• American Camp Association accreditation is the best evidence parents have of a camp’s commitment to a safe and nurturing environment for their children.  Accreditation assures parents that camp practices have been measured against national standards and go beyond state’s licensing requirements.  An accredited camp has complied with up to 300 standards encompassing facilities, health, safety, program quality, personnel, and administration.

Accreditation is voluntary and must be earned, so you know we are

committed to best practices.

How many weeks can I register for?

• You may register for as few as four weeks and as many as eight; five, six and seven weeks are also options. 

If my camper attends Gesher for less than eight weeks, does he/she have to attend for consecutive weeks?

• We offer flexible weeks, which means you can choose which weeks your camper attends Gesher.  We do require a minimum of four weeks, but you can choose whichever configuration of weeks works best for you.  If, for example, your family likes to take a vacation the week of Fourth of July, then by all means, take that week off and come back to Gesher for Week Three.

If I am not sure of my plans for the summer can I add weeks as the summer goes on?

• Of course you can extend your child’s summer at Gesher.  We will have an extension form available in the camp office and you can add one week at a time or four weeks all at once.  There is a $25 fee for extensions after May 15.

When will I find out which bunk my child is in and who his/her counselors are?

• About a week prior to the start of camp your child will receive a postcard from his/her counselors introducing themselves and providing you with the bunk name.

When will I find out who else is in his/her group?

• Although group lists are not provided prior to the start of camp, a full directory will be distributed within the first two weeks of camp.

When will I know the times my child will be picked up in the morning and dropped off in the afternoon?

• Prior to the first day of camp the bus counselors will be visiting each stop on their route and dropping off a paper with the estimated pick up and drop off times for your camper.  Please note that the first week we might have to work out a few kinks in our bus routes and the times might fluctuate slightly.

• During camp hours Gesher has a full time trained security guard at the entrance to camp who is in full communication with the front office to ensure that everyone coming onto camp grounds is supposed to be there.
• Gesher has two golf carts to ensure that the administrative staff and nurses can get to anyone in need as quickly as possible.  Additionally, everyone on the Administrative Staff, the front office and the security guard, have walkie talkies to make communication as easy as possible.
• Gesher has a full time nurse on staff, and in addition to the 20+ members of the aquatics staff, all Administrative staff members are CPR certified.   
• All staff members are easily identifiable by their nametags and IDs, which are also used for entrance into the building.  Administrative Staff members are readily identifiable by their uniform shirts.
• The local police and fire departments are on call during the summer and St. Barnabus is aware of the camp program.
• An orange safety fence is installed along the rear of the property to keep campers and equipment from going down towards the service road.

What is the makeup of the Gesher swimming facilities?

• Gesher operates two swimming pools.  The big pool is 75’ long, x 39’ wide, with a shallow end of 3’ and a deep end of 9’, where diving is permitted off the side.  The small pool is 60’ long, x 30’ wide, with a shallow end of 3’, and a deep end of 6’.  This pool has a waterslide entering the deep end, and will also have other aquatic recreational activities, such as boating and basketball.

My child will not be able to stand in the shallow end of the pool.  How will you handle (a) Instructional Swim and (b) Free Swim?

• During both swims, Pre-K campers are fitted with “bubbles” – Styrofoam flotation devices that are strapped on and sit between the shoulder blades.  These bubbles can safely support a pre-K child above the water.  From the bubble, we teach reaching, pulling, and kicking as the first skills.  Ultimately, with the focus on “motion” skills, they will transition to a smaller bubble, and then to no bubble. 

• Instructional swim uses an instructor-student ratio of approximately 1:6.  This does not include the bunk counselors who are assisting with lessons, bringing the adult: child ratio to approximately 1:2 or 3.

• During free swim, the bubbles are also used, counselors are in the water, and lifeguards are staffed in the water to assist the kids and assist with supervision.

But my Pre-K child already swims like a fish!  Are you still going to make them use a bubble?

