June 15, ’20
Dear Romimu Family,
I hope all is well.
As you must have all heard, Governor Cuomo has not approved overnight camp for this summer. We have been lobbying and fighting for the camps in Albany for over two months – unfortunately without success. We are still pursuing one final course of action. More on that below.
We will, IYH, have the most exciting and exhilarating camp program ever this summer in the most beautiful camp in the world right here in Monticello, New York. Our campers are looking to rejoin with their special camp friends and our amazing staff is psyched to make this the best summer! The only difference will be that the boys will go home at the end of the day. They will even be assigned to their own bunkhouses. The program will be 6 days a week and end after an exciting night activity and maariv. We will be arranging busing. To be assured busing, you must apply and request busing by this Friday, June 19th.
Boruch Hashem, as word has gone out about our extended day camp program, there has been an outpouring of interest. We expect full registration in all age groups (Pre1A – 11th grades).
If you do not apply by this Friday, we will automatically process a refund. The refund will include all payments made – we will not even deduct the credit card processing fees that we incurred. Keep in mind that there will be many hundreds of checks that we will need to send out, so it may take a week or two (the payment will be made by US mail or electronic check mailed by a service). If you do NOT want a refund, please let us know and we will apply your credit to next summer.
To register for this new and exciting program, you must reapply online. To apply please go to www.romimu.com/apply. All your information is currently on the website. Just choose which day camp trip(s) you wish to apply for. Any payments that you have already made will be applied to the day camp fees. Please note that the price does not include trips. Also, the payments are not refundable.
Is the fight over?
We are continuing the battle by pursuing legal options. If we are successful, we will be thrilled to run our regular amazing overnight camp program as soon as reasonably possible.
Staff
All staff will be able to sleep on campus. Please text Rabbi Kuessous 917-692-1255 to let him know you are onboard. Please realize that because of all the change and uncertainty, your job may change from the original job offer. We certainly hope to accommodate all of our staff members. Staff members do not need to reapply, but must be in touch with Rabbi Kuessous.
What if I was already registered for day camp?
You will need to re-register. The program and the pricing are completely different.
What about day camp for Pre-1A – 2nd grade
We will have a modified program. The boys will arrive at the same time as everyone else, but will leave at 4:15 PM. There will be no day camp for this age group on Sunday. The cost of this program is $2,200 plus transportation. Please apply regularly and allow the system to add the full amount ($3,500). We will then adjust the camp fee and payments manually.
Thank you so much for your continued trust! I am looking forward to greeting your son in camp personally in the near future.
Rabbi Shlomo Pfeiffer
Not a word in this letter talks about the safety of the campers and staff. It’s all about money. Their priorities are clear.
A non-profit day camp that decided not to open said:
“We have come to the decision that for the summer of 2020, we cannot open camp and day care in a manner that can assure the safety of our staff and children. We believe that there are too many unknown and ever changing risks to open safely. Once again, the safety and well-being of your children is, and will always be, our primary concern and was paramount in this painful decision-making process.”
Safety is not mentioned because its not an issue.
Daycamps, which are allowed, come along with many potential health risks.
Sleepaway camps are able to be much more safe than staying home.
I am sure before posting your comment you saw the guidelines Rabbi Pfeiffer wrote up together with the most prominent infectious disease experts in the country. They were planning on creating a bubble in camp with nobody coming into or leaving campus. All kids and staff would be tested for Covid and Antibodies before camp. No field trips or intercamps either.
Without camps, these kids will be running all over town egetting exposed and then exposing all the adults they come in contact with. In daycamps they are going home every night bringing home whatever they came in contact with that day.
This is besides the minimal risk of Covid in children in the first place. They were planning on only accepting kids from the NY NJ area. Most were exposed to Covid and either had it, or have little risk to get it. This is besides the mental and spiritual dangers of kids being home for another two months.
The banning of only sleepaway camps, after allowing daycamps has n I thing to do with health. It’s all politics.
Rabbi Pfeiffer is a very special person. His tip priority is to do whatever is better for the children.