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General Questions
Question: Does my child have to be Jewish to come to Camp Sisol?
Answer: No! Camp Sisol is open to children of all backgrounds. Camp Sisol is a cultural Jewish setting, and children of other faiths never feel excluded or intimidated.
Question: What happens if I have to drop my child off late or pick him or her up early?
Answer: Please call the office in advance of any pick up changes. When you arrive at camp, please stop by the office with your child to sign him or her out.
Daily Activities
Question: What should my child bring to camp every day?
Answer: A water bottle, sunscreen, a bathing suit and towel, closed toed shoes, extra clothes (can be stored in cubbies after the first day) and a positive attitude!
Question: My camper doesn't enjoy participating in sports/arts/music/etc. Does he or she have to go to that special?
Answer: All campers will go to their assigned specials with their group. Campers are never forced to participate in an activity, but are encouraged to try it out. If the camper still does not wish to participate, he or she may sit quietly without disrupting the rest of the group.
Question: What should my child bring for an overnight?
Answer: Campers will bring overnight supplies on the bus with them the day of the overnight. Keeping this in mind, it is important to think about packing light, and bringing only necessary items. A complete list of suggested items can be found on the late nights and overnights page.
Question: What if my child does not want to stay for the late night or overnight?
Answer: Late nights and overnights are ALWAYS optional. If a camper does not stay for the late night, he or she will return home on the bus with the rest of camp. If your child would like to stay late, but does not wish to sleep over, he or she may be picked up at camp at your convenience.
Staffing
Question: How do I contact my child's Unit Head (staff member in charge of specific age group)?
Answer: Before camp begins, you will be given an email address that can be used to contact your child's unit head. The unit head will also be contacting you with any issues or concerns that arise during the camp day. You may also reach your child's unit head by calling the camp office during camp hours.
Question: How can I find out who my child's counselors are?
Answer: This information will be posted on the "Camp Sisol Staff" page, once staff is hired for the summer. If you would like to know who your child's group counselors are, you may ask your child's unit head for that information.
Meals and Snacks
Question: My child has allergies to certain foods. Can he or she bring his or her own food?
Answer: No. Because Camp Sisol is a Kosher environment, we cannot allow food to be brought in from the outside. If your child has dietary restrictions or allergies, we are more than happy to accommodate, and will be glad to prepare any food that your child may eat.
Question: What does a "Kosher" meal mean?
Answer: Kosher pertains to the way in which food is prepared. Certain animals are not considered to be Kosher, and therefore are not eaten at camp (eg. Pigs). Meat and dairy are also never combined in the same meal, and we wait a certain amount of time before serving dairy after a meat lunch. Utensils are also separated between use for meat and use for dairy.
Swimming
Question: How do I know what swim level my child is in?
Answer: If your child has taken Red Cross swim lessons before, he or she should have been given a certificate designating which levels have been completed. If you child has not taken red cross lessons before, the swim staff will test your child's abilities in the water to determine the appropriate level.
Question: My child has never been swimming before. Does he or she have to go in the pool?
Answer: Children are never forced to go in the water, but acclimation to the pool is highly encouraged. Your child's swim instructor will work with your child to get him or her comfortable with the water and eventually going in the pool every day.
Registration
Question: Can I request which children my child is placed in a group with?
Answer: Yes. On the registration form, there is a section to indicate which children you would like your child to be placed with in a group.
Question: What can I do if I need extended care for just a day or two?
Answer: Please call the camp office as soon as you know you will need extended care. The office will add your child to the list, and he or she will ride the After Camp Care bus home from camp that day.
Question: My child will be coming to camp as a special needs camper. How do I communicate what he or she will need at camp?
Answer: Once we receive your child's registration, and the indication that he or she will be a special needs camper, the special needs coordinator will contact you to discuss your child's needs while at camp. He or she will discuss any concerns you have, and work with you to implement a strategy for your child to streamline the transition from school to camp.
Question: My child will be a CIT at Camp. Will he or she be considered a camper, or a staff member?
Answer: The Counselors in training are considered campers, though they will have experiences that are unique to both campers and staff. They will have the benefit of participating in camper programs, but will also be gaining valuable work experience.
Health and Safety
Question: What happens if my child gets sick at camp?
Answer: If a child becomes ill while at camp, he or she will be taken to the infirmary. The Camp nurse will treat the child to the best of his or her abilities.A child will be sent home if he or she is throwing up or develops a fever higher than 101 degrees. If the child's illness becomes serious, and the child requires care beyond basic first aid, 911 will be called, and the child may be taken to the hospital.
Question: What happens if there is a thunderstorm?
Answer: At the first sign of a thunderstorm, the inclement weather procedure will be put into action. Campers in the pool will be immediately evacuated from the pool area, and all campers will be taken to the nearest shelter, and engaged in activities till the storm clears. Regular activities will resume when thunder has not been heard for 20 minutes.
Bussing
Question: What happens if my child misses the bus in the morning?
Answer: If there is another bus stop on your child's route, you may follow the bus to the next stop and he or she may board there. Due to safety concerns, the bus may not pull over and let passengers on after it has left the stop. If your child's stop is the last on the route, you must follow the bus to Camp Sisol to drop him or her off.
Question: What happens if I am late to pick up my child off the bus?
Answer: The bus will wait 5 minutes at each stop, and if no one is there to pick up your child, he or she will ride the bus back to the JCC. He or she will then go to after camp care until someone is able to pick him or her up.
Question: What if my camper needs to ride a different bus one day?
Answer: You will need to call the Camp office as soon as possible. The Office will issue a bus change form for your child, and he or she will ride the alternative bus for the day.
Hobbies
Question: What happens if my camper wants to change his or her hobby after sign up has passed?
Answer: Campers may choose to switch hobbies until the week before the hobby will be occurring. Ex. if a camper would like to switch from movie making to shelter building in week 6, he or she will need to make the switch before week 5. Hobbies can be switched by talking to your child's unit head.
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