Camp Monroe: Wikis

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Road Sign at the entrance to Camp Monroe

View of Camp Monroe

Camp Monroe is a Jewish overnight summer camp located in Monroe, New York. Located close to the Catskills, the camp offers summer vacation with campers coming from all over the tri state area, the USA and some campers from Europe and Israel. Staff are also recruited from all over the world, some are alumni of the camp, while others are recruited through organizations such as Camp America and BUNAC. Camp Monroe Alumni often refer to themselves as being part of the Camp Monroe Family.

Camp Structure

The day starts every morning with flag raising<ref>http://www.campmonroe.com/02.html</ref> and continues after breakfast with a wide variety of sports, arts & crafts, water sports and computer activities. Activities take place in a rotation to allow all campers to experience many different things over the summer. The summer is split in to two sessions. Some campers come for the first half, others for the second, while many choose to stay for the entire eight week season.

Songs and Anthems

While there is no official camp song, there are a number of songs that campers, staff and alumni associate with Camp Monroe, including Friends Friends Friends<ref>http://www.campmonroe.com/</ref> and 'Midos are the way we act' by Uncle Moishy. Shabbat meals are also accompanied with traditional Shabbat songs.

Religious Affiliation

Camp Monroe is a Jewish Summer Camp but does not force any camper to behave in any way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Meals are concluded with Birkat Hamazon and Jewish Prayer Services are offered three times a day for those that choose to take part. The daily flag raising is followed by a short prayer. Campers are encouraged to 'Speak Like a Mensch' and behavior in line with Jewish beliefs is encouraged, but not forced. All food is Kosher and prepared on site.

Camp Activities

Camp Activities include Adventure Program, All-Star Program, Apache Relay, Archery, Arts & Crafts, Basketball, Boating, Camp Fires, Camp Newspaper, Canoeing, Challah Making, Climbing Wall – 30’, College Day, Color War, Computers, Cookouts, Dance, Discussion Groups, Elective Program, Evening Activities, Fine Arts, Fishing, Football, Go-Karting, Golf, Gymnastics, Hiking, Hockey, Horseback Riding, Intercamp Tournaments, Israeli Dance, JEM Program, Jewish Activities, Jogging, League Program, Life Saving, Maccabiah Day, Marathon - 2k Run, Midos Development, Movies, Music, Nature, Olympics, Orienteering, Paddleball, Photography, Physical Fitness, Pillo Polo, Ping Pong, Pottery, Professional Entertainers, Racquetball, Radio Station, Rocketry, Ropes/Confidence Course, Saturday Program, Services, Shows, Skating, Soccer, Softball, Special Event Days, Speakers, Speaking Like A Mensch, Swimming, Talent Show, Tennis, Trips, Universal Gym, Video, Volleyball, Water Polo, Water skiing, Workshops.

Big Events of the Summer

Like many camps, there are some events that staff and campers especially look forward to every summer. These include color war, The Feast of Monroe, Prom and The Stanley Cup. There are also day trips, and overnight trips that take place during the sessions.

Color War

Color War usually takes place in the second session of the summer. The launch of color war is usually a practical joke, and is often proceeded by a number of 'fake breaks'. For three days, the entire camp is divided into two teams, one is the blue team, the other the white team. Team names are assigned, and are usually themed. Color War lasts for three days, although, if a shabbat falls in the middle of color war, a truce is declared for 25 hours, before the competition is continues.

During color war, the usual schedule is ignored, and all activities focus on the main event of the summer.

The Feast of Monroe

The Feast of Monroe takes place one evening during camp. Rather than eating dinner at tables in the mess hall, campers gather on one of the grass areas outside, and an elaborate meal takes place. Every year, a member of staff is honored for their hard work and commitment to the Camp Monroe Family, and is named the Don. They are presented with gifts at the feast.

Prom

Each year, Camp Monroe holds two proms. One for the junior campers, and one for the senior campers. Once again, this meal does not take place in the mess hall, rather, it is held in one of the sports halls, which is decorated for the season. In 2003, the Junior Prom was scheduled for the night effected by the blackouts on the East Coast. Candles were lit and the prom took place uninterrupted.

The Stanley Cup

Banner prepared for the Stanley Cup in 2003

The Camp Monroe Stanley Cup is named after Camp Monroe's director and co-owner, Stanley Felsinger, and not the famous event with the same name.

This is an inter-camp hockey tournament that takes place throughout the summer, culminating with the final attended by the entire camp. For many other camps, this is just inter-camp sporting event, but staff and campers at Camp Monroe take the competition very seriously and it is an honor to be on the team.

The sporting event is anticipated from the day camp starts, with try-outs starting early in the season. For the night of the event, campers prepare banners to support the home team at the event.

Trips

During the camp season, a number of trips take place. Sometimes campers are taken to the IMAX theater at the Palisades Center for an evening. Other trips have included days to Rye Playland or Six Flags theme park. There is also a senior trip every season, which is an opt in activity for older campers.

Accommodation

Accommodation is split into two main areas, known as The Main House and The Hill. Older girls sleep in the bunks in the Main House, while the younger female campers, along with all the boys have bunks in areas on The Hill. Each bunk bunk is also home to at least two members of staff. Married staff often share private bunks with their spouses.

Ownership

The Krieger family established Camp Monroe in 19XX and are still involved today, three generations later. Camp Monroe is privately owned by four parties, three of which are actively involved in the day to day running of the camp, and a fourth silent partner. Two of the owning parties live on site throughout the year, and attended the camp when they were children themselves.