Opening Day Procedures: Second Session 2024
Kayitz 2024 Second Session Opening Day: Tuesday, July 23.
Table of Contents
Driving to Camp
Our primary goal for Opening Day is to safely welcome our campers upon their arrival to camp. All of our policies are designed to make sure we are focused on welcoming our campers and providing the best possible care as they transition into our camp community.
This section provides detailed instructions for campers arriving on July 23, 2024 for Second Session & Mini Aleph & Mini Amitzim.
We have found that campers’ transition into camp works best when families drop their children off at the front of camp, have a chance to say goodbye and then depart. This allows a clear handoff to our staff, who then can focus on the campers and their experience.
Having assigned time slots for drop off allows for a more efficient process and helps manage traffic around camp. Families will need to sign up for their drop-off time slot using an online portal that will open on Tuesday, July 16th, at 7:00 p.m. (EDT). We will be limiting the number of cars per time slot so that we can safely and efficiently process each car. Time slots will be available on a first come first served basis.
Here is an outline of the process:
- Drop-off time slots will be 1:00pm, 1:20pm, and 1:40pm.
- We will process approx. fifty cars during each 20-minute time slot.
- Upon entering camp, you will be directed to park alongside the road on A-side. Please stay by your cars until a staff member checks you in.
- Campers will say goodbye to their parents by their cars; our counselors and senior staff will be there to welcome the campers and lead them up to the bunk area.
- Activities will then begin and campers will settle into camp. We will begin the day with lunch together as a camp at 2:00pm.
- After your car has been processed, we will facilitate your leaving the parking area in a safe manner.
- Please eat lunch prior to arrival at camp. We will serve snack to all our campers in the afternoon.
Why did we move car drop off to 1 p.m.? We started the camper drop off time for those arriving by car to 1 p.m. because the DC/Maryland bus arrives late in the afternoon and we wanted everyone to start camp close to the same time. This is different from previous years as busing from DC/Maryland is the new normal. Last summer, the campers who arrived by car had several hours of being in camp without the ability to truly start the program, and we don’t want the DC/Maryland campers to feel left out of the start of camp when the bus arrives at 4:00. We feel this is really important so that all campers can adjust to camp more easily; it is especially important for campers who may experience homesickness or uneasiness entering into new situations.
Busing to Camp
Please pack a dairy lunch, water bottle and snacks for your camper(s). Do not pack any peanuts or tree nuts; the buses must be completely nut-free.
There will be bathrooms on the buses.
Campers may bring their phones; they will hand them in to our staff when they arrive at camp.
DC Bus Information
- Location: B’nai Israel Congregation, 6301 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852
- Begin loading buses: 6:30am
- Depart: 7:00am
- Estimated Arrival at Camp: 3:00pm
Flying to Camp
We will send out an updated staff name for unaccompanied minor pick-up approximately one week before opening day. You can then update your airline reservation to include the correct name.
If you haven’t already told Simon Luxemburg that your camper is flying unaccompanied and will need to be picked up at the gate, please let him know.
We will contact you directly with specific pickup instructions in the days right before the flight. If you are flying with your camper, we will let you know where to meet our staff for the shuttle.
We look forward to seeing your campers soon!