Op-Ed: The Truth About Camps
Over the past decade, thousands of words have been spilled, in conversation and in print, over the alarming rate of our youth going off the derech. Accusations have been made against our school systems and against the parents. The rabbonim, the mashpiyim and even our store vendors have been blamed.
No doubt, there’s a kernel of truth to all of the above. There is however one area, which I feel has been overlooked, and interestingly enough, it is the first one to be mentioned by most educators. How much this is of influence, cannot be proven without thorough study, but surely a factor deserving of attention it is.
I am talking of the two month summer camps.
First the facts:
(Most of what is written here is regarding the boys camps, of which the writer has more an idea, but much of it is equally relevant to the girls programs.)
1) All the camps are being run by twenty two year old bochurim, and twenty year old girls respectively. Simply put: Three hundred children in the hands of a person who is not yet ready to have children of his/her own.
2) The curriculums, games, plays, night activities and songs, are being prepared by teenagers. No professional guidance provided.
3) Overlooking their work is the director, who sees the camp as a business enterprise and whose expertise in education is next to nothing. While traditionally there is a camp rabbi, he does not have much influence on the day to day workings of the camp.
4) The most important goal every staff member is told: Make sure the kids have a good time. Everything else is secondary.
5) In the boy’s camps, the counselors are generally the less chassidishe bochurim. This is simply due to the fact that any bochur interested in learning would prefer to go to a Yeshivas Kayitz or at least be a learning teacher. It is therefore usually the fun seeking, available, camp-style bochur who is spending two months with the kids as their role model.
Likewise, the head counselors of the boy’s camps must be the kind of bochur who is ready to sacrifice half a year of learning to prepare for the summer.
6) There is no academic standard that has to be met by the camp curriculum. In other words, it is impossible for a camp’s learning to fail. Emotional and behavioral intendancies are not the responsibility of the camp either. Once the summer is over, all staff members are scot free.
The results are only to be expected:
The unsettled seventeen year old counselors and waiters dictate the education; basic good ethics and traits, like not screaming in the streets, not ridiculing others, being respectful of your teachers etc., all become “nerdy” in camp. The camp atmosphere demands that you be with it. “It” is monitored by the popular night activity director who has just about managed not to get kicked out of yeshiva.
These same educators of our youth are also creating and cheering with the kids street-like chants, which are usually meaningless, and at times coarse. The more silly and immature one could be – the better counselor he is. The staff will generally not deny that the cheering is more for their own fun, than for the children.
The activities and programs are infiltrated with secular culture. Many a camp play was based on movies, which for some reason the play writers
happened to have seen. The scavengers and shmayonkies may also have the same.
Then there’s the dress. The staff members, finally relived from their yeshiva shackles, could dress as hip as they wish. White shirt and dark pants are not ‘cool’. A green-yarmullka bearer is a hero. All campers wishing to ‘fit in’ follow suit.
The learning is a joke too. Unlike all other camps, Lubavitch camps do not provide married experienced teachers, who know their stuff and discipline professionally. In fact the learning teachers are even younger than the counselors.The results are; tampering with the learning, turning good kids into trouble makers, and a vicious cycle of bribes and punishments being implemented by the clueless, and occasionally careless bochur in charge.
The emotional damage is worthy of a study of its own. Publicly humiliating kids is daily procedure in the dining room, petting and picking is customary and creating outright competition is the fuel on which camp runs.
All of this is covered and packaged in a few attractive fluffy wrappers, which blind the parents and set them to rest. Mushy Rebbe songs, mishnayos ba’al peh contests, loads of fun and expensive trips, bring back home smiling kids. But the damage was done, and will only surface during the course of the school year.
The Rebbi attempts to excite the kids about learning and yiddishe values, but year after year, it falls flat. The teacher is simply not ‘with it’ –
with camp.
In camp they were taught that learning is a non-issue, and here the teacher is trying to make it sound like it’s a life matter. Their counselors were ‘cool’, and this teacher is telling them that chassidishkeit is what’s important.
The chutzpah to the teacher soars, as a natural continuation of the fun. It is quite possibly also due to the fact that the teachers are subconsciously
perceived as old-fashioned not-with-it people, as a result of the worldly camp atmosphere.
It cannot be expected otherwise. After being brainwashed for eight weeks that camp is the best place and being spoiled with treats, trips and fun; after enjoying ‘runaways’ from learning class and spending half a day in the swimming pool or the baseball court – the rebbis are being put up to heavy competition. One that they are bound to fail at.
As the year progresses, the rebbi somehow stitches up the damage done by the summer, and attempts to instill a learning ethic, derech eretz and yiras shomayim. But as the summer comes around, it all goes up in smoke as the next batch of teenagers set about blinding his dear pupils with the easier, cooler, alternative way of life.
Back in camp, camper and counselor have much in common; they both relate of a miserably boring year of irrelevant Gemarah, and dive into a “fun-packed summer experience of a lifetime”, one that shall “change your child forever”.
In the tug of war between the schools and the camps, the latter usually succeed. They have everything going for them, including the 24-hour atmosphere, the not being restricted to educational programs, not being answerable to any level of providing skills and knowledge, and an enthusiastic youthful staff anxious to partake in the fun.
The results are all well known to us.
The past few years have seen much of our energy invested in constructively criticizing our community. I believe that most of our homes, and the vast majority of our teachers, are doing only good. The real culprits are the camps.
One frustrated teacher once remarked that since the Rebbe originally set up the camps for non-frum kids, and since the camps are not managing to attract them, they are attempting to produce them on their own. A sad joke of bad taste, but one we cannot laugh away.
Our kids are not going off any derech – their striding strictly on the alternative path they were shown.
Reprinted from Perspectives Magazine
Shloma Chaim
Avremel would never allow that.
Time to shut it down.
Not sure where this article is going, but it’s time for Yeshivos, especially Beis Medrash, to cut out this insane 10 week vacation every year. The Rebbe was fiercely opposed to this.
Summer camp should be staffed by older Bochurim whom have already completed Beis Medrash.
Zal Bochurim belong in Yeshiva 12 months out of the year. End of story.