• Unless our Aquatics Director hears from a parent before camp, yes.  This would be done for safety reasons until we get to know the children.  If you send a note detailing your child’s swim ability, your child will be evaluated the first day of camp without using the bubble.

How are the campers grouped into swim lessons?

• On the first day of camp, the swim staff will evaluate each camper personally.  Campers are evaluated by assessing the “critical skills” at the end of each level.  Campers are then grouped for Tuesday morning, and are re-tested by their instructors at that time, when any final adjustments are made.  Lessons are in full swing by Wednesday morning.

How many campers are placed with each instructor?

• Although Gesher advertises a maximum instructor-student ratio of 1:8, most classes are closer to 1:6.  In addition, all classes will have a counselor assisting the instructor, making the actual staff-student ratio closer to 1:3 or 4 for most groups.

How do you handle a child who is especially fearful of the water?

• Our approach is one of patience and encouragement.  In the event that a child is unsuccessful in a small group setting, we will partner with one of the counselors, who will work closely with the group’s instructor, and the aquatics director to facilitate the child’s success.  Over the years, we have had multiple children who came into camp with great fear of the water, and have had slow and steady success breaking the fear.  We will also partner with parents through regular contact so that our methods can be reinforced at home, and fears or concerns expressed at home can be addressed in camp.

How do you determine who gets a deep water bracelet?  Why is that your standard?

• All children enrolled in level IV and above receive their deep water bracelets automatically.  We use this standard for two reasons.  First, it adds a goal and motivation to the Instructional swim periods.  Second, and more important, using the American Red Cross guidelines give us a recognizable standard, as opposed to using an arbitrary standard.  We are aware that our standard is more stringent than a town pool, and may not credit what a child can do in their backyard pool, but both of those situations require parent supervision in addition to the lifeguard coverage, and we prefer to err on the side of safety.

When can my child use the waterslide?

• All campers with Deep Water Bracelets (enrolled in Level IV and above) are eligible to use the waterslide.

How will I know about the progress my child is making?

• Progress Reports are sent home on the 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th, and 8^th Fridays of the summer showing all the skills in your child’s level, and the skills that they have accomplished successfully.  The Progress Report will also indicate what level they will be enrolled in for the following session.

What if my child does not want to go swimming?

• All campers are expected to swim each day, both in the morning and afternoon swims.  The only way that a camper is excused from swim is with a note from the parent.  Notes should be limited to medical issues or extenuating circumstances only.  A morning “stomach ache” that miraculously heals before afternoon swim is usually a sign of a deeper problem, usually nervousness about Instructional Swim that should be discussed with the Aquatics Director to resolve the issues.

What if the weather is too hot / too cold / too rainy?

• We will determine on questionable mornings how to handle swimming.  We make every effort to get in the pool, but are sensitive to the needs and feelings of our campers.  Some chilly mornings, we might skip Pre-K instructional swim, and the pool may occasionally close due to rain, thunder, or lightning.  Please do not send in a note excusing your child because of temperature or weather.  We will make those decisions as a camp.

What is the supervision level during recreational/free swim?

• The small pool will have a minimum of four lifeguards, and the large pool will have a minimum of 6 lifeguards.  Depending on the amount of kids in the pools, lifeguards will be added as needed. 

• During Pre-K and Kindergarten free swims, lifeguards will be staffed in the water as well as on the sides.  This will further enhance the safety of the swimmers.

• The waterslide is staffed with a guard at the top, one in the water at the bottom, and one in the guard stand by the area.  That section of the pool is roped off for safety.

• Counselors are trained and equipped with reaching poles to supplement the lifeguard coverage, and additional counselors are in the pool swimming with their campers.

What are the “9 Days”?  What do you do differently at this time?

• The “9 Days” are the first days of the Hebrew month of Av, leading up to the fast day of Tisha B’Av.  According to Jewish tradition and history, the Jewish people are predisposed to danger during this time, and therefore recreational swimming is prohibited.  During these days, we will run morning Instructional Swim as usual, and substitute unique instructional activities in the afternoon in place of Free Swim.

