our camp runs for 8 weeks.

2) 8 weeks sounds too long for me! Will I have time to work in camp and enjoy my summer vacation?

We get asked this question a lot. 8 weeks of camp flies by very quickly and the staff never want it to end! Our counselors love our camp so much that they feel it’s not long enough! Every minute is precious and filled with fun and excitement.

YES there is still time after camp for you to have your summer vacation. Many of our girl counselors have toured Europe or Israel (or other such activities) for a couple of weeks before the next school year begins.

3) What is there to do in Morristown?

Morristown is centrally located in NJ – amidst many kosher restaurants, pizza shops and kosher stores with plenty to do for day trips and activities. We are located in the beautiful suburbs yet we are less than an hour drive to Manhattan and Crown Heights and under 2 hours from upstate NY. We plan a FULL schedule of awesome trips and outings for our counselors. You will never have a boring evening or weekend! (Examples of staff trips include White Water Rafting, Horseback Riding, Meadowlands Fair and more…)

4) Some camps don’t pay their staff. Do you?

Yes – we pay our counselors well. We believe that a successful camp depends on our staff, and you guys deserve to get paid! Parents are also (nicely) nudged to tip their child’s counselor at the end of the session. (These can add up handsomely.)

5) What are the living arrangements? Food Situation? Vehicle?

Over the years, we have built a reputation for taking excellent care of our staff. After hours, our doors are always open, and we take any step to ensure you have an amazing summer.

The counselors live together in their own air conditioned, spacious and clean apartment. Counselors are welcome to relax at their apartment after camp, or hang out at the Shluchim’s home.

There is always a great supply of snacks and basic food staples for the counselors to both nosh and make their own food if they desire. Hot suppers are provided each night, and once a week they are treated to eating out at a restaurant. BBQ’s, Shiurim, Shabbatons and Exciting Trips round out the after hour extracurricular activities.

We provide new rental vehices for our staff to use.

6) Will I have a Junior Counselor / Co –Counselor?

The size of your bunk determines if there will be a co-counselor. The younger bunks will ALWAYS have 2 counselors.

7) What kind of background do the campers come from?

About 30% of our campers come from frum families – from our local Cheder here in Morristown. The rest come from all over New Jersey, with modern orthodox day school, public school and non-affiliated backgrounds.

8) How large is your camp? How many counselors are there?

Our camp is divided into three very separate divisions on three totally separate campuses: the Kiddie Camp division (ages 4-5), Boys Camp and Girls Camp (ages 6-13). Depending on the year, the girls division will have approximately between 12-15 bunks.

Out of town counselors (12th Grade and up) will stay in the “staff apartments”. Our junior counselors live locally, while our senior staff /out of towners live in the apartment.

9) How much planning of camp do I have to do? Activities? Trips?

When you come to CGI Morristown – EVERYTHING is already planned and scheduled. From the trips to the daily activities – the minute by minute daily schedule is prepared for you.

ALL you need to do is SHOW UP and have fun!!! (Sounds easy enough right?).

10) Ok, I don’t have to plan the schedule. But surely, I’ll have to run all the activities? (sports, arts n crafts etc.)

Our camp is a professionally run camp. This means we have sports coaches, elective teachers, art teachers, swim instructors etc… Like we said – all you need to do is bring your Chayus, love the campers, and be prepared to have a good time.

11) What are the Shluchim like?

Chana Devora and Rabbi Mendy Solomon have been running CGI for 20 years. But you would never realize it –their excitement and enthusiasm feels like it’s their first year! Chana Devora (CD) lives and breathes camp and wants her staff to love it as much as she does. She works hard arranging special trips, Shabbatons, and after camp activities JUST for her staff.

Young at heart, the Solomons are fun Shluchim who want their counselors to have a great summer and do everything they can (that’s allowed at a Lubavitch organization) to make sure that happens. They are easy to talk to and their doors are open at all hours.

12) What type of staff are you looking to hire?

Counselors (12th grade and up) who are serious about being positive role models – committing themselves to the wellbeing of their campers through love, friendship and care. The counselors’ goal should be giving their campers a safe, fun and exciting Jewish Lubavitch experience.