6/29/25 Email: Preparing for Camp Series (Email 8) Camp Starts Tomorrow!
Hi Camp Zeke Families,
The entire Camp Zeke team is soooo excited! The day we’ve been dreaming about all year is finally upon us. Camper arrival is tomorrow, Monday, June 30th! We can’t wait to throw open our gates and welcome every single one of our incredible campers for an unforgettable summer adventure!
The Action Awaits!
Get ready for days packed with splashing in the lake, scoring goals on the fields, getting creative in the art studio, and delicious culinary creations. We’re just days away from our Independence Day celebration, first Shabbat together, and cozy campfires under the stars. Most importantly, we’re about to see incredible friendships blossom and new memories form that will last a lifetime. We’ve been working hard to prepare, and we can’t wait for the fun to begin!
As you get ready for the big day, here are a few quick reminders:
- Bus Information: If your camper is taking one of our buses, please review the bus departure times and locations in your CampInTouch account. Just click the link right at the top of the page!
- Parent Handbook: For any last-minute questions or a quick refresher on camp life, flip through our Parent Handbook.
- The Night Before Camp: We’ve sent out a bunch of info about preparing for camp, and you can find links to all of them here.
See you TOMORROW!
The Camp Zeke Team
P.S. A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed to help bring Israeli campers to Zeke this summer! If you haven’t had a chance yet, we’d be so grateful for your support. Donate now.
6/22/25 Email: Preparing for Camp Series (Email 7) Songs to Know
Dear friends:
We can’t believe we are just a week away from welcoming our full season and session one campers! Our team has been at camp preparing for everyone to arrive, cooling down in Hickory Lake, and enjoying our signature S’mOreos around the campfire!
BRING ISRAELI CAMPERS TO ZEKE THIS SUMMER
Last summer, thanks to your generous support, we hosted an amazing group of campers from northern Israel, and this year we’re hoping to create this magic again for a new group of children. Especially now, with current events, these kids truly deserve a chance to have a joyful summer at Zeke and simply be kids. As one parent recently shared:
“It was the highlight of their summer, and a bright moment in a tough, and emotionally draining year.”
“Camp Zeke gave them moments of joy, connection, and healing—things they desperately needed.”
Huge todah (thanks) to everyone who has already contributed! Your generosity is helping make this possible. If you haven’t had a chance yet, we’d be incredibly grateful for your support to bring even more Israeli campers to Zeke this summer. Donate now
FORMS
Now turning to a couple of quick reminders: All forms for all campers should have been submitted – if your camper(s) have anything outstanding, please upload them to CampInTouch ASAP. Second, please note that all medications must go through JDrugs. The JDrugs form is also on CampInTouch.
Please review the Parent Handbook for all details about preparing for camp. To read all the prior emails in the Preparing for Camp series, you can visit this link.
SONG SESSIONS AT CAMP
To see what pure joy looks like, you don’t need to look any further than a song session in the third week of camp. By that point in the summer, the community feels like a huge family. The kids are completely at ease, being their truest selves. For the staff, the friendships are rock solid. The youngest camper knows the oldest staff member and everyone in between. And by the third week, every last person in camp has memorized the words to our songs.
What do our song sessions look like? Just as a particular meal comes to an end, a camper looks up and notices a song leader plugging in her guitar. She quietly hums a melody. A few voices chime in from around the room. Another song leader appears. The humming turns into words. The song starts getting louder. Some campers drum a beat on their tables.
Pretty soon, the entire camp is buzzing. The campers are jumping up and down with pure joy, singing their hearts out. The kitchen staff have left the kitchen and they’re dancing with their arms around each other’s shoulders. The counselors have started a conga line. Everywhere you look, it’s smiles from ear to ear.
It takes a couple weeks for camp to get there, but once it does, the community becomes pure magic.
We like to pass along our most popular camp songs before the summer starts so our new staff feel right at home when they arrive to camp, and so our returning staff remember the starry nights by Hickory Lake.
We sing lots of songs you’ll already know, like “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King, “One Day” by Matisyahu, and “I’m yours” by Jason Mraz.
