Family Handbk 2016 The Jewish Cmmunity Center is an agency f the Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federatin and a member f the JCC Assciatin. Charltte & Dick Levin Jewish Cmmunity Center 1937 W Crnwallis Rd Durham, NC 27705 Telephne 919-354-4936 Fax 919-354-4960 www.levinjcc.rg/camp
Welcme! Welcme t the Levin JCC Camp Shelanu 2016! We are s excited t be ffering many new features at the Levin JCC this summer - Lk fr this symbl fr new changes: Yu have entrusted us with the care f yur mst precius valuables yur children! We take this respnsibility seriusly, and ur qualified, dedicated staff members are lking frward t 10 great weeks f psitive camp experiences. As the summer prgresses, we welcme yur thughts and suggestins at any time. We are always lking t imprve ur camp prgrams and find yur feedback extremely valuable. Please feel free t cntact us with any cmments, suggestins r cncerns. Please check yur email regularly, as this is ne primary way we cmmunicate abut activities, field trips, news, and ther critical infrmatin. Camp Directr Madeline Seltman, MSW is riginally frm Pittsburgh, PA, Madeline spent five summers f her childhd at JCC day camp.. She is als a certified yga teacher. She started getting t knw the Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Cmmunity as a scial wrk intern at Jewish Family Services in 2009 and has been running Camp Shelanu since 2011. Her family are als friendly faces at the JCC her husband Jhn des Maintenance and bakes the challah n Fridays, her three-year-ld, Azalea, is next dr at Lerner Preschl Camp, and her baby Kl is in the JCC Childcare every mrning. Cntact: mseltman@levinjcc.rg, 919-354-4938 Assistant Camp Directr Jillian Lea is riginally frm Graham, NC. She has a Masters in Arts Administratin frm Indiana University. She spent many memrable summers at day and vernight camps. She started at the JCC in February and is excited t jin Camp Shelanu this year! She is a ygi, a crafter, a sewer, and an astrlgy lver. Cntact: jlea@levinjcc.rg 919-354-4948 Manager n Duty phne (urgent issues nly, please): 919-354-4975 Registratin changes and general questins/issues: camp@shalmdch.rg
Prgramming Judaism The JCC believes that sharing Jewish culture with ur campers is a central part f the summer camp experience. Using sng, dance, drama, and art, the cultural heritage f the Jewish peple can be brught t life. This is a great pprtunity fr Jewish campers t learn mre abut their heritage and fr campers f ther backgrunds t learn abut anther culture. There is n religius instructin r discussin f thelgy at camp, and we make every effrt t make all campers feel welcme and included. All JCC prgrams are pen t anyne wh wishes t participate, regardless f religius affiliatin. Activities JCC Camp Shelanu ffers a variety f camp activities including arts & crafts, sprts, exciting field trips, instructinal (traditinal camp nly) and free swim, cking, Israeli culture, nature, music, and mre. Swimming Campers enrlled in traditinal full day camp will have free swim daily and three 30-minute lessns per-week with campers f similar swimming ability (weather permitting). Lessns are taught by swim instructrs, with cunselr supprt when needed. Campers enrlled in specialty camps will have free swim daily (weather permitting). Each camper will be required t take a swim test t assess their swimming ability. Yu can see full pl plicies, including swim test prcedures, at http://levinjcc.rg/aquatics Nn-swimmers will stay in the Family Fun pl (depth up t 2 feet). The JCC will make these available t thse wh need t wear ne. Shabbat Every Friday campers celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat welcming the Sabbath. This celebratin cnsists f making and braiding challah (traditinal bread), creating a Shabbat-themed craft, singing Jewish sngs, telling stries, and giving ut camper awards. The JCC recgnizes that ur campers cme frm a wide range f Jewish and nn Jewish backgrunds. All Jewish/Shabbat related activities are explained s that all campers will feel welcme, included, and able t participate. We will have a Shabbat sng sessin at 3:00 p.m. n Fridays. Families are welcme t jin us! Chugim (Chices/Electives) Traditinal camp 2 nd -5 th graders and Middle Schlers have chugim (chices/electives) each week. Optins will vary week t week and will include activities like sccer, Ultimate Frisbee, aerial silks, languages, beading, jurnalism, and mre, taught by cunselrs, specialists, and cmmunity members. The summer lng schedule will be psted nline in June. Yu will get an email the week befre with a frm where yu can see the ptins, discuss with yur child, and rank yur first, secnd, and third chices by Thursday night. Staff will make every effrt t
