Family Camp 2012
Vacation in Eden!
Our Family Camp follows the traditions and values set forth at Eden Village, with a distinct family flavor. It is full of activity, fun and relaxation: organic farm-to-table living, animal care, swimming, boating, hiking, yoga, meditation, arts and crafts of all kinds, singing, campfires, herbalism, a zero-waste goal, learning about local ecosystems and wild edible/medicinal plants, caving, strolling, storytelling, helping prepare outstanding organic Kosher food, and of course eating it! Members of our summer staff will help guide the experience.
As an exciting new opportunity, this Spring's Family Camp weekend coincides with a significant holiday on the Hebrew calendar, Shavuot. Upon completion of a restful joyous Shabbat together, Saturday night begins this ancient harvest festival of Shavuot. We are thrilled to be incorporating this holiday into family camp this spring.
The program is geared primarily towards families with children of camp age or a few years younger. Daily activities at Family Camp are intentionally structured so that participants and staff plan activities and adventures together. This helps to ensure that everyone gets to do the activity that he or she is most excited about doing. Many families are also coming with skills or gifts they'd like to offer to the community - and there will be opportunity for our (about 20) families to co-create the experience, offer workshops to each other, help plan Shabbat, prepare the meals, collect eggs, and harvest. We encourage song-singing, the wholesome exchange of wisdom and life experiences, and the freedom to create adventures that inspire you!
Family Campers may choose to participate in activities either as individuals or as an entire family. A family that wants some time together might venture off along the Blueberry Trail. A parent who could use a little solo time might relax on the beach while their little one learns to make cheese with a temporary guardian. All are invited to sample our farm-to-table programs, which we offer for various age groups throughout Family Camp. Participants may choose to chat or read under a tree by the stream, by the sheep, or at the pool. There are trails to hike and organic gardens burgeoning with vegetables to harvest. Over just a few days of sharing daily tasks, learning together, enjoying Shabbat, and celebrating our achievements, our group creatively becomes a community.
At all times, it is the parent's responsibility to guide their children in choosing activities that take into account the child's ability, and what they need to be safe for themselves and others. Parents and guardians carry full responsibility for supervising and caring for their children, even when they have temporarily delegated this responsibility to another person at camp. We recommend that single parents and parents of young children bring a mature person who can share childcare, so as to allow the parent to fully participate in the days' activities, work tasks, and evening programs.
Families are housed together in open cabins, generally with 2 families per room. Shared bathrooms and showers are located inside the bunks. The bunk beds are a small twin size with modest mattresses, and each family is asked to bring their own bedding. The cabins have shelves for storage. Special accommodation requests are welcome. Our pool will be open for swimming when lifeguards are present, and lifeguards will supervise canoeing, sailing, kayaking and more on our lake. Our kitchen staff coordinates meals, which feature fresh organic produce harvested from our farm.
In an effort to keep camp affordable and to foster a working sense of community among the participants, Family Camp runs on a skeletal staff. It is the campers who assume responsibility for carrying out the daily avodah (work tasks) at camp. Avodah includes cook help, kitchen clean-up, running the dishwasher, cleaning pots, sweeping the dining hall, building fires, setting tables, cleaning bathrooms, etc. Participants sign up to do a "balance" of different sorts of chores for the few days. Each participant age 15+ is expected to assume responsibility for approximately one chore per day. It is important to take the avodah commitment into consideration when deciding if Family Camp is right for you and your family.
On the first day, arrival is from 3-5pm, and we begin in time for dinner. Family Camp finishes on the last day by noon (after sundown during the May Family Camp), after breakfast, cleaning party and closing circle.
We look forward to creating together a warm extended family, in a special atmosphere of relaxation, connection, discovery and fun! If you have any questions, feel free to call Vivian at 877-397-3336.
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Important Details
Things to know before registering:
When
Friday, May 25 (arrival 3-5pm) to Monday, May 28, after sundown, clean-up and closing circle (approximately 8pm). Spring Family Camp is a chance to celebrate Shavuot, a holiday of learning and wisdom. While the official end time is after dusk, families are welcome to leave before then.
or
Friday, August 31 (arrival 3-5pm) to Monday, September 3, after breakfast, clean-up and closing circle (approximately 12 noon).
Cost
The cost of Family Camp includes food, lodging and program for all four days. There is NO fee for child 2 years of age and younger. The fee per participant age 8 through Adult is $300, and $200 for those 7 and younger.
We also offer a tenting option, with a $50 per person discount for those families choosing to pitch a tent for the weekend.
