Our Program
Lech~Lecha לך לך Teens is a fun, adventurous, one-week outdoor experiences for Jewish teens. Close-knit groups, ten to fifteen teens and two to three guides, will embark on an epic journey together in the woods. We'll create a supportive and laughter-filled environment for Jewish teens of all backgrounds, fostering social connection and personal growth.
There's nothing like nature to bond us together - group challenges, wilderness skills, sports (six feet apart), bonfires, guitars, star-gazing, and creative projects - check out our weekly schedule, below, for program content details.
In this unique time of many summer camps canceling, we are happy to consider programs for groups of 8-15 who want to spend a special week together. If this is your case, please be in touch, and we'll do our best to make it work.
There's nothing like nature to bond us together - group challenges, wilderness skills, sports (six feet apart), bonfires, guitars, star-gazing, and creative projects - check out our weekly schedule, below, for program content details.
In this unique time of many summer camps canceling, we are happy to consider programs for groups of 8-15 who want to spend a special week together. If this is your case, please be in touch, and we'll do our best to make it work.
Where?
This summer we'll be exploring the gorgeous Pocono forests of Monroe County, PA. We are renting a beautifully wooded land with vast open fields and many acres of forest that will be our open-air playground for the soul. The location is a bit over 2 hours from NY & Philadelphia and a 4 hour ride from Boston and DC. We will only share location address and details with families prior to registration as a security measure.
Accommodations
Accommodations are rugged. One tent per camper. You will be sleeping in your own sleeping bag or other personal bedding you bring on our comfy foam cushions.
Our property is relatively off the grid. Running water is available for consumption and hand-washing. Showers are creative, using a solar-heated shower bag twice a week. Electricity is available close to our campsite, used for refrigeration and powering staff communication devices. Our campsite is lightly lit at night by solar-powered lights so that campers can make their way to the composting toilet or nearby staff if necessary.
Our property is relatively off the grid. Running water is available for consumption and hand-washing. Showers are creative, using a solar-heated shower bag twice a week. Electricity is available close to our campsite, used for refrigeration and powering staff communication devices. Our campsite is lightly lit at night by solar-powered lights so that campers can make their way to the composting toilet or nearby staff if necessary.
Sessions, age, and Gender
Organized groups from cancelled camps can organize a week-long session that does not fit into the age and gender restrictions indicated in our schedule.
Our regularly scheduled programming, as indicated in the session schedule below, offers separate programs for male participants and female participants. With 8-15 campers and only a week together, our program is more of a typical bunk experience. Working with a single gender has a unique ability to bond us together in this regard.
Sessions are designated for rising 8th & 9th graders or rising 10th & 11th graders, as well. While male and female groups will be on campus simultaneously, they will be on separate camp sites out of sight from one another and will not be interacting in order to ensure safety in light of the pandemic.
Our regularly scheduled programming, as indicated in the session schedule below, offers separate programs for male participants and female participants. With 8-15 campers and only a week together, our program is more of a typical bunk experience. Working with a single gender has a unique ability to bond us together in this regard.
Sessions are designated for rising 8th & 9th graders or rising 10th & 11th graders, as well. While male and female groups will be on campus simultaneously, they will be on separate camp sites out of sight from one another and will not be interacting in order to ensure safety in light of the pandemic.
COVID-19 Protocol
Modeling Safe & Responsible Gathering
We will be making great efforts this summer to prevent spread of COVID-19.
Our programming models safe and responsible gathering in small groups, outdoors, and socially distanced. Accommodations are individualized and food & utensils allocated to each participant. The protocols listed at the end of this page detail our efforts to prevent COVID-19 from entering and spreading in our facility and are based on American Camp Association's guidance based on CDC recommendations in conversations medical professionals.
Our programming models safe and responsible gathering in small groups, outdoors, and socially distanced. Accommodations are individualized and food & utensils allocated to each participant. The protocols listed at the end of this page detail our efforts to prevent COVID-19 from entering and spreading in our facility and are based on American Camp Association's guidance based on CDC recommendations in conversations medical professionals.
PRE-SCREENING & Transportation
Availability of testing varies by state. We recommend that campers and staff pass at least one COVID-19 test during the week prior to attendance (we recommend getting that test on the Sunday or Monday prior to your session in order to ensure that you receive the results in time). If you are unable to receive this test we will suffice with the pre-screening, below.
A camper or counselor with any symptoms (fever of 100.4 °F or greater, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, vomiting, etc.) within the two weeks prior to camp will not be able to join us this summer. Additionally a camper or counselor who has themselves or whose household members have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the two weeks prior to camp will not be able to join us this summer. All down-payments will be returned if this is the case.
