Berkshire Hills - Emanuel Camps

New Clothing Line Available Online Now at the New Camp Store!

Sat, 10 May 2008 14:56:00 CDT

Check out the new Berkshire Hills clothing line. We have something for everyone...t-shirts, sweatshirts, flannel pants and more! Place your orders now so you can be ready for summer.
To shop click here

2008 Summer Highlights

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:10:00 CDT

What’s New at BHEC

· Our logo, which captures what BHEC is all about….Friends for summer*Friends for life

New Facility Improvements

· A new greenhouse is being built for the LIT’s

· Showers will be added to senior unit cabins by this summer and future units in 2009

· Designs for the new White House will be available to see on Parent’s Visiting Day and construction is slated for the fall

· The Recreation Hall is getting a needed face lift and all of our facilities will be improved upon in 2008-2009

· Our Admin building will have a new look, entrance and receptionist.

· New Signs will be all around camp with our new colors and logo, sprucing up our look and telling everyone that we are proud to be BHEC

Staff News

We are thrilled and excited to introduce…….

· Seth Adelsberg as our Camp Director! For the past six years Seth has had the pleasure of running Berkshire Hills' senior adult camp. Although it has been a wonderful experience, he is extremely excited about moving to the other side of the lake. A bit about Seth:

· Educated at Solomon Schechter Day School and Brandeis University.

· Studied, worked, travelled and spent an extensive time in Israel

· Spent the past eighteen years working in Jewish camping

· Passionate about outdoor education (backpacking, team building,

· leadership development) and helping people reach their potential

· Extensive experience in formal and informal Jewish education

· Loves BHEC!

Randi Weitz as our new Program Director. Randi has been a camper her whole life and ultimately chose camping as her career path because she feels that “nothing is more fulfilling than making a difference in the life of a child”. Randi….

· Studied American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at Nassau CC and then Speech Pathology/ Audiology at C.W. Post Long Island University

· Is a third generation alumna of Surprise Lake Camp, where she was both a camper and a staff member for many years

· Was the Registrar at Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake

· Is so excited and proud to join the Berkshire Hills Family and can't wait to meet everyone this summer!

Over 80% of our staff and past campers are coming back…..!

The camp programming is being energized by building on the successes of past years and revamping the daily schedule and summer calendar. We are introducing new activities, new specialist with extensive experience in sports, outdoor education, the arts, and Jewish programming.

Program Highlights

· Our Nature and Pioneering staff is participating in the premiere Jewish outdoor education seminar

· The new arts and crafts instructor has a Bachelors in Fine Arts and grew up attending Camp French Woods, one of the finest arts camps in the country

· The tennis instructor has taught tennis for over five years and was trained at the Wingate Institute in Israel

· We’re adding more Instructional Swim Periods

· We’re revitalizing hobbies with more choice opportunity daily

· Thanks to a grant from the UJA-Fed of NY, our Jewish program committee is partaking in a four day retreat with five other camps

· Our new 2 year LIT program is in its second year.

LIT – YEAR 1 will focus on group dynamics, team building and educational workshops

LIT – YEAR 2 will continue where the first year be a more hands-on experience

New Services For Parents: Check out details on our website

· A camp store where one can purchase camp apparel and a multitude of items useful for campers.

· Send email to your child, receive email from your child

· Posting and purchasing of high quality photos

We’re about creating a community, a place to feel good, experience self worth and HAVE FUN.

Seeking donations to help beautify BHEC grounds

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:54:00 CDT

We're looking for donations to purchase picnic tables to place around camp for this coming season. Areas include around the lake, in the units, at the pool and near the rope course. Tables are $225, but we will take donations of any amount. Please contact the office for more information.

We did it! $600,000 raised for the Meet-Your-Match Capital Campaign. Thanks to all who donated!

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:14:00 CDT

Meet Your Match II is a 1:3 capital matching grant program from Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF). Every $3 raised by the camp from donors' gifts of $10,000 and more in support of capital improvements between September and December 31, 2007 will be matched by $1 from HGF. Or, Alumni could contribute to the Alumni Association's Capital Fund, which made its own donation for matching.