Do I have to pack a lunch for my child everyday?

• No, due to both kashrut and allergy issues. Gesher provides a hot or cold lunch for every camper every day including trip days.  All the food is Kosher and prepared right on campus.

Can I send breakfast with him/her on the bus in the morning?

• Please make sure your child has enough time in the morning to eat breakfast.  As both a choking hazard and because of allergy and kashrut concerns we do not allow any food on the bus.

My child is a very picky eater; can I send a lunch for him?

• One of the great things about Gesher’s lunch program is its diversity.  There is something for everyone:  in addition to the entrée of the day, there is always: pasta, egg salad, tuna fish, soy peanut butter and jelly, as well as a salad bar.  Take a look at the sample menu online to see all of the wonderful choices.

My child has a ______ allergy, what will you do to protect him?

• Please refer to our section on Nurse’s Notes, below

What if my child gets hungry before/after lunch?

• We provide two snacks a day: the first snack will be fruit, pretzels, chips, or cookies and the second snack will be an ice cream or ice pop.  Kinneret is the only unit with 2 afternoon snacks, while the others have one in the morning and one in the afternoon

How does my child get to the nurse’s office during the camp day and how do I know he/she was there?

• Each camper is escorted by his/her counselor to the nurse and written into the Nurse’s Log Sheet.  The counselor waits with the camper while assessment and treatment takes place and then escorts him/her back to the bunk.  A notice is sent home via bus mail indicating the problem and treatment each time a camper is seen in the Nurse’s office. A phone call to the parent may be indicated as well and is made at the nurse’s discretion.  You will be contacted to pick up your child if ill or injured and advised to seek further medical evaluation.

What if my child needs daily medication while at camp?  What about “as needed medication”?

• We have a very strict medication administration policy.  No medications, prescription or over the counter, will be administered without a completed medical consent form on file.  We have many campers that come for daily and “as needed” medications at a designated time prescribed by the physician.  Again, the counselor is responsible for escorting their camper to the nurse’s office.  All medications must be kept locked in the health office unless specific arrangements have been made (self-carry Epipen or inhaler).  A Medication Log is kept for each camper who receives medication for documentation purposes.  Over-the-counter medications will be accepted only in its original container and prescription medication with a pharmacy label indicating the name of the camper, name of the medication, dosage and instructions for use, frequency, date dilled, expiration date and the name of the prescribing physician.  All medication must be labeled with campers name and bunk.

• If your child requires short term administration of an antibiotic that needs refrigeration it is recommended that you obtain a 2^nd bottle with the appropriate pharmacy label that can be kept in the health office refrigerated for the duration of treatment.

• If you know that your child will ask for stomach/headache medicine on a regular basis please provide the nurse with the medication and the consent form in order to avoid frequent phone calls to your home or office to have you bring it in each time it is needed.

What if my child needs to take medication i.e.: asthma/allergy medication in camp or on camp trips?

• Please provide the appropriate medication and forms for daily or “as needed” use so as to avoid the nurse having to call you when your child is in distress and he/she has to wait for you to bring in the medication.

• If your child is in Negev/Galil and will be going out on trips you will be asked to complete a form indicating whether you want the medications kept in camp or to be sent out on the trips.  This form will be sent home once camp begins and will be referred to for all trips taken this summer.

What if my child has severe allergies to foods, how do I keep him/her safe while at camp or riding the bus?