חילול השם
The mashpiam of the Yeshivas -who always preach in farbregens that CHABAD LUBAVITCH is the TOP OF TOP, These same mashpiam should go to WIlliamsburg, Boro Park, Monsey , and even Lakewood to see how they run their Yeshivas in the summer months.
They are always open to guide their talmidim- or in the city or in the whole yeshiva moves to the country air
Lubavitch is the ONLY one who sends hundreds and thousands children to the street for three months and GO AROUND the world to MEKAREV one JEW -not that its not important
Chatzkel Honik Kvetcher
The issue is far worse than described in the article.
The ” owners” of the camps are greedy people taking advantage of us sheep.
Take a look at the two most popular boys camps in Lubavitch and see how the ” owners” (who are legally obligated to have a board of directors, but don’t ) live their pe rsonal lives.
Their wives walk the camp in complete Pritzus!!! Who gives them permission to walk the grounds to begin with? Are they ‘entitled’ to anything? After all, it’s a non profi, with the land ppurchased with Tzedaka funds.
Did anyone see the way these ” owners” (I don’t call them directors, simply because they act as such, without any accountability for financial or other matters. Communist business) live? Do you see the cars they drive and the houses they live/build!!!
Where is the eidelkeit? In times of recession, these guys continue their vacations unabated!
It’s the same thing with schools /yeshiva/Mesivta/Seminary in Lubavitch.
Why are hard working people struggling to pay the tuition to people who live a life of gluttony and selfishness while teaching our children that jobs are NOT important!
Try getting your kid enrolled telling the administration that you can’t afford it because you are a product of the system. See how much sympathy these charlatans will have for you or you child.
It’s time for accountability, whether it be a school, Seminary, camp or Mesivta.
It’s time to call out all the ” owners” of the community institutions and ask them, show me the books! Explain how you can afford a life of luxury vacations, fancy houses and real estate investments while a good portion of the community is struggling
kavod
No camp means no Archei Kalla. Rabbi Shemtov is not giving up on that kavod.
cholentmitkugel
You make friends for a lifetime and get fresh mountain air. So what if you wear a green yamulke. You think G–d cares?
Chaim H.
“You make friends for a lifetime and get fresh mountain air.”
You can do this in Yeshiva. The Yeshiva can move to the mountains for the summer (like by all other Chassdic groups and many litvak Yeshivas).
“So what if you wear a green yamulke. You think G–d cares?”
If your wearing a ‘green yamulka’ because now your in a “who cares” mode (your chilling out), than G-d does care.
concerned resident
What message do our children get when they see the “chevra man” in camp dressing in a way no average bochur would ‘in the city’?
I remember when we would say as children: I can’t wait to be a staff member and do what we want!
It would be helpful if all those claiming the surge of chassidishkeit they or their children get or got in camp will write where they live and which school they go to.
Completely Ignorant
The author of this article could not be more incorrect in his assumptions and placement of blame.
Over my many years if being a camper, my counselors were the most driven & chasidish as well as teaching life-lasting lessons.
Till this day – some 20 years later – they still reach out and try to have a positive effect on my life.
It may be correct that a small percentage of counselors and staff members are under-qualified, but that is a very small minority.
Giving a child some “freedom” from their responsibilities of school is essential to spiritual, mental, emotional and physical growth.
I respectfully Disagree with all the above written
On the contrary, the bochurim are the ones that are keeping chassidishkeit and the koch in the Rebbe’s directives exciting. They take their positions seriously, not out of routine like their seniors would…
Chaim H.
There are many points the author is making. Which ones Specifically do you disagree with and why?
Please elaborate.
Zack
Blown way out of proportion!!
though there is some truth to this, Most camps are serious about instilling chassidishe values in the campers and the positive results on campers can be seen.
Camp is not for Lubavitch kids in Lubavitch schools
If your kid is in a school for Lubavitch kids and NEEDS camp for his chassidishkeit you need to switch schools or communities. When the Rebbe talked about 24 hours a day in an environment of Torah he was referring to the original intent of CGI – non frum kids.
Unfortunately we don’t get those kids, and camp has become a rehab for kids with uninspiring teachers.
My kid is in a great Chabad school in Chicago and have sent them to camp and aside for the fun and games there’s no gain, because they get it all from home and school.
Camp should be for 2- 3 weeks and school for till Tisha B’av.
pervasive point
” There is no academic standard that has to be met by the camp curriculum. In other words, it is impossible for a camp’s learning to fail. Emotional and behavioral intendancies are not the responsibility of the camp either. Once the summer is over, all staff members are scot free.”
This point is pervasive in that it applys not only to camps, but to chabad schools across the board. Children have no reason to excel at (or at least understand) one year’s lesson because it will not determine whether or not they move on to the next year or graduate.
Chaim H.
True. However, this is another discussion (which we should have). As bad as it is during the year, it gets worse in the summer.
whAT!?
RUBBISH!!
NONSENCE!!
u obviosely dont relise that the chasidishkeit passed on to kids in camp is way more then they get from school!!
Chaim H.
Simply untrue.
Any so called “gain” is not not worth the lose. Just because a very small minority ‘might’ gain something, this does not make it worth it.
Again, the lose outweighs the gain.
Chaim H.
The author makes many points. Which one is “rubbish!!”,which one is “nonsense”? and please explain why you think so?
Former Head Counselor
To the author:
I got very excited when you said that you are going to lay down the “facts” about camp. Unfortunately most of your article is actually your own “opinion” and very little of the real facts were mentiond.
I agree that Camp may need to be shorter (maybe one month), and there are areas of camps that can be improved. But it will be a very sad day if you get your way! Kids should be allowed to have fun and enjoy some fresh country air, with learning, sports, and (yes) even night activity.
A school with great, experienced teachers, know how to handle the classroom, and camp certainly does not get in their way.
Stop trying to find excuses for schools and homes. Parents need to instill good chassidishe value in their horns. Schools need to make learning more engaging and fun.
And finally, the author should update himself on current camp practices before he scares parents from sending there kids away for an enjoyable and chasisdishe summer!