Our goal was to raise $600,000 - which will bring us to $800,000 after the HGF match!

But there's still more money to be raised, so don't stop now!

Please visit the Meet Your Match page on our BHEC Tzedakah/Giving Site for more information and to make a donation!

Computer Donations Needed

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:41:00 CDT

We're looking for 5 PC's running Windows XP to add to our camp computer area this summer... if you have a computer to donate to camp, please contact Seth or Elaine. Thank you!

Register now for 2008!

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CDT

Check out our 2008 rates & dates. Register today!

JOIN US ON JANUARY 6TH FOR OUR 2007/8 CAMP REUNION

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:57:00 CDT

JOIN US TO SEE FRIENDS, GET EXCITED ABOUT 2008 AND FOR FUN & GAMES

Date: Sunday, January 6, 2008.

Place: New Roc City

Time: 10-12

Details have been mailed with your camp application.

Hey Alumni! Don't miss the Turkey Bowl and Bash -- Saturday November 24

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 03:49:00 CDT

Click here for all of the details!

Watch the Color War 2007 DVD Trailer, then pre-order your copy!

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:03:00 CDT

We've just added the trailer -- check it out!!! Don't miss out on this memorable DVD highlighting all the great moments of Color War 2007. It's only $20 (includes shipping). Click here for the trailer and order form. The DVD is being edited now and will be ready for shipping later this fall.

POST SEASON INFO

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:10:00 CDT

Dear parents,

We just finished a wonderful camp season. We will be sending out 2008 info at the end of August and introducing our 2008 children's camp director-Seth Adelsberg.

PLEASE check your child's bag as we have enclosed a letter with some important info for you.

Elaine will be available at camp on Thursday and Friday. Please contact her by email bhecamps@aol.com (just leave your phone #) and she will call you back.

She will be in the Ardsley office from 8/21-8/23 and 8/28-8/30. Contact her at 914 693-8952.

She will be back and forth from Ardsley to camp thru September 7th. If you need to contact her at any other time, just send an email-she checks daily from Monday-Friday.

For all other times

Parent & Camper Surveys

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:40:00 CDT

Parents & Campers -- Please take a few minutes to fill out our camp surveys. Your feedback will help us plan yet another memorable summer of fun, friendships and new experiences! Parents, we're offering a discount on 2008 registration for those who take the survey!!

GOING HOME

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:35:00 CDT

Dear Parents,

Reminder: Your child will be arriving home on Wednesday, August 15th to either Cunningham Park, Queens or Bloomingdales, White Plains at 1:00 PM. We suggest you arrive by 12:30. Please note: All bedding and sports equipment are bagged and put in the undercarriage of the bus. Kindly make sure you check the bus.

Cleveland Trip Arrives Back to Camp

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:17:00 CDT

Buses just arrived back at 7:13. They'll unpack, eat dinner and talk about the great time they had.

Copies of LITerature posted

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:02:00 CDT

We've scanned and posted the LITerature for campers and parents to see at home... click here and enjoy!

IMPORTANT NEWS-PLEASE READ

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:00:00 CDT

Lyme disease is endemic to upstate New York and is carried by deer ticks. If your child has any of the following symptoms of Lyme disease, please tell your health care practitioner that your child was in camp in Upstate New York and request blood testing for Lyme:
-fever
-headache
-fatigue
-rash
-sore throat
-muscle and joint aches

Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection and treatment is a few weeks of antibiotics.

For more information about Lyme disease, please refer to the web site of the Center of Disease Control at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/index.htm or call your health care provider.

Color War 2007

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:14:00 CDT

As great as camp is when we all come together to have fun, it gets even better when we are divided into two halves for three days. Color War 2007 was declared on July 30^th. Mimes and Frankenstein appeared in the dining room to announce that the war had begun. The Fierce Blue Fright would face off against the Wild White Hysterics for what would be one crazy color war. The night of break out we headed straight down to the fields for Tug-O-War. Each unit of camp competed, boys vs. boys, girls vs. girls. LITs and Staff all competed as well.

