Camper Information & Schedules at Camp Monroe

DAILY SCHEDULE

Summer Camp Schedule

Our activity schedule is based on a six day cycle, A through F day, which repeats itself through the eight weeks. The cycle is punctuated by weekly Special Event days and our special Saturday program and occasionally with rainy days activities. Although our program is quite structured, our carefully planned mix of daily activities and special days keeps the flow of camp continually exciting and active. We take a number of trips during the summer. We participate in some intercamp days with neighboring camps and both host and attend athletic tournaments. Our experience has taught us to create an entirely new calendar schedule every year so each season is fresh and infused with new ideas.

Daily Summer Camp Schedule

Each bunk has a six period day with swims, free play and a scheduled evening activity. Bunks and their counselors travel together to activities which are then run by a qualified instructor. The activities are carefully planned so a group has a good daily variety of our 50 different activities. Senior campers have one elective period a day and junior campers have two afternoon electives per week.

Special Event Days

One day each week is Special Events Day with a unique theme.
College Day, Tribal Day, Olympics, Maccabiah Day, Battle of the Sexes, Big Brother/Little Brother, Big Sister/Little Sister Day, Fourth of July, and Carnival add excitement and a change of pace to each week. Some days are team oriented, some are more individual, some are more competitive, and others just plain fun.

Saturday Program

Our Shabbos or Shabbat begins Friday night with services and a traditional Friday night family dinner, delicious food and spirited singing. Saturday there are optional services and four scheduled activities; sport leagues, individual tournaments, workshops and swim. We have an evening activity which is followed by Havdalah. Campers from all levels of family observance find Saturday at camp an enjoyable, active and special day.

Counselor Reveille	7:25
Camper Reveille-Wash up and Bed Making	7:30
Proceed to Flagpole	7:55
Daily Announcements and Flag Raising	8:00
BREAKFAST	8:15
Bunk Clean up-Administrative Meeting	8:45
Inspection	9:30
First Activity Period	9:45
Second Activity Period	10:40
Third Activity Period, Junior Swim and Senior Elective	11:35
Junior Recall	12:30
JUNIOR LUNCH	12:45
Senior Recall	1:05
SENIOR LUNCH/Junior Rest Hour and All-Star Sign-up	1:15
Junior Rest Hour (Canteen, Letter Writing, Bunk Games)	1:15
Nursery Swim Activities	1:30
Pollution Patrol	2:00
Fourth Activity Period	2:15
Juice Call	3:10
Fifth Activity Period and Senior Swim	3:15
Sixth Activity Period, All-Star Program, Senior Leagues	4:05
Junior Swim	4:20
JUNIOR DINNER	6:00
SENIOR DINNER	6:45
Free Play-Sign up	7:00-8:00
Evening Activity	8:00
Taps and Curfew for Junior Camp	9:20
Senior Camp Canteen	9:00
Senior Camp Curfews	9:30-10:30
Staff Curfew/ All-Camp Lights Out	12:30

ALL-STAR PROGRAM

Campers at Camp Monroe are reaching for the stars. The stars are those given out in the All-Star Skill Level Program. We have two objectives for our All-Star Program. One is to motivate campers to improve their skills at instructional areas. The other objective is to encourage campers to learn about activities with which they are not familiar.
Our instructional areas are organized into four separate skill levels. Each level has a number of skills to be learned. Once the camper masters the skills for a level, the camper is passed and receives a star in that activity. When he or she receives ten stars in any ten, different activities the camper becomes a 1st level Camp Monroe All-Star. Campers participate in the All-Star program during the regular activity schedule and at other specially designated times each day.
All-Stars can be earned in: Archery, Backpacking & Hiking, Basketball, Canoeing, Computers, Dance, Go-Karting, Gymnastics, Hockey, Horseback Riding, Jewish Foundations, Martial Arts, Nature, Orienteering, Performing Arts, Photography, Rocketry, Rope Climbing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball and Water Skiing.

Award system

Camp Monroe’s goal is the growth of a well-rounded personality in each camper. Our emphasis is on improving social, athletic, and interpersonal skills. Our award system stresses SELF-IMPROVEMENT and achievement.

CAMP ACTIVITIES

Adventure Program . All-Star Program . Apache Relay . Archery . Arts & Crafts . Basketball . Boating . Camp Fires . Camp Newspaper . Canoeing . Challah Making . Climbing Wall – 30’ . College Day . Color War . Computers . Cookouts . Dance . Discussion Groups . Elective Program . Evening Activities . Fine Arts . Fishing . Football . Go-Karting . Golf . Gymnastics . Hiking . Hockey . Horseback Riding . Intercamp Tournaments . Israeli Dance . JEM Program . Jewish Activities . Jogging . League Program . Life Saving . Maccabiah Day . Marathon - 2k Run . Midos Development . Movies . Music . Nature . Olympics . Orienteering . Paddleball . Photography . Physical Fitness . Pillo Polo . Ping Pong . Pottery . Professional Entertainers . Racquetball . Radio Station . Rocketry . Ropes/Confidence Course . Saturday Program . Services . Shows . Skating . Soccer . Softball . Special Event Days . Speakers . Speaking Like A Mensch . Swimming . Talent Shows . Tennis . Trips . Universal Gym . Video . Volleyball . Water Polo . Waterskiing . Workshops

