by Talia Horowitz, Director of Camp Wellness

When campers and staff talk about the “camp bubble,” it’s a loving acknowledgement of the intense and immersive experience of being held together in a protective membrane apart from the rest of the world. It’s within the “camp bubble” that real magic can happen; where young people get to explore who they really are and want to be. The norms and rules in the bubble are often different from those in school and at home based on its very nature. And one of those “bubble rules” that we hold very dear at Ramah in the Rockies is Radical Inclusion.

Radical Inclusion means living our values of k’sharim (connections), tzimcha ishit (personal development), kavod (respect), and simcha (joy) with young people from diverse backgrounds. We have chalutzim (campers) and tzevet (staff) who come from different countries, different socio-economic backgrounds, different practices of and relationships with religion. Our camp is built around a kind of joyous Judaism that aims to pull in chalutzim and tzevet with very little Jewish educational background and more observant folks with extensive exposure to Jewish practice. We are guided by a deep love for members of our kehilla kedosha (holy community) who are also part of the LGBTQ+ community. We honor pronouns and have conversations exploring gender identity, especially within a Jewish context. We welcome a diversity of political opinions and encourage thoughtful, exploratory conversations based in mutual respect, curiosity, and chesed (kindness).

Our hope for 2025 is to once again create a sacred “camp bubble” where every young person can feel safe, supported, challenged to grow, and a deep sense of belonging.

Radical Inclusion means offering individualized support for neurodivergent chalutzim and those with greater social-emotional or mental health needs. We do this through customized support plans developed and implemented by our highly-trained Camp Wellness Team in collaboration with families. We offer strategies for regulating emotions, navigating challenging peer dynamics, and safely taking space when needed. We train our tzevet on managing difficult behaviors, communicating compassionately and clearly, and trying to recognize when a struggling camper is presenting a “can’t” vs. a “won’t.”

Radical Inclusion means acknowledgement that ALL children have needs, especially when they are far from the comforts of home. Many of the tools and supports that are offered individually to higher needs campers are available to all campers, including noise-cancelling headphones in the chadar ochel (dining hall), options for quiet spaces during raucous song sessions, printed daily schedules, and availability of the “Chill Out, Relax & Energize Tent” where sensory needs can be more easily met. Campers don’t need a diagnosis or support plan to meet individually with a member of the Camp Wellness Team. We also train our tzevet on using strategies that benefit all chalutzim, like providing visual aids for instructions, checklists for morning and bedtime routines, and use of restorative practices and collaborative problem solving when campers’ needs conflict.

Indeed, our camp philosophy of “challenge by choice” encourages campers to identify their individual goals for how they want to grow – be it rock climbing to the summit or putting on tefillin for the first time. Campers are not in competition with each other; rather, they are striving for their own personal best. 

We are always learning how we can create a more inclusive environment for chalutzim and tzevet with disabilities, and we recognize that our physical terrain and remote location remain a barrier for some folks with different physical or medical needs. We make mistakes and are trying to shine light into our blind spots. Still, our hope for 2025 is to once again create a sacred “camp bubble” where every young person can feel safe, supported, challenged to grow, and a deep sense of belonging.

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