The first day was an array of events ranging from Red Light, Green Light for the Hill to water relays for Junior and Senior Unit campers. Throughout all of the events the team spirit never slowed down for a second. Campers made up their own cheers and taught them and let their voices be heard by the whole camp.

Day 2 had even more competition and more spirit. The Hill had scooter bowling, Junior Unit had kickball and everyone had teamwork/ track and field events. At night was arguably the most exciting event of the second day of Color War. It’s known at camp as Rope Burn, a competition between staff members, representing their teams, to build a fire high enough to be the first to burn down a rope 10 feet high.

Day 3, the last day of Color War was all about the mass clean up, where teams competitively clean camp. The biggest event of the afternoon is the Apache relay, an old camp tradition which includes 47 tasks all around camp, the last event being the big half court basketball shot.

After dinner was Sing. Sing is where all of the arts and crafts, skits, and songs come together. The rec hall is decorated from top to bottom on both sides. Campers perform in skits with themes relevant to color war and sing songs that their counselors wrote as loud as they can scream.

And at the conclusion of sing, the winner of Color War was declared… The Fierce Blue Fright was victorious. Camp is now united as one again and it feels great.

Hudson Even Start Visit

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:22:00 CDT

Berkshire Hills –Emanuel Camps and the Hudson Even Start Literacy Program are now in their third year of a reciprocal advantageous relationship. The program began three years ago when Berkshire Hills Leadership In Training program (a group of 15 year olds) began visiting the literacy program in Hudson to read and play with the children. This year the program expanded to two visits. The Hudson’s program director, Sophie Becker shared with the staff at Berkshire-Hills that this summer’s program would be learning about different countries around the world. We were asked to share about our knowledge of Israel. Berkshire-Hill Jewish programming director, Naama Kalker and their LIT supervisor, Bonnie Schneider, worked with the LIT’s to put together a program that brought the children around the country. They began with filling out a pretend passport and then went on to visit the different locations in Israel with each LIT presenting the important facts of the areas that they were to visit. The children learned Hebrew words for hello and good morning and then were read a story by the LIT’s about one of the important mitzvah’s of speaking kindly of others. We ended our day with an invitation to host the Hudson group to a day at camp. The LIT’s have prepared a mornings worth of activities to share what they love about summer camp. The kids from Even Start will get to experience arts and crafts, gym games and lunch in our dining room with the rest of the camp community. Gift bags will be presented to the children at the end of the day filled with donations of new books collected by the LIT’s as part of a toy and book drive that they organized on behalf of the Even Start program. Also included in the gift bags are personalized items that the LIT’s created themselves in arts and crafts and other donations made by the camp. It is our hope that both the Even Start children and the LIT’s from Berkshire-Hills learn from one another about each others cultures and backgrounds to gain a better understanding of our differences and similarities.

LIT BLOG 8-5-07

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:53:00 CDT

It’s hard to believe that as I write this note to all of you there are only 9 more days left of camp. We still have so much on our list to do and so little time.

Our LIT Oneg was successful even though our voices were strained from color war. The group pulled through with a great skit, a terrific song and dance, and a presentation of their LIT name. They are the WHATCHAMACALITS. They had a lot of fun with planning out their “coming out” and they are feeling good about making their decision together.

We just came back from our caving trip. Some of us (me included) overcame some of our fears of small spaces and conquered the unknown. Please look at the pictures on the website. You will see what I mean by small spaces. It was a great experience and I know that this trip helped bring us all a little closer (no pun intended).

Next up for us is the final planning for our Hudson Literacy group (community service project) to make their visit on Tuesday. We have a morning of activities to share with them and of course the donations from visiting day. The group is really looking forward to introduce the kids to the place that they love so much.

Will catch you up again next week,

Bonnie

Arrived Safely in Cleveland

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 20:17:00 CDT

The kids arrived safely and are having a pool/pizza party at the JCC of Akron. The water park awaits them tomorrow.