We also sing songs you might only hear at camp, like “Od Yavo Shalom” (until there is peace) and “Brich Rachamana” (a post-meal song of joy and gratitude in Aramaic)!
Our very own Cantor Melanie Blatt, one of the most talented song leaders in all of Jewish camp, made a couple videos of our harder-to-find camp songs so everyone can learn them before camp starts. You can watch Melanie’s videos here: Video One. Video Two. The lyrics are below.
1. Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu – Hebrew
Od yavo shalom aleinu (Let there be peace among us)
Od yavo shalom aleinu
Od yavo shalom aleinu
Ve al kulam (x2) (and everyone)
Salaam (Peace)
Aleinu ve al kol ha olam, (Peace among us and the whole world)
Salaam, Salaam (x2) (Peace, peace)
2. Brich Rachamana – Aramaic
Brich rachamana malka d’alma ma’arey d’hai pita (x2) (Blessed is the Compassionate One, Ruler of the Universe, Source of this Food)
Na na na na na na, na na na na na (x2) English: Na na na na na
3. Adama V’Shamaim – Hebrew and English
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
Adama Veshamayim
Chom Ha’esh
Tzlil hamayim
Ani margish zot begufi
beruchi, benishmati
Ani margish zot begufi
beruchi, benishmati
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
Love the earth
Love the sky
Heat of fire
Sound of water
I can feel it in my body,
in my spirit, in my soul.
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Heya Ho
4. Ameh
Ameh, Ameh, Ameh Yisrael Chai
Ameh, Ameh, Ameh Yisrael Chai
Ameh, Ameh, Ameh Yisrael Chai
Ohhh Ohhh Od Avinu Chai
Ohhh Ohhh Od Avinu Chai
Ohhh Ohhh Od Avinu Chai
5. Chinai Matov – Hebrew and English
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Wow Wow Wow
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Wow Wow Wow
Hinai matov umanaim shevet achim gam yachad
How great it is for brothers and sisters to hang out on this day
Hinai matov umanaim shevet achim gam yachad
How great it is for brothers and sisters to hang out on this day
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Wow Wow Wow
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Wow Wow Wow
Hinai matov umanaim shevet achim gam yachad
Hinai matov umanaim shevet achim gam yachad
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Eeeeh Ohhh Ohhh
Wow Wow Wow
How great it is for brothers and sisters to hang out on this lovely day
How great it is for brothers and sisters to hang out on this day
How great it is for brothers and sisters to hang out on this lovely day
How great it is for brothers and sisters to hang out on this day
* * *
Please let us know if we can be helpful as you prepare for camp! And please give generously to help fund camp’s scholarship efforts.
Sunny regards,
The Camp Zeke Team
6/11/25 Email: Preparing for Camp Series (Email 6) Theme Days, Camp Store and More…
Dear Zeke families:
The countdown is on! Our incredible staff are already on site, pouring their energy and excitement into getting camp ready for an unforgettable summer. We can’t wait to welcome our first campers in just a few short weeks!
Before diving into this week’s article about camp prep and your list of to-dos, we wanted to share a few updates — including a sneak peek at our theme days! These special celebrations are packed with creative programming, delicious food, and tons of Zeke-style fun. Dressing up is totally encouraged, so bring your most spirited outfits!
SESSION ONE THEME DAYS:
-
American Day – Celebrate the 4th of July with a dazzling firework show and wear your best red, white, and blue! - Neon Day – Light up the dance floor in your brightest neon or colorful getup.
- Hometown Day – Rep your hometown pride as we journey through the foods, traditions, and cultures that make up our incredible Zeke community from across the USA and the world. Think jerseys, items with place names on it, and anything else that represents where you’ve lived.
SESSION TWO THEME DAYS:
- Disney Day – From classic princesses to Marvel heroes and Jedi knights, dress up and join the magic!
- Israel Day – Celebrate the beauty, culture, and spirit of Israel through hands-on experiences and meaningful programs. Dress accordingly!
