Camp Wellness & Special Needs

Parent Resources

At Ramah in the Rockies, we believe that all Jewish children should be able to experience the transformative experience of Jewish summer camp.

We know that each child has their own mental, emotional, social, and physical needs. That’s why whenever possible, we work closely with families to develop a customized plan to enable their child to succeed in our community.

To inquire about specific support for your child at Ramah in the Rockies, please contact us!

At the same time, we know that there are some children we are not able to serve for a variety of reasons, and we will work with families to find a Jewish summer camp that is suitable for their child.

The Ramah Camping Movement has pioneered the effort of

serving campers with developmental disabilities

The first Ramah Tikvah Program started in 1970 and has been active at Ramah in the Rockies since 2012. What began as a stand-alone unit where campers with disabilities lived in their own tents has since evolved. As of 2017 we have transitioned to a mainstream inclusion model, where we provide a high level of integration and support for young people with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs. All campers are cared for by counselors who are wonderful people and mostly grew up at camp or are emissaries from Israel between the ages of 18-25.

They receive ongoing training starting during staff week and continuing through the summer. While taking care of campers is their primary concern, they are not trained as therapists and do not accompany campers at every moment of the day. Our awareness of the scope of our staff resources informs our decisions regarding which campers we may successfully support and how best to support them.

Prior to the summer

Determine if your child is a good fit:

Your child must be able to:

Engage in activities of daily living (ADLs)
Participate in daily activities at base camp and on extended masa’ot (backcountry excursions)
Hike with a heavy backpack (around ⅓ of bodyweight, can be a little less) for multiple miles
Navigate the mountainous terrain at camp

This program is not a good fit for chalutzim (campers) who have:

Mobility difficulties
Heart problems
Major medical needs
Active or recently active eating disorders
Exhibited self injurious or violent behaviors

Meet with our Camp Wellness Team

Parents of our campers who are neurodiverse will meet with a member of our Camp Wellness team to design a camper success plan for their child. Our goal is to work with parents, teachers, and therapists to learn what kind of support each child requires to succeed at camp.
A Camp Wellness team member will also meet with the child to get to know them and learn more about their goals for the summer as well as any strategies they find useful.

**Our program is not structured for campers who are unable to use the bathroom or shower independently, and our program is not structured to provide one-on-one supervision or support for any camper.

During the Summer

All staff at Ramah in the Rockies will receive additional training to support campers who are neurodivergent.
Campers who are neurodivergent will work with members of the Camp Wellness team to ensure support in areas they need, such as bunk and activity integration, social dynamics, daily transitions, and free time.

We provide a CORE (chill out, relax, and energize) tent at camp which is a space where all campers can go when they need a sensory break or respite from the broader camp community.
We will update families with children who are neurodiverse as needed throughout the summer to share how their child is doing at camp. Our staff will also be in touch if we have any additional questions or concerns.

Note

Ramah in the Rockies is committed to offering the highest level of care for our campers who are neurodiverse and will limit the number of campers in any given session in order to maintain that high level of care. For more information or to be considered for additional support, please contact our Director of Camp Wellness, Talia Horowitz, at:

What's your next adventure?

Choose which page you’d like to explore next…

Request more info

Get more information about enrolling or registering your camper for the summer.

Transportation to camp

Wondering how your child will make it to the ranch next summer? Read up on our modes of transport to get them here safely.

Camp food information

What is food at camp like? Explore our values on nutrition and communal eating.