BHEC Parent/Camper Manual

Our office hours are 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Monday-Thursday and 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Our office telephone number is 518-329-3303. If the phone rings and the answering machine does not pick up, this may mean that we are unable to respond to call waiting. Please try again in a few minutes. Our voive mail is on 24 hrs/day and is monitored during the day.

Your child is in programs throughout the day. We do not want to disrupt your child's daily program, but your child will be able to call home twice during each session and three times for a full season (see below).

To protect the health and safety of all our campers, NO food packages will be allowed at camp. The attraction to insects and animals pose a safety and health risk to our campers and staff. All trunks will be viewed upon arrival and all food items will be collected and given to local charities.

The director or other appointees examine all packages at the office. They will be resealed and sent to the campers less any food items. We ask that you limit packages to 2 per child. We serve three meals a day, plus a nighttime snack. Your child also visits our canteen four times per week and may purchase snacks on trip days. Please, safety and health first.

BHEC works hard to ensure that professional medical care is received when needed. We have enclosed a medical form that MUST be filled out by an examining physician and a parent. It must be completed and returned to our city office PRIOR to your child's departure. Our camp pediatrician cannot see your child without a signed medical form. (Get forms here)

Our camp's health care staff dispenses all medications, including over-the counter medication. Medication should be clearly labeled with your child's name and complete instructions for dispensing. Please let us know if the medication needs to be refrigerated. If so, properly pack it in an insulated bag with an ice pack for travel.

Medication must be given to the bus counselor upon departure to camp. A camper may NOT keep medication in their bunk.

Our policy on parental notification of illness is as follows: In unusual or prolonged illness or in an emergency, the nurse, doctor or camp administrator will call parents to advise them of the situation. For normal health problems (i.e. sore throat, infected ears, slight fever, etc.), the parents will be called if illness persists for three days.

Camp Address:
Berkshire Hills-Emanuel Camps
159 Empire Rd.
Copake, N.Y. 12516

It is helpful to include your child's bunk, shack or cabin number as soon as they send you that information. Write a letter before your child leaves for camp so that mail will be waiting at camp. Send your child to camp with a supply of stamped, self-addressed post cards and envelopes in order to make sure your mail is properly received. Mail from rural areas may be slow, so please be patient. We do request that all campers write letters once a week. Please do not send faxes. Campers look forward to mail time, so please write.

The camp will supply your child with spending money for trip days (up to $25/session).

Though an expression of art, graffiti defaces property. We ask that you advise your child that to write or draw on camp property is unacceptable. We provide ample opportunities for children to write and draw in Arts & Crafts, etc. We will be compelled to pass along all expenses incurred by camp in removing or covering unauthorized drawings.

Bunk assignments are determined by age and dependent on social and emotional maturity. We will be happy to entertain a preference as to whom you would or would not want as a bunkmate for your child. Whenever possible, we try to accommodate your child, but your preference cannot be binding on the camp personnel. The Camp Director reserves the right to make the final decision. As always, we inform and work with parents on this issue.

Bunk parties can be held at camp to help celebrate birthdays occurring during the season. Cake and refreshments can be provided for the entire bunk at a cost of $35.00 (paid in advance). If you are interested, contact our city office (prior to June 15) or camp office (after June 15) for details. Parties are a treat for the campers and fun for all.

Our staff members take tremendous pride in their roles and in their professionalism. We are proud of the job they perform. We will be recommending a suggested thank you tip that we will fairly distribute. A letter sent to parents will explain the procedure. We hope you take the opportunity to help our committed staff and make them feel appreciated.

We cannot be responsible for the loss or damage to a camper's clothing or equipment. Every effort is made to reunite campers with their belongings before they leave camp. PLEASE LABEL ALL CLOTHING AND PERSONAL ITEMS. We strongly suggest that you do not send any new or expensive clothing to camp. Our laundry is done off site by a professional service every 10 days, so enough clothing for 12 days must be provided.