- Camp-chella – Channel your inner pop star (and dress like them) for this musical extravaganza, culminating in our own Eurovision.
THE CAMP ZEKE STORE IS NOW OPEN!
Looking to add a little extra Zeke flair to your camper’s wardrobe? Our brand-new camp store, ZEAGLE OUTFITTERS – The Camp Zeke Merchandise Store, is stocked with comfy apparel and fun swag for your camper to enjoy for the summer, and all year long. Please note: Every camper will automatically receive a Camp Zeke t-shirt when they arrive. Happy shopping!
DONATE TO BRING ISRAELI CAMPERS TO ZEKE
Last summer, thanks to your generous support, something magical happened at Camp Zeke. Displaced kids from the North of Israel came to Zeke for three unforgettable weeks. Recent emails from parents said it all:
“It was the highlight of their summer, and a bright moment in a tough, and emotionally draining year.”
“Camp Zeke gave them moments of joy, connection, and healing—things they desperately needed.”
This summer, we’re creating that magic again – for a new group of children. We’re expanding the program to welcome new campers from the Northern District of Israel, and also a community in the South, all deeply affected by the October 7 attacks and the ongoing conflict. These children have not been to Camp Zeke before. They are still living with the emotional and educational toll of displacement, trauma, and instability. But with your help, they will experience the same healing joy that last year’s campers did.
A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed! If you haven’t had a chance yet, we’d be so grateful for your support. Donate now.
A Checklist For this Week:
- Check Bus Times and Locations, Now Online and easier than ever. To see bus times and locations, please visit your CampInTouch account and click the link at the top of the page.
- Complete Medical Forms: Medical forms (and all camper forms) are now due. Please complete them on CampInTouch at zeke.campintouch.com.
- Bunk Requests? We’re in the process of finalizing our first session and full season bunks. Who’s excited!? The Bunk Request form is also now available in your CampInTouch account under forms.
- Upload a Recent Photo of Your Camper(s): Also in zeke.campintouch.com. A recent photo is now a requirement (except for emergency facilities) should your camper need to visit a physician or Urgent Care.
- Review the Parent Handbook: Camp’s Parent Handbook (http://campzeke.org/current-families/parent-handbook) has all the essential details about getting ready for the experience.
- Reach Out with Questions. For questions about medical forms, transportation, and the packing list, please contact Rachel at rachel@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783. For questions about billing, deposits and financials, please contact our registrar, Barbara Lichter, at barbara@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783.
- The form for our Horseback Riding program is now available. Click on zeke.campintouch.com, choose Forms and Documents and then Optional Horseback Riding.
- Read Prior Advice/Guidance Emails: To read all the prior emails in our series of pre-camp advice and guidance, please visit https://campzeke.org/2025-emails-to-enrolled-families/. We’ll update that link every time we send an email like this one.
Without further ado, please see below for this week’s article.
Getting Ready for Camp
By Bob Ditter
Some parents, especially ones who have never been to camp as children themselves, make the mistake of thinking that camp is about the activities or the facilities. While those are important aspects of camp, that’s not what camp is. Camp is about making some of the best friends of your life. It’s an exercise in self-reliance and social learning.
Since campers live in groups, it is also about learning the give-and-take of making decisions and getting along with all those “brothers” or “sisters” they suddenly inherit when they arrive. In a time when resilience – the ability to stick with something and recover from a setback – is a great quality to cultivate in our children, camp is an increasingly attractive option. I can’t tell you how many parents have told me how much more confident, calm, purposeful or focused their children seem after a couple of weeks of the overnight experience.
But Are We Ready?
Are you ready as a parent to let your child go? Children are like little membranes – they pick up all of the subtle emotions of their parents. [So please keep a positive, upbeat attitude to reinforce that camp is an incredibly valuable life experience. Your kids will pick up on the message – both spoken and unspoken.]
Think of camp as “life experience with training wheels.” Camp professionals have been helping kids separate and become more independent for years. This is their true business. They tell you they teach swimming or arts and crafts or canoeing, but what they really teach is self-reliance and resilience – in other words, [essential] skills for life.