ARTS & CRAFTS is a regularly scheduled part of each bunk’s activity program. The expert instructors work individually with the campers at projects which are designed to develop skill and to express creativity. Our director, Louise Silver has made this area a hub of activity. It is a warm, welcome center which is open for use during free time and serves as a resource center during special events.
APPLIQUE • BASKETS • BATIK • CANDLE MAKING • CERAMICS • COLLAGE • COPPER ENAMELING • DOLLS • DRAWING • FIMO • JEWELRY • LANYARDS • LEATHER • MACRAME • MASKS • MOSAICS • PAINTING • PAPER MAKING • PAPIER MACHE • PASTELS • PILLOWS • PRINT MAKING • PUPPETS • PUZZLES • SCULPTURE • SILK SCARVES • SOAP MAKING • STAINED GLASS • STATIONERY • T-SHIRT DESIGN • WALL HANGING • WEAVING • WHEEL THROWING • WOODWORKING • AND MORE

Housed in our new, fully air conditioned GODER CENTER FOR JEWISH ACTIVITIES, the Foundations and JEM (Jewish Ethics & Morals) programs were the scene of many lively discussions on contemporary issues from a Jewish perspective. Helping the elderly, making friends, giving charity, facing bigotry, understanding prayer, dealing with peer pressure and telling the truth were some of the topics explored. The campers are encouraged to express their feelings and questions on these important topics.

PHOTOGRAPHY is a creative, exciting, hands Hon activity run by our professional photographer. Campers shoot pictures with our 35mm SLR cameras and then do their own developing in our darkroom. Or, campers shoot with our digital cameras and work on their pictures in our computerized photo shop.

VIDEO is a very popular group activity. Bunks write their own script, shoot the video, and edit it in our video center.

PING PONG is a very well liked pastime. Our many tables are always busy.

BASKETBALL - 2 Indoor Regulation Courts, 2 Outdoor Regulation Courts with Glass Backboards, 1 Junior Height Dunking Strong Full Court

VOLLEYBALL - Two sand courts, two macadam courts and portable nets available in both gyms have made volleyball a very popular sport. Our professional instructor teaches basic skills to all campers and trains our tournament teams. Volleyball is included in the regular schedule and is a favorite coed activity during free play and on special days.

FISHING is loved by those fishermen and fisherwomen in our camp family. Besides daytime fishing our staunch fishing club members arise at 5:30 am for some early morning angling.

TENNIS - Five all-weather tennis courts offer plenty of available playing time. Our tennis program, run by our Pro, is geared to enable a camper to enjoy playing. A beginner is taught basic strokes, body positioning and strategy. The competitive part of the program teaches advanced skills and is a true character builder. Indoor Tennis and Racquetball are available as a weekly evening activity. Camp Monroe has full weekly use of the entire local indoor club.

NATURE ORIENTEERING CAMPING AND THE NATURE PROGRAM is run by an elementary school teacher and is loved by campers of all ages. Terry Lieber, the nature director, has set up a program which helps campers to enjoy and learn about the outdoors. The program includes units in animal care, hiking, microscope work, Indian lore, and nature crafts. Our farm center with goats, rabbits, lambs and even a llama is a beloved spot for children of all ages.

ORIENTEERING is part of the nature program. Campers learn to read our orienteering map and to use a standard compass to locate controls on a course that changes weekly. This unique and excellent program involves a variety of easily learned outdoor skills.

HOCKEY - Growing in popularity, hockey is played by boys and girls in both of our gyms and in our 2 outdoor rinks. Campers are taught the basic rudiments of the game by our instructor. Hockey is a very competitive part of our Saturday leagues. The highlights of the hockey program are our special hockey tournaments: The Boys Camp Monroe Stanley Cup and The Girls Hertz Classic.

SOFTBALL - Three fields: MAIN DIAMOND - MONROE STADIUM - MAIN HOUSE FIELD. Three games: SOFTBALL - KICKBALL - TENNIS BASEBALL. New clay infields - BATTING CAGE WITH PITCHING MACHINE.

GYMNASTICS AND DANCE - Gymnastics takes place in one of our 2 gyms and is supervised by our gymnastics director. Our equipment includes floor mats, crash mats, vaulting boxes, spring boards, mini-tramp, low and high balance beams. Instruction is given at all levels. The Gymnastic and Dance Team has additional practice time in the late-afternoon, during which they prepare their mid-summer performance for the entire camp.
UNIVERSAL GYM • AEROBICS / STEP AEROBICS • BALANCE BEAMS • FLOOR EXERCISE • HOOPS • JUMP ROPES • RIBBONS • TUMBLING AIDS • VAULTING EQUIPMENT

HORSEBACK RIDING which is part of the regular scheduled program, takes place on our premises and at no extra charge. We have our own stables, riding rinks, beautiful trails and our own twelve horses. Helen Stambaugh, our riding director for over twenty five years, teaches basic riding and also runs a more advanced horsemanship program. Two Horse Shows, with official judges, are offered for campers with special interest in riding.