Sunday, July 27, 2008 is our "IN CAMP" visiting day. Our visiting day is for full season campers only.

Plan to arrive at 11:00 A.M. Staff will direct you to our parking lot. We provide school buses to transport you to our campgrounds. WE DO NOT PERMIT CARS TO ENTER ONTO OUR MAIN CAMPUS. This is for the safety of your children.

We provide a Bar-B-Q lunch from 12:15-2:00 for all campers and staff. Friends and family may bring a picnic lunch, or may purchase (in advance ONLY) coupons for the BAR-B-Q lunch at camp - Details are enclosed with the spring mailing. We will provide coffee & tea. We do not provide tables or benches, may we suggest a blanket. We request that NO FOOD packages be left with children or staff.

We do not permit alcohol or animals under any circumstances. A schedule for the day will be handed out on the bus. Please feel free to play some ball, socialize and swim.

Visiting Day ends at 4:00 P.M.

The camp provides motor coach bus transportation to and from the camp at central pick-up locations. This service is free of charge. See additional information below for location, times, etc.

We will offer door-to-door luggage service. All luggage must be handled by ADS service.

We ask that all campers abide by the following "Code of Behavior"

TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT
BE COOPERATIVE
RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY
TAKE CARE OF CAMP AND YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS
ASK FOR HELP

We expect all campers will:

Keep their living area neat and clean
Shower and change their clothing daily
Participate in activities
Cooperate and listen to their counselors
Use the right channels to communicate, talk with one another, compromise, resolve differences and promote "team spirit"
Speak with their counselors, Unit Head, Nurse or Camp Director if there is a problem
Treat everyone equally and fairly
Keep the camp environment clean and free of graffiti
Learn something new
Feel good about themselves
Make new friends
Try new things
HAVE FUN AT CAMP

For the well being of all campers we cannot tolerate bullying, fighting, cursing, scapegoating, stealing, lying or inappropriate behavior

Kitchens are off limits.
Waterfronts and Pool are off limits when lifeguards are not supervising.
Campers must follow safety directions at Program Areas (wear sneakers when at tennis, no running, no use of ropes equipment without proper supervision).
Campers must stay in sight of their counselors at all times.
The Camp supports ZERO TOLERANCE policies with regard to tobacco, alcohol, drugs and violence.

8:30 Breakfast
9:45-10:30 Period 1
10:45 Hill- Instructional Swim, Junior Unit & Senior Unit Activity Period 2,
11:45 Hill Activity Period 3, Junior Unit Instructional Swim, Senior Unit Activity Period 3
12:45 Lunch
2:00 Hill & Junior Unit General Swim, Senior Unit Activity Period 4
3:00 Snack/Canteen
3:30 Hill & Junior unit Activity 4, Senior Unit General Swim
5:30 Shower Time
6:30 Dinner
7:45 Evening Activity
8:30 Snack
9:15 Day Ends

Daily activities include; Swim, All sports, Dance, Drama, Arts & Crafts, Nature, Martial Arts, Ropes.

We offer our campers a variety of delicious, kosher and nutritionally balanced meals

Breakfast
Assorted juices or milk from our drink bar
Assorted cereal
Hot chocolate
Coffee & Tea

In addition:
Pancakes
French Toast
Bagels, cream cheese & lox
Egg McMuffins
We alternate our meals to include one item from our "additions" daily.

Lunch
Salad Bar
Juice Bar
Fresh Fruit
Dessert

Main Course:
Pizza
Baked Ziti
Tuna & Egg Salad
Salami & Bologna
Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Grilled Cheese
Meal substitutes are offered at each meal. We provide vegetarian substitutes for all meat meals.

Dinner
Salad Bar
Juice Bar
Vegetable
Dessert
Main Course:
Baked Chicken
Bar-B-Q Hamburgers, hot dogs
Chicken Nuggets
Turkey Breast Hero
Tacos
Meatballs & Spaghetti

This is a suggested list of items your child will need for a session at camp. PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS. Do not send your child with valuable items that can be lost or damaged. HOT POTS are NOT allowed and will be removed and thrown out if found. They are a fire hazard. CELL PHONES are NOT allowed, and we strongly suggest no DVD PLAYERS or PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERS (IPODs, etc.).