Reassure yourself, as a parent, that you’ve done your job. All the advice, coaching, caring and goodwill you’ve given your child over the years is in there. Trust the job you have done. Let your kids try out their wings, even if it means they take a little nosedive once in a while. [All of us on the Camp Zeke staff will be there to help them along and support them the whole time, so they will soar, even without you there.]
How Do We Get Them Ready?
I created a few tips for parents to help them and their children get ready for the adventure of camp. They are as follows:
(1) Involve them in shopping for camp, maybe even doing some packing together.
(2) Pack a favorite personal item, like a tee-shirt, cap or small stuffed animal.
(3) Have them “practice” sleeping over with friends or relatives and writing letters home.
(4) Talk with them about the fun things they are looking forward to doing at camp. Watch the camp videos together.
(5) Share stories about your own first times away from home. (Keep it positive!)
(6) Point out what your child does well and how that will be an asset at camp.
(7) Mail a letter to your new camper one or two days before she departs for camp, so that it will be there on her first full day at camp.
Pre-Camp Discussions
It also helps to have a few conversations with your child, before they head off to meet their new friends. Here are a few things you can say – not all at once, but a little over time – in the time before camp starts:
(1) Every camper is part of a group and as your parents, we expect you to cooperate and help out.
(2) If you are having a problem, your counselor is there to help you. Don’t wait to tell us, you can tell your counselor. Be honest and ask for what you need.
(3) Clean-up is part of camp. You do it every day. We expect you to participate.
(4) There are many new things at camp, and you may not like them all or be as good at some as you are at others. We expect you to try!
(5) Go about making a new friend or two. If you are timid about meeting someone new, ask about what they like and be a good listener.
(6) Not everyone has to be your friend, and you don’t have to be everyone else’s friend. If you have one or two good friends at camp, that’s great!
(7) Have fun and tell us all about it in your first letter home.
So, good luck and congratulations on giving your child the “gift” of growing up! It will serve them for years to come.
* * *
As always, the Camp Zeke Team is here and happy to help you get ready for the amazing adventure. Don’t hesitate to be in touch! And please help us bring the Kibbutz Hagoshrim kids to camp this summer!
Warm regards,
The Camp Zeke Team
6/1/25 Email: Preparing for Camp Series (Email 5)
Dear Friends:
We hope you’re all doing great! As we count down to camp, we love sharing info to help you gear up for a summer filled with joy, deep friendships, and personal growth. But before we dive into those and a few reminders, we have an important request:
Funding Scholarships for Kids from Israel
We are excited to host Israeli campers from the north and south of Israel again this summer! Donate here to help bring them to camp. Children from the North of Israel — displaced by war, scattered from their homes and friends—came to camp for three unforgettable weeks. They swam, danced, cooked, sang, played sports, and welcomed Shabbat under the stars. For a few precious weeks, fear was replaced by laughter. Grief gave way to joy. Disconnection turned into belonging.
This summer, we’re creating that magic again – for a new group of children.
We’re expanding the program to welcome new campers from the Northern District of Israel, and also a community in the South, all deeply affected by the October 7 attacks and the ongoing conflict. These children have not been to Camp Zeke before. They are still living with the emotional and educational toll of displacement, trauma, and instability. But with your help, they will experience the same healing joy that last year’s campers did.
Now back to the camp prep…
The form for our Horseback Riding program is now available. Click on zeke.campintouch.com, choose Forms and Documents and then Optional Horseback Riding.
And…
Our New Camp Store is open. If you would like to add some additional apparel or swag to your camper’s wardrobe, please take a look. PLEASE NOTE: Every camper automatically receives a Camp Zeke T-Shirt upon arrival.
ZEAGLE OUTFITTERS – The Camp Zeke Merchandise Store
A Checklist For this Week:
Check Bus Times and Locations, Now Online! To see bus times and locations, please visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_MUnxNLw5J4KBCaO6I4XcRvBiLaSlfXY/view
Complete Medical Forms: Medical forms (and all camper forms) are now due for all campers. Please complete them on CampInTouch at zeke.campintouch.com.
