STAFF
HANDBOOK
The Rebbe on Camp
As usual, the רבי turned the view on summer around.
Generally, summertime is associated with freedom: no schedule or rules; easing through vacation rather than rigid day-to-day life.
The sun shines stronger during the summer. Generally, that’s associated with the warm, free energy of the rays of the sun. The רבי pointed out that everything in גשמיות parallels with רוחניות — on a spiritual level, too, the light is shining brighter. Our נשמה is more revealed, in the spotlight, and we don’t need to focus on the גשמיות schedule and rules and rigid day-to-day life. The summer is an opportunity for a איד to be busy with נשמה matters exclusively! And if we can, we must.
During the summer, as the sun shines, the trees, flowers, and grass receive the nutrients to grow. And it’s time for us to grow, too. So we use the time to work on our own, personal רוחניות growth, and then we pass it on to others to do the same.
“There are no extra days or hours. Each person was given the exact amount of time that he needs to accomplish his true purpose. Therefore, any moment that is not utilized is an irretrievable loss…” [שיחה of the רבי]
The time of summer is part of the time we were given for our mission in this world. We may have a different schedule, but we can never be without תורה. To the contrary, we must utilize the spare time to learn; we must add שיעורים and inspire others to add in תורה and עבודה.
After the רבי gave over this שיחה, Rabbi Sholom Spalter was asked to come to be a staff member in CGI Montreal. He had just returned from two years of שליחות in Australia. He wrote to the רבי to ask if he should go or stay in 770, sure the רבי would tell him to stay, as he hadn’t been in 770 for so long. To his surprise, the רבי responded that he should indeed go to camp.
"Even the vacation days… have an intention and objective: to renew strength and to increase (our) perseverance to enable us to carry on (or, for those only starting, to begin) learning תורה and a כשר חינוך with יראת שמים, with even more energy and devotion.”
In a letter where a staff member wrote about his summer, the רבי responded, “Did you learn yourself? And write a דו"ח about it?”
So while you’re a staff member in camp, doting after the precious נשמות in your care, don’t forget about your own personal growth and learning. To hold yourself to a higher standard in order to influence your campers.
Our Promise to You
Let’s be clear: our number one first and foremost is our staff. We are here for you. We support you, we’re here to help you in any way we can. We offer guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear to you because you are so important to us.
Being a staff member in the position of giving is hard. We recognize that, appreciate it, and are here to help you make it as smooth as possible. You’re not on your own at CGI United. You have the רבי’s ברכות, extra כוחות, and אי”ה our support to help you maximize the summer both for yourself and the campers.
That being said, besides the support, guidance, and help, we’re also here to appreciate you. You will see as the days go by that we’ve been thinking about you and preparing for you long before camp started, with treats, gifts, and programs made especially for you to enjoy.
Being a Dugma Chaya
Our staff members at CGI United make a priority of being a Dugma Chaya. They recognize that the campers all want to be like them and therefore make sure their behavior is always fitting for the campers to imitate. Below are CGI United’s standards for dress and media so you can take full precautions that you’re coming with the right idea.
Dress Code
We are excited to debut daily camp shirts for all campers and staff this summer. We will provide 8 shirts per staff member. Wearing the camp shirt is mandatory every day besides for Shabbos.
This is a big one. Staff must dress in accordance with the following dress code. It’s known that clothing makes a big impression, and in camp, you want to look cute and feel comfortable. In CGI United, the cutest, most comfortable clothing, look like this:
- Shirts cover the collarbone and elbows fully without tugging. Keyholes are closed properly.
- Skirts cover the knees fully while sitting and dancing, with no slits or openings even below the knee.
- Clothing isn’t tight or form-fitting.
- No part of the leg showing at any time.
- Legs should be fully covered at all times.
- Nightwear is completely Tznius.
- Shabbosdike clothing is worn on Shabbos, giving extra honor to our queen.
- One-piece bathing suits at the pool.
- No nail polish is allowed.
- The latest trends in fashion are unnecessary. You are the trend in camp.
Media
Don’t bring any non-Jewish media to camp. This includes books, magazines, and anything that can make its way onto a phone like music, movies, shows, or celebrity social media. You get the drift. Only Jews and Jewish things.
Also, for legal reasons, please do not post photos of camp on any social media platforms.
Music
When playing music for the camp as a whole, we have a Lubavitcher Niggun-only policy.
When in the bunkhouse or a smaller group setting, there is a set playlist of non-niggunim.
When singing songs together with other staff members and/or campers, only Jewish tunes and lyrics are acceptable.
Electronics
You all are coming to camp to have and give a good time. You’re also coming with a phone, which has a track record of taking people away from being present at a given moment. You’ll want to use it to keep in touch with your family and friends, take pictures, and do whatever else. Remember that first, you are in camp, and it is your time to be present in the experience. We all know how good it feels to be unplugged and free of the compelling draw of our phones.
For that reason, we will be collecting all phones daily, to be returned only after all campers are sleeping.
Even if you aren’t on duty with an activity, use the time to chat with other staff/campers, take a nap, or have some alone time sans phone.
It is not acceptable to have a phone out around campers whatsoever and is considered a serious violation in camp policy.
To assist with the various uses a phone would otherwise serve:
We will have a camp camera circulating to take those pictures for you.
MP3s will be loaded and available with all the music you can play in your bunkhouses, with speakers to go with them.
Your Ruchnius
We value our staff’s רוחניות and will be offering two שיעורים weekly — one on שבת and one during the week — that we require our staff to attend. We will also hold farbrengens on special days in camp for our staff.