• We have many campers with food allergies and some more severe and threatening than others. In the past we have been 100% successful in keeping our campers safe.  Unfortunately as the enrollment grows we are seeing many more campers with food allergies.  It is imperative that you notify the staff in writing as well as via conference, the specific issues regarding your child’s needs.  We are a peanut free environment in camp but cannot govern what other campers eat at home.  Please refer to the Allergy Alert Memo you have received.  Some campers keep “safe snacks” in the nurse’s office and this arrangement can be made by speaking with Scott, the Rosh Aida and the nurse.  Please review the camp menu and indicate which foods may be of concern, a copy of this reviewed menu is given to the Rosh Aida and counselor and to the nurse.  Those campers with any fruit, milk, chocolate, dairy, etc. allergies must be made known.  It is the parent’s responsibility to disclose in writing any and all food allergies to the Rosh Aida and the nurse prior to the start of camp.  “Cooking” is an activity our campers attend and ingredients may be used that your child can not eat or touch.  The decision will then need to be made whether or not the camper can participate in the “cooking” class (some campers have allergies that are touch related as well as ingested).  We want to keep everyone safe.  If your child is excluded from “cooking” please know that it was a safety issue and not a punishment.  Foods are not allowed on the bus (Again, please refer to Allergy Alert Memo).

What if I am called to pick up my sick or injured camper?

• If you child has a fever of 100.0 or higher you will be contacted to pick up your camper.  You must come into the building to the camp office and sign out your child and you will be given a pass to show the guard when you leave.  If you are unable to come you may verbally designate an alternate adult whom you are authorizing for pick up.  If you will be away on business or vacation and leaving your child in the care of other family members or friends you must notify the camp in writing, of those arrangements.  Please note that your child will not be released to anyone’s care unless you have given us permission to do so.  Certain medical issues will require a medical note for return to camp.  Please refer to the “Notes from the Gesher Nurse” that was sent to you with the Parents Manual mailing.

If I have a Galil camper who needs medication on the overnight what do I do?

• If this is bedtime or breakfast medication normally taken at home, we will need the original pharmacy labeled bottle with a consent form in order to dispense those medicines.  Just send it in the day of the overnight and your camper will receive the ordered medication at its designated time(s).

My camper is coming home with cuts on the bottom of his/her feet and/or blisters on the toes and/or heels.  What can I do?

• It is likely that their feet are getting cut up on the bottom of the pool; pool shoes are recommended to help avoid those painful cuts.  Blisters can be avoided by encouraging your camper to wear socks with sneakers/shoes.

Who drives the bus?

• Star Shuttle, the bus company that serves Gesher, carefully screens all of their professional drivers.  Additionally, Star Shuttle requires three years of professional driving experience before hiring any of their drivers.  Star Shuttle drivers work year round for their company and must have a good command of English.  If you have any concerns about your bus driver please contact our Transportation Director.

What supervision is on the bus?

• Depending upon the number of campers on each vehicle, there are one or two bus counselor.  These counselors have attended extra training to ensure that they will make your child’s experience on the bus fun and safe.

How long is the bus ride?

• While the average camper will be on the bus for 30-45 minutes, due to the nature of door-to-door transportation, those that are either the first picked up or last dropped off may be on the bus for up to an hour.  To maintain balance, whenever possible, those campers picked up towards the beginning of the route in the morning are also dropped off towards the beginning in the afternoon.

Do vehicles have communication with the camp/bus company?

• All of our bus counselors have cell phones which we can contact if needed. In addition to that, the bus drivers are equipped with Nextel Direct.

Are all of the buses equipped with seatbelts?

• Yes, all buses have seatbelts and every camper is required to wear one while on the bus.  The bus counselor will make sure that every camper is buckled in prior to the bus moving and will do periodic checks throughout the ride to make sure that they have remained buckled.

Are all of the buses equipped with Air Conditioning?

• Although we do not advertise nor promise air conditioning on our buses, there are some that by chance may have AC.

Can I provide a booster seat for my child?

• Booster seats are only used with shoulder harnesses.  Our school buses meet State codes and utilize lap belts and high backed seats, thus eliminating the need for booster seats.

What happens if I am running late and am not at home to meet my child?

• If there is no parent or guardian waiting, the bus counselor will be instructed to keep your child on the bus.  Each bus is equipped with a two-way radio, and every effort will be made to contact the parent or guardian to meet at a later stop.  If no one is reachable, your child will be brought to camp at the completion of the bus route.  At this time parents/guardians will be called again to pick up the child. 

