We hope you and your family are healthy, safe and doing your best to be thankful for all the great blessings in our lives.
We are very grateful for your continued interest in FLJDC, and for the ongoing support from parents and staff who are always encouraging us with kind words and positive actions. This helps us pass the positivity back to our community.
We have been spending a lot of time communicating with other camps, and going through preliminary guidance from health and government organizations, as well as the American Camp Association, adjusting group sizes, schedules and activities, securing equipment for cleaning, sanitizing and planning events in the attempt to make camp safe for the many families and children that are depending on FLJDC this summer.
With the governor’s announcement that camps can open on July 6, (which came much later than anticipated), we can confirm that we will be unable to open camp as scheduled on June 29. This is, of course, a disappointment, and now as we continue to wait for a final set of guidelines and information from health and government officials, we are forced to continue to wait and hold off on setting camp dates, and confirming a great program for this summer.
In addition, we just learned of some new challenges with regard to some vital camp infrastructure that may not be available for the days that camp may operate in 2020.
All these factors are forcing us to suspend regular camp operations for the summer of 2020. Though that is disappointing to many of us, we have committed to only opening camp if we can do so safely, reliably and with a quality program. We have heard from so many people that children, staff and parents “need camp,” and if we can open in a way that we feel is safe and appropriate for our community, we will do so. But unfortunately this is looking more and more unlikely.
We are all eager for and are in need of stability for us and our children. At FLJDC we realize that at this point it’s asking a lot to ask you for more time to finalize the summer, and up until now we did not want to look back later and think that we could have opened safely for a great summer, and so we’re so grateful for your patience thus far.
At this point we feel that continuing to wait and try to open a regular program, and moreover asking families to wait, is unfair and is becoming less likely to contribute to a positive outcome.
We have therefore decided to suspend the regular 2020 season of FLJDC and offer a great alternative which is safe and reliable, which allows us to give you confirmed dates and a solid program, so that you can plan your summer. This alternative also allows us to continue work on camp programs and activities which make the best of the current situation and create a wonderful summer experience for our children.
We are happy to offer you the opportunity of joining JewishMiniCamps which will run July 20 - August 21, offering only half day options 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm, Monday - Friday. Serving boys and girls grades K - 6.
This will take place at our year round synagogue location in Fair Lawn which will be outfitted and modified to properly host JewishMiniCamps.
Activities will include a range of outdoor and air conditioned indoor sports, crafts, arts, STEM and games.
All activities will be held on location, there will not be any offsite trips or swimming.
Snacks and water will be provided daily.
Full time EMT on staff.
Full time armed security present during all camp hours.
JewishMiniCamps will offer small group activities, led by counselors, overseen by a team leader and a director.
This alternative to regular camp is safe and reliable, and will give kids and families the closest thing to normalcy that can currently be offered.
Kids and parents can expect the same level of safe, quality service, a fun program and reliable organization, as well as lots of fun, social interaction and theme days, in a non-judgmental Jewish environment.
At JewishMiniCamps, Kids will continue to benefit from the strong bonds created between staff and campers, as well as new friendships that are created every summer at FLJDC, and Jewish camp spirit that has become such an important part of summer for all FLJDC families.
We will keep all the relevant safety guidelines currently proposed and implemented, any that will be released going forward, and stay current with guideline updates, as things continue to improve in our country and community.
Kids will be placed in small groups of 10 kids or less. No mixing of kids between groups. Kids will be grouped by age, and participate in age appropriate activities.
We will be improving hygiene protocols, and increase disinfection of spaces and surfaces, and reduce shared equipment and supplies.
Daily health screening before kids enter (if necessary at that point.)
This alternative is the 2020 version of FLJDC and thus benefits from all the great things that FLJDC has to offer with only the limitations that current circumstances have on us all.
We are accredited by the American Camp Association, are a licensed Day Camp by the State of NJ, are fully insured, and have been approved to operate for the 2020 season.
You can expect the same level of quality at JewishMiniCamps that you have come to expect at FLJDC.
Enrollment will open shortly and will first be available to current camp families and Partners in Pride, and then on a first come first serve basis to our community.
Staff applications continue online.
With best wishes for health and safety in all matters.
