Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What are your enrollment policies?
At Grossman, we require a minimum enrollment of 2 weeks, but they don't necessarily have to be consecutive. Most campers attend an average of 4-5 weeks. Our enrollment is very flexible, in that you can, for example, come for the first 2 weeks, take time off, and come for the last three weeks, while the bunking and busing arrangements remain the same. Especially for our youngest campers, it is ideal if you can register for at least 4 weeks, as that will help ensure progress in swim instruction.

2. How does my child get to camp?
We bus children from over 37 different communities in three different ways depending on location. In some communities like Newton, Brookline and Sharon we have neighborhood pickup, where the bus picks up within walking distance to your house. In the outlying communities such as Framingham, Easton, or Natick we have centralized stops where all campers are bused from one central location. To shorten the ride for our campers we also offer Express buses from Acton, Leventhal-Sidman JCC in Newton, Brookline High School, Cobb Corner in Sharon/Stoughton, and Temple Emunah in Lexington. Please refer to the transportation section for more detailed information.

3. Is there supervision on the buses?
Yes! All of our counselors are required to ride the bus, with two counselors designated as "bus counselors". It is their responsibility to take attendance going to and coming from camp. A young camper is never dropped off in the afternoon unless a parent or other designated adult is present. You may, however, opt to have your child walk home with a permission slip. Bus counselors also supervise behavior on the buses. They all carry cell phones and call the camp if anything is out of the ordinary. On occasion parents, on their way to pick up their child, may be delayed. They can call the camp and we will contact the 'bus counselor' so the child can be informed that their parent will not be waiting at the bus stop and that they will remain on the bus with the counselor. We are very careful in making sure that all campers are properly supervised at all times.

4. What is the ratio of staff and campers?
For our 1st graders and kindergarteners, the ratio is 1/5. For all other campers the ratio is 1/10. However, please note there are extra counselors and CITs in many of the younger units, thus the ratio is significantly reduced. We also have specialists in many camp areas, which helps to reduce the counselor/staff ratio even further.

5. Where do you get your counselors and how old are they?
We have a return rate of between 60%-70% of staff each year. Our junior counselors are juniors and seniors in high school and our senior counselors are college-age and above. Many are recruited from our C.I.T. program, but each counselor is interviewed and 3 references are checked along with the state mandated CORI and SORI forms every year. Counselors are invited back based on a summer evaluation process.

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6. What kind of training do the counselors receive?
Our staff receives intensive training sessions during Orientation before camp begins. In addition to our normal camp issues and Senior Staff training, psychologists are brought in to deal with other issues as bullying, child abuse, and age-related behaviors. During the summer, there are three more sessions where counselors receive ongoing education. At the end of the summer each counselor is given a written evaluation that is used to determine whether the staff member will be invited back for the following summer. Parent feedback is always welcome.

7. Who are the Senior Supervisory Staff?
Grossman prides itself in having an exceptionally experienced Supervisory Staff. The Grossman Camp Director, Stuart Silverman, a guidance counselor at Lexington High School during the winter, has been with Grossman for 30 years. The two Assistant Directors, Sue Green and David Wolf, both Jewish Educators, have been at camp for over 20 seasons. Our Waterfront Director, Josh Shapiro, also a teacher, has spent almost 40 summers teaching kids how to swim at Grossman. Many of the other Supervisory Staff, from Unit Heads to Specialists have been at camp for multiple years, and include teachers, psychologists and nurses.

8. Can you talk about the length of a typical camp day?
Buses arrive at camp between 8:45 abd 9:15 while campers are getting settled in their Units, and going over their daily schedule. The first of eight 40-minute periods begins about 9:30 AM, with 5-10 minutes in between the periods. The last period ends around 3:40 PM, and we begin to load the buses at 3:45 PM. After attendance is taken on each bus, the buses are normally ready to leave camp by 4 P.M.

9. Is medical treatment available on the premises?
Grossman is staffed with two Registered Nurses who have combined almost 20 years of camp experience. They carefully read each health form and camper profile to ensure that each child receives the special medical attention they need. The camp medical staff has a great deal of experience with dispensing medications, dealing with food and other allergies, asthma, and other childhood difficulties. We encourage parents to communicate with the camp to let us know of any special needs their child may have.

