Dear Ramah Nyack Family:
__It is with deep sadness that we announce the cancellation of our 2020 summer camp season.
Each summer, parents entrust us with that which is most precious – their children. The trust is a blessing and the foundation for every decision we make. We made this painful decision after careful deliberation with our camp Steering Committee, the National Ramah Commission, the National Ramah Medical Subcommittee, and in consultation with federal and local authorities.
     Like you, we are incredibly disappointed. We spend our entire year preparing to gather on the migrash, anticipating the stories that will unfold, and looking ahead to building a joyful and wholesome Jewish community. We love camp, live camp, and know that our campers and staff need Ramah now more than ever.
     Although we cannot meet together in person, Ramah Nyack is committed to providing meaningful ways for you and your children to be part of our community this summer. Be on the lookout for a robust schedule of virtual activities in the coming weeks and in the meantime, mark these dates in your calendar:

• Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00 AM is the “first day of camp”! We will gather virtually to dance, sing, and reveal the milat hakayitz (word of the summer)!
• Special delivery during the last week in June: Yes, every camper will be receiving an edah t-shirt and other camp goodies!
• Sha’ar at Home: Sha’ar (Hebrew) Israeli adventures starring our amazing mishlachat each Thursday in July at 3:00 PM.
• Bishul at Home: a cooking elective each Tuesday in July at 3:00 PM.
• Monday Morning Havdalah: singing and Havdalah with Amichai the Music Guy each Monday in July at 9:30 AM.
• Shishi Al HaMigrash: the best dance party of the week each Friday in July at 3:00 PM.
• In addition, fantastic programs from across the Ramah Camping Movement will be listed on the Ramah Ba-Bayit summer calendar.
  

There is no charge for any of these programs.
     Since March, dozens of Ramah Nyack campers and staff have been coming together weekly for a virtual Shishi Al HaMigrash on Zoom. This Friday, May 22, at 3:00 PM, please join us – once again, or perhaps for the first time in a while – for migrash dancing as we give thanks for our wonderful Nyack mishpacha and bring Shabbat in as a community.
     We also know that you, our parents, may want the support of our community. We invite you to join us on Sunday, May 24 at 10:00 AM for a Zoom town hall meeting. We’ll review our decision making process and solicit ideas for virtual programs. Please register to receive the login information. We’ve also prepared a guide to help you navigate your child’s sense of disappointment with the cancellation of camp. 
     We understand that you have a difficult job ahead of you as you share this news with your children. Please let them know that we are here for them, will miss them dearly this summer, and have the same sense of sadness.
     While nothing can replace the lost summer of 2020, we are already preparing for Kayitz 2021. Ramah Nyack’s future will be bright and strong. At the same time, we are facing the difficult reality of losing $1.2 million in fixed costs and $600,000 in capital expenditures, even after making major expense reductions. We applied for and received a PPP loan, and our efforts to secure additional funding sources are in full swing. We assured you that if we could not open camp due to coronavirus, tuition and fees would be fully refundable, and this assurance is still in place. At this critical time, we look to you, our camp parents, to continue your ongoing support of Ramah Day Camp in Nyack. Tuition that can be donated and thereby converted into tax deductible donations is deeply appreciated and desperately needed. Thank you so much for your consideration.

What to expect next:

1. Over the next several hours you will receive a call from a member of our staff or lay committee (they may be calling from a personal cell-phone number). We want to check in with you and answer your questions.
2. Tomorrow, you will receive an email with an explanation on how to redirect your tuition payment into a donation, options to rollover tuition for the 2021 season, and/or instructions for receiving a (full or partial) refund.
3. Save the date for our town hall this Sunday at 10:00 AM.

     Most importantly – we are here for you. Please let us know if there is anything  that we can do to support you. Our entire team is available by phone or email. And please know that as soon as we are able to safely bring people together at Ramah Nyack, we will.

Wishing you good health,
Rabbi Ami Hersh, Camp Director
Amy Skopp Cooper, Executive Director and National Associate Director
Michael Edelstein, Director of Finance and Operations
Matt Binstock, Chair Ramah Nyack Steering Committee

HOW WAS THE DECISION MADE TO CANCEL CAMP FOR THE SUMMER?

Each summer, parents entrust us with that which is most precious – their children. The trust is a blessing and the foundation for every decision we make. We made this painful decision after careful deliberation with our camp Steering Committee, the National Ramah Commission, the National Ramah Medical Subcommittee, and in consultation with federal and local authorities.