*If your child plans to rollerblade-you must include helmet, elbow & knee pads & wrist guards.

Bedding:
2 sheets, 3 pillow cases
2 blankets (1 blanket or comforter-sleeping bag optional)
1 pillow

Daily Apparel:
2 pair P.J.'s or sleep wear
4 jeans (1 sweat pants-optional)
10 pairs of shorts
2 pairs of sneakers, 1 pair boots (optional), water shoes or flip flops
10 T-shirts, 3 long sleeved shirts
1 sweatshirt
1 jacket
10 pair socks, 10 underwear
3 bathing suits
6 towels, bathrobe optional
1 rain poncho
1 hat w/ brim
2 nicer outfits for socials & Shabbat dinner

Toiletries:
Laundry bag, box of tissues, washcloth
Shampoo & conditioner
1 toothbrush, 1 tube toothpaste
1 soapdish/2 bars soap
Hairbrush and Comb
Suntan lotion/insect repellent (lotion)

Optional Items:
Ear plugs
Knapsack
Feminine needs
Camera
Pictures, books
Sport equipment
Flashlight/batteries
Water bottle
Stuffed animals

A pre-camp Open House for new campers and their families will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2008. Get all of the details here.

Your child will be departing from and returning back home to our centrally located bus pick-up points: Bloomingdales in White Plains and Cunningham Park in Queens. See below for directions to these locations.

NOTE FOR PARENTS OF 2-WEEK SESSIONS -- Transportation is only provided ONE-WAY for these sessions. You will have to drop-off/pick-up your child at camp on certain days. Please refer to the schedule below.

Air-conditioned, motor coach buses will transport your child. They will be parked at the opposite end of the parking lot. For safety reasons, we suggest you park your car and escort your child to the bus. Please park your car 50ft. from bus to avoid congestion.

PLEASE REMEMBER to check the bus under carriage for camper belongings before you depart. Usually your child's bedding is in the under carriage of the bus.

The Camp assumes responsibility for your child once they are on the bus. A bus counselor will review safety procedures for traveling on the bus (they include wearing seat belts and remaining in the seat.)

When your child arrives for pick-up, a camp staff member will wait with your child until you arrive.

FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY: You can call our mobile phone at (914) 450-9786.

Session 1

To Camp	Sunday, June 29	7:30 AM Cunningham Park 8:15 AM Bloomingdales
Return home	Friday, July 25	12:30 PM Cunningham Park 11:30 AM Bloomingdales

Session 2

To Camp	Monday, July 28	8:00 AM Cunningham Park 8:45 AM Bloomingdales
Return home	Sunday, August 17	1:00 PM Cunningham Park 1:00 PM Bloomingdales

Full Summer

To Camp	Sunday, June 29	7:30 AM Cunningham Park 8:15 AM Bloomingdales
Return home	Sunday, August 17	1:00 PM Cunningham Park 1:00 PM Bloomingdales

Session 1A (2 weeks)

To camp	Sunday, June 29	7:30 AM Cunningham Park 8:15 AM Bloomingdales
Return home	Sunday, July 13	12:00 PM CAMP **

Session 1B (2 weeks)

To camp	Sunday, July 13	1:00 PM CAMP *
Return home	Friday, July 25	12:30 PM Cunningham Park 12:30 PM Bloomingdales

Session 2A (2 weeks)

To camp	Monday, July 28	8:00 AM Cunningham Park 8:45 AM Bloomingdales
Return home	Sunday, August 10	12:00 PM CAMP **

* Your child's counselor will escort your child from the administration building to his/her bunk, help unpack & begin camp life.