NINE HOLE MINIATURE GOLF COURSE overlooking our private lake, the Miniature Golf Course is a favorite spot for both campers and staff.

Our COMPUTER CENTER is well equipped with new DELL Pentium 4 computers, color monitors and printers. We have one computer for each camper in each class. From the youngest to the oldest, campers receive instruction in system usage, basic programming, educational software, graphics and game playing.

ROCKETRY is a program that is exploding with excitement. Campers build their rockets during electice sign-up days, all-star program, rest hour and free play and when they are ready, they enter their rocket in our afternoon launch.

GO-KARTING is loved by the campers. We have three go-karts and a large, tire-lined figure 0 track. Everyone is instructed in the fun of riding. Go- Karting is always a big hit on elective sign-up days.

NEW SOCCER FIELD - The growth of soccer as a popular sport in which everyone can participate is evident at camp. We have three soccer fields that are constantly in use for instructional activity, intercamp games, leagues and tournament team practices. Our instructors teach basic skills and coach our various level teams. Boys and girls seem to enjoy this sport equally.

ON STAGE - During the camp season campers have the opportunity to use their talents in a variety of performing arts.
BUNK SKITS • DRAMATICS • KARAOKE • RADIO STATION • TALENT SHOWS • VIDEO PROGRAM • SHOWS

ADVENTURE COURSE AND CLIMBING WALL - Our New 30' Climbing Wall added to our Adventure Course and Super Zip Line is one of the most exciting additions to camp in many years. Campers climbed, balanced, helped each other,built self-esteem and cemented team-building skills.

SPECIAL EVENT DAYS

Great friendships Each week camp is involved in a different one of our many "Special Event Days". Everyone looks forward to these days which add an excitement to the regular program schedule. Color War Color War is always anticipated with great excitement.
It is the most competitive part of the summer and lasts for four days. We have been successful at emphasizing the competition without affording winning the prime motivation. Many good feelings and lasting memories result from the long hours of hard work and creativity that take place during Color War.
And as a reward for everyone’s effort, the morning after Color War is Lazy Day and we serve everyone breakfast in bed.

SATURDAY PROGRAM AND JEWISH ACTIVITIES

Jewish activities are included in the schedule with the goal of increasing knowledge and instilling pride.Jewish ActivitiesCampers attend our weekly Foundations Program, participate in JEM (Jewish Ethics & Morals), learn about Tisha B'av (many even fast) and are entertained by Shlock Rock, Yehuda and Uncle Moishy. Campers become more aware of Shabbos and enjoy this special camp day each week. All senior girl campers get to make challah on Friday morning. Everyone attends Friday night services and partakes in the Friday night dinner and spirited singing. In addition, campers participate in the stimulating and relaxing Saturday program, consisting of Sport Leagues, Tournaments, Workshop / Discussion Groups, Swim and optional services. In addition we have a number of special Shabbos' during the season when we host a visiting rabbi. Rabbi’s Hanoch Teller, Lawrence Hajioff and Laibel Lam are some of the campers' favorites. At the end of Shabbos everyone gathers for Havdalah and the feelings of family are pervasive. Whenever appropriate, campers are captivated listening to Stanley's stories about Jewish traditions and ethics. Some campers chose our optional activities: attending weekday morning or afternoon minyan in the camp shul (Boto), attending Shabbos morning Junior Congregation, joining in the Friday night oneg, or having Bar and Bat mitzvah lessons.

TRIPS

Trips are a special part of our program used to enhance the daily routine with recreational and edcuational outings. Groups are scheduled for those trips which are suitable for their age and interest. Each year our seniors (7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th graders) go on a wonderful three day trip to a different part of the East Coast.
CLASSIC APPALACHIAN TRAIL . BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME . BALTIMORE . BOSTON . BOWLING . CATSKILL GAME FARM . COOPERSTOWNBASEBALL . HALL OF FAME . GREAT ADVENTURE . HERSHEY PARK . HUDSON RIVER BOAT RIDE . ICE HOUSE SKATING . JEWISH HERITAGE MUSEUM . KINGS DOMINION . MEDIEVAL TIMES . MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL . MONTREAL . MOUNTAIN CREEK PARK . MOVIES . NIAGARA FALLS . RYE PLAYLAND . SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN . SUMMER STOCK THEATER . TORONTO . WASHINGTON . WILLIAMSBURG

INTERCAMP TOURNAMENTS

For those campers who wish to participate, we host a variety of invitational tournaments that include teams from neighboring camps. Basketball, hockey, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball are the sports that make up our tournaments for those interested campers.