Spotlight on New Campers

• April 3, 2023
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Campfire Chats: April 2023

How has your background prepared you for your roles as the Rashei Edah (division heads) for our youngest chanichim (campers)?

Naomi: Having taught Kindergarten for more than a decade, I understand how “big” it feels for children (and their grown ups) to transition to camp and school. Many firsts happen at camp and it’s a privilege to be a part of them. We hold their little hands (literally and figuratively) and guide them, and their families, along the way. 

Abra: As an early childhood educator and lifelong Ramahnik, I know that camp can be transformative for children and their families. The personal growth that happens is powerful and sets them up for success in the classroom. I’ve seen firsthand how the benefits of a strong camp experience can prepare children for school, and beyond. Also, unique to my work at camp is making connections with families as they begin (and continue) their Jewish journeys. At Ramah Nyack, we instill a love of living Jewishly that will last a lifetime.

What do you love most about serving in your camp roles?

Naomi: Everyday is an adventure! I wake up each morning excited for what the day will bring. What silly things will the chanchim say and who will make me laugh the most? What will they wear to camp today and what games will they want to play? Because when it comes to 3 and 4 year olds (some of whom haven’t even started school yet), you just never know what to expect! I think what I love most about my role as Rosh Nevatim (children entering pre-K in the fall) is the interaction between the madrichim (counselors) and chanichim. Our madrichim learn and grow so much from the beginning of the summer with Shavuah Hachana (staff week) to the end of camp. They serve as role models to our chanichim, and over the course of the kayitz (summer) they develop trust and meaningful relationships, which is amazing to see unfold. 

Abra: Our chanichim change and grow (socially, emotionally and literally!) in a very short period of time, and I love being a part of their special camp experience. They come to Ramah Nyack with a great sense of curiosity and wonder. By the end of the kayitz (summer), they’ve explored every nook and cranny of camp, have found the activities that bring them the most joy, and have even found the areas on the migrash that speak to their personalities. For example, some chanichim begin dancing as soon as they step off of the bus in the morning and continue to do so, front and center on the migrash, while others prefer to sit on the grass with their friends until Ami greets everyone with “Boker Tov, Machane Ramah!” 

In your experience, which topics are asked about most frequently?

Naomi & Abra: We are in total agreement: packing & what to wear and snack & lunch are the topics that we are asked about the most!

Packing & What to wear: 

• Label, label, label! First and foremost, we ask that families please make sure to label all items that are sent to camp with both first and last names (no need to include the edah or bunk on the label). Clothing labels/stickers are great, or, a waterproof/laundry Sharpie does the trick as well. Chanichim will inevitably lose something along the way – it happens to everyone – but if items are labeled, we can return them more easily. In fact, we have an incredible Lost & Found, which our madrichim check often. The likelihood that an item will be returned is far greater if it has been labeled! 
• Come to camp in a bathing suit! All chanichim should come to camp wearing a bathing suit. Even if the sun isn’t shining (yet) when they leave in the morning, the sun will likely show itself and we want to maximize our swim time. Wearing a bathing suit to camp eliminates the need to change for the swim perek (period), and significantly reduces the time it takes to get ready for the pool. This is both a huge help to our madrichim and it means more time for our chanichim in the water!
• Send one extra outfit, just in case we need it. We ask families with younger campers to send an extra outfit (labeled!) to camp on the first day, which we will keep on-hand and will use as needed. This means: one shirt, a pair of shorts, underwear and a pair of socks. If we need to use the extra outfit for any reason, we will let the chanichim’s family know, and will ask them to send in another extra outfit the next day. 
• A “wet bag” is vital! Sending in a bag (a reusable bag, a disposable shopping bag, or a ziploc) to be used for wet clothing is really important, because it will keep everything else dry. Chanichim often bring home beautiful projects that they’ve worked hard on in our specialties – from Etz (wood working) to Ceramica (ceramics), Omanut (arts & crafts) and more – and we want their projects to arrive home intact. 
• Personal items stay at camp. We keep sunscreen, goggles, and other personal items (e.g., hair brush) in camp. Just please label, label, label! If our chanichim run out of sunscreen, we will let their families know.
• Please, please wear sneakers! We realize there are many options for footwear these days, and every summer, we are asked about many of them (e.g., Crocs, Natives, Keens). While these summer styles are great for the weekends, we strongly recommend chanichim wear closed-toe sneakers and socks everyday to camp. We are very busy at camp! We play sports, climb, play on the playground, dance on the migrash, run and jump, walk across the gesher (bridge)… and sneakers are, by far, the best and safest footwear option!!!
• The daily camp packing list to keep handy:
  • Please label all items!
  • Lightweight backpack
  • Bathing suit (wear first bathing suit [and socks] to camp)
  • Shirt
  • Shorts
  • Hat 
  • Sunscreen 
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Swim goggles (optional; not required)