** We will have your child waiting your arrival at our administration building.

DIRECTIONS TO BLOOMINGDALES PARKING LOT

BLOOMINGDALES is located @ 175 Bloomingdale Rd. White Plains, N.Y.

(Please do not call Bloomingdales, they have no connection with the Camp or our arrangements for pick-up)

Directions from Rt. 287 East: Take Rt. 287 East to Exit 8W. Bear left off ramp to light. (The Westchester Mall is directly in front of you.) Make left onto BLOOMINGDALE ROAD. Go 3 traffic lights. Bloomingdales is on the left.

Directions from Rt. 287 West: Take Rt.287 West to Exit 8. This puts you on Rt. 119 (not the Tarrytown Road, Rt. 119) Follow signs for Westchester Mall. Go three traffic lights (bear right when you see a possible fork and proceed to pass under the overpass). At 3rd traffic light make left onto BLOOMINGDALE RD. You will pass The Westchester Mall on your right. Go 3 traffic lights and entrance to Bloomingdales is on the left.

DIRECTIONS TO CUNNINGHAM PARK

Cunningham Park is located on Union Turnpike, ¼ mile West of Francis Lewis Blvd., Queens.

Directions From N.E. Queens:

Take Clearview Expressway to Union Turnpike Exit. Proceed westbound on Union Turnpike. At the first light make a left turn onto Frances Lewis Blvd. Go 20 feet to Park Rd. Make a right turn into the park. Lot #3 50 yards on Park Rd.

Directions From Southshore & Brooklyn

Take Cross Island Pkwy No. to Union Tpke Exit. Follow exit road 1 block to 81^st. Ave. Make a right on 81^st, go one block to Commonwealth Blvd. Make a left turn go one block to Union Tpke. Make a left (west) on Union Tpke to Francis Lewis Blvd. Make a left onto Frances Lewis Blvd. For about 20 yards to Park Rd. Make a right onto Park Rd. go 50 yds. to Lot #3.

DIRECTIONS TO CAMP

Berkshire Hills-Emanuel Camps (Maps) Take Hutchinson River Pkwy. to RTE 684 or New England Thruway to RTE. 287 W. (Tappan Zee Bridge) to Rte. 684 OR Saw Mill River Pkwy to RTE 684 North.

Take RTE 684 to the end (ignore earlier signs for Rt. 22) When RTE 684 ends it becomes RT. 22 NO. You will be on RTE 684 for approx. 45 minutes-it turns into Rt. 22 around Brewster.

Take Rt. 22 for approximately 40 minutes. 9 miles No. of Millerton traffic light, you will pass a Citgo station on the left. About a mile ahead, you pass a motel on left (Johanna's). Slow down and make the left turn directly after the Motel onto Trout Brook Rd. Follow the road until it ends and turn left onto Empire Rd. Approx. 3/4 mile ahead (you will pass yellow ped. signs). The entrance to camp is on your right.

Alternate Route:

Take Taconic Pkwy No. to Rte 23 East-Follow Rte 23 to Hillsdale. Make Right turn at traffic light onto Rt. 22 South. Make a right onto Rt. 7-A (truck dealership is on your left). Follow Rt. 7-A to the center of town. From the center clock, take Empire Rd. (other side of clock from where you are). Camp entrance is 2.2 miles on right down Empire Rd.

We do not feel that phone calls home are constructive for every child. Be prepared that some children who have adjusted to camp life are saddened after speaking to a family member. We have noticed that senior unit campers often skip the call home if the evening activity .grabs. them.

We do our best to adhere to the call schedule, but at times a "special" activity interferes.