10. How does the camp communicate with parents during the summer?
All parents are invited to Visiting Day the Sunday before theopening day of the camp season . In addition, schedules are sent home weekly detailing the activities that each Unit will have. There are also two Family Nights when parents are invited to come visit the camp ( Carmel - Aravah campers).Golan campers have one Family night as they transition in the second month to an overnight.There is also a bi-weekly newsletter that goes home on alternate Fridays. Also, counselors are expected to call home at least once or twice each summer to give relevant camper updates to parents. For our youngest children, the Waterfront Staff will also be calling home. If you want to visit the camp, you may make an appointment for any Friday at 11:00 am during the season.

11. What is the Jewish content of the camp?
JCC Grossman Camp promotes informal Jewish Education. Campers will learn traditions, customs and values of Judaism through example, music, a weekly oneg Shabbat, special program days and weekly themes.
We also have a special Orthodox Unit for those children who attend the more traditional Jewish Day School. In the Kehilla Unit, our counselors help daven every day and have special learning sessions during the week to study the weekly parsha.

12. Does my child have to have a strong Jewish background to attend and be successful at Grossman?
NO! We have campers from all kinds of varied backgrounds. Some campers come from extremely observant homes, while others may have a secular background or interfaith parents. Grossman prides itself on being very accepting of all degrees of religious participation. Often, we have campers who are not of the Jewish faith, but they enjoy learning about our culture, history and values. Please understand that 90% of the campers are Jewish as is 80% of the staff.

13. Can you talk about your swimming program?
Every camper is tested when s/he arrives at camp and is put into a Red Cross level instructional group that reflects his/her skills. Our Waterfront Director, who has been at Grossman for 37 summers, oversees a staff of 22 who either have their WSI or Lifeguard training certificate. Swimming groups range from 2-8 campers depending on swimming ability. On occasion, we have some campers who are very reluctant to swim. It is our philosophy not to force campers into the water, however for those who are exceptionally fearful we do assign a staff member to work with the camper one-to-one. Grossman uses the American Red Cross guidelines that designate 7 levels of proficiency. Every camper has Instructional Swim for 45 minutes each day and there is usually a free swim period every day.

For a more detailed description of each Red Cross level and its requirements, go to the Groups and Activites pages, and scroll down the page.

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14. Can you talk about lunch and other food at camp?
We ask all campers to bring a dairy lunch (non-meat). Many campers will bring tuna, egg salad, cheese sandwiches, PBJ sandwiches, pizza, yogurt, etc. All food should be kept cool with an insulated bag or freezer ice packs. Parents are encouraged to also send a cold drink for lunch. The camp will provide a snack and cold drink each afternoon. Water fountains are found all over camp and kids are frequently encouraged to drink. On Fridays, for the Oneg Shabbat, campers are provided a special treat like ice cream and challah. All food served at the camp is kosher. We do not allow children to share food for two reasons; first, to prevent allergic reactions and second, to make sure that the Laws of Kashrut are not compromised for those who are observant. If your child has a food allergy it is very important that you make that clear on your child's health and profile forms. In addition, on Visiting Day, you should speak with your child's counselor directly. We will make every effort to accommodate children with special dietary needs.

15. Can you describe the camp environment?
Grossman Camp is located on 75 acres of the Hale Reservation in Westwood. We swim in Powisett Pond, and have fishing and boating on the opposite side. Since Grossman is located in the woods, we generally do not have a mosquito problem. Approximately 80% of the camp is shaded, thus even in hot weather campers remain relatively comfortable.

16. What sets Grossman apart from other camps?
There are several reasons why parents send their children to Grossman Camp. First, and foremost, the Jewish flavor of the camp permeates all of our activities and programs. Second, the experience of the supervisory staff is probably unequalled in any other day camp in New England--staff members return year after year. Third, the location and setting of the camp is unique. We are outdoors, in the woods in a natural, protected environment. We are not a school and the facility was created only for use as a summer day camp. Fourth, the range and depth of the activities at Grossman are unparalleled. Finally, relative to private day camps, our prices are extremely reasonable, and financial assistance may be available.

 

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