Parent's Manual SECTION FIVE Policies and In-Camp Services Introduction Camp life is a micro-society, catering to the needs of your child, while providing new, unique growth experiences and challenges. While we are not a country club, we do offer some important services which your child can -- and in some cases, must -- take advantage of. We also have a number of policies and behavioral guidelines which we enforce, and which we require that program participants honor. We can not overemphasize your role in making sure that your child knows about, and properly uses, the critical standard services which we offer, and that you arrange for our optional services as necessary. For an enjoyable and beneficial summer, your child should also realize that he or she will be expected to adhere to camp guidelines. Before leaving for camp your child should know and understand what those guidelines are. Services The following is a list of our standard services. For a complete list of our optional services, please consult Appendix B at the end of this manual. Laundry Camp Moshava sends the campers' clothing to a laundry where the clothes are washed, dried and folded. Laundry is sent out once each full week. This is a simple "rough-dry service," not flat-finished or ironed. Camp Moshava does not make up for losses which may occur. Name tapes are necessary. All institutional laundries can, periodically, be very rough on campers' clothes. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you refrain from sending expensive clothing or clothing with restricted washing instructions. Please note that only immediately necessary laundry will be done during the Nine Days. Canteen Camp Moshava has a well-stocked canteen from which campers can purchase refreshments, stationery, stamps, postcards, toiletries, etc. Each camper receives a Camp Moshava T-Shirt as a year-round memento of camp. Each child receives a $25.00 canteen credit. This is for use in purchasing items from the canteen. (This excludes all clothing items, which must be purchased with cash.) It does not have cash equivalence. It is non-refundable, and any remaining balance is not subject to withdrawal at the end of camp as cash or merchandise. You can send additional funds, to be credited to your account, for your child's use in Canteen. Please consult Appendix B for information about this service. Valuables We advise that all extra money that your child brings to camp be stored in the Camp safe. Camp Moshava is not responsible for money not deposited directly with the Camp Office or Camp Canteen account. Please instruct your child to bring their money to the Camp Office the first day of camp, rather than keeping it in their possession. Mail Service Please address camper mail to: Camper's Name Eidah ____________ c/o Camp Moshava 245 Navajo Rd. Honesdale, PA 18431 Mail is distributed once every afternoon. Mail received on Saturday is distributed Sunday afternoon. Division heads and counselors distribute mail to each camper individually. Campers who receive packages are given a note informing them that their package is in the Camp Office. Outgoing mail is picked up from camp every morning. Although our canteen does sell stamps and writing and mailing materials, we suggest that you see that your child has a supply of stamped, addressed envelopes and postcards, ready to be mailed from camp. Camp Moshava suggests that campers write home on Sunday and Wednesday of each week. We try to make sure that campers write home regularly. However, in light of the active camp schedule, we cannot guarantee that this will always happen. Please be sure to write often to your child. There is no one as lonely at mail call as a child who never receives mail from home. Food and candy parcels sent from home, while being a joy to receive, create a special problem, as food and candy left in cabins attract raccoons and mice. Campers receive nutritious, full meals daily, and can purchase treats from canteen. We emphatically request that parents not send food packages. E-mail Policy INTRODUCING BUNK NOTES (ONE-WAY CAMPER EMAIL) We are excited to tell you about our partnership with Bunk1.com. Bunk Notes, Bunk1’s secure, easy to use, one way camper email service let you stay in touch with your camper all summer long. As we get closer to camp, we will mail you more detailed information about the service. In the meantime, here are the answers to some questions you might have. Why are we changing camper email services? Some of you may know that we previously allowed you to send camper email through our business email account. It has become too cumbersome and time-consuming to continue processing camper emails in that way. This new program will provide much better and more effective service. No other e-mails will be distributed. Will I have to pay to send Bunk Notes (one-way email)? There will be a charge for using the Bunk Notes service. Each morning, the Bunk Notes system bundles and sorts the messages for us to print out and distribute to campers. It also protects us from computer viruses and allows us to easily manage these emails. Can