• What NOT to bring to camp:
  • Food of any kind (Important note: Ramah Nyack does not allow food to be brought into camp for the safety of our community members who have severe food allergies.)
  • Electronics
  • Medication (for those chanichim who need to take medication during the camp day, information about how to handle this will be shared by the Ramah Nyack Medical team before camp begins)

Snack & Lunch: 

• Ramah Nyack provides all chanichim and madrichim with delicious and nutritious kosher snacks and lunch everyday. Our kitchen and pantry are always fully stocked with tons of variety, to satisfy even the pickiest eaters! We understand that it may be a little nerve-wracking for parents/guardians if they aren’t packing lunch and snacks for their children, and especially for those with food allergies. Our Dining & Food Service Manager, Doritte Ron-Kaner diligently makes sure that our community is safe. Doritte talked about Ramah Nyack’s approach to food service in this Campfire Chat blog post. 
• Chanichim eat a complete lunch, and end the day with a sweet treat, like glida (ice cream). We are always happy to connect with camp families about specific food issues or concerns. We also encourage chanichim to drink plenty of mayim (water) throughout the day, and we regularly take mayim breaks. Chanichim are asked to bring a reusable, labeled (!) water bottle to camp every day.

How do you help new chanichim adjust to Ramah Nyack?

Naomi: This is a tough question because each child is so different! But, the first week of camp we are very intentional about how we get to know the chanichim, and about how they get to know one another and their madrichim (counselors). We play “getting to know you” games, so everyone feels comfortable. 

Abra: During shavuah hachanah (staff week), we focus on how to help children get comfortable in new environments and with new people. Our madrichim are incredible role models. They are super active, and engaging and it really puts chanichim at ease, allowing them to jump right into activities. The madrichim set the tone, and because they are excited about camp, our chanichim are excited about camp! Also, understanding the “lay of the land” and what activities are planned for the day really help our chanichim adjust to being in camp. So, with this in mind, each morning the madrichim go over the schedule of the day with each tzrif (bunk) and the camp rules. 

If parents/guardians have questions for madrichim, what is the best way for them to get in touch?

Naomi & Abra: Parents/guardians should call the main office and note who they would like to speak with, and the office team will pass along the message. Our team will get back to parents very quickly – certainly within 24 hours.

Do you have any helpful tips to share, particularly for new camp families?

Naomi: Trust. Trust that we absolutely fall in love with our chanichim and will always do everything in our power to help them have an amazing experience and for them to grow to LOVE camp! 

Abra: As we always say, the sign of a great camp day is when chanichim go home dirty and tired! It means they’ve explored, tried new things and had fun! They may not immediately share details about their camp day right away (especially if they’re very tired), but do not worry…they will share!

Will you be at Ramah Nyack’s Camper Orientation on Sunday, June 25 (details to follow)? 

Naomi & Abra: YES! 