Refund Policy
If your application is withdrawn a month before the program begins, all payments will be refunded. After that date no refunds or credits for future use are given. It is not possible to make any reduction in the registration fee if you arrive late or leave early, except for withdrawal on account of serious illness or injury incurred while at Eden Village. There will be no refund if you are asked to leave camp during the week due to an infraction of camp rules or if you withdraw voluntarily.
Young Children and Chaperones
Children under 18 must come with their own parents/guardians or with an adult (21 or older) who agrees to assume responsibility for them. Parents of chaperoned children must complete a chaperone form. If you need a chaperone form, please contact us at familycamp@edenvillagecamp.org
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What to expect when you arrive
Jewish Life and Celebration
Eden Village Camp intentionally cultivates a diverse Jewish community, with families from a broad range of Jewish backgrounds. We honor the wisdom of our tradition that guides us to give gratitude before and after each meal, to rest and celebrate together during Shabbat, to honor the laws of Kashrut - "what is fit to eat" - by adhering to strict rabbinic supervision and consuming only organic and ethically-sourced foods, and more. With the additional celebration of Shavuot at family camp this year, we have an even greater opportunity to embody these values. In many ways it will be like a three-day Shabbat.
In order to honor our many Shabbat and holiday observances, we ask our guest to pay special attention to the public domain. Specifically, during this long weekend, in public spaces we ask families to refrain from turning lights on or off, using electricity, or playing instruments. We encourage using the instrument of our singing voices! Our Shabbat is a great mix of communal celebration, traditional and non-traditional ritual options, a variety of fun organized activities, and plenty of time for relaxation.
Saturday evening marks the end of Shabbat and beginning of Shavuot, a holiday created to honor the land and its bounty. Shavuot is sometimes referred to as "Hag Habikurim" (holiday of first fruits) because of its synchronization with the Spring harvest. In the spirit of this two-day holiday, from Saturday evening until the end of family camp, we will create an ongoing harvest celebration. Highlights include an all-night festival of fun learning (called a "Tikkun Leyl"), a sunrise service and a sleep-in. Those who are interested in teaching a short session in the "Tikkun Leyl" will be able to sign up to do so. In keeping with the goals of family camp, we will offer both traditional egalitarian and creative holiday services during the holiday, and a rich schedule of games and activities led by our staff. Just like on Shabbat, we ask you to be mindful of holiday observances when you are in public spaces in camp.
On Friday, families can sign up for various Shabbat Prep activities and tasks like flower arranging, challah-making, grape-juice-making, table-setting, preparing Words of Wisdom (D'vrei Torah), and more. We ask each person to bring an all-white outfit for Friday evening, and we begin Kabbalat Shabbat (the entering of Shabbat) with a festive parade from the bunks to our beautiful amphitheater by the lake, where egalitarian services take place. We provide our homemade siddurim (prayerbooks), and encourage families to bring their own if they like. Within the Kabbalat Shabbat service, we leave space for different practices. After services, we enjoy a true sumptuous feast, followed by a festive song- and story-filled gathering. Saturday offers options for morning services, and then the groups come together for one Torah service. After lunch, more leisurely afternoon activities, followed by dinner.
Waterfront
Lifeguards will be on staff during Family Camp. The Lake and Pool are open only when lifeguards are present.
Accommodations
You will be housed in camper cabins. These cabins are open buildings with bathrooms and hot showers inside. The bunk beds and single beds have foam mattresses. You can expect to share a cabin with 1 other family. There also options to camp or upgrade to a private cabin. Meals and general gatherings will take place in our Dining Hall. (Limited space is available for those who need facilities close to the Dining Hall.)
Wholesome Food
We serve organically grown, local food as much as possible and make almost everything from scratch in our kitchen. We choose food that is ethically produced, sustainably sourced, and minimally processed. Learn more about the food that everyone's talking about....
Please note any special diet requirements on the registration form. A substantial vegetarian choice will be served at every meal. Snacks are available for between-meal times.
General Ground Rules
At Eden Village Camp we strive to provide an environment that is safe and special, where we can leave behind some of the distractions of our everyday lives and gather in the beauty of nature and community.
Toward this end we ask the following:
- Be responsible for yourselves; supervise your children, and your guests.
- Children under 18 must come with their own parents or a chaperone over the age of 21. Chaperones may be responsible for no more than 2 children.
- No pets. Please do not ask. It puts our farm animals, the comfort of others and your pet at risk.
- No tobacco, alcohol, drugs or firearms.
- No electronic games, radios or boom boxes.
- Understand and abide by the waterfront rules as follows:
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Ready to Register?
Now that you know what to expect, click here to register for Family Camp 2012. If you're already registered and you're ready to pay, click here.
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