COVID-19 Update for Camp Parents & Staff
Dear Ramah Poconos and Ramah Day Camp Community,

It is with deep and profound sadness that we announce the cancellation of our previously-planned, in-person programming for Summer 2020 at our day camp and our overnight camp, including our Tikvah Family Camp and our Alumni Weekend. 

Words can’t express the sadness of having to do this for the first time in the 70-year history of our organization.
This is a decision we make with both broken hearts and clear minds. This is a decision born from one of our most sacred and core values as an organization: the health and safety of our camp community. 

Based on the advice of our medical directors, and in consultation with our Board of Directors, we agree that the safest course of action is to cancel our camp season at this time. With the health of our camp community as our top priority, we believe it is no longer possible for us to move forward planning for a typical, even if abbreviated, camp season. We continue to hold out hope for the potential of limited programming later in the summer.

We know how much Ramah means to all of you and that you share in the profound pain of this decision. We are broken-hearted for our entire Ramah kehillah . This is a time when we need one another, and we’re here for you. We’re sharing resources to help you talk with your child(ren) about this decision, as well as details about upcoming Zoom calls for you and your camper(s). This information is outlined below, and is available on our website.
A Message From Our Day Camp Director
Staying Connected and Supporting Each Other
We are here as a source of comfort when we all need it most. Please take note of the details and resources on our Camp Cancellation Page , which lays out the various opportunities for our camp community to come together and support one another.
Camper Zoom meetings by edah (camper divisions)
Community-wide programming
Town Halls for parents to hear from camp leadership
Financials
We will be sending an email next week to camper parents outlining the options for tuition donations, roll-overs, and refunds. It is important for our entire community to understand the significant financial impact this decision has on our not-for-profit organization. 

Supporting our year-round professional team, our maintenance crew, and the upkeep of our campuses, are all costs that rely on camper tuition. We are asking all parents to consider donating all or a portion of their paid tuition to camp at this time. All tuition donations made back to camp will be generously matched dollar for dollar because of the support of a generous donor family, our board of directors, and the All Together Now fund of JCamp180 and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.  
Thank You For Being Our Partners
We want to offer thanks to you, our parents, campers, staff, alumni, and stakeholders, all partners in our holy work. Although we are broken-hearted, we offer these words of belief from our daily prayers which proclaim that “God is the healer of the broken-hearted, God is the binder of their wounds.” We believe in these words.  

Most of all, we believe in the power of our Ramah community. We believe we will find a way to make Yesh Me’Ayin - something out of nothing. And we believe that “Bein Richsei HeHarim,” nestled among the mountain ridges is our own little pearl of glory, Machaneinu Ramah, and she will be waiting for us when we return. 

This is a l’hitra’ot (see you later), not a goodbye. Just as we have for the past two plus months, we will continue to invent new and meaningful ways to bring Ramah into the life of your family this kayitz . We will be in close communication in the coming weeks with our plans for various programmatic offerings we hope to offer you, your family, and your community this summer. 

With heartfelt blessings for Shalom u’Vriyut,

Debbie Albert
President
Rabbi Joel Seltzer
Executive Director
Click here to see all of our previous COVID-19 updates for camp parents.
WINTER OFFICE
 2100 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.885.8556
SUMMER OFFICE
2618 Upper Woods Road
Lakewood, PA 18439
570.798.2504