Naomi: Camper Orientation is especially wonderful for the youngest campers who may not have ever stepped foot in the camp. It is important to feel as comfortable and confident as possible on the first day of camp, and orientation provides this opportunity. Chanichim will meet their counselors, see where their cubby is, and meet new friends. Personally, I love meeting the parents at orientation–it puts a face to the voices with whom I will spend my summer!

Abra: It is one of my most favorite days of the year!  Everyone is so busy with the craziness of June- school ending and camp beginning! Somehow there is always rain in the forecast and then the sun comes out right when all of the camp families arrive!  I always have butterflies in my stomach, excitedly awaiting the Kochavim campers! 

If we add up all of the summers that each of you and your own children/families have spent at Ramah Nyack, we are looking at an impressive 18 (chai!) years! Why do you keep returning to camp? Please share your “why Ramah Nyack”!

Naomi: We are a Ramah family – through and through – even though we have only been at Nyack since 2018, when my oldest entered Kochavim. When we moved to Rockland in 2015, it was exciting to KNOW where our kids would be spending their summers, since Ramah is who we are. Though I grew up going to Ramah Berkshires, the moment I walked onto Ramah Nyack’s migrash for the first time, I knew there was something magical happening here. 

Abra: There is something magical that happens. Young campers experiencing Judaism and Zionism. Young adults experiencing what it means to be a role model. Everyone who enters this sacred community is experiencing something more than just summer camp. Everyone is their best self at Ramah Nyack!

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Naomi Saposh, Rosh Nevatim
Naomi (nickname: Nomi) taught Kindergarten for 13 years, first at the Rodeph Sholom School in Manhattan, and more recently at Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County. This past year, Nomi took a pause from teaching to pursue another one of her passions and launched a business dedicated to personalized gifts, Nomi Knows Gifts! Nomi earned an MA in Administration and Supervision, and an MS Ed from Hunter College, as well as a BFA from FIT. 

Nomi was bound for Jewish education thanks to the strong foundation that began at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires (CRB). In 1993, she started spending her summers at CRB along with her mother and three sisters. Nomi immediately fell in love with camp and really liked being a “staff kid” in the Gan, even before becoming a camper. Nomi met her husband, Ari, at CRB and their closest friends were their bunkmates. In addition to her many years as a camper, Nomi worked for five summers on staff at CRB. When Nomi and her family moved to Tappan several years ago, they knew that when their oldest, Jack, was ready for camp, they would send him to Ramah Nyack. Nomi really loves spending her summers at Ramah Nyack, and she is thrilled that all three of her boys have also had the experience of being a “staff kid.” This summer, her youngest, Rafi, will be in Nevatim!

Abra Goldemberg, Rosh Kochavim
Abra has taught at Beit Rabban Day School in Manhattan for the past five years. Previously, she was the Early Childhood Jewish Education Director at Temple Israel, New Rochelle. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Director of the Rosenthal JCC’s Early Childhood Education Program in Pleasantville, NY. In this role, Abra supervised all aspects related to the provisions of Early Childhood and Early Intervention Services. Abra earned a MS Ed in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education from Hunter College and a BS in Child Development and Psychology from Syracuse University.

An educator with more than two decades of teaching experience, Abra is passionate about her role as Rosh Kochavim, and takes great pride in serving as a sounding board for parents and families. She first fell in love with Ramah Nyack when she spent a summer on tzevet (staff) during her college years. That initial experience made a great impact on her, as a young Jewish adult beginning to map out a career in education. Several years later, Abra and her husband Michael planted roots in White Plains, N.Y., conveniently located only a short drive over the bridge from Nyack. When their eldest son Judah was of age for Kochavim, Abra was excited to join him and return to Ramah herself as commuting staff. A self-proclaimed “camp person,” Abra sought an even more immersive experience and jumped in with both feet to take on the role of Rosh Edah (Division Head) of Kochavim, and she’s worked in this role for more than 10 years.