What is the Bus Cup?

• The Bus Cup has become a very sought after award in camp.  It is awarded at the end of each session to the bus with the most camp spirit.  Every morning when the bus arrives at camp, Scott Lantzman, Gesher’s Camp Director, personally gets on the bus and campers have many opportunities to win bus points.

What is my option if I choose not to take the bus service?

• Families who choose not to have their children ride the bus have the option of dropping off and picking up their children from camp in the carpool line.  There is a place on the application to check off if you would like to use the camp transportation or not.  If you choose to carpool you will receive to copies of you carpool number and a letter with carpool procedures on the first day of camp.  Additionally, families that do not use the complimentary bus service receive a $200 discount per camper.

What communities do you bus from?

• We currently bus from Livingston, Caldwell, Roseland, West Orange, South Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, Springfield and Short Hills.  We also offer central pick up and drop off locations for Montclair and Summit.

Is there a before/after care? What times does it go to?

• As a convenience to working parents, Gesher offers AM and PM care extended hours for those who need it.  Supervised camper care is provided daily at the camp as early as 8:00 AM and until as late as 5:30 PM.  Minimal fees will be charged on a weekly basis.

What happens if I have to drop my child off late?

• If your child will not be taking the bus in the morning please let the bus counselor know the night before or early that morning, this way the bus will not stop at your house.  When you arrive at the camp please escort your child to the camp office to be signed in.  At that point one of the camper’s counselors or another staff member will bring the camper to his or her group.

Who do I contact if my child will be arriving late or not coming in at all that day?

• If you know your child will not be in camp or arriving late please let the bus counselor know as soon as possible to avoid confusion in the morning.  Also please call the camp office and let us know when to expect your child.

What happens if I need to pick my child up early?

• If you must pick up your child early, please let the camp office know in writing via morning bus mail.  If this is not possible, a phone call at least one hour in advance is required, followed by either an e-mail or fax confirming the oral request.  Please arrive prior to 3:15 PM, park your car, and walk to the office to wait for your child.  Please note that children will not be dismissed between 3:30 and 4:00, as it is very disruptive to our departure procedures. 

How do you communicate with parents?

• We communicate with parents in a variety of ways depending on the reason for the communication.  Most often we will send home notices in the provided plastic envelope in your childs’ backpack, which should be checked daily.  We also update our website frequently with any important announcements on the bulletin board on the home page.  This summer, the Gesher Gazette weekly newsletter will be disseminated via e-mail, so please make sure that we have your correct e-mail address.

How do I communicate with you?

• If any problem or concerns should arise concerning your child’s camp experience, please contact the camp office immediately.  Unless your concerns are shared with us, we will not know how to help; therefore, we ask that criticisms, suggestions, or positive feedback regarding the camp program and/or staff be communicated to us on an on-going basis.  You will be provided with bus mail envelopes, which your child should give to the bus counselor; please remit all correspondence through this system.  Please also check your child’s backpack daily for camp correspondence, which will be sent home in a plastic envelope.

If I have a question who do I contact?

• If you look in the Unit/Bunks section above you will see which Rosh Aida (Unit Head) is in charge of each grade.  When calling the office please ask for the appropriate Rosh Aida.  If it is not a Unit or Bunk question then the office manager will direct you to the appropriate person.

What hours is the office open during the summer?

• There is someone in the office daily from 8:00 AM until 5:30 PM.  You can always leave a message before or after hours and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

What happens on an excessively hot day?

• On extremely hot days we will move all of our programming into our air conditioned facilities.  Our campers will still have both swims outdoors, as long as we are not compromising the health of our lifeguards by keeping them outside.   

What does the typical schedule look like?