Upload a Recent Photo of Your Camper(s): Also in zeke.campintouch.com –
Review the Parent Handbook: Camp’s Parent Handbook (campzeke.org/current-families/parent-handbook) has all the essential details about getting ready for the experience.
Reach Out with Questions. For questions about medical forms, transportation, and the packing list, please contact Rachel at rachel@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783. For questions about billing, deposits and financials, please contact our registrar, Barbara Lichter, at barbara@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783.
Read Prior Advice/Guidance Emails: To read all the prior emails in our series of pre-camp advice and guidance, please visit https://campzeke.org/2025-emails-to-enrolled-families/. We’ll update that link every time we send an email like this one.
A Message from Dr. Chana Zablocki, our Camp Medical Director
As our returning families know, Camp Zeke is lucky to have had the same Medical Director since 2015, Dr. Chana Zablocki.
Dr. Chana, as she is affectionately known in camp, practices family medicine in NJ, and spends her summers with us at camp. Her kids have been campers and staff members, and her husband, Jeff, is a nurse in our medical center (he’s also known for covering Kermit the Frog’s famous song “Rainbow Connection” at staff talent show). In this email, we are sharing a message from Dr. Chana, who has worked in public health for over 15 years and runs her city’s vaccine program in NJ.
“We love living with our friends in bunks at Camp Zeke. We share jokes, stories, and sometimes we even share clothes and fashion accessories. As expected from living in close quarters in a large community, we also share germs.
This is not usually a problem and mostly just means mild colds, like kids get at school all year. There is however, one germ that can lead to bigger issues. This is the Meningitis bacteria. Meningitis has been on the rise across the United States this year. The case numbers for 2024 have far surpassed the pre-pandemic level.
All our campers who are 12 and up will be vaccinated against Meningitis on the standard vaccination schedule. The recommended vaccination schedule balances when a child is likely to be exposed to a disease and when a vaccine will be most effective. Living in a room with a group of other people increases the risk for Meningitis to spread. So, for example, this is the reason a booster for this vaccine is mandated prior to dorming at college.
If you are a parent of a camper who is aged 11 or younger, I strongly encourage you to ask your pediatrician to vaccinate your child for Meningitis before they attend camp. If your pediatrician is not sure that your child meets the age requirements, please share this link with them (click “Vaccines” and then see the “Vaccines for School and Summer Camp” section). Thank you and have a healthy end of the school year!”
We can’t wait to see everyone soon!
Chag Sameach,
The Camp Zeke team
5/16/25 Email: Preparing for Camp Series (Email 4)
Dear friends:
As we gear up for an incredible summer of joy, deep friendships, and action-packed growth, we love sharing helpful resources to support your camper’s journey. Before diving into our latest article on how to talk about camp with your kids, here are a few quick updates and reminders to help you feel prepared and excited for the season ahead:
Welcome to Campanion
We’re excited to introduce you to Campanion, the new mobile app we’re using to share your child’s camp experience with you this summer. With a personalized stream of content featuring photography and updates from camp, Campanion is designed for you to get a deeper glimpse into the camp magic than ever before!
To get started, follow these three simple steps:
- Download the Campanion app.
- Login to the app using your CampInTouch Account login and password.
- Upload a reference photo of your child to train the AI to alert you when photos of your camper(s) are added.
Download Campanion for Iphone Download Campanion for Android
Please read on for the latest article!
TALKING ABOUT CAMP
by Bob Ditter
Sending your child away to camp is a major milestone for most families, one that is often marked by excitement, anticipation and perhaps even some anxiety. Though camp is certainly about making friends and having fun, it is also about being on your own and being a part of a community.
One of the most important things you as a parent can do to help prepare your child for both these aspects of camp is to talk with your child about it before they go. In fact, it may be better to have several occasional, shorter talks rather than one long conversation…. Children usually do better with this sort of conversation if it is part of a more general discussion, either at the dinner table or, for example, while riding in the car doing errands.
