Camp Ruach Chaim, a Catskill camp with a large Lakewood camper base, has cancelled its visiting day this year in order to save parents the hassle and expense of the trip, the camp said.
“After much deliberation, we have cancelled Visiting Day at Camp Ruach Chaim,” the Catskill camp located in Livingston Manor told TLS. “We are pleased to assist our parents, especially the many from Lakewood, in avoiding the hassle and expense of the trip to camp on the busiest day of the season. We are confident that this will work to everyone’s benefit.”
Rabbi Tzvi Lichtman, Head Counselor, said, “The boys are having such a good time, and they are so excited to Chap Arein another full day of camping.”
The camp says that the unique call was well-received by parents thus far, evident from the many calls and emails they received.
“The amount of emails and phone calls we received to thank us for this wonderful breakthrough is overwhelming,” said the camp office. “Our parents appreciate the fact that they will be spared the obligatory trip up to camp, and have sent their sons heartfelt packages and letters, and, of course, their tips in the mail.”
[TLS]
Were the kids in the camp told about this I spoke to my son erev shabbos and he asked me if I’m coming ?
Any hope that Camp Bais Yaakov will follow suit?
Any chance that All Camps will follow suit ? Hope so. Im sure we can come ip woth another way to tip the counselors. Like, maybe, US Mail.
Eight week camps have always had two visiting days, one two weeks in and one two weeks into the second trip, with four weeks between the two. That means that camp directors, in their infinite wisdom and knowledge of children’s needs, know that a child can go four weeks without seeing their parents. Therefore, the best would be to have one visiting day, between the two halves. Therefore, a four week camp will have no visiting day and an eight week camp will have one.
Just to point out the camp saves themselves a hassle and expense too! so maybe let the parents in on the decision!!
Don’t parents want to visit their children ?
Great idea!
this should become the norm for all camps!!!
What expense is the camp saving?
#6 the camp runs for 3 weeks. I love seeing my son but don’t see the need to drive 4 hours to the catskills to see him 10 days after I dropped him off on the bus and 10 days before he comes home!
My kids are grown now, but I loved visiting them in camp. I got to see their counselors, bunkmates and where they were spending their weeks in camp. I loved the trip up to the country too. Sorry to hear that people are so grouchy about visiting day nowadays. I remember my father, a European survivor, who didn’t drive, making the trip up by chartered bus, to visit me in camp. We both enjoyed it. I guess now that parents have to send packages every week, they feel they don’t have to visit their kids!
Let’s all get a grip not every time some individuals have a issue does it mean that it applies to the whole ציבור. Summer camps have been around for about 75 years back in the early days there was also visiting day. In those early years most parents didn’t even own cars & there were no heimesher buses either only Greyhound & Shortline. Yet parents made the trip to visit their children via bus, public transportation. I am sure it wasn’t cheap at the time & was added expense however they sacrificed & made it happen cause it was important. Something like visiting day doesn’t just get canceled its something that each family can determine on their own, parents & their children together can make their own personal decision it’s not a communal public general decision. All of a sudden everyone is worried about the expense. Maybe the kids should have school on חול המועד cause of the toll it puts on parents to spend money on חול המוד trips. Remember not everyone lives in LAKEWOOD & has a Dr Roberts to sponsor a חול המועד trip. My point is people have to be strong enough to be able to make their own sensible decisions. If visiting day is important to your child than as a parent you decide to go. Why does visiting day have to be a major expense? My son was in camp Achim we went up for visiting day it was awesome & we didnt spend a lot of money at all. Everyone went swimming there was a volley ball game camp served a beautiful free lunch. For supper the canteen made a great BBQ for sale which was very reasonable even cheaper than Glatt Bite or Deluxe. We spent the day with our son he enjoyed we enjoyed & that’s that. You don’t have to make everything a federal case. Remember how did the Poilesher Mamma make it from Williamsburg or the Eastside to Highmount NY? Nothing is without מסירת נפש remember על תיגע במשחי אלו תינוקות של בית רבן.
Very well said Dereinekel !!