accmmdate preferences fr ranked chices submitted n time. Yur camper will find ut their chug n Mnday and they will be in that chug fr an hur Tues, Weds, and Thurs. Aftercare Enrichment Campers in aftercare in rising 1 st -5 th grades have the ptin t register fr a JCC enrichment class Mn-Thurs, 4-5pm. Camp staff will walk campers t their class and bring them back t aftercare at the end f class. The discunted rate fr campers enrlled in aftercare is $36 ($24 fr JCC members). Space is limited, register ahead f time nline at www.levinjcc.rg/register r by calling the Welcme Desk at 919-354-4936. Week 1 (6/13) KidFit Week 2 (6/20) Zumba Week 3 (6/27) Jujitsu Week 4 (7/5) Tumbling Week 5 (7/11) Aerial Silks Week 6 (7/18) Jujitsu Week 7 (7/25) Tumbling Week 8 (8/1) TBD Week 9 (8/8) Aerial Silks Week 10 (8/15) Jujitsu There are als grup swim lessns in the afternns during aftercare (schedule is by band clr). There is n discunted rate fr aftercare campers, but camp staff can walk campers t their lessn and return them t aftercare afterwards. Sign up nline r by phne, as abve. Field Trips A permissin slip fr all field trips will be sent ut the week prir t the trip with details and instructins. All csts are included. Trip timing may impact swim lessns, free swim, r bth. The permissin slip will indicate whether r nt campers will swim. Campers will be transprted by a reputable transprtatin cmpany fr all trips. Camp Sabra June 30 Falls Lake Camp Sabra July 7 Ice skating Camp Sabra July 14 trampline park Traditinal 2 nd -5 th grades August 4 Wet n Wild On field trip days, we ask that yur camper: Wear the 2016 JCC camp t-shirt. Each camper will be prvided ne camp t-shirt. If we have t give campers a new camp shirt, we will charge $10.00. Bring a lunch (fllwing guidelines belw), 2 snacks, and a large bttle f water (campers will nt be able t purchase fd at the destinatin). Arrives at camp n time! We leave prmptly ften at 9:00 a.m., s if yu are late yu may miss the trip. We may schedule a late pickup fr further destinatins. Cming t Camp Prepared Health and Infrmatin Frm and Behavir Agreement
Yu must fill ut the nline Health and Infrmatin frm befre the start f camp. Yu can find it at http://levinjcc.rg/camp-shelanu/camp-frms/ Yu must fill ut a new frm each summer, and yu may use that frm fr any Schl s Out Camps the fllwing schl year. It des nt need a dctr s signature. On that link and at the end f the health frm, yu will find ur new Behavir Agreement. Please read it carefully t understand what behavirs are nt accepted at Camp Shelanu and the prgressive cnsequences fr inapprpriate behavir. What t Wear/ Bring Send yur camper with the fllwing, all marked with camper s name: Wear cmfrtable, lse clthing. Wear clsed-ted shes yu can run in (sneakers r Keens) daily t fully participate in camp prgramming. Flip-flps and crcs will nly be allwed in the pl area. T help maintain the safety f all campers if inapprpriate ftwear is being wrn they may nt be able t participate in sme activities. A backpack A bathing suit and twel fr swim every day. A large plastic bag fr wet items Water bttle Sunscreen cme with sunscreen n, and we will reapply befre afternn swim. Cnsider a hat and swim shirt if yur child burns easily. Lunch and 2 snacks (see fd guidelines belw) NO CELL PHONES, ELECTRONICS OR HAND HELD GAMES ARE PERMITTED AT CAMP. Please nte that the JCC is nt respnsible fr these items if they shuld be brught t camp and are damaged, lst r stlen. We reserve the right t hld any f these items in the ffice until the end f the day if they are causing a distractin. Fd Please pack a lunch and 2 snacks each day. Unfrtunately, Camp Lunches will nt be available this summer. Camp lunches n lnger need t be vegetarian, but must fllw the kashrut guidelines belw. Fd frm Hme Lunches will nt be heated r refrigerated, but will be kept in air cnditining. Feel free t include an ice pack in yur child s lunch bx. Mark lunch bags with yur child s name. Sharing fd with ther campers is nt permitted (except siblings). Send yur child with tw separate snacks, ne fr mrning and ne fr afternn. Please remember t send a water bttle with yur child. Campers are encuraged t eat as much as they can, but are never frced t eat.