WILL YOU BE OFFERING ONLINE CAMP THIS SUMMER?

Although we cannot meet together in person, Ramah Nyack is committed to providing meaningful ways for you and your children to be part of our community this summer. Be on the lookout for a robust schedule of virtual activities in the coming weeks and in the meantime, mark these dates in your calendar:

• Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00 AM is the “first day of camp”! We will gather virtually to dance, sing, and reveal the milat hakayitz (word of the summer)!
• Special delivery during the last week in June: Yes, every camper will be receiving an edah t-shirt and other camp goodies!
• Sha’ar at Home: Sha’ar (Hebrew) Israeli adventures starring our amazing mishlachat each Thursday in July at 3:00 PM.
• Bishul at Home: a cooking elective each Tuesday in July at 3:00 PM.
• Monday Morning Havdalah: singing and Havdalah with Amichai the Music Guy each Monday in July at 9:30 AM.
• Shishi Al HaMigrash: the best dance party of the week each Friday in July at 3:00 PM.
• In addition, fantastic programs from across the Ramah Camping Movement will be listed on the Ramah Ba-Bayit summer calendar. 

There is no charge for any of these programs.

WILL RAMAH NYACK BE OK FINANCIALLY?

Ramah Nyack’s future will be bright and strong. At the same time, since camp tuition comprises almost all of our revenue, Ramah Nyack is facing the difficult reality of losing over $1.2 million in fixed costs and $600,000 in capital expenditures, even after making major expense reductions. We applied for and received a PPP loan, and our efforts to secure additional funding sources are in full swing. At this critical time, we look to you, our camp parents, to continue your ongoing support of Ramah Day Camp in Nyack. 

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TUITION FEES I HAVE ALREADY PAID?

There are three options and you are able to “mix and match” your selection (although we hope you will choose options #1 and/or #2):

1. DONATE: You can DONATE all or part of your 2020 tuition payments in recognition of the work Ramah has already undertaken for families and as an investment in our future. We are grateful that two generous donors have offered dollar-for-dollar matches – one in the amount of $36,000 and another in the amount of $200,000 – so that the first $236,000 raised from camp families can be doubled. We hope you will become one of our Shomrei Ramah – Guardians of Ramah – by joining our community of donors. All donations will be acknowledged with a letter for tax purposes, and, with your permission, be recognized in a special tribute journal. 
2. ROLL OVER: You can ROLL OVER all or part of your 2020 tuition to Summer 2021. In doing so, you will secure your spot for Summer 2021 and not need to worry about camp enrollment at a later date.
3. REFUND: You can elect to receive a full refund of your payments. Families should expect refunds in 4-6 weeks. 

WHAT ARE THE 2021 SESSION DATES?

Full Session: June 29 – August 18
First Session: June 29-July 23
Five Weeks: June 29 – July 30
Six Weeks: June 29 – August 6
Second Session: July 26 – August 18

CAN WE CHANGE SESSIONS IF WE ROLL OVER OUR TUITION TO 2021?

Yes – we understand that your 2021 calendar is still fluid. You will be able to change your enrollment dates at any time.

IS CAMP CURRENTLY OPEN TO VISITORS?

For the safety of our staff and the protection of the property, Ramah Nyack is closed at this time.

All times listed below are EDT.
NOTE: We will email meeting links on the day of the meeting.

Click here for a resource developed by our Directors of Camper and Staff Care (Drs. Marisa Mahler and Elana Weinberger) to help you navigate this disappointment with your children.

Although we cannot meet together in person, Ramah Nyack is committed to providing meaningful ways for you and your children to be part of our community this summer. 

• The schedule is flexible so campers can spend the full morning with Ramah, or choose to participate in their favorite activities. The schedule will remain consistent each week (see below) to make it easy for families to plan. Each Wednesday will be a Yom Meyuchad, a special themed day, starting with Maccabiah on July 1.
• Each week, registered families will receive an email with Zoom links for the sessions. In addition to the weekly schedule, the email will include links to activities that campers can do at other times.
• “Boker Tov, Ramah!” virtual programming is free of charge, but registration is required (see below). We ask that participating families consider making a donation to the Shomrei Ramah Campaign.

Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to support you. Our entire team is available by phone or email.