And the campers do enjoy it you are going out of your way to visit them they are relaxed grow up !!!!!
To Joel lakewood, since you obviously have Internet access, I presume you have email as well. Ruach Chaim sent out an email (and if I remember correctly printed letter too) over a week ago informing everyone of this change. To all those saying what’s wrong with visiting your kids, I agree with others who said there’s a difference between visiting in middle of 8 weeks of camp and visiting in middle of just 3 weeks.
While sounding initially like a good idea, I’m not so sure . It’s important for parents to see their children and for children to see their parents. It can be a big chizuk for bother it can also be a good opportunity for parents to assess counselors and ensure, in person, that the child is having a safe summer. If the parents objective is to just dump off their chikd, good luck . I hope this idea was collaborated with the parent body visiting day should be once per month
Dont kill mesorah. Visiting days have been around since camps inception. Camps have alot to gain financiallly by cancelling visiting day . Hamayvin yavin.
Will it also be cancelled next year when all camps have visiting day the same Sunday or is it only this year that most camps have visiting day next Sunday and the camps that finish before ellul have to make it a week earlier?? Don’t think there will be thAt much traffic tomorrow bec only a few camps would have visiting day this sunday
@Dereinkel sounds like ur just trying to bad mouth ruach Chaim and pump achim!
As a parent of 2 boys in Ruach Chaim I must say that this camp is the best. My kids are having an amazing time and honestly they are excited to have another day of camp instead of sitting around in the car on visiting day. Yes, we miss them and they miss us, but this is part of the experience and we can’t wait to see them in 10 days.
Everyone hold your horses for a sec.
Many times children are encouraged to call home but do not even if they have a serious issue going on personally or the bunk as a whole has a problem with their 16-18 year old counselor and does not know how to handle it. And even if they do call many times that two minute call from a public area Erev Shabbos will not suffice.
Your kids are not mature adults just because they are away from home.I am aware of many horror stories that have happened in camp(counselors making a kid stand in a garbage can,a teenage learning rebbe that would beat up kids, counselors that beat up kids kids getting money stolen etc..)or kids being beat up or bullied or just plain miserable.
None of the above would have been found out if not for visiting day.Of course there is a bit of neamanus but you are essentially putting your child in the hands of STRANGERS between 4-8 weeks. Even if the directors and division heads are Tzadikim in most cases they are strangers who your child just met and there is no guarantee that your child will be comfortable opening up to them. Can these people who just met your child possibly know how to best handle a situation that is hard for your child? Even the best rebbe who sees your child every day in school will many times need parental guidance.
Additionally aside from the horror stories camp is a very expensive outlay. I cannot think of a situation where you can pay a few thousand dollars for something and not want to see it.
There was a certain sleep away camp that is no longer around where half the toilets didn’t work another camp was forced to demolish a bunk house after so many parents complained on visiting day about exposed wiring mold and rot.
Don’t you want to see what you are paying for? There is a difference between a bunk house being old and rustic and bunk house that is unsafe or a camp that has fields that are neglected. If camps charge around the same amount of money why not send to a camp where you get your bang for the buck.
Finally there is nothing like parental instinct. You have sent your child away for 1-2 months imagine not knowing something was wrong until after your child came home (which has happened many times even with kids whose parents visit) how would you feel once you realized that perhaps your parental intervention could have stopped the difficulties?
Visiting day is voluntary there is nobody forcing you to make the trip but many times that drive could be essential to your childs well being and the monetary investment you have made for your childs summer.
If the camp wanted to make this major policy change, it should have been done before the campers went to camp. My son left thinking he was going to see us in a week and a half, when all of a sudden this major change. I think that was very wrong chinuch, and both I and my son are sorely disappointed!!!
I agree with DerEinikel
Childs memory from visiting day can go a long way.
our hectic lives put a drain on the closeness of the family bond. When a children see the mesiras nefesh of the parents to come see them it brings them closer.
In many cases those children will not appreciate it until they get older and have their own children in camp. But come that day, they will feel a very deep love and appreciation to their caring parents.