Additionally, we will be screening upon arrival confirming that participants have either received a negative test result or have not had any symptoms over the previous two weeks and have not interacted with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. We will also be taking temperatures to ensure they are under 100.4 °F.
We will not be offering group transportation or pickup from public transportation this summer. All campers must be brought directly.
A camper or counselor with any symptoms (fever of 100.4 °F or greater, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, vomiting, etc.) within the two weeks prior to camp will not be able to join us this summer. Additionally a camper or counselor who has themselves or whose household members have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the two weeks prior to camp will not be able to join us this summer. All down-payments will be returned if this is the case.
Additionally, we will be screening upon arrival confirming that participants have either received a negative test result or have not had any symptoms over the previous two weeks and have not interacted with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. We will also be taking temperatures to ensure they are under 100.4 °F.
We will not be offering group transportation or pickup from public transportation this summer. All campers must be brought directly.
Small groups SOCIAL DISTANCING & 100% OUTDOORS, Facemasks
Each group will be made up of 10-15 campers and 2-3 staff members. There may be 2-3 groups on campus at once, but they will be located on opposite corners of a huge property out of sight from one another and will not interact.
Our activities will be held outdoors. Wide open-air tarp coverings will be utilized for various activities and in the event of rain. This model greatly diminishes likelihood of spreading germs. All of our programming is structured to support social distancing, from hiking to our creative sport offerings to eating meals. We know that keeping teens apart is difficult. We will remind participants often to stay socially distanced, and while we cannot guarantee constant enforcement, we will do our best to always keep participants and staff safely apart from one another. To assist us in achieving this, it is essential that parents stress the importance of socially distancing prior to arrival.
The ACA based on CDC recommendations does not require campers to wear face masks when maintaining social distance. That being said, there are times, such as singing and loud conversation, during which social distance may not be sufficient and masks will be requested. Campers should come with masks and will wear them on occasion but not throughout their stay.
Our activities will be held outdoors. Wide open-air tarp coverings will be utilized for various activities and in the event of rain. This model greatly diminishes likelihood of spreading germs. All of our programming is structured to support social distancing, from hiking to our creative sport offerings to eating meals. We know that keeping teens apart is difficult. We will remind participants often to stay socially distanced, and while we cannot guarantee constant enforcement, we will do our best to always keep participants and staff safely apart from one another. To assist us in achieving this, it is essential that parents stress the importance of socially distancing prior to arrival.
The ACA based on CDC recommendations does not require campers to wear face masks when maintaining social distance. That being said, there are times, such as singing and loud conversation, during which social distance may not be sufficient and masks will be requested. Campers should come with masks and will wear them on occasion but not throughout their stay.
MINIMIZING SHARED ITEMS & DISINFECTING SURFACES
Each camper and counselor will sleep in their own tent. Entering another's tent is strictly prohibited.
Our bathroom door can be kicked open by foot and each camper will have their own rolls of toilet paper.
We are profoundly minimizing shared surfaces, as well. Each of us will have our own bowls, cups & utensils, as well an adventurer kit including rope, whistle, bandaids, and other educational tools that we will be using during our journey. Our paintbrushes, hammers, and other project items may need to be shared and will be disinfected between users.
Our bathroom door can be kicked open by foot and each camper will have their own rolls of toilet paper.
We are profoundly minimizing shared surfaces, as well. Each of us will have our own bowls, cups & utensils, as well an adventurer kit including rope, whistle, bandaids, and other educational tools that we will be using during our journey. Our paintbrushes, hammers, and other project items may need to be shared and will be disinfected between users.
FOOD & HANDWASHING
As part of our leadership objectives and empowerment model, our staff prepare all meals with help from the campers. Anyone participating in food preparation must wear disposable gloves and a mask. A staff member will serve all food items with gloves and mask. Campers will stand socially distanced in line for food. They will place their plate and bowl six feet away from the food and tell the server what they would like.
We will be washing/disinfecting hands prior every meal.
We will be washing/disinfecting hands prior every meal.
First aid & Counselors within six feet
In the event that a camper gets scraped, sprains an ankle, or needs for any reason a counselor to come within six feet, the counselor will disinfect hands and both will wear masks. In any event, when a counselor deems it necessary to step within six feet of a camper, or vice versa, we will take this precaution.
INdividuals showing symptoms & COmmunication
If a camper is showing any COVID-19 symptoms, our first precaution is to bring the camper safely away from other campers and to a comfortable location. We will then contact parents and seek medical advice. If necessary, parents will be requested to pick their child up, and, of course, an ambulance will be called if deemed necessary. All other parents will be informed, as well. Considering our strict protocols throughout camp, remaining campers should not need to return home, but parents will of course have the option to bring their child home at any time.