Hill Girls (8,9 &10 yr.old)
Session #1 Sundays, July 6 & July 13
Session #2 August 3 & August 10
Calls are made between 7:15-8:45

Hill Boys (8, 9 & 10 yr.old)
Session #1 Wednesdays, July 9 & July 16
Session #2 July 30 & August 6
Calls are made between 6:30-8:15

Campers In Training
Girls (6/29-7/13) will call on July 6
Boys (6/29-7/13) will call on July 9
Girls (7/13-7/25) will call on July 20
Boys (7/13-7/25) will call on July 20
Girls (7/28-8/10) will call on August 3
Boys (7/28-8/10) will call on August 3

Junior Unit- Calls are made between 7:15 & 8:45
Shack #1 & Shack #2- Mondays, July 7, July 14, August 4
Shack # 3 & Shack #4-Tuesdays, July 8, July 15, August 5
Shack #5 & Shack #6- Thursdays, July 10, July 17, August 7

Senior Unit-Senior Unit Campers :
Cabins 3, 4 & 5 will call home on Sundays July 6 & July 20
Cabins 1 & 2 on Wednesdays July 9 & July 16During Session #2 Senior Unit will call home on August 10

Your child may make one call home, unless parents do not live together, then your child will call both parents the same night.

If you know that you will be unavailable, please notify us in advance and we will do our best to have your child call home on an alternate evening.

We ask your children to limit their calls to no more than 5 minutes since we have a limited number of phones.

Please note: there are times that special programs conflict with calling times and your child might be calling later than scheduled. Please be patient, we will do our best to follow the schedule as is.

We always encourage your child to write home. Please know that we do not feel that phone calls home are always constructive for all campers. Many campers have adjusted to camp, but are saddened (homesick) after speaking to a family member. Please discuss with your child what their options are. Not all children have to call home. This is only being made available for those parents and campers who wish to avail themselves of the opportunity.

A phone call does not take the place of receiving mail. All campers enjoy and look forward to receiving letters and WebNotes - please no faxes.

Berkshire Hills-Emanuel Camps does not endorse camper/staff communication or contact during the non-camp season. We will not share staff addresses, telephone #'s or email addresses with campers or their families. Parents who wish to engage the services of staff who have worked with their children during the camp season do so without our involvement. We recommend that if a staff member contacts a campers it should only be with permission from the camper's parents. Staff members pre and post the camp season, DO NOT represent the camp.

Want to know what your child is doing at camp? Visit our website and subscribe to the BHEC BLOG (http://www.bhecamps.com/blog/) -- We'll keep you posted!

We offer Bar/Bat Mitzvah Lessons. Lessons are schedules twice per week. Let us know if interested, *Lessons are an additional cost.

Water Skiing lessons are available at an additional cost. Please call us for details.

Welcome to the exciting and wonderful world of summer camp! The summer is almost upon us and we wish to help you and your child prepare for a successful summer experience. Please review this manual, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

May We Suggest You Discuss The Following With Your Child...

In preparation for camp, speak with your child about their going to camp, riding on a bus, etc. Discuss activities he or she will enjoy. Perhaps share your own positive camp experience. Problem solve with your child before camp. "What should you do if you run out of underwear?" "What will you do if you don't feel well?"

We offer a pre-camp visit, which we urge you and your child to attend. This will help to familiarize you and your child with our camp environment and to meet other new campers and families.

The first day of camp can be confusing. A child who knows what to expect is likely to fare better than an uninformed child. We exit from the bus at camp onto a green lawn in front of what we lovingly call the "gray house." We then proceed to call campers by bunk and name. We generally start with the youngest campers, i.e., Bunk 1, counselors stand and, as the campers' names are called, they join their counselors. This is done until all the names in the bunk are called.

We next visit with our camp nurses. This is a preventative measure to assure that nothing contagious enters the bunks, as well as to familiarize your child with our medical staff.

After our visit to the health center, lunch is served. Your child will sit with his/her bunk for meals on the first day. Afterward, we sit family style at assigned round tables to meet other campers.

Day 1 continues in the bunk with "getting to know you", unpacking and settling in. If time allows, swim tests are given. Time "flies by" in camp. Within three days, all campers are "old-timers". They have picked up all the routines, made friends and adjusted to being away from home. Campers love getting up-beat mail. Send plenty.

We hope this information will make your child's transition to camp a smooth and comfortable one.