Fd Allergies: As a camp, we are NOT peanut-free. Hwever, in the event there are campers with fd allergies campers in certain grups may be asked nt t bring peanuts in rder t help keep campers safe. The 2 Big Rules f Lunch at Camp Shelanu: 1. D nt send prk r shellfish. 2. D nt mix meat and dairy in the same dish. Fr example, yu may send a cheese sandwich r a turkey sandwich, but nt a turkey and cheese sandwich. Yu may send a turkey sandwich and a ygurt in the same lunchbx. Meat: Parve : Dairy "Treif (d nt bring) (OK with either meat r dairy) Bacn Chicken Fruit Milk Nn all-beef htdgs Rast Beef Vegetables Cheese Ham Turkey Peanut Butter Ygurt Nn-beef Salami Beef Htdg Tuna/Fish Macarni & Cheese Pepperni Beef Salami Eggs Pudding Cups Sausage Pastrami Pasta Cttage cheese Shrimp, scallps, clams, shellfish Chicken sup Crackers Cream cheese Bread/Bagels Cheese pizza Veggie burger/sy prducts Anything labeled Parve Mre abut Kashrut Ksher is a term riginally used t mean fit and prper. Mst ften, it is used t describe fds that are permitted t be eaten by peple wh bserve the Jewish dietary laws. Kashrut is the wrd used t describe the cncept f dietary laws abut types f fd allwed and hw t prepare them. The basics f ksher dietary laws include: 1. D nt mix meat and milk. This means n meat (beef r chicken) can be served with any dairy (milk, cheese, etc.). It is traditinal t wait a few hurs between eating meat and milk, but we d nt require this in the Levin JCC. 2. Only certain meat is allwed. Mammals allwed include: cattle, deer, gat and sheep. Thse nt allwed include pig and pig prducts (like lard) as well as rabbit, camel, and thers. 3. Permitted pultry include chicken, duck, gse, turkey, and pigen. Thse frbidden include wild birds r birds f prey, like eagle, strich, and vulture. 4. Fish must have bth fins and scales that are remvable withut damaging the fish s skin. Thse frbidden include: catfish, eel, shark, and swrdfish; all shellfish and mllusks including clam, lbster, ctpus, yster, scallp, shrimp, snail and squid. Fish, hwever, can be served with dairy. 5. Als frbidden are all reptiles, invertebrates and amphibians (snake, frg, etc). Ksher fds are divided int three categries: A. Dairy: milk and all prducts (cheese, ygurt, butter, etc) B. Meat, including pultry: frm permitted animals which have been slaughtered under the supervisin f a rabbi.