This is epic
The author clearly has no clue what they are talking about. Every single thing that was written in this article is completely false. Whos fully running the camp? The directors!! Experienced directors guide the head staff and counselors. The author is completely ignorant and has clearly never attended an overnight camp before. SORRYYYYY
Not true
When I sent a child for the first time to camp when she was in high school, the effects of camp were unbelievable. She started davening korbanos every day and still does since she went to camp. Her connection to the Rebbe strengthened. Rebbe time in the evenings gave her a lot of food for thought. The imoact from camp was very positive.
Spot on!
With all the “chassidishkait” in camp, the prevailing atmosphere is that “FUN” is what will make you happy in life, and that “regular” davening (not shouting/singing) and learning (not snippets on selected topics) are BORING.
The real issue is not chassidishkait or lack thereof, it’s about raising healthy, mature children. The cheering and joking in camp reinforces immaturity in a child.
I don’t care if it sells “chassidishkait”. Genuine chassidishe erlichkeit and sensitivity cannot be bred in a carnival.
Educator
The author of this comment seems unaware of the strong intense values and chassidishkeit that is imbued in children in an informal setting such as camp. Of course there is a need for formal learning in a formal classroom setting — but do not diminish the positive effect that a camp experience can have. It seems that most of the clear thinking people disagree with the article as do I. Editors think twice and three times before printing ….
Completely out of touch
The writer of this article is completely out of touch with reality. Of course one needs to always be aware and not let your guard down. Bu the enthusiasm in Yiddishkeit and Chasidishkeit generated by the overnight camps is unparalleled. I suspect the writer was being used to generate a discussion…..
parent
I see my kids coming back from camp with a lot more chayus for davening and chassidishe hanhogas. They must be doing something right!
Nasty
Even if he may have some good points, the tone of this article was attacking and unproductive. I can’t imagine the Rebbe rebuking in such a manner.
What a load of garbage!!!
This article is so inaccurate. I cannot believe it was allowed to be published. The boys DO learn, good bochurim are chosen as counselors (as I have seen from my boys amazing counselors over the years), there IS supervision and guidance for songs, activities etc.
The Rebbe zt”l
The Rebbe zt”l wanted that our schools and Yeshivas stay open. Unfortunately, when it came to Chinuch or when it came to having influence on the administration, the Rebbe didn’t have any.
He spoke and nobody listened.
I don't agree with camp, but not for these reasons!
Have you been to any overnight camp? This is all non sense! Although I personally feel that elementary should go through the summer (maybe one month camp max), kids still gain a lot from their staff members in camp.
Most counselors, and staff members are good and chassidishe bochurim that want to give the kids a good time, I can argue point by point but there’s no point ;)
The Rebbes reasons of having yeshiva go through out the summer, has nothing to do with what this post is about.
Pops
Exactly the opposite is true. The camps that I have sent my sons to, CGI Montreal & CGi Florida go out of their way to find dedicated Chasidishe counselors. The good memories and relationships that they forge help keep them stay
on the derech. I find that camps are able to repair some of the damage done by the school year.
to mister artice writer:
you probably also think that the kinus hashluchim is also destructive for the fathers as well as the kids, a pure waist of time!!
you are nothing more than a self hating chabadnik.
you probably never went to camp and nither sent ur kids to camp out of fear that you dont know wht tyo’re talking about
Chaim H.
Hold on a second!! Why the hate, anger and name calling?
If you disagree with any of the points being made, then please debate them in a respectful manner.
Had you made your comment in a court of law (Jewish or not), I would make an objection, based on the fact that you can not testify to what someones thinking.
So instead of lashing out like an angry (liberal), made a respectful argument (debate like a mensch).
Right on the money
Sorry but the writer in 100% correct in his/her observation
As a camp veteran myself both as a camper and as a staff member I concur with every word
The Rebbe On This Issue
Listen and take to heart/action: http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/554142/jewish/12-Tammuz-5745.htm
[Free Translation]
For various reasons Yeshivas, Chadarim and Talmud Torahs are closed during the summer for “vacation”. This is against the reality — Torah is our life — learning Torah is the life force of every child. Who has the right to make a distinction, that for nine and a half or ten months when school is open the child has to get life — but when school closes he must rest from studying Torah?! Torah is his life! This fact is uncivilized! Close school for two months or eight weeks or six weeks? For what reason? Actually the school should not even close! How can we close a “house of life” even for one day — let alone weeks or months.
If the point is money — life is worth much more. We speak of the life of the children and all the generations to come. Give him strength now so that he will have the ability — years later — to establish a family.
There is another argument — that the teachers need to rest, or maybe the children need a rest. They worked hard for 10 months, 6 days a week, studying — have pity, let them rest. The answer is there is no resting from life!! It is the opposite of rest!
For someone who must devote his time everyday to earning a living etc., for him we say, let him learn a short period in the morning and evening. For a father to say that the child worked hard for 10 months and needs a rest, tell them that the child lived these ten months through the Torah he learned and when he will grow up he will also not turn from it. Yet some wish to call this, “tired-out” and needful of rest.
Well if the teachers are tired, the Gemara tells us of Rabbi Yochanan. When he was tired he set himself in a place where he would influence the beauty of the future generation.
Torah is given for good life — it promises us: “I will provide you with rain at the right time.” (Vayikra 26:4) And all the other blessings listed in Torah. Of course one must not make this a condition, but it is promised to us. So Torah is a Torah of life.
When one sees a spiritually blind person — even if he put an obstacle in his own way; you have to do everything possible to remove the obstacle! This idea is universal. Any person knows that when someone wants to hurt himself we mobilize all the forces available to stop him — although he screams that it is undemocratic. In every town or city where the people are civilized, all will be done to remove such a person from potential danger.
So now that summer is here — there is free time — does it mean to be free from Torah, Yiddishkeit? G-d forbid, he is enslaving himself to his yetzer hora and to the Goyishkeit (opp. of Yiddishkeit), the opposite of freedom. He thinks that slavery is freedom. Well, since this is only darkness — it can be dispelled by a bit of light. Bring the light to any Jew — and he will run to do the will of Hashem! When a parent realizes that something is good for his child, we see that a father and mother give everything to provide their child more pleasure, more life and certainly more strength in his life.
Just show them the truth. When this day of liberation comes, we recall the sacrifice for the sake of the children and we see the results and fruits of that work which will go on and have a good influence for many generations.