other relatives use these services? Certainly. Once you have set up your account, you will be able to invite other people to access these services. How do I sign up for Bunk Notes? Click here to sign up for Bunk Notes and follow the instructions on the page that opens. Campers are NOT allowed to have or use cell phones. Cell phones will be confiscated and sent back to parents. Additional Email Addresses: - TVI: TVI@Moshava.org (Finished 11th grade) - Staff: Staff@Moshava.org (Camp Staff) - Office: Office@Moshava.org (Office) - Director: Alan@Moshava.org (Office) Haircuts Please have your child's hair cut shortly before leaving for camp. Haircuts are not available at camp. Policies and Guidelines Camper Participation and Cooperation Summer camp offers opportunities and experiences that will lead to the growth and development of your child, while he or she is having an enjoyable and exciting time. However, to ensure a positive and safe camping experience, we must have the full and active cooperation and participation of your child. Please make sure to discuss the following central issues and guidelines with your child before his or her departure for camp: Camp is a very active place where campers are required to attend all activities. Campers may not remain in cabins during activities. Campers should understand that summer camp's relaxed, informal environment is not to be confused with disrespect or vulgar language. We expect speech and attitudes consonant with our educational, religious environment. Respect for counselors, supervisory staff, fellow campers environment and camp property is an important axiom of summer camp. No child is permitted to leave camp, at any time, except on organized, authorized, supervised camp trips. Any child leaving camp grounds without proper supervision and authorization will be automatically sent home immediately. Campers are expected to behave responsibly and safely. This includes avoiding areas which are off limits without proper supervision and authorization. These areas will be pointed out to your child upon his or her arrival at camp. Your child is not permitted to bring any items that present potential danger to others. These items are spelled out in section three of this manual, in the subsection "Items not to Bring." Any child found to have gone, without proper supervision and authorization, into an area designated off limits, or found starting a fire for any reason other than at a campsite under supervised conditions, will be automatically sent home immediately. The possession, in camp, of items that present potential danger to others, is grounds for immediate dismissal. Please review the dress code, detailed in section three of manual, with your child. Without permission of the supervisory staff, no camper is allowed in a bunk other than his or her own. In addition, girls and boys are not permitted on each others' campuses except during the normal course of organized, supervised and authorized camp activities. Upon his or her arrival at camp, your child will receive a thorough orientation. Please advise your child to carefully listen to this orientation, and to ask questions about anything which he or she may not understand. Parent - Camper Guidelines The following are a number of guidelines which govern parent - camper interactions during the camp session: Telephone calls. Telephone calls from campers are greatly discouraged, and must be authorized by our supervisory staff. These calls often lead to expressions of emotion that reflect momentary, immediate needs and can cause unnecessary worry. These phone calls also tend to disrupt our camp program. The desire to call home can take children away from activities, and lead to discipline problems. The size and nature of camp does not permit us to call children to the phone. Parents, of course, may always speak with the director, doctor, nurse, head counselor, etc., whenever necessary. Our switchboard is open 9:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. daily. The phone number at camp is (570) 253-4271. After 8:00 P.M. you may leave messages on our answering machine. We will gladly return the call the next day. You may also leave messages for your child with our office staff. Camp Moshava does have a fax machine, available for business-related uses. To send a fax, please call the camp to make the appropriate arrangements. Cellular Phones. Campers are NOT allowed to have cellular phones at camp. Please do not send a cellular phone with your child to camp. Photograph Policy. Moshava has a web site where photographs of campers and staff will be displayed. Moshava purposefully does not label these photographs with the names of those in the pictures. Moshava does not post mailing lists or e-mail addresses of campers or staff on the web site either. Moshava understands that parents give permission and consent for such photographs to be used and published on our web site or newsletters where they are used to illustrate, promote and advertise the camp. Any parents that object to the use of photographs that include their children should send a letter