C. Neutral (pareve): fds that are neither dairy nr meat. Everything that grws in the grund is pareve - all plants, herbs, grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, rts, seeds and nuts, as well as prducts made frm them, such as sugar, tea, flur, cffee, spices, salt, ils and mst cndiments. Eggs frm ksher birds and fish with fins and scales are cnsidered pareve. If yu have questins abut these guidelines please d nt hesitate t cntact us! Snack bar, J Café, and Vending machines Only 4 th and 5 th grade campers and Camp Sabra have the privilege f buying items frm the plside Cncessin stand. At afternn snack time, these campers will have the ptin t either bring a snack r purchase a snack (ppsicles, chips, ice cream bars, etc.) Mst items are $1-$2. Campers in k-3 rd grade shuld nt bring cash t camp and will nt be able t purchase snacks during the camp day. N campers may use the vending machines r J Café during camp. Cmmunicatin Infrmatin abut the upcming week Yu will als receive an email the week befre each sessin with imprtant infrmatin abut trips, dress up days, special materials t bring frm hme, and ther reminders. Please read these emails carefully s yur camper des nt miss ut n anything! Facebk Grup Camp Shelanu maintains a private Facebk grup, pen nly t camp families, where we pst updates and phts thrughut the week. This is a great way t keep up with what s happening at camp! Lk ut fr email invitatin t jin! Friday Ntes Yu will receive a Friday nte in yur camper s backpack with an update frm the week, including prgress in swimming and ther activities, accmplishments, and any cncerns. Cmmunicatin During the Camp Day If yu have an issue that needs t be addressed right away (emergency, early pick up, frgtten lunch), call ur Manager n Duty phne at 919-354-4975. Yu will reach the Camp Directr, Camp Prgram Directr, Aftercare Supervisr, r a Head Cunselr. In rder fr staff t best fcus n campers, please d nt use this number fr registratin issues, general questins abut yur camper s experience, r anything that can wait until the end f the day. Instead, call r, preferably, email the Camp Directr. Drp ff and pick up are very busy times and yu may nt be able t speak with the Camp Directr at length at that time. Yu may need t set up a time t speak. Camp staff are
generally nt available n the weekends. Typically calls and emails are answered by the end f day when pssible, by the end f the fllwing day at the latest. Texts Camp is implementing text reminders thrugh the service Remind.cm. Yu will receive a new text invitatin each week yu attend fr ptinal reminders, which will be used 2-3 times per week fr reminders abut dress up days, special events, trips, etc. We will als have a text grup that will remain active all summer fr emergency ntificatins. All families are strngly recmmended t accept the invitatin fr this grup, which will nly be used in case f emergency at camp, e.g., if pick up lcatin were t change due t a fire r natural disaster. Health & Safety The staff takes great care t ensure campers health and safety. The camp day is balanced with activity and rest t avid fatigue. Under extreme heat cnditins ur utdr activities will be clsely mnitred and limited as apprpriate. We will adhere t all weather advisries. Sunscreen Apply sunscreen prir t arriving at camp Supply sunscreen fr re-applicatin in the afternn. We will nt prvide sunscreen. Cnsider spray sunscreen it helps us speed up the prcess! Staff may assist yunger campers with re-applicatin and supervise lder campers reapplying themselves. Illness and Emergencies If yur child exhibits any f the fllwing, please keep yur camper at hme. If any camper develps these cnditins during the camp day, family will be ntified. Family must then make arrangements fr their child s prmpt return hme. Fever f 101 degrees r abve in the last 24 hurs Uncntrlled diarrhea Vmiting illness (tw r mre episdes f vmiting in the previus 24 hurs) An acute change in behavir including lethargy, irritability, difficulty breathing, r ther signs r symptms f illness until medical evaluatin indicates return t camp. Abdminal pain that cntinues fr mre than tw hurs r intermittent pain assciated with fever r ther signs r symptms f illness. Rash with fever r behavir change, until a health care prvider determines that these symptms d nt indicate a cmmunicable disease. Purulent cnjunctivitis (pink r red cnjunctiva with white r yellw eye discharge), until 24 hurs after treatment has been initiated. Untreated scabies, head lice, r ther infestatin. Campers with a case f head lice may nt attend camp until they are nit free. Knwn cntagius diseases while still in the cmmunicable stage (chicken px, streptcccal pharyngitis, rubella, pertussis, mumps, measles, hepatitis A).