If we speak words from the heart they will penetrate the heart, — and it will accomplish that all Jewish children will not minimize their Torah study during vacation, on the contrary — they are free of secular studies, and must increase Torah study.
Time for play, to strengthen the body; this, too, is holy. But some time must be added to Torah study and mitzvah observance. And even if this is done in the manner of education then:
Educate the child according to his way, even when he will be old he will not depart from it. (Mishlei 22:6)
This will be a preparation. As mentioned in Chassidus and Mussar, our mitzvos today give and provide us with a signal for the mitzvos in the future. For those who wish to know the reward — the reward will be to do more mitzvos — added Torah for the children, and everyone will do more mitzvos….
(Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l 12th Day Of Tammuz, 5745)
The Rebbe On This Issue?
Where in this Sicha is the Rebbe addressing camp? The Rebbe is addressing the failure of the schools who abdicate their responsibility (at times on top of their failed performance all year round), au contraire, in this Sicha the Rebbe supports the camp system of sports combined with Torah learning.
Let’s not forget how proud the Rebbe would be when they announced the Mishnayos Baal Peh results in front of the Rebbe as the Rebbe welcomed the camps from their two month (according to the author disastrous) experience in camp.
Agreed, But...
This has nothing do to with the article which is trashing camp and it’s staff. The Rebbe may not have wanted camp but not for the false reasons given above
Neturei Karta
I don’t know who the author of this article is, but it is clear that he subscribes to a Neturei Karta mentality and he thinks that their closed way of life is the more pious one and he feels inferior to them, so until we accept their ways he feels lacking in his yidishkeit.
Additionally the writer has no knowledge of what goes on by those who subscribe to that way of life, he knows nothing about the dropout rate at a rapid speed and in astounding numbers in spite of what he thinks are very pious ways. The only difference is that these people chase their dropouts away from their communities only to have them reinforce their faith through Lubavitch.
Finally, had the author paid attention to what the Rebbe said about camps and how the camp education of being 24/7 for two full months (in the hands of these kids that the author berates) has a much stronger and more positive effect on the children as opposed to the 10 months in Cheder where the kids go home and (may) end up with negative influences from the home.
This article does not belong in a Lubavitch publication (I don’t claim that it is, but it does purport to be one….), the subscribers to this way of thinking are no better than the Carlebach influenced or the Chabad light among us, neither Neturei Karta or Satmar or Carelbach have any claim on Yidishkeit that we in Lubavitch should care for.
Whatever the Rebbe instituted is our way, anything else is just that, anything else……
Chaim H.
The Rebbe wanted that Yeshivas, Chadarim and Talmud Torahs stay open 12 months a year.
When camp was opend it was for public school kids (as the author mentioned).
Of-course once the Rebbe relized that hes talking to the walls regarding this issue. He encouraged that camp should be ran in this or that manner.
The Rebbe dealt this way with many other issues. He dealt with the situation as it was. For example: the way the Rebbe dealt with the ‘STATE of Israel.
It’s never to late to do the right thing.
Just because WE failed the Rebbe in the past, does not mean we can’t do it right now.
The Rebbe!?
Please share with us (preferably a quote with its source) where the Rebbe praises camp and its positive impact or our from cheder children.
Thank you!
#rubbidubbi
I’m very surprised Perspectives Magazine would publish something so out of touch with reality!
Did the writer go around and study Chabad overnight camps before writing his piece???
DG
The author of this article is flat wrong on every single issue expect possibly the learning.
Garbage
This is a load of garbage, I was a couselour myself and this is simply untrue, way overexxagarated and blow out of proportion, the condescending tone comes off unrelatable.
Spilling words
I think you mean “spilling ink”. But this article is basically just spilling words, which is a shame because it does contain some valid points that are completely swallowed up by the author’s (hopefully deliberate) attempt to sound provocative and sensationalist.
talk
great lashon hora
cholentmitkugel
@ Chaim H.
Do all yamulkes have to be black? You claim to know what G-d wants. Really? I suggest you learn a dvar Torah, and start drinking…heavily.
replying.. calm down
“he claims to know what Hashem wants..” doesn’t it say it clearly in Hashem’s torah what HE wants from us? how about if i may suggest to start learning Torah AND Chassidus and perhaps you’ll find out what Hashem wants from us and it’ll help u become a better person and living with “in all your ways know HIM!”
#1
I sooooooo agree
MaidofCH
As someone who is neither parent nor educator, I am reading this & watching the ensuing arguments from the sidelines. It sounds like the author is exaggerating a little, or arguing emotionally.
Perhaps each camp is different; some are better run than others. Perhaps the whole system should be restructured in a certain way to integrate a little more academics within the summer fun. But kids still need a chance to recharge.
Might I suggest a personal goal, arranged by each child’s family? Last summer someone who came to the library where I work told me she had decided to read all of John Steinbeck’s novels by September. Perhaps if kids or families adopted the same approach. Do something on the side. Devote the summer to reading a set of ma’amarim. Or classical mussar. Or do a mitzvah project. Whatever. Whatever makes the summer productive — not just filler in between school sessions, but something to reinforce Torah values & gain a sense of achievement.
Chassidim read Pirkei Avos during the summer to offset the sensual temptations. Maybe camps should do the same — create spiritual & intellectual goals.
do not agree at all!
Just as an example. I know 50-60 year old men who remember all the camp songs and plays etc from camp where they may not remember a word from yeshiva.The non-pressured atmosphere of all that encompasses camp ( at least in an over night setting) has taken the most apathetic boy and inspired them to go on to be a chassidishe bochur in yeshiva. To at the very least this same child can go off the derech but if he meets his old bunk mates and they reminisce about these above mentioned songs, stories and shared experiences. For just a 20-30 minutes they have given the Aibeshter a world full of nachas and who knows what thoughts get re-implanted in this persons mind again.
I have seen alot more good than bad come out from camps. You need to re-think your argument. And I would love to know if you ever went to a Camp Gan Yisroel overnight camp at all.
FYI
I have heard that the extremely chassidishe personality Rabbi Greenglass AH from Montreal told the bochurim that it was important to wear crazy colored clothes in camp as long as it was to encourage simcha/joy for the kids.