The following are some sample topics for discussion that will help prepare your child emotionally for their big adventure at camp:
Friends. Camp is not anything if it is not about making new friends. If you are shy about meeting new kids, then learn to get to know others by being a good listener. Ask questions. Share what you have. Join in. Remember also that not everyone in your bunk has to be your friend, and you don’t have to be everyone else’s friend. As long as you treat others with respect and they do the same with you, then having one or two friends at camp is fine. Of course, if you have more, that’s great!
Respect. No matter how you feel about anyone else — your counselors or other kids in your group — I expect you to treat people with respect. If you are angry, upset or disagree, there is a respectful way to express it.
Activities. There are many exciting things to do at camp, many of which you may never have tried before. (If your child is tending to be a bit homesick or worried about being homesick, remind them what it was they were excited about doing at camp when they first thought about going there.) You may not like all the activities or you may be better at some than others. That’s normal. I, however, expect you to try. The more you put into camp, the more you will get out of it!
Cooperating. You, like every other camper there, will be part of a bunk. As your parent I expect you to cooperate with others and help out. That’s part of what makes camp so special — kids helping each other out. Most kids will help you if you are friendly and help them.
Give yourself time. One thing about camp is that almost everything is new — the kids; the activities; the routines; the bed you sleep in; the bathrooms; the food and more. It takes a few days to get adjusted, so be patient with yourself. Most of the time you will be having so much fun you won’t mind all the changes, but if you do, remember that you will get so used to things that by the time you come home you will miss them all!
Getting help. Everyone has good days and bad days. If you are having a problem, your counselor is there to help you! You don’t have to wait to tell us if you are upset about something. After all, if your counselor doesn’t know what might be troubling you, they can’t help you. Be honest and ask for what you need… [And remember, if a counselor can’t help with something, campers can always come to any adult in camp, including of course, our Director of Camper Care, Riva Schanker, and the caring adults on our Camper Care Team!]
Helping out. Camp is about fun, but it also requires that you help out. Clean-up is part of camp. You do it every day! As your parent I expect you to cooperate.
Being positive. A great thing to remind your first time camper about is what his or her strong points are. I would focus not just on what they do well, but their positive qualities, such as what makes them a good friend or the type of person other kids would want to know. Helping children identify their strengths can help them when they are having a set back — one of those inevitable growing pains all children have from time to time.
Gratitude. A lot of people have worked hard to make sure you have a good time at camp. Your counselors, the people in the dining hall, the maintenance staff, the health staff — they all work hard so you can have fun. Be grateful for what others do for you.
Talking with your child about these kinds of issues is a great way to support them as they get ready take this important step on the road to being more resilient and self-reliant. For you as a parent it can give you more peace of mind as you allow your child to participate safely in a broader world — a world introduced to them in part by camp!
* * *
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions!
Warm regards,
Your friends at Camp Zeke (Meet Us Here)
5/1/25 Email: Welcome to Companion (Email 3)
Dear Camp Zeke Family,
We’re excited to introduce you to Campanion, the new mobile app we’re using to share your child’s camp experience at camp with you this summer. With a personalized stream of content featuring brilliant photography, regular updates from camp, and more, our hope is that Campanion makes you feel closer to your camper’s experience than ever before.
We’ll be sharing photos all summer long, and Campanion’s facial recognition technology automatically searches for campers and tags them for you to view in the app. This saves you time sifting through hundreds of photos. With Campanion, in addition to viewing photos, you can complete all of your camp forms and email your camper from your phone!
Once you’ve logged in, you’ll see an option to upload a training photo of your child. This enables the technology to identify your campers and receive notifications whenever they appear in camp photos. The App can not use the photo you used for enrollment.
If you used Campanion last summer at another camp, you need to upload a new training photo to make sure the app is searching for the most accurate images of your camper.
While you’re in the app, complete any outstanding forms that you have left on your camper’s profile. Thank you in advance for your help!
Let us know if you have any questions, and we look forward to sharing the experience of camp in a new, modern way this summer!