Why are people not interested in seeing their children?? In our house, we look forward eagerly to spending a fun day together…. My husband and I miss our kids although we are thrilled that they are having such a wonderful summer in their various camps, but we are so excited to see them on visiting day and their siblings can’t wait to see their older brothers and sisters and “fight” as to who will be the first one to give hugs and kisses when we get to camp!
Enjoy your beautiful families and make the most of a day well spent with the people that mean the most to you in the world!!
Have a safe and fun trip everyone!!
Camp Ruach Chaim offers fax or email for families to send letters and campers have a generous allowance and accessible to telephones.
Canp Bnos- please follow suit!
It makes sense to not have a visiting day in a four week camp but how in the world can they only say this after camp started. What’s with parents from out of town, or families that made big weekend arrangements to be there for V day??
I remember years ago the camp I went to also announced that visiting day was going to canceled. Ended being the coolest color war breakout.
If anybody knows Tzvi Lichtman, then you know he is 100% כולו לשמה and has only the camper’s best interest in mind. He is a person that is תוכו כברו and is a true עבד נאמן. That being said, you can be sure that he was שואל עצה before making this decision.
Signed,
A Camper of his from about 35 Years Ago (& still a big fan)
Totally DISAGREE with drekup, or whatever he calls himself.
It should be policy in all the camps, way to go Ruach Chaim.
P.s. they sent email and snail mail
Dereinekel suggests that the parents decide what is right for them so what if 75% of the parents go visit their kids how will the other 25% percent feel?
Any parent that felt the need to visit his child was let into camp I spoke to Somone who whent to camp Ruach chaim tosay also there where only 60 parents out of 483 parents that showed up today
From what I understand any parent who would like to visit his son can visit, the camp is not saying they don’t allow visitor’s. They don’t want parents to feel obligated to come because their son will be the only one who doesn’t have a visitor. 35 years ago when we went to camp age 8 for 8 weeks it was a big deal if parents came to visit. The youngest child in Ruach Chaim is 12 yrs old (I believe) going away for 3+ weeks is not that big of a deal. Dereinikel FYI Camp Achim Today served food from Glatt Bite for a premium. Rabbi Perlstien and his wonderful staff at Ruach Chaim are providing exceptional service at half the expense always looking to help the parents and not cutting corners or sparing any expense when it comes to ensuring that the children and their parents have a most enjoyable summer. Ruach Chaim continue your great work.
I would be so upset if I couldn’t see my child. I would be devastated.
The day went on like any other day in camp the campers had regular activities as usual and the boys were so happy thank you who ever made this happen the kichen staff
So much confusion… Here is some info to clear things up:
1. Ruach Chaim campers are 12 or 13 and up, not 6 and up as the campers’ ages were years ago.
2.Ruach Chaim boys have access to call home and receive emails and faxes.
3. Ruach Chaim notified parents via email and mail. In addition, my son simply informed me on the phone several days before. He was delighted and excited about the alternate camp plans.
3. Sh.. don’t tell anyone… If your child is not a communicator or you planned to be in the mountains for the weekend, go ahead and visit! No one is stopping you! I did because I was in the area for the weekend and found a super happy young man, great staff, and delightful bunks and grounds.
Thank you Ruach Chaim for a phenomenal cost effective camp experience for my son. And thank you for cancelling official visiting day and planning a phenomenal action packed camp day instead.
A very grateful Ruach Chaim mother.
Camp Bais Yaakov has for a number of years been trying to institute this change, they encourage parents to stay home if it is too difficult. The main problem is kids feeling bad that they don’t have a visitor, so the camp made a special trip with all the kids that don’t have visitors to go buy pizza (which the parents would have done). many parents don’t come and it’s really fine. this year the first visiting day was during the yeshiva zman so anybody learning or teaching in mesivta would have to miss a day learning. – additionally you can visit any time at your convenience, when you are in the Catskills for a weekend or whenever. – they say it’s not school, and a camper can have visitors any time. – they also have nothing to hide – the bunk houses are always neat and presentable, they don’t have to put on a fake show what the camp looks like for visiting day.