Dates:
We have a special staff orientation and training program a day before camp starts. All staff members are required to be there.
There will also be a special staff banquet on the last day of camp after all the campers leave so we can fully appreciate each staff member.
Transportation
Training starts a day before camp! We can’t wait to welcome you into the beautiful grounds of CGI United.
A special bus will be bringing staff up to camp from Crown Heights.
If you’re traveling in from out of state, it’s best to arrange arrival to Crown Heights so you can join us on the bus and not miss a second.
If that won’t work for you, be in touch to arrange a way for you to get to camp.
Make sure to fill out the transportation form so we know when to expect you!
For the way back: we will provide bussing to Crown Heights.
Camp will reimburse up to $100 toward your transportation to camp. You must place the request in the transportation form in time in order to receive this reimbursement.
Forms
Please log in to your portal and make sure that all your forms are completed and your contract is signed.
Visitors
The optimal camp experience is undisturbed by outside visitors. For some, visitation can severely affect their camp experience.
The camp rule that no visitors are allowed applies to our staff members too. Exceptions are made for unique circumstances, like health reasons.
For safety reasons, any visit requires preauthorization. Unauthorized visitors will be turned away.
Leaving camp
Our general policy is that we do not allow staff members to leave camp. Directors will discuss unique situations such as:
Simcha of an immediate family member
Chv”sh the opposite, of a family member
Camp will not take responsibility for transportation.
Sleep
A sufficient amount of rest daily allows you to fulfill your responsibilities to their fullest extent. This means that staff members should not stay up till all hours of the night when they need to be doing their job the next day with energy.
Damage
If camp property is damaged deliberately or vandalized in any way, we ask to be reimbursed for the replacement or repair costs. We value the respect of the property; our staff are our partners in keeping the grounds presentable and pleasant.
Additionally, there will be some areas in camp that are off-limits to both staff and campers. We will be vigilant about making sure that those areas aren’t trespassed.
Canteen
All staff members receive a complimentary $20 in canteen. If a staff member would like to spend more, she has the option to either fill her account with cash or have the cost deducted from her paycheck at the end of the summer.
Health and Safety
The first thing we care about is that you are is healthy and safe.
If C”V at any point there is a medical situation:
Our camp nurse is in touch with both Dr. Rosen and our local doctor for consultation
Both directors are trained and certified in first aid
Local 911 services are close by
Chai Urgent Care is ten minutes away
A hospital is twenty-five minutes away
Camp Nurse
If a staff member doesn’t feel good or is concerned about something, she can visit the nurse during her hours to discuss her symptoms and receive whatever treatment she needs.
Medications
If you are going to have to be taking medication while in camp, please let us know in advance. If necessary, the nurse will call you to understand your needs. We will keep all information about medications private and confidential.
If you need basic, over-the-counter medication like painkillers or antihistamines, the nurse has it for you. Please do not give any medications to any campers without the nurse’s instruction and permission.
Medical Insurance
Every staff member must have medical insurance in order to come to camp. If C”V there’s an emergency and she needs to see a doctor, health insurance is imperative.
Check to make sure that your insurance covers out-of-state medical expenses if you don’t live in Pennsylvania. If it doesn’t, please make sure to get a plan that will cover any expenses. Travelers insurance is easy and cheap to get.
If any medical expenses are paid by camp on behalf of the staff member, the parent/guardian is required to reimburse camp.
Other Treatment
If a staff member requires any other treatment during camp, e.g. dental or orthodontic work, the parent/guardian can pick her up and bring her to the treatment, bringing her back when she is finished.
Urgent Care/Hospital Visits
If there is an emergency, camp will consult with our local doctor and decide if she should be brought to the local urgent care, local hospital, or go to a hospital in New York. The parent/guardian will be notified.
If a staff member needs to be hospitalized for a prolonged stay, responsibility will be transferred to the parent/guardian.
Allergies
If you have any type of allergies we must be informed about them before camp. Please fill out the relevant information in your medical form.
We cannot take responsibility for anaphylactic allergies.
- Lactose Intolerance/Dairy Allergy
- Camp has almond, soy, and rice milk available
- Any dairy meals will have a dairy-free option
- Regretfully, we cannot take responsibility for a dairy allergy and therefore will not be able to accept campers with anaphylactic dairy allergies
- Celiac/Gluten and Wheat Allergy
- We will have a full menu for those who need gluten-free food that has been kept separate from any gluten products
- The gluten-free food will need to be requested from the camper’s waitress
- Sesame
- If applicable, we will have sesame-free options available
- Nuts
- Unfortunately, camp will not be able to be nut-free. Camp cannot take responsibility for anaphylactic nut allergies.
For the campers who require food substitutions, there is a $90 fee to cover the added expense. Additionally, the kitchen staff will be working hard to ensure that the separate menu is both appetizing and safe for those who need it. A tip of $100 per child will be collected to show appreciation to those responsible for the extra effort.
Staff Training
Staff training will be invaluable and bring us all on the same page when in camp. You can expect to be trained on:
How to be a great staff member
Personal Ruchnius growth and being a Dugma Chaya
Looking out for the emotional and mental health of yourself and the campers
During the training, we will ask you to give your utmost attention to everything shared.
Staff Meetings
Staff meetings happen on various levels.
All meetings are intended to help staff members do their job and we ask that you come with full participation. If at any time, an additional meeting is needed, we are here for you and will gladly accommodate.