I also add that he said that the minute yeshiva starts up again then the bochur needs to go back to wearing proper clothes befitting a yeshiva bochur.
Chaim H.
That’s not was I am saying and that’s not what I’m suggesting. Your getting excited and emotional.
My comment is pretty clear. If you wear black during the year and now you changed because your “chilling ” or whatever, than that’s an issue. You are not going up, you are not adding in yirash shamayim you are going down.
It all depends from where your coming from, how you were brought up, what your education was/is etc…etc…
Here's the part of camp I don't understand....
We take the kids and bus (or fly) them to a beautiful place in the country, away from the city air, sounds, sights, etc.
BUT then we fill up their days with trips to all kinds of away-from-the-camp amusement attractions! (I can understand the Brooklyn day camps doing this several times a week, but not the overnight camps!)
As if it’s not enough that they’re already in a beautiful place, where they can do so much that is way less narishkeit than these trips are. I remember overnight camp, when I was growing up, as just about completely self-contained.
We played a lot of sports, we did arts and crafts — real ongoing project crafts, like weaving and leather craft, not just prefab kits; we went on hikes (NOT by taking a bus ride first); we did archery, boating, fishing, and tent-camping, horseback riding (at some camps, but life does go on without it just fine), farming, gardening, etc. ALL ON THE GROUNDS OF THE CAMP or within walking distance of the camp. We learned about wildflowers and berries and the plants and animals of the on-the-campgrounds woods, and how to build a cooking fire, AND cook, and the like.
There were also talent shows, storytelling, campfires, plays that included the campers (not just shows put on by the counselors!), dancing, lots and lots of singing and learning new songs, etc. We were sometimes shown a movie or two, but this was not a daily diet.
It was not an experience where we vacated to camp in the country, only to further vacate the camp itself for outside entertainment! Maybe we made a walk to the nearest candy or popsicle source once a week, if that — which meant a good, healthy walking/hiking activity, not yet another bus ride! But that was pretty much the limit to our out-of-camp excursions.
And I’m a BT and these camps weren’t even frum (though they were Jewish). So in a frum camp the day can be even more full (learning in the morning and the above activities in the afternoon and evening) WITHOUT all (or so many) of these trips. I’m not totally against every trip, but the trips have become an entitlement, instead of a special, special treat event for the campers, as if the campgrounds themselves do not offer enough alone!
I don’t get it. Maybe the abundance of exposure to local out-of-town entertainments is the problem, and of course all of those run-out trips contribute greatly to the price of camp as well (high admission fees, gasoline, parking, and more need for paid bus drivers).
What would happen if someone made a camp like that?
Camping in Camp
I agree. My camp experience was the same. No trip to amusement parks.
I have sent kids to CGI Montreal which is a great camp but I don’t understand or agree at all with the idea of the camp driving back to Montreal to go to the amusement park there. I sent my daughter to the girls camp in the catskills and the big trip was to drive to either Montreal or Toronto to visit amusement parks, go to a pizza shop.
Take the kids hiking. Take the kids on a 3 day canoe trip.
That’s what camp is about.
Hummmm
This guy has absolutely no idea what he is talking about.
Sounds like a jealous bochur, and we should all be thankful he isn’t working in any camps, because your kids would need more help than going off the derech….
Get a life kid, stop slagging off good bochurim who do amazing jobs in camps.
not Lman achai
Lman achai is the best camp run by the best staff!!!!
CHLEAKS.COM
Notice:
Lot’s of emotionally charged responses, filled with name calling, anger and hate.
What we don’t see is any intellectual arguments being made, based on facts.
I agree with the purpose of this article (the bottom line off it), which is to end this camp business and have schools open 12 months a year.
If a school or Yeshiva wants to move upstate for the summer, by all means. Many communities have this.
DG
Okay, here are some intellectual arguments. Let’s go through each one of the author’s points:
1. How is the author to judge that bochurim aged 21-23 are not ready to have children of their own? Many bochurim get married at that age. And many of those bochurim have experience in chinuch, having worked as shluchim in yeshivahs. And let’s not forget the fact that many are uncles, who have experience taking care of their nephews and nieces.
2. Did the author actually call up the camps and ask them about their professional guidance, or did he just make assumptions? There are rabbis and teachers who put in their time, heart and soul to put together a professional and educational summer for the children of Tzivos Hashem.
3. The author is really great at being dan l’kaf z’chus. Where is the logic? If you’re going to accuse every camp director of viewing the camp as a money making enterprise, are you also going to accuse every principal, rosh yeshivah, and shliach of doing the same thing?
4. You want the kids to have a bad time? I’m confused.
5. That’s just not true, period. The mainstream Chabad camps evaluate the bochurim (and they have to choose from dozens of applicants) and make sure to pick chassidish bochurim to work in our summer camps.
6. Finally, you’ve pointed out something with some truth to it. So! What is your solution to fix the problem? I didn’t hear one.
In general, it’s a problem when people publish op-eds complaining, without offering any practical solutions. If you’re going to complain, then offer a solution! And if you don’t have one, then take to mind that silence is golden.
Hummmm
I would argue back based on facts, but facts are only needed to prove something, facts which are my brought by the author.
My facts, are from previous experience in camps.
First and foremost, his claim that all the good bochurim stay in yeshiva, contrary, most of the top bochurim go to camps, the quiet ones understandably stay in yeshiva and learn.
And more than this, not only do they add learning and chassidishkeit to the kids summer they do it in a fun way!
The ‘fact’ the author states, that lots of staff member ‘just about didn’t get kicked out of yeshiva’ is offensive, and yes, that will charge emotion and hate in response, as yet again, I’ve hardly seen it at all.
Another ‘fact’ the author brings, that the directors don’t care for all but the money, is even more sick a statement, they put their hearts and souls half a year to make sure our kids have a successful and fun summer.
We don’t need to bring facts, we don’t have anything to prove, camps are well run, the staff are top notch, and the kids love it.
The author has it all to prove, prove his rash statements, stupid comments, and pretty offensive column are true, because from what me and my friends (a couple yeshiva bochurim) see , is a guy who doesn’t do anything in yeshiva, not the year, not the summer.
