FAQ
Q: Do You Go Out Of Camp At All During The Summer?
A: Yes, every Thursday is trip day at Camp Avoda. Some of the great trips offered are: hiking trips, waterslide parks, deep sea fishing, rock climbing and Red Sox games. Campers who are in our Senior division (going into 9th and 10th grade) go bowling each Saturday. Golf is also an optional trip on Saturdays. In addition, there are various camping overnights, sports competitions hosted by other camps, socials with Camp Pembroke, and small craft trips for certain age groups.
Q: How Do We Communicate With Our Children During The Summer?
A: Campers are required to write home at least twice per week. You may send letters to your sons or email letters through our web site, which we print out and hand to the kids. We post around 40 pictures a day and write a daily blog so that you know what is happening at camp.
Q: Tell Me About Your Staff
A: Our administrative staff consists of trained professionals in the fields of education, child psychology and health care. Our Senior Counselors are college age alumni of Avoda who have graduated from our rigorous Counselor-In-Training program and have demonstrated the skills, maturity and understanding of boys to be part of our staff.
Q: How Are Campers Placed Together In Bunks?
A: Campers are placed together based on what grade they are entering in the upcoming school year.
Q: What Age Are Campers When They Start Coming To Avoda?
A: We have campers going into 2nd grade up to 10th grade. Our experience has been that the younger a camper starts at Avoda the easier adjustment they make to camp life.
We rarely have any open spaces for new campers entering 8th, 9th or 10th grade.
Q: How Competitive Is Camp Avoda?
A: Integral components of Avoda’s program are sports and competition. However, we like to pride ourselves on balancing that with diverse program options as well as values like sportsmanship and teamwork. Proper instruction and skill building are the most important aspects of our athletics program.
Q: Do You Have Nurses At Camp?
A: We have two full time nurses who live in our air conditioned camp infirmary. Our four camp pediatricians are a few minutes away and a hospital is also nearby.
Should your son need to stay in the infirmary overnight or require medical attention you will be notified.
Our nurses also dispense all camper medications and TLC when needed!
Q: Where Are Your Campers From?
A: Our campers come from Massachusetts, New England, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, all over!
Q: Do You Have Socials With A Girls’ Camp?
A: Many of our camper’s sisters, cousins, and friends attend Camp Pembroke (an all-girls Jewish camp) with whom we have regular get-togethers throughout the summer.
Q: What Is Your Camper To Counselor Ratio?
A: We have a camper to counselor ratio of 4 to 1. This means that all campers recieve close attention and supervision at all times.
Q: What Is Unique About Camp Avoda?
A: We are a small, close knit camp where everyone knows everyone else. One very unique aspect of our camp is that all of our bunk counselors are former campers who have grown up at Avoda. This means that all of our counselors truly understand the experience of being a camper at Avoda and carry on the many wonderful traditions that make Avoda special.
Q: How Long Can My Sons Come To Camp Avoda For?
A: We offer two 2-week sessions; one 3.5 week session; and a 4 week session. The majority of our campers come for the entire summer which is 7.5 weeks.
Q: How “Jewish” Are You?
A: We are not affiliated with any movement. A subtle spirituality infuses life at Avoda. Each meal begins and ends with blessings, the food is kosher, and services are held each Friday evening and Saturday morning (as well as on Tisha B’Av), and Havdalah. Weather permitting, services are held in the tranquil beauty of our Chapel Site, where, nestled among towering trees by the peaceful waters of Lake Tispaquin, campers can reflect as Jewish prayers and songs resound. The Shabbat schedule is still active, but we do not run our regular program; we like to keep the day separate from the rest of the week. Being brought up at Camp Avoda lends itself to maintaining and fostering Jewish identity as boys grow up to become men.
Q: How Does Laundry Work?
A: A clothing list is included in the first mailing after a camper has enrolled. Campers are encouraged to have a large, soft trunk or duffel bag, and to bring comfortable clothing appropriate for camp’s active lifestyle. The only required items of clothing are three Avoda T-shirts. Laundry is sent out once a week on a Monday or Tuesday and is returned the following day. All laundry is done individually.