• Between 8:00 and 8:45 AM the camp bus will pick up your child for the ride to camp.  We consider the bus ride to be an integral part of the camp day, and bus spirit is heavily promoted.
• Between 8:45 and 9:05 AM the buses arrive at camp.  All campers are then escorted to the amphitheater for our Boker Tov morning assembly.  After our flag raising and Hebrew word of the day, campers may learn a new song or cheer or hear a funny joke.  Boker Tov is a time to get excited about the camp day and hear all about important camp happenings.  Following Boker Tov, campers will be dismissed to their changing rooms to drop off their camp bags, daven Shacharit, and get ready for their first period activity.
• The day is divided into nine periods ranging between 30 and 45 minutes, which include instructional and recreational swim times supervised by certified water safety instructors and lifeguards.  Lunch also consumes one of the nine periods.  The      remaining six periods are devoted to a myriad of camp activities including omanut (arts and crafts), sculpture, sports, cooking, gymnastics, martial arts, go karts, tevah (nature), music, drama, Israeli culture, rikud (dance), ropes, ga-ga and more, which are all supervised by our specialists.
• At 3:40 PM, all of Gesher is brought back together in the amphitheater for dismissal.  Campers then board their buses for the ride home.  Vehicles depart camp between 4:00 and 4:05 daily.
• Woven into all of these activities is the fact that Gesher is a modern orthodox Jewish day camp.  In addition to daily schacharit, hand-washing, hamotzi and birkat hamazon, a camp-wide Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony is held each Friday as a culmination of another great week together; Israeli counselors teach Hebrew words, songs, and culture; and various projects and crafts often reflect our Jewish identity.  Weekly themes, and special programs also help campers identify with their heritage.
• All in all, a day of fun, excitement, and discovery in the out-of-doors is provided, as only the Gesher Summer Program can! 

How often are the campers indoors in the air conditioning?

• All of our campers are inside for at least 45 minutes a day during lunch.  We have a few activities which are always held indoors, cooking, gymnastics, and photography. 

What happens on a rainy day?

• On rainy days we will move all of our programming to our air conditioned facilities.  Swim is replaced with different activities run by the lifeguard staff.  

How long is the camp day?

• The camp day goes from 9 am to 4 pm

How long are the periods?

• Periods range from 30-45 minutes long.

Will I have a chance to visit my child at camp?

• Yes.  As Gesher has grown, so too has our need for multiple Visiting Days. There will be one for our 1^st-6^th grade campers and one for our Pre-K and kindergarden campers.  On these days, parents will get to see their children in a modified sample schedule that would include three twenty-minute activities and the instructional swim.  For safety and control purposes during the swim period, parents will not be permitted within the fenced in pool area.  Photographs and video taking must be done from outside this area.  Parents will also be asked to refrain from actively joining in at any of the specialty locations.  We also request that all males have their heads covered with either a hat or kipah.

Can I drop by to say hi if I am in the area?

• While the Gesher Summer Program maintains an open door policy to immediate family members, it is preferred visitation be limited to the designated day.  Should you for any reason need to visit your child in camp, alternate arrangements can be made.  If you plan to visit camp at a non-scheduled time, it is requested that you call in advance and provide us with your anticipated time of arrival.  In this manner, we will be able to verify if a Camp Administrator/your child’s Rosh Aida will be available to meet with you.  Unescorted visits in camp are not permitted.

• Upon arrival to camp, you must immediately check in at the office, even if you see your child.  You will be asked to show picture identification and sign in our Visitor’s Log.  You will then be provided with a visitor’s badge, which you are required to wear while on the camp grounds.  Upon registration at the office, your child’s Rosh Aida will be paged to escort you throughout camp.

What is an undernight?

• Undernights are a chance to give our 1^st-6^th grade campers a different camp experience.  Units plan special activities and games for the campers in addition to dinner.

What is an overnight?

• Overnights are only for our oldest campers in the 3^rd-6^th grade Galil unit and are a wonderful experience.  The campers will sleep indoors in our air conditioned gyms and wake up before anyone gets to camp and have breakfast.  Every overnight is followed by Pajama Day so they are encouraged to stay in their pajamas and enjoy camp.  If you do not want your child staying overnight you can always pick them up early so they do not miss the whole experience.