WEBNOTES PROBLEM (FOR SOME PEOPLE)

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 18:55:00 CDT

It appears some people have been experiencing issues this weekend with posting Webnotes.

There are no known problems with camp's web server or provider. Because it is happening at random to some, but not all, it is likely there is problem somewhere on the Internet (on the network route between some people's connections and the server). Sometimes this issue is sporadic and may happen only with certain types of things - like submitting a web form, such as a Webnote.

Unfortunately, this type of thing happens on the Internet and cannot always be avoided or controlled (or even located right away). The Internet is made up of many network providers - if one is having trouble it could very well cause random issues like this.

I will continue to monitor the situation, as will our service provider (since I assume we're not the only site impacted by such a random problem). Meanwhile, if you do seem to have problems submitting your Webnote, please wait a few minutes and try again, or try posting a shorter message to see if that helps. You may want to type your message in "notepad" first and then copy it to the Webnotes screen, so that you don't have to spend time retyping it. Please also email me at webmaster@bhecamps.com to let me know you are having problems, so that I can try and find a common trend in this problem.

Thank you, and sorry for the inconvenience.

Andy - Webmaster

Missed Phone Calls

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:21:00 CDT

WE APOLOGIZE!!! PLEASE FORGIVE US PARENTS OF SHACK #5 & SHACK #6.

We got so caught up in COLOR WAR endings and SING that we forgot to call home last night.

We're off to the Movies today and will call TONIGHT If you need to change the phone # for tonight just call us or email me (before 5:00) and we'll take care of it.

Thank you for understanding.

Robot Village Comes To Camp

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:09:00 CDT

On Monday our Hill boys participated in Robot building. Tom Hershner, straight from NYC's Robot Village spoke about the different robots, how they're remotely controlled and how sophisticated they are in that they can sense sound and distinquish color. After the presentation all of the boys had the opportunity to build glider robots....IT WAS GREAT!!!!

Thanks to Board member Karen Gibofsky who provided this wonderful experience.

They'll certainly be back next summer!!!!!!!

LIT BLOG

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:19:00 CDT

L.I.T BLOG

Hello again L.I.T parents. We’ve had a very busy week that has just past and much more still to come. The group has been busy preparing for our Aug. 3^rd Oneg. We got a head start with the anticipation of color war looming over us. The group worked well together to create their Oneg song as well as a great skit. They’ve already rehearsed their dance and we’re ready to go.

The L.I.T.’s were also introduced to the game scully. This is a game that was very popular in camp many years ago. A couple of “old timers” decided that it would be great for the L.I.T’s to re-introduce the game to camp, create the scully boards and teach it to the younger campers. We plan to accomplish this by the end of the summer.

We enjoyed a beautiful morning at Bash Bish Falls at Taconic State Park the other day. We took a small hike up to the falls while sharing thoughts with friends that we don’t always get a chance to connect with. This was part of a workshop geared towards good listening and interpersonal skills. We all shared our thoughts with the group, after a very cold but beautiful swim at the falls. I know the kids had a good time and of course we capped it off with a big sandwich at the Depot Deli.

As we head into another busy week, we all hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are.

Bonnie

LUGGAGE RETURN

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:11:00 CDT

BHEC

LUGGAGE RETURN

END OF SUMMER

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED; ALL DELIVERS WILL BE MADE BETWEEN

7:00AM AND 4:00 PM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16^TH

New York – Borough of Queens, the Counties of Nassau and Suffolk

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17^TH

New Jersey – All areas of service

New York – Rockland County

MONDAY, AUGUST 20^TH

New York –Boroughs of Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan

Westchester County

Connecticut

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like your child's luggage to be returned with the buses on August 15th-call our office 518 329-3303 before August 12th

Water Aerobics Comes to BHEC

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:05:00 CDT

A new program has arrived to camp-Water Aerobics-and what a big hit!!!! Thanks to the generosity of Glenn Pepper from Take Me To The Water-a NY based learn to swim program-we have all the equipment and lots of fun in the water.