Contacting camp: We encourage you to contact us via telephone or email if you have any questions. We answer the phones from 8 am–10 pm EST – 412-697-3550. If you leave a message, we will return your call within 12 hours. Use this “open call policy” to help answer your questions about how your child is doing.

Emails: During camp, we send families two emails a week.

Our CampMinder.com enables parents to view camp photos, send email, and purchase care packages

We are lucky to have a large enough campus that we can welcome all of our campers via parent drop-off and pick-up at Camp. For our opening days, campers will be assigned arrival periods of time, where parents can drop them off – and give a nice good-bye hug before their camper joins their cabin group. On closing day, we open up the entire camp for parents to walk around and see what their camper has been up to over their time at Camp. For our longer sessions, this includes a BBQ that can be enjoyed by the entire family! The details and logistics, pertaining to your camper are shared as we get closer to Camp.

Your child will get plenty of wholesome, well prepared food. All food served at EKC is prepared in accordance with the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut (kosher). We do not mix milk and meat; we distinguish our silverware, plates, etc., between meat and dairy meals; and we never serve non-kosher foods.
EKC employs a professional food service company to handle our meal service. Menus are prepared in cooperation with a nutrition consultant. We attempt to balance good nutrition with institutional cooking needs and popular food that campers enjoy eating.

Meals include daily breakfast, lunch, dinner and an afternoon snack and evening dessert/snacks. Fruit and water are available 24 hours a day in the chadar ochel (dining hall). Most meals are served family-style with staff helping campers choose their own portions.

A salad bar, peanut butter and jelly, fresh fruit, plain noodles and an alternative vegetarian entrée are available at every meal. If your child has special dietary needs or food allergies, EKC is well equipped to handle all dietary allergies and special dietary needs. We are prepared for a variety of diets including vegetarian, gluten free, diabetics and lactose intolerant as well as other allergy restrictions.

We have a separate gluten-free kitchen and serving window to accommodate gluten-free campers. EKC is peanut free with the exception of peanut butter and jelly stations that are separate from the camper seating areas. Sun butter is also available.

Please contact us prior to camp if your child has serious food restrictions or allergies so we can prepare for their needs.

We create a supportive and enjoyable Jewish environment that promotes Jewish identity, continuity and community. We enhance Jewish learning through meaningful cultural activities in our camp rituals and traditions, including:

• Shabbat
• Singing and dancing
• Ruach (spirit)
• Judaica/Jewish art
• Use of Hebrew words in daily schedule, activities and programs
• Prayer
• Kesher (connection) to Israel and Israeli culture

Living Jewishly at EKC encompasses values rooted in our Jewish heritage, which set the tone for daily life at camp and inspire children, staff, parents and alumni. Examples of the values we instill are kovod (respect), derekh eretz (appropriate behavior) rachmanut (compassion), tzedakah (righteousness), gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) and hachnasat orchim (hospitality to guests). EKC provides campers with a connection to Israel. Israeli shlichim (emissaries) as well as Israeli campers are part of EKC.

In 2007, EKC became the first overnight camp in the JCC movement to develop a leadership and experiential Israel seminar for all Counselors in Training. Our goal is for every staff member at Emma Kaufmann Camp to have had a significant Israel experience. The camp