What happens if I don’t want to send my child on a trip?

• If you are unsure about one of the trips we suggest you speak to your Rosh Aida.  We pick the locations based on safety and even bring extra staff to help make our staff to camper ratio even lower.  After speaking with the Rosh Aida if you do not want to send your child on the trip alternate arrangements can be made for them to move into a different age group for the day.

How does the supervision work during trips?

• During the trip the Rosh Aida and Assistant Rosh Aida will both be present.  The entire unit will be made aware of a central meeting location where there will be one administrative staff member at all times.  The counselors will each be assigned a small group of campers to walk around with during the day.  The groups will be required to check in with the Rosh Aida at different points during the day to ensure that everyone is okay.  In addition, we ask that all campers wear their provided Gesher T-shirts to make everyone more identifiable.

What should my camper wear to camp and what should they bring?

• Normal day camp attire includes shorts or pants and a lightweight shirt.  Comfortable, yet sturdy sneakers and socks should be worn—sandals and open-toed shoes are unacceptable.  Slip-on or velcro-tied sneakers are suggested for children who cannot tie their own laces.  A hat is also recommended to prevent sunburn, heat stroke, and dehydration.  Please be aware of changing weather conditions and dress children appropriately.  All males are required to have their heads covered at all times, whether with a kipa or a hat.

• Each camper will receive a complimentary Gesher Summer Program T-shirt during the first week of camp, on Picture Day.  This shirt must be worn on all camp trips and picture days.  Additional Gesher clothing is available for purchase from the camp office.

• Swimming attire:  Since campers swim twice a day, please send two swim suits and two towels.  We recommend that children come to camp wearing one bathing suit under their clothes for the morning swim.  A plastic bag should be sent to hold wet suits and towels and to keep other clothing from getting wet.  Most importantly, don’t forget to pack underwear!

• Each day, campers should bring their belongings in the Gesher backpack (distributed first day of camp) which will have their name prominently displayed.  No matter how old your camper may be, we request that all clothing and towels be labeled with first and last names and unit or bunk information, so that proper identification and the return of lost items can be accomplished quickly.  Labeling with just initials is simply inadequate.  If you are interested, we offer name labels through the Sterling Name Tape Company.  Order forms are available at the camp office.

When do we get our camp shirt?

• Every camper will receive their camp shirt on the first Picture Day; if your child is not there that week he or she will receive it the first day they are in camp.

How do I purchase name tag labels?

• Please refer to the Labels page on the website for information on where to order labels from and if you have any questions you can call the camp office.

Do you sell camp apparel?

• A limited amount of old and new camp apparel is available for purchase.  Items can be viewed on our website by clicking on the Apparel link.  If you have any questions you can call the camp office.

What should my camper wear on Picture Day?

• For the first Picture Day your camper can wear anything to camp because that is when we will distribute the camp T-shirt, which will be worn in the picture.  For the second Picture Day please make sure that your camper is wearing their Gesher T-shirt.

What are chugim?

• Chugim are only for our Galil campers (3^rd-6^th grade) and offer the chance for campers to pick an activity they really enjoy.  Once every two weeks they will have the opportunity to pick two activities that they would like to do for two periods.  There is a counselor at each location to make sure that everyone is where they are supposed to be.  Chugim are coed and offer a great opportunity for campers to interact with people in other bunks.

How often will my child get to choose what he does?

• Once every two weeks each camper will get to choose two activities.

What if he/she doesn’t get his/her first choice?

• There are many different chugim to choose from and four opportunities during the summer to pick from the long list of activities.  Campers that don’t get their first choice are given priority the next sign up period.

What if he/she’s not there the first week of chug and only the 2^nd one?

• If a camper is not at Gesher the first week of a chug then our Rosh Aida or Assistant Rosh Aida will meet with them at the beginning of the first chug period and help them pick two activities and bring them to the first one.