If a child has been diagnsed with a cmmunicable disease, please cntact the JCC Camp Directr as sn as pssible. In case f emergency, family is ntified immediately. If it is nt pssible t reach the family, the child will be taken t the nearest hspital fr emergency treatment. Cntinuing attempts will be made t reach the family r emergency cntact listed n the medical authrizatin frm. Medicatins Campers that require medicatin during the day will need t have an authrizatin t dispense n file (including thse with allergies). Medicatin must be brught t camp in the riginal cntainer, and handed t the Camp Directr. The medicatin will be dispensed by a senir staff member, and handed back t the family at the end f the day. Fr children with allergies, medicatin such as Epipens and Benadryl can be left at camp fr the duratin f the time the child is attending. Epipens may either stay with the Camp Directr r with the camper whichever camper des at schl. Inclusin Prgram Fr the furth year, Camp Shelanu is implementing the Let s ALL Play prgram mdel fr inclusin f campers with special needs. The inclusin prgram includes: training in special needs inclusin fr all camp cunselrs, and an Inclusin Facilitatr t wrk with campers, families, and staff, as well as additinal Inclusin Cunselrs and vlunteers. There are cuntless benefits fr this prgram. Fr camper with special needs and their families, it prvides a safe, apprpriate, and enriching summer experience. Fr campers withut a special need, it prvides an pprtunity t learn frm, abut, and with campers wh are different frm themselves. Staff gain valuable training and experience. Everyne in camp will benefit frm the Let s ALL Play philsphy that ALL campers can succeed! N Babysitting Plicy and Child Sexual Abuse Preventin Our plicy is that camp staff may nt babysit fr any families met thrugh the JCC/Camp Shelanu. Please d nt ask camp staff t babysit fr yur campers. If yu already have a babysitting arrangement with a staff member, yu are grandfathered in, but yu must have an Unsanctined Childcare Waiver n file. If a staff member already babysits fr yur family, please avid having him r her babysit during the time yur camper is at camp. Industry best practices shw that restricting utside cntact between children and staff discurages sexual predatrs frm seeking jbs with that rganizatin and ultimately helps t
prtect children frm sexual abuse. Additinally, babysitting arrangements carry the risk f favritism and disruptin t grup dynamics. Our child sexual abuse preventin plan als includes a 2-hur training fr all staff, backgrund checks and reference checks fr staff, and plicies and prcedures that prevent staff frm being in islated situatins ne-n-ne with campers. Practical Infrmatin Grups Campers are in grups f abut 16 with 2 r mre staff. We try t accmmdate gruping preferences indicated n registratin frms whenever pssible. Week t week, we try t keep sme cnsistency in campers as well as cunselrs, but this is nt always pssible. Traditinal Camp rising k-1st grade: Arayt (Lins) and Dubim (Bears) Traditinal Camp rising 2nd-3rd grade: Taninim (Alligatrs) and Zevim (Wlves) Traditinal Camp rising 4th-5th grade: Kreshim (Sharks) Specialty Camps are simply referred t as their specialty, eg, Circus. Staff Our cunselrs are Junirs in High Schl thrugh cllege age. All staff have backgrund and reference checks, CPR and First Aid certificatin, as well as training in child develpment, sexual abuse preventin, prgramming, safety and supervisin, and mre. Specialists are mature cllege students, graduate students, teachers, and prfessinals. We als bring tw Israeli staff, shlichim, each summer t teach campers abut Israeli culture. Drp-Off Drp ff is 8:30-8:45 am. Any child arriving befre 8:25 am will be cnsidered t be attending the early care prgram and will be charged accrdingly. Carline is at the Lerner Schl (the building adjacent t the JCC). Please drive int turn lane cming up the driveway and int the Lerner parking lt. A staff member will cme t yur car and escrt him r her t the crrect camp grup. Please stay in yur car. If yu are cming inside t wrk ut, meet with staff, etc, please g thrugh the drp ff line and then park and cme in. This will allw us t start ur mrning as smthly as pssible. If yu arrive after 9:00am, cme t the JCC Welcme Desk. Yu will nt be able t enter the Lerner building.. Yu will be asked t sign in, and staff will cntact camp staff by walkie-talkie. Yu must remain with yur child until camp staff arrive. Pickup If yu are ging t pick up yur camper early please ntify the camp staff s yur child is ready fr pick up. Cme t the JCC Welcme Desk, where yu will be asked t sign in.