To get started, follow these three simple steps:
Let us know if you have any questions. Just email
Questions@campzeke.org. We look forward to sharing the experience of camp in a new, modern way this summer!
Thank you,
The Camp Zeke Team
4/16/25 Email: Preparing for Camp Series (Email 2)
Dear friends: We have exciting news to share in the coming weeks! You have asked for it so get ready. PHOTO FACIAL RECOGNITION FINALLY COMING TO CAMP ZEKE. Be on the lookout in the next few weeks for instructions on how to use this wonderful tool. In addition, we will shortly be opening a brand new Camp Zeke Store – ZEAGLE OUTFITTERS Parents will be able to purchase additional Camp Zeke apparel and swag. But remember, every camper gets a Camp Zeke T-Shirt when they arrive so no purchases are required. |
In the lead-up to camp, we like to pass along resources to help your camper prepare for a successful summer full of happiness, deep friendships, and personal growth. Right around this time of year, as the weather gets a little warmer, both new and returning campers can feel some pre-camp jitters. That’s totally normal! We wanted to share some advice from the Child Mind Institute about preparing your campers for the experience. Please read on for the Institute’s insight. Before getting there, a few quick reminders: Medical Forms Due Soon
Please note that the medical forms and all other camper forms are due by May 5th for First session and Full season campers and by June 5th for Second session and Taste of Zeke campers. How Do We Prepare for Camp?
The starting point is reading the Parent Handbook, which has all the essential details about getting ready for the experience. Of course, once you review the handbook, if you have any questions at all about preparing for camp we’re glad to help every step of the way! Camper Drop Off and Pick Up
Please note that camp starts on the bus and we expect that all campers will take the bus to camp. See the transportation form on CampInTouch for details. Who Do We Contact with Questions?
The Parent Handbook has answers to many common questions. If you still have questions once you review the handbook, we’re always here to help! For questions about medical forms, transportation, and the packing list, please contact Rachel at rachel@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783. For questions about billing, deposits and financials, please contact our registrar, Barbara Lichter, at barbara@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783. Prior Advice/Guidance Emails
To read all the prior emails in our series of pre-camp advice and guidance (just one email so far), please see this link. We’ll update that link every time we send an email like this one. * * * Clearing the Fear to Make Way for a Formative Experience
Adapted from Child Mind Institute Portraits of summer camp showcase sun-splashed kids playing sports, swimming, and getting freckles. Not pictured is any sign of anxiety, a totally natural reaction to a new adventure and a several-week separation. All kids experience a mixture of excitement and nervousness when summer camp approaches. Of course, getting past these initial jitters is part of the value of the camp experience. Indeed, summer camps hone many skills that are useful for future success. These include resilience, self-reliance, social adaptability, and of course, the ability to overcome jitters before an important and valuable life event. The camp experience — being away from home among peers — also helps kids develop social skills, separate in a healthy way from parents, cultivate independence, and build confidence. The key to helping your camper get over the pre-camp jitters is to acknowledge their feelings and give them tools to tame those feelings, thus making room for the life-changing, skill-building experience they’re about to have: 1) Let your child feel a sense of ownership over the experience. Familiarize them with the camp environment by looking at pictures and reviewing the online map of camp, and teach them about the camp’s activities so they can formulate expectations. 2) Help your child get excited about camp: Take them shopping for new gear and focus them on fun things about camp that they can look forward to. 3) Avoid focusing on what makes kids anxious. Instead of asking leading questions like, “Are you nervous about making friends?” ask open-ended questions like, “How are you feeling about making friends?” 4) Don’t trivialize their concerns or offer glib reassurances. “There’s nothing to worry about!” or “Everyone loves camp!” may discourage your child. Instead, show that you have empathy and acknowledge their concerns. 5) Focus on concrete details in conversations leading up to camp. Avoid abstract issues like what it’s like to be away from home, and focus instead on cabin details (like the air-conditioning and private bathrooms!), song-filled meals in the dining room, lifelong friendships people make at camp, and warm nighttime campfires. 