CHLEAKS.COM
…and another thing.
What we thus far see in the comments, are a bunch of kids (campers and staff), desperately attempting to defend their chilling time from the shackles of yeshiva .
Anybody written positively about this article, is an adult with actual experience in life (work, parent and/or educator).
The children are getting upset that we are trying to take their toys away (for their own good).
You need to apologize
What I understood from reading this article, (The truth about camp ) is that either you or your children had a bad experience in camp. (I feel sorry for you, and unfortunately that does happen once in a while in camp as in any other institution, school etc.) however, letting out your frustration on camps and spreading your lies and nonsense in public, bad mouthing people that put in hours, days, weeks, and even months of their life for little pay for the sole purpose of bettering our youth. I think is a disgrace and you should be embarrassed and ask for a public apology for what you have written!!!
The points you have made may have been true 15 to 20 years ago, however much has changed since then, even from the time I was a camper until I was a staff member things of changed.
I was BH privileged to hold numerous positions and one of the largest Lubavitcher camps (counselor, learning teacher, head counselor) And I can tell you firsthand that the connection the camper builds with his staff member is something that cannot be compared to the connection student has with his teacher, for the very simple reason that it is a different atmosphere and because the connection is supposed to be different! The connection between the student and his teacher is meant to be one of respect and admiration, the connection between a camper and his staff member is one of friendship and trust!
(not to say that trust doesn’t apply by teachers as well)
When a child goes to school he feels like he has to be there )for better or for worse). However when a child goes to camp he wants to be there he wants to except everything that the counselors have to offer, that his learning teacher has to tell.
I can tell you personally that when I and my predecessors were looking for staff, we wanted ONLY chasidishe staff, not only for learning teachers but also and especially for counselors, waiters and general staff as well…. The connection the staff and the campers build lasts through their year in school and even into their years of yeshiva… Till today I have campers that call me for advice even though it has been many years since I was there counselor or learning teacher, the same is true myself, before I excepted the position is learning teacher, I recall calling my learning teacher from almost 9 years earlier and ask him for his advice ideas and suggestions!
And one last point I’d like to close with, when I was hired as a staff member and subsequently when I hired staff members it was kown, camp is not the place to come if you want to make money, and have a good time, The pay in camp is less than minimum-wage, if you average it out it’s about $.10 per hour (whether I agree with this or not is a different discussion), it’s definitely not the place if you want to have a good time, because being responsible for 12 to 14 kids 24 hours a day for two months isn’t your average persons idea of a good time!
So why come to camp?
They come to camp because it is rewarding, knowing that you have changed/bettered the life of the 12 to 14 kids in your bunk and those other kids that were not in your bunk, those that you came in contact with or those that you coached on your team etc. that unique bond, that privilege that you have to keep the flame of Lubavitch and rebbe alive and real for the next generation, that is the reason people go to camp!
Can this be done in less than two months? Possibly or more like probably! However this is the system that we have now, let’s work with it I’m not challenge it until there is a excepted the way that it should be fixed!
So to all of you going to camp this summer Kol hakavod! Remember the great responsibility and the great privilege that you have and use it out to it’s fullest extent!
I think this guy got it right!
My counselors were always chassifishe guys, who led us through camp with a goal for us to forge a bond with the Rebbe.
Camp was where we heard stories of the Rebbe, where we watched a Rebbe video every night, where we were constantly encouraged to daven, learn, treat each other respectfully, and to give the Rebbe nachas.
All of this was made possible by our staff. Young guys, with the energy to get us involved. Bochurim with a real varmkiet, who made the best role models because they were relatable and chassidish.
I always loved camp, and I still go as a counselor when I can.
I wish all camps around the world a hatzlacha’dikeh summer b’gashmius and b’ruchniuss.
not true
I didn’t read the whole article, it’s hard to stomach. This is pure BS. I know from myself that I got a lot MORE chassidishkei out of camp than I got in yeshiva, ever. And now I see the SAME THING with my children. They come back from camp a lot more excited about the things they do than they have the whole year. This is a pathetic attempt to blanket the blame onto camps.
A Head Counselor
You want to know why i’m angry and upset by this op-ed? Its because I was called out, i was told the truth and the truth hurts and hurts really bad.
All my life i have been dreaming of holding the power of being a head counselor. I did everything I was supposed to do. I even sacrificed over year of learning for this position. Having this position will make me a BIG macher in Lubavitch. I will be on demand for Sheduchim (i can’t tell them all to wait in line).
I can’t wait to hold that whistle and swing in around my finger like I’m the king of the world (just like all those HC before me).
After this job the only thing i need to write on my resume, is HEAD COUNSELOR!!!
Now you know why i’m upset, you exposed me.
My little me’s are also upset because #1 they worked so hard kissing up to me for Whatever job they desired. #2 if they want to be a HC one day, they must go down this path.
A Head Counselor (correction)
I will be on demand for Sheduchim (i CAN tell them all to wait in line).
replying..
Thanks so much for saying THE TRUTH. its one step forward in the right direction for we must keep on growing to become truth frum chassidishe chassidim as the Rebbe would be proud of. TRY PLEASE to mild your yesh it would be grealty helpful for yourself first and for others around you and u never know they might follow your example.
your sarcastic and nauseating comment
stinks of jealousy. Go to therapy and stop belittling the Holy work that Bochurim with a certain talent Behashgacha Protis got. Everyone has their talents, find out which ones you were blessed with and use it to the fullest.
To everyone else: In general there are Bochurim who need the camp out-let and there are bochurim who don’t. Each parent should determine with their child which category they fit into.
Overnight camp was one of the best things I did in my life (in the 70’s). Period
Ch'er
Sorry, author. Camp is not what makes school or yeshiva seem boring. It’s teaching in a boring way that makes learning boring. Instead of lashing out at young counselors, it would be much more productive to make a fuss about our teachers getting training.
Untrained teachers have a much bigger effect on the chinuch of our children than untrained counselors!!! What excuse is there for teachers/ adults to have no idea how to discipline , and shame a child?!?
