About Ramah
FAQS
Browse our frequently asked questions at your convenience.
Have a different question? If you can’t find it here, feel free to contact us.
Where is camp and what’s the setting?
Ramah in the Rockies sits on 360 acres of forest and alpine meadows within the Pike and San Isabel National Forests, at an elevation of 8,000 feet. We’re about 90 minutes from Denver, with our final 6 miles on a dirt road.
The property features climbing walls, animal barns, activity spaces such as our art pavilion, and gorgeous streams – all perfect for safe exploration as a camper or guest.
What are the accommodations like?
At base camp, campers stay in large platform tents grouped by age and gender identity. Each tent houses up to 14 campers and 2–3 counselors. All tents include bunk beds and cubbies.
There’s no electricity or running water inside, though hot showers and indoor toilets are just steps away in our central bathhouses.
On masa’ot (backcountry excursions), campers sleep in tents or tarps and either bring their own camping equipment to stay warm on cold mountain nights (as low as 30°F) or borrow our reliable gear from the “packout” shed.
What does a typical day at camp look like?
Camp schedules vary by age group. During days at base camp:
- 3rd–6th graders (Ilanot and Metaylim) rotate through activities with their ohalim (tents).
- 7th–9th graders (Sollelim and Bogrim) choose three anafim (specialty activities) to focus on during their session.
- 10th graders (Sayarim) choose a major–tipus (climbing), ofanayim (biking), or sada’ut (outdoor survival)–where they spend half of their day, and the second half of the day is a combination of backcountry skill-building, Jewish learning, and leadership development.
- 11th graders (JOLI) spend their days in leadership training, developing skills as counselors-in-training, and becoming certified in wilderness first aid. They also get a chance to do some of their favorite anafim, like ofanayim (biking), tipus (climbing), and chava (farm).
Base camp days also include communal meals, free play, and zman edah (age-group time) that deepen campers’ independence, sense of belonging, and connection to nature.
Masa (backcountry excursion) days vary a lot based on the type of masa (e.g. backpacking, biking, climbing, and fishing) though they usually start soon after sunrise and all include cooking, wilderness skills, and Jewish reflection woven into the day, no matter which masa campers are on.
What about meals and snacks?
All meals are kosher and served family-style in the dining hall. Our kitchen prioritizes nutritious and fresh food, including a salad bar at lunch and dinner and fruit at snack times.
Meals last about 45 minutes and are mostly vegetarian, with 1–2 meat or fish options weekly. We accommodate dairy‑free, gluten‑free, and vegan diets, and are careful around nut allergies.
On masa (backcountry excursion), meals are cooked by campers and counselors together using kosher vegetarian ingredients, with alternatives for any campers with dietary restrictions.
What is the policy on electronics?
One of the nicest things about being at camp is the fact that there is no cell service. Stepping away from our normal worlds, personal electronics (phones) are collected on the first day and stored securely until campers leave. Due to challenges with storing larger devices, we ask that campers leave larger devices (iPads, tablets, laptops) at home.
Campers may use e-readers or music-only MP3 players without an internet connection and only while in their tents. Camp is screen-free to encourage connection to community and nature.
What does packing for camp look like?
Campers bring personal gear like a 20°F sleeping bag, waterproof jacket, broken‑in hiking boots, and headlamp. We are able to provide tents, stoves, and communal gear for masa’ot (backcountry excursions). Please check out our packing list for more details on how to best prepare your camper for the summer.
How do campers get there?
We provide shuttles from Denver and Boulder, and staff meet campers flying into Denver International Airport (DEN). Families are also welcome to drop off and pick up their campers at the ranch. Our transportation page has full details about flights, shuttles, arrival, and departure.
What about health and safety?
Our health center is staffed by a registered nurse, and a health care provider (physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) is either on site or available on-call by phone. They administer campers’ routine medications and are able to provide care for common injuries and ailments, whether a camper needs a hug and a bandaid or a strep test and antibiotics.
All counselors and program staff are certified in CPR and first aid at a minimum, and all staff are trained in our comprehensive safety protocols and emergency response procedures, which includes situations like fire, severe weather, wildlife encounters, and unauthorized people entering camp. Prior to each summer season, we meet with representatives from the sheriff’s office and fire department to review and update our protocols and procedures.
Backcountry trips leaving camp always have a staff member with wilderness first responder or EMT certification as well as medication administration training. We have safety protocols specific for masa’ot (backcountry excursions) that are reviewed with staff throughout the summer. Masa’ot always have a means to contact camp and our health center for further support, either by radio, cell phone, or satellite messaging.
How do you support my camper with special needs?
Our counselors are trained to support a wide range of camper needs, with a focus on fostering independence, inclusion, and social-emotional growth. It is important to note that they are not trained to provide a therapeutic level of care. Our Camp Wellness Team is made up of professionals with more extensive experience who are embedded in the edot (age divisions) to work directly with campers and coach their staff on best practices to support campers’ social-emotional and developmental needs. The Camp Wellness Team communicates with families during the session to collaboratively problem-solve and offer extra support when needed.
We strive to create an environment of inclusivity and individualized care; however we may not be the right fit for every single child, especially campers who require one-on-one care, need extensive mobility support, or have major medical or behavioral needs. Visit our inclusion page to explore whether Ramah in the Rockies can provide the accessibility and support your child needs or reach out to our Director of Camp Wellness, Talia Horowitz.
How can I contact my child?