Pick up is 3:30-3:45 pm. Nte time change frm past years! Any camper nt picked up by 3:50 pm will be cnsidered attending the after-care prgram and will be charged accrdingly. Please drive t the pick up line at the Lerner parking lt. A staff member will ask fr yur camper s name and radi fr yur camper t be brught t the car. Please stay in the car. If yu are a member staying at the JCC (e.g., t swim), yu may pick up by cming int the building. Be sure t sign ut with the designated staff persn. Aftercare pick up is at the JCC. Park and cme in the frnt drs nly, where yu will be asked t sign in at the Welcme Desk befre walking t the Cmmunity Hall t sign ut yur camper. PLEASE NOTE: Yu shuld have listed n yur camper infrmatin frm anyne authrized t pick up yur camper. If smene nt n that list will be picking up the child, we must have permissin in writing in advance. If we d nt knw the persn picking up, that persn must present pht ID befre JCC staff will release the child. Extended Care Befre and after camp care is available fr an additinal fee. Please register and pay by the week. If yu need ne-day extended care fr a special circumstance, cntact the Camp Directr fr availability. PLEASE PICK UP ON TIME FROM AFTERCARE! Our staff need t get hme t their wn families. Yu may be charged a late fee, and anyne wh is repeatedly picked up after 5:30 pm may lse their right t be in the aftercare prgram. Early-care: 8:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. $25 ($20 fr members) per week r $5 fr ne day Late-care: 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. $65 ($60 fr members) per week r $15 fr ne day Lst & Fund A lst and fund area will be kept fr clthing and persnal items. We invite families t search lst and fund any time. Items unclaimed after August 28 will be dnated. Payment Plicies and Fees Payment Plicy Tuitin fr each sessin attended must be paid in full at least ne week prir t the start f the sessin the camper is enrlled. N camper will be allwed in camp with an utstanding balance unless payment arrangements have been made in advance with the Camp Directr. In case f financial hardship, please cntact the camp directr at camp@shalmdch.rg. Late Registratin Fees A $15.00 late fee will be applied t any registratin made less than 7 days befre camp sessin. Member Discunt
T be eligible fr member discunt, yur camper must be part f a current, all-inclusive membership in gd standing at the time f registratin and at the time f participatin. Summer members and cultural affiliates are nt eligible fr member discunts. If yur membership expires befre a camp sessin, yu will be charged the regular rates. Refund Plicy If the JCC cancels camp fr any reasn, full credit r a refund will be issued. If yu decide t cancel a sessin up t 7 days ahead, we issue refunds, minus a $50 fee per week. Fees are nnrefundable after 7 days befre a week. Refunds will nt be given fr missed days due t illness. Other Fun Stuff Birthdays If yur camper celebrates a summer birthday, we celebrate with special traditins and privileges rather than treats frm hme. Hnring staff Families are nt expected t give anything t staff. Hwever, if yu wuld like t hnr a staff member, we prefer that rather than individual tipping, yu bring treats fr the entire staff, dnate t the Staff Appreciatin Fund (fr special events and gifts fr all staff), r t make a cntributin t the Camp Schlarship Fund r t the Inclusin Prgram in a cunselr s name. Tax ID number (Okay, maybe this is nt exactly fun stuff ): 58-1384316. Cntact us if yu need a receipt. Thanks, and we lk frward t a wnderful, safe summer!