6) Reflect on your own formative experiences away from home and share positive aspects of them with your camper. Show that you are willing to talk about the new things they’ll be doing, whether it’s eating new food, sleeping in a bunk bed, getting along with cabin-mates, or even cleaning their own area and folding their clothes! 7) Go through “rehearsals.” A shorter-term sleepover or a night at Grandma’s will make it easier for your child to be away from home. 8) Don’t linger at the bus stop. Keep the goodbyes short and sweet. And take the bus! Camp starts on the bus. Some parents choose to drive to camp, but taking the bus is often a better option because that’s where friendships first begin to form. 9) Make communication easy and accessible: Pack envelopes and stamps, and make sure your child understands how easy it will be to write to you. 10) Have goals for each letter, so your child will come away focused on how she is adjusting, rather than on how much she wants to come home. For example, in the first letter from your camper, the goal might be to make one friend within the first two or three days of camp. When you write initial letters to camp, you can stress that it’s normal for the first couple days to feel hard (and for that reason, don’t be too upset if you get a sad letter in the first few days of camp, which is an adjustment period). 11) Try not to communicate your own anxiety; your child can pick up on your feelings even if you don’t verbalize them. What you want to share is your confidence in your child and the summer experience. 12) Help your child formulate realistic, goal-oriented plans for making friends or toasting the perfect marshmallow or passing a swimming test. The thrill of completing these plans can give your child a feeling of success and take their mind off of the jitters. 13) Make sure the staff and counselors know anything they need to know about your camper to head off problems and maximize the experience. Does your camper wet the bed? Are they anxious about water? And let your child know that counselors and the rest of the staff are there to support them, whether they have a simple question or a larger need. And remember that the cost of a good camp covers more than the arts and crafts: It includes a team of professionals and counselors committed to fostering social learning in your child. [At Camp Zeke, we call this group our Camper Care Team. It includes a team of teachers, parents, and other caring adults. They monitor the campers throughout the summer to make sure everyone is adjusting well and thriving in the camp community.] Summer camp is a unique situation where your child engages with a large community of peers and learns how to interact socially in a less-structured environment than school. This is a time for kids to actively make decisions for themselves and develop a sense of self-reliance. Though you may be concerned and wish to intervene, your supportiveness will give your child room to take ownership over the experience themselves. And that’s what leads to the tremendous growth that kids experience at camp. * * * Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. Warm regards,
The Camp Zeke Team (“Meet” Us Here). |
3/13/25 Email: Now Available: 2025 Parent Handbook & Camp Forms (Email 1)
Dear friends:
We hope you’re all doing well and getting excited for an amazing camp experience! Around this time of year, we begin sending advice emails and reminders about preparing for camp. To kick things off, we’re pleased to share our 2025 Parent Handbook.
Camper Forms
Please review the Parent Handbook on our website: campzeke.org/current-families/parent-handbook. This has all the information you need to prepare for the camp experience. Please note that most medical forms and all other camper forms are due by May 5 for First session and Full season campers and by May 26 for Taste of Zeke and Second session campers. Most forms are for parents to complete. Additionally, every camper will need an annual physical (done within 12 months of camp’s start date) and updated vaccination information prior to camp. If you need to schedule an appointment with your physician, please give yourself enough time.
Camper Drop Off and Pick Up
As we frequently mention to families, Camp starts on the bus and we expect that all campers will take the bus. Please see the transportation form on CampInTouch for details.
Who Should I Contact with Questions?
If you have questions about preparing for camp (including questions about medical forms, the packing list, etc.), please contact Rachel at rachel@campzeke,org or 212-913-9783. Please note: We do encourage each family to read the Parent Handbook first. It has many answers.
If you have questions about billing, deposits and financials, please contact our registrar, Barbara Lichter, at barbara@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783.
Warm regards,
The Camp Zeke Team
The Camp Zeke Team
Summer: Lakewood, PA
Winter: New York, NY
212-913-9783
futurefamilies@campzeke.org
The first and only Jewish overnight camp where we celebrate healthy, active living through fitness, cooking, sports, and arts. Learn more at campzeke.org!
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