H eadlines
Camps Continued from Page 1
residents and 52% of all New
Jersey residents have received
at least one dose of a COVID-19
vaccine, two of the 10 highest
percentages among all states,
according to The New York
Times. Though herd immunity
is still a long way off, rising
vaccination rates are good
news for everyone.

“We’re just feeling better
about our ability to keep
COVID out and keep people
healthy,” said Eytan Graubart,
executive director of Pinemere
Camp in Stroudsburg.

Graubart, who joined
Pinemere earlier this year,
was initially frustrated that
summer camps in Pennsylvania
were not permitted to require
vaccines for their staff, as per
Department of Health guide-
lines. But that frustration
was assuaged; after Graubart
reached out to staff earlier
this spring to offer them assis-
tance and information about
vaccines, he learned that he
was preaching to the choir.

As it stands, Pinemere
is on track for all of its staff
members to be vaccinated by
the time camp begins on June
27. In fact, parents of Pinemere
campers were offering their
help in securing vaccine and
testing appointments for those
having trouble finding them on
their own.

“There’s been a little bit of
a moment where we’re coming
together,” Graubart said.

Though it’s “still too early
to say” exactly how having
a fully-vaccinated staff will
affect the way that Pinemere
will be conducted this summer,
Graubart’s hope is that there
will eventually be an opportu-
nity to relax some of the more
rigid protocols in place for its
staff and campers. Maybe staff
will be able to spend some of
their off-days away from camp.

What the reduced risk has
given the camp administra-
tion is the freedom to think
a little more about camp and
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Fireworks on the Fourth of July at Pinemere Camp in 2019
Courtesy of Pinemere Camp
We’re just feeling better about our ability to
keep COVID out and keep people healthy.”
EYTAN GRAUBART
a little less about the possi-
bility of a COVID-19 outbreak.

While no less vigilant about
safety, Graubart and his team
are able to put more energy
into providing a positive camp
experience to children who’ve
gone through a difficult period.

“My peace of mind
changed,” Graubart said.

At Camp Galil in Ottsville,
safety practices like podding,
outdoor dining, masking and
regular testing will continue
unabated this
summer. Executive Director David
Weiss said the administration
has not yet fully determined
the effect that a fully-vacci-
nated staff would have on their
plans for this summer.

“Vaccination has really only
added an extra layer of protec-
tion,” he said. “It has not led us
to pull back on any of the plans
that we have been making.”
“It’s just one more thing that
we can do to help protect our
community,” he added.

Jeremy Fingerman, CEO
of the Foundation for Jewish
Camp, said that’s a pretty
typical view among Jewish
camp directors. Combining the
vaccines with the safety struc-
tures put in place over the last
year-plus — bubble systems,
testing and cleaning protocols,
etc. — “has given people confi-
dence” that they can deliver a
safe, fun summer for their staff
and campers, Fingerman said.

“The vaccines sort of put it
over the top,” he said.

JCC Camps at Medford, a
day camp in Medford, New
Jersey, typically serves 1,300
campers over the summer, with
around 1,100 on site on any
given day. They’re joined by 550
to 600 seasonal staff members
— counselors, kitchen workers,
lifeguard, specialists and more.

Last summer, just 200
campers attended a modified
program without busing, lunch
service or instructional swim.

Everyone stayed safe, and there
were no cases of COVID-19 at
the camp, according to Camp
Director Sara Sideman, but it
was not a typical summer.

With more staff members
vaccinated every day, JCC
Camps at Medford will
welcome campers in numbers
closer to that of a typical
summer. While safety will
JEWISH EXPONENT
Campers at Camp Galil in 2019 
remain front of mind, Sideman
said, the widespread vaccina-
tions will bring a much-needed
reduction to the temperature of
the situation.

“The vaccination piece is,
more than anything else, our
ability to not feel so stressed
going into the summer,” she
added, “that we can have a
Photos by Mark Liflander/Camp Galil
much healthier and safer
summer, knowing that we are
doing everything we can to
keep our kids and our staff
safe. That’s the biggest piece of
it. But it’s not going to change
any of our protocols.” l
jbernstein@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740
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