“Back in camp, camper and counselor have much in common; they both relate of a miserably boring year of irrelevant Gemarah, ”
If students find Gemara irrelevant, the teacher, not the counselor should be held accountable. And, for all who may remember a talk by Rabbi Heller given a few years ago, in previous days, not all yeshiva students followed a learning track which included Gemara…… This is a modern invention. Forcing all our boys to sit for hours of Gemara has a much bigger effect on children ” going off the derech” than a summer at camp does.
This article just passes the buck of responsibility for our children’s frumkeit from our mechanchim to our young counselors.
While the length of summer vacations may need to be revised, and yes, our yeshivas should move up to the country in the summer, maintaining chinuch in an appropriate atmosphere through the summer, our yeshivas have to step up to the plate to keep our children frum!!!
A Bochur Speaks
Please don’t take my summer vacation away!!!
Don’t you understand how shackled we are in Yeshiva?
Don’t you know how much we learn?
We learn so much that are brains are oozing Torah. Imagine the Blats Gemora and all those Sichos and Chassidus oozing out of our heads.
If we don’t get a three mouth summer vacation (followed by a three week Yom Tov vacation), our heads will simply explode.
Where is your Ahavas Yisroel? Where is your compassion for another yid? What would the Rebbe say?
Do you know what will happen if our heads explode? All that torah we learned will be scattered all over the place. the streets will be overflowing with Torah ooze from our brains.
Oh, the pressure of being a Yeshiva Bochur, its so hard, so hard!!! Please have Rachmanus!!!
Parent
DG Wrote:
“3. The author is really great at being dan l’kaf z’chus. Where is the logic? If you’re going to accuse every camp director of viewing the camp as a money making enterprise, are you also going to accuse every principal, rosh yeshivah, and shliach of doing the same thing?”
No no, we wouldn’t do that! Making such an argument/accusation would be insane. It’s defies all logic. I mean, the mere thought of it. How could anybody even go down that path?
(Sarcasm)
DG
*Every* principal, rosh yeshivah and shliach? *Every single one* is after money? I dunno, seems rather rash to me!
Thank You
Thank you Yehuda Kaplan -whomever you are- for having the courage to write this and putting your name to it.
We hope to hear more from you regarding this matter in the near future.
Rebbe Who???
When it came to the Chinuch department (the schools and yeshivas), unfortunately the Rebbe did not have any say. I mean he did say, but nobody was listening.
It’s just a fact of life!
But this doesn’t matter, after all, the kids will put Nagul Vasser next to their beds with excitement for two weeks, because they went to camp ;)
mob
The counselors and head counselors as well as the learning teachers and wait staff at Parksville are the very best! They imbue a chassidishkeit in the campers that is felt throughout the following year and the rest of their lives.
This article smacks of elitism. Apparently only people with letters after their names are qualified to take care of children. All the rest of us schleps who don’t have college degrees especially young yeshiva bochurim are too untrained and ill equipped to be leading our children.
Perhaps if this author went to CGI Parksville as a kid, he would have a better attitude.
The chassidishkeit memo
chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit…
Was there a memo sent out to all the old staffers to be to use this word in comments? It sure seems so.
As a commenter said above. If we need our children to go to camp to pick up some chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit, than we need to reconsider the Yeshivas we send our children to.
It also would help if the parents practiced [at least some] chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit, chassidishkeit.
___________
BTW, what is the exact definition of chassidishkeit? and why can one only obtain this chassidishkeit in a sleep away camp (and not in school and/or home)?
Working man
Now that all the children/Bochurim had all day to respond. After all they are in Yeshiva and could take a break whenever they want to write comments.
Now the adults (parents), who spent their day working hard, can respond [?]
Disagree with every point
This is certainly not the case with camp Pardas Chana, the most chassidishe best girls camp. From camp is where we get the chayus to stay committed to yiddishkeit all year.
You obviously didnt send ur kids there
FFC (Frum From Camp)
I am frum today because of the counselors I emulated in camp. I wanted to dress like them, own a chitas like them, connect to the Rebbe like them, and act like them. I am who I am today because of camp. Those two months each summer carried me through the rest year. The author of this article must not have attended Gan Yisroel Morristown like I did as a child.
luby
And this is all assuming that they’re not molested.
anonymous
Most kids go off the derech because of the epidemic sexual abuse going on in our community and G.d knows how much of it takes place in camp overnight where kids and teens are away from home and vulnerable. So many people cannot come to terms with this issue and refuse to face the fact that it is possible that their own kid have been abused one way or another or exposed to it and try to find all other possibilities for their child issues!!!! It could be that some facts in this articles are true but the core issue of our children not accepting religion and chassidishkeit and for too many REJECTING it is being rugged under the carpet and covered up by most rabbis, leaders and activists of our community.
Thank You Perspective(s)!
This is the most entertaining article I’ve read since that one about how the shidduch crises is caused by men not keeping women in their place. Get rid of female teachers and summer camps and we’ll never have another frayak again!
Does not deserve a response.
If one parent won’t send their kid to camp because of this false article, I hope it’ll make you you feel proud.
Why doesn’t someone do some simple research, there were three major camps for the past 50 years, get the list of head counselors and learning directors from the past 15 years, i would venture to say that over 80% are in kodesh.
I personally was a head staff member of a major camp for two years, of the 14 head staff I had the privilege of working with every single one is By now “r
Irespected”.
I also don’t know were you get the idea that the directors are all millionaires after your money. At least in my experience no money was spared if it would enhance chasishkeit. (That’s from printing rebbe cards, all colored learning class books, tremendous money in misnayos bal peh etc. Etc. Etc.
Maybe you forgot that Montreal yeshiva was founded and built by “uneducated third world bochurim”.
The whole face of the Jewish world, Lubavitch, is based on uneducated 23 year old boys and 21 year old girls going to big professional communities and changing the world….
The big question here is, who is the educator that proof reads these vile knocks on the herculean effort and dedication staff directors put into camp to allow such falsehoods a platform.
This article is a chutzpah.
Ohr Menachem
In Ohr Menachem there is a school in the summer as the Rebbe instructed.
The Rebbe On This Issue?
Somebody asked for quotes from the Rebbe about camp and why camp is even better than year round school, so here are some with the sources so you can do your due diligence and lookup the source yourself:
Shavuos 5717: Camp has two advantages over Yeshiva.
9 Tammuz 5718: In camp learning Torah is easier and more enjoyable.
12 Tammuz 5718: In camp one grows in Kedusha and is able to influence others and as a result Hashem brings Brocha for the entire year.
Shabbos Shlach 5720: Camp strengthens the health and Torah, everybody should send their children to camp, boys to Gan Yisroel and girls to Emuna, there the Rebbe responds to those who are against camp.
12 Tammuz 5724: The Rucniusdike advantages of camp which brings ultimate Nachas from the children also in Gashmius.
Shavuos 5728: Influence all the parents to send their kids to camp.
13 Tammuz 5729: The child is 24/7 under the supervision of the counselor who makes sure that the child becomes a shining light.
Erev Shavuos 5732: In camp the child is 24/7 in a positive environment without any negative disturbances as opposed to Yeshiva where they spend only a few hours in the day.
1 Tammuz 5735: In camps Emina, Gan Yisroel & Pardes Chana they strengthen the Yidishkeit during the summer, they instill the love & fear of Hashem to last all year. Camp has advantages over Yeshiva. Limit parents visits to camp because it affects the rest of the year. Children become freed from governmental interference so they can develop their talents to grow more.
Shabbos Achrei – 30 Nissan – 13 Tammuz 5736: The influence of camp on the child where the child is 24/7 is far superior than Yeshiva all year.
Shabbos Achrei 5738: In camp the atmosphere of holiness is prevalent 24/7 and the entire behavior in cap is holy.
5738: People think that camp is a distraction from learning and serves only to strengthen the body, Gan Yisroel proves that it’s a time when you get educated with Ahavas Yisroel and you learn to be a living example for others. Likutei Sichos vol. 14 pp 284.
Pesach 5740: Camp is better because the child is 24/7 under supervision, when parents visit they ruin the child’s mood and they have no clue as to what is really going on in camp.
Pesach 5741: The influence of camp in 2 months is far superior to 10 months of Yeshiva.
23 Iyar 5742: All children should go to camp to strengthen their health physically and spiritually.
13 Tammuz 5742: In camp the child is under the guidance of his educator all the time as opposed to the rest of the year in Yeshiva.
Finally, the Rebbe went to visit camp three times while he never visited any place else in 42 years.
Every year the Rebbe would say a special Sicha to the (little 16 year old girls) counselors of camp Emuna (and later also Pardes Chana) before camp.
The Rebbe sent letters to camp every single year on opening day.
The Rebbe came out to greet the children every year when they returned from camp, he spent several hours with them and stood there and listened to a report of their summer activities and in the later years the Rebbe said a Sicha to them.
So anybody who still thinks that the Rebbe had a problem with camp, I can only say that you need to join some other Chasidus or whatever.
A Father
Seeing that the Rebbe was not going to change anything in regards to having yeshivas stay open, the Rebbe took the only other step he had, which was to encourage kids to go to camp. That is better then kids staying home doing G-d knows what.
To Note: Today (with all the many camps), there are hundred of children and Bochurim with no place to go for the summer (and thus many leave the yeshiva system over the summer “vacation”).
Back to my first point. You see that at the start of the Rebbes sicho (posted above), the Rebbe again in 5745 – 1985 (after all these years of encouraging camps) states what he would like to happen.
“For various reasons Yeshivas, Chadarim and Talmud Torahs are closed during the summer for “vacation”. This is against the reality….”
The Rebbe dealt with the realty. The realty of the time was that schools and yeshivas closed for the summer. Now what? Might as well have all the kids go to camp (which does not either happen today).
I’m a father, I do my best to discipline my children, many a times we must compromise.
The Rebbe gave use guidance on how we should educate our children. We didn’t listen. Our lose!!!
The Rebbe/Father/Parent tells us, to eat the meat and veggies to stay healthy, and we want skip to desert. Ok, eat half the food and have your desert. I suggest you at least eat this or that desert.
YES!!!!!
I could have wrote this article myself!!!! This is exactly the problem we have been facing since waaaaay before I went to camp. I cannot even begin to describe the garbage I picked up at camp Emunah!!!! What a waste !
my experience in the 70's
When I was in Camp Emunah in the 70’s, it was the best. I went there for 10 summers and absolutely loved it and benefited so much from it, which is why I now run a day-camp myself!! I will always have good memories of camp Emunah!! I don’t know enough about it now, but I hope all the goodness and joy of Yiddishkiet that I experienced will continue there for the future generations!
To #4
Or youre jealous or u just like talking Loshon Hora………….tsk tsk tsk………..
I don’t know….. my best summers were in camp making new friends & great memories!
Rebbe Who?
One of the problems I see in many of the commenters here and by past comments on various other issue, is the assumption or belief that if the Rebbe wanted something done it would have been done!! Period, over and out! The Rebbe wants, we do what the Rebbe wants! The Rebbe is the boss!!! What he says goes!!
If only that was the realty, unfortunately it was not!
I wish it was the realty, we all would have been better off, obviously, but fact of life is, it simply not true.
The Rebbe requested many thing and sometimes straight-out demanded and nobody listened. Simply put it, the Rebbe was ignored.
Perhaps the people who think the Rebbe had a say, are young and naive? Perhaps some have created a false image of what was? Perhaps some are projecting what they would have like to be true?
All this doesn’t matter. I would suggest that the Rebbe (being all that he was/is) did not waste his breath, he knew that if the people he was presently speaking to were not listening, someday in the future, a new generation of Chassdim will arise and they would start to pay attention and they would (and davka they) would actually implement his words into action.
You see, davka today – 21 years after the 3 Tammuz, many of the seeds the Rebbe planted many years ago (which were ignored and left to die), start to sprout today.
Yehuda
What does Going off the Derech mean?
I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant.
!אנא עבדא דקודשא בריך הוא, דסגידנא קמה
Huh
If the Rebbe says something then it’s emes and scroll up and see what the rebbe said about camp and think twice- camp it where yiddishkite became mine I was away from home and I did things because I wanted to and I came back from camp much stronger in my yoddishkite- I don’t know where I would be without camp I learnt more from camp then a whole year of school