stating their objection the camp office. Emergency Calls. In case of extreme emergency only (after 9:00 P.M.), please call (570) 253-4273. We do not accept non-emergency calls on this line. Our answering service will only put you through in emergency situations. Visits. Visits at times other than the designated hours of visiting day are not permitted. Please do not just arrive on another day, as visitors will not be allowed into camp. Please help us prevent these very unpleasant situations. Graffiti and Damage. Campers and their legal guardians will be held responsible for any damages that they may cause Moshava as a result of a violation of camp rules, regulations or the instructions of the supervisory personnel. There will be an automatic $25.00 charge for each incident of graffiti writing on walls, tables or any other camp property. Taking Children off Campus. With the exception of visiting day, children may only be taken off campus as part of authorized, organized and supervised camp activities. On visiting day children can only be signed out, and taken off campus, by legal guardians during visiting hours. Visiting Days Visits are limited to visiting day, which is held once each session. This summer, the Visiting Days are: 1st Session: Sunday, July 13, 2008 2nd Session: Sunday, August 3, 2008 On Visiting Days we cordially invite parents and friends to visit our camp during designated visiting hours from 11:00 A.M. E.D.T. to 5:00 P.M. E.D.T. Visitors are not allowed to enter camp before 11:00 A.M. E.D.T as children and staff are busy preparing for your arrival, and are not allowed to receive visitors and leave the campus. A special program is conducted affording parents the opportunity to observe camp activities, inspect the camp facilities and speak with counselors, support staff and administrative staff. You will receive additional details in the mail at least one week prior to visiting day. Directions to camp can be found in Appendix C of this manual. We ask that you also respect the following additional rules which govern visiting days: No children are allowed to leave our grounds unless signed out by a legal guardian, with the knowledge and written authorization of the Division Head. Grandparents, siblings and other relatives are not legal guardians and will not be allowed to take a child off camp grounds unless written authorization from the legal guardians has been received in our office in advance. Pets cannot be brought on to camp grounds. Cars must be parked in designated areas, and are not permitted on campus. Visitors are not permitted to use the lake or pool without proper camp sponsored supervision. Insurance regulations prohibit visitors from using these--or any other camp recreational facilities-- without supervision. Visitors are expected to respect our visiting day hours. They are required to wait until 11:00 A.M. E.D.T. before entering the camp, and are requested to leave by 5:00 P.M. E.D.T. Children must be legally and properly signed out to be taken off campus, and must be returned to camp by 5: P.M. E.D.T. Staff Members must sign out with their supervisors in order to leave the campus. Because of important staff responsibilities on Visiting Day, there is no guarantee that any staff member will be able to leave camp, or receive visitors. Counselors are NOT allowed to leave campus on Visiting Day. Please do not leave food and candy parcels with your child. Food and candy left in the cabins pose a health and safety hazard. Our canteen is open on Visiting Day, and snacks, drinks and sandwiches are available for purchase. Visiting Day can be enjoyable and rewarding. They do, however, pose their own special problems-- with many individuals coming from far away with their own interests and agendas. Our guidelines are designed for your protection, for the safety and welfare of camp residents, and for the general benefit of all our visitors and camp residents. We strictly enforce these guidelines. Your cooperation and adherence to these rules will help make for an enjoyable day for all. In Closing As you can see, this manual contains a great deal of important information. We think that you will find it a useful reference tool, and ask that you become familiar with its contents. We hope to hear from you soon with any questions which you may have about any of the contents of this manual. Our office is open during Business hours, from Monday through Thursday, except for legal and Jewish holidays. You can reach us at (212) 465-9021. In the months and weeks that follow, you will receive regular correspondence and additional material from us. These, along with this manual, are designed to optimize your child's summer experience, as well as ease your preparation for camp. The appendices which follow contain helpful lists, coupons and preparation tools. Please look them over, and save them for future use. Thank you for your patronage and cooperation. Our staff looks forward to serving you and your children this summer.   Click here to return to Parents' Manual Index Home/ Virtual Tour/ Basic Info/ Forms/ Photos/ Staff/ TVI/ email