Emergency procedures
Two emergency rooms are in very close proximity to campus, open 24-hours a day: Lehigh valley hospital–pocono - 9 minutes away, St. Luke's monroe campus emergency room - 12 minutes away. We do not have a medical professional on campus.
Our Core Values
1. Pluralism: Tikkun Olam, bettering our world, is founded upon an appreciation of the unique role of each individual, including ourselves!
2. Curiosity: Growth requires engaging the unfamiliar, facing and overcoming challenges - together, supporting each other.
3. Celebration: Life is good, let's enjoy it together
2. Curiosity: Growth requires engaging the unfamiliar, facing and overcoming challenges - together, supporting each other.
3. Celebration: Life is good, let's enjoy it together
Weekly Schedule
For 7-day Program
Educational Methods
1. Experience: Learning by doing, feeling, working, running, building, dancing.
2. Immersion: Spending a week together bonds us as a group.
3. Leadership: Lech~Lecha לך לך challenges our youth to contribute, to design, and to create.
2. Immersion: Spending a week together bonds us as a group.
3. Leadership: Lech~Lecha לך לך challenges our youth to contribute, to design, and to create.
Day in the Life
Dates & Rates
Costs:
We are committed to equity. Cost is a sliding scale: $360 - $780, based on financial ability.
We are committed to equity. Cost is a sliding scale: $360 - $780, based on financial ability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Friends: Who's joining me? Can I come with a friend? Group of friends?
We all have different goals - some may want to meet new friends, some want to have a chance to connect with old friends, and some of us want both. Most of our programs will be for individual campers from a variety of backgrounds and summer camps.
Hard to be alone in a new group? Bring a friend! When possible, we try to accomodate friends coming together in the same cohort.
In this unique time of many summer camps canceling, we are also considering programs for entire groups of 8-15 who want to come together. If this is your case, please be in touch, and we'll see what we can do
Hard to be alone in a new group? Bring a friend! When possible, we try to accomodate friends coming together in the same cohort.
In this unique time of many summer camps canceling, we are also considering programs for entire groups of 8-15 who want to come together. If this is your case, please be in touch, and we'll see what we can do
Observance: What does pluralism look like in practice?
We celebrate each individual's perspective and practice. Our programs invite discussion and participation, inspiring one another's personal journeys. Communal practice reflects our diversity, experiencing prayer and blessings through various modalities, utilizing song and movement. All adventures are kosher and shomer Shabbat, honoring individual practice and fully supporting observance of mitzvot
Food: What's it like?
No nuts! And with fewer than ten campers per session, we are happy to make accommodations necessary for other allergies and eating habits. Check out our "Day In the Life" to get a preview of our menu. I love our food! Made by counselors on site, we'll eat simple and delicious camping-style meals.
Communication Devices: Can we bring them on our adventure?
Distance makes the heart grow stronger. After months of online classes and eyes peeled to screens, we're excited to be taking a week off. Parents are asked to hold onto camper communication devices while they are on Lech~Lecha לך לך. Breaking out of the familiar surroundings of home and social networks helps us to break into a stronger relationship with those around us, with nature, and with ourselves.
Refund Policy: What if my teen has to return home?
There are various situations in which a camper might not be able to join us this summer or will have to return home:
- A registered camper may decide not to join our programming this summer for non-extenuating circumstances. If this happens 7 days or more prior to the start of the session (i.e. before July 7th for the session beginning on July 13th), all but $90 of your downpayment will be returned. If this happens within the week of camp (i.e. July 7th onward for July 13th session, the downpayment ($360) will not be refunded but no additional cost will be incurred.
- If we do not allow a registered camper to join us because they have COVID-19 symptoms or find out that they have been in contact with an individual who has contracted COVID-19 within two weeks of camp, your downpayment will be completely refunded.
- If your camper has COVID-19 symptoms during a session and we require their return home, we will return the cost/day of the remainder of our camp session.
- If another camper has COVID-19 symptoms during a session and you decide, then, to take your camper home, we will return the cost/day of the remainder of our camp session.
Communication with staff
Our teen programming is new this summer, and you've never met us - we completely understand and value your desire to know what is going on at camp and stay updated. You'll be able to contact us at all times with the contact info exclusive for parents that we'll share upon registration. But we'll also be actively sharing our experience at Lech~Lecha in a few ways:
- Daily pictures and messages over WhatsApp (aside from Shabbat).
- Zoom into a few of our programs: we'll be inviting you to join us for a morning and evening activity during the week in order to check in and get a taste of camp.