Campers may call home only in emergencies, coordinated through our wellness team. This is to maintain the camp environment (which some lovingly call the “camp bubble”), where we are one community with limited distractions. We have also found that phone calls home make homesickness worse. Parents can send one-way emails through CampMinder, which are printed and distributed daily (except for Shabbat). We know your camper looks forward to sending you notes during camp, and of course, telling you about all of their adventures upon returning home!
How do I know if my child is ready for overnight camp?
No one knows your child like you. Some campers have begged their parents to go to camp for years, while others need more of a gentle push out of the nest so they can fly. There’s no simple equation for readiness, but the following are some helpful signs that your child is ready:
- Excitement about camp: Your child feels generally positive and excited about camp. Occasional anticipatory nervousness about this new experience is expected, but if your child is panicked and highly resistant to going to camp, it may be worth considering waiting a year or two. We find that kids tend to be more successful and happy at camp if they come when they feel ready.
- Successful sleepovers: Your child has managed overnights away from home, like at a friend or relative’s house, or on a school trip.
- Age-appropriate independence: Your child showers independently, tries new and unfamiliar foods, can dress themselves and keep track of their belongings (most of the time), and follows directions, especially related to safety.
- Readiness for adventure: Every camper takes part in a masa (backcountry excursion). Younger campers spend at least two nights camping outdoors, while older campers spend four nights in the backcountry. Masa is a core part of our program, and every camper is expected to participate. It’s fine if they haven’t been camping before. As long as they are open to the challenge, we’ll guide them every step of the way!
How do I know if I (the parent) am ready for my child to go to overnight camp?
We do not take for granted how much trust families are putting in our staff when sending their beloved children into our care. We take this responsibility very seriously. Just as going to overnight camp is a giant leap in independence for campers, it is also a tremendous leap of faith for parents and caregivers. We encourage you to ask yourself the following questions as you consider if this camp is the right fit both for your child and yourself:
- What’s my comfort level with limited contact with and infrequent updates from my child while at camp? Our communication philosophy is “low/no news is good news,” and we ask for your trust that our team will reach out directly if concerns arise. We discourage phone calls between campers and parents except for extenuating circumstances, and we are a screen-free environment. We encourage all campers to handwrite mail, which can take a week or more to arrive on the coasts from our remote location. We post photos twice per week.
- How will I manage my own distress if I hear that my camper is homesick, sad, or having a difficult time? It’s completely normal for campers to feel homesick, sad, nervous, or overwhelmed at times, and equally normal for parents to feel distressed reading about it in a letter. Often, by the time a tearful letter reaches home, your camper has already adjusted and is thriving. Much of the important growth campers experience comes from learning to lean on counselors and friends for support. For this reason, we strongly encourage parents to NOT promise their nervous camper they can come home early if they aren’t happy. This promise, before camp or in a letter, makes it harder for campers to persevere through the normal ups and downs of camp life. Instead, we encourage upbeat, encouraging letters, reminding campers of their resilience and expressing pride in their effort. Our Camp Wellness Team can provide guidance on how to respond to sad letters.
- How comfortable am I with the scrapes, bumps, and sniffles that come with active outdoor living? Our campers are busy, adventurous, and outdoors every day, which means minor cuts, bruises, and colds are common and not cause for concern. In fact, we see muddy shoes and a scraped knee as signs of a day well spent! Our medical staff will always contact families when medical care rises to a significant level (such as fevers above 100.4, an overnight stay in the health center, or an injury requiring outside treatment). If your child has the sniffles for several days but is otherwise happy and fully engaged, you won’t hear from us. We call it “camp crud” – the inevitable cold that passes through when hundreds of people live and play in a close community.
Who works at Ramah in the Rockies?
Approximately half of our staff grew up at camp as campers, while half of our staff joined for the first time as staff members. This creates a wonderful dynamic where we can continue past traditions and also create new ones each summer. Our staff are first and foremost caregivers and role models for our campers. Our staff includes experienced outdoor educators, many with wilderness first responder (WFR) certification, and passionate Jewish leaders who help us build our strong kehillah (community). We provide a WFR course before each summer season, usually held in late May on the ranch.
Most of our staff are Jewish, but that is not a requirement. All staff, however, should have an interest in Judaism and willingness to teach and model Jewish values.
If you are not interested in outdoor-specific programming, we also have roles in chinuch (education), omanut (art), kitchen, maintenance, operations, and more.
What are staff responsibilities for the summer?
Program staff are responsible for guiding campers in outdoor skills, providing robust Jewish learning opportunities, and instilling our core community values. Daily tasks include showing up to t’filot (prayers), helping campers get from place to place, planning and supervising chugim (activities), and gathering campers around song and study for time with their age group or camp-wide activities.
Support staff spend less time working directly with campers but are no less important. They spend their days prepping meals in the kitchen or keeping our facilities in good condition on the maintenance and housekeeping teams.
All staff must be role models for our campers, living our core values, and should be team players, willing to step in wherever needed.
Who is a good fit to work at camp?
We look for staff who are enthusiastic about Jewish life, outdoor leadership, and teamwork. Successful staff mentor campers, model camp values, and contribute to a safe, growth-oriented environment. Staff do not have to be Jewish but should be interested in learning about Judaism and teaching our values based in Jewish tradition.
What's your next adventure?
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Request more info
Get more information about enrolling or registering your camper for the summer.
What happens at camp?
View a sample daily schedule and overall session structure, from base camp to masa!
Jewish life at camp
Explore all Jewish aspects of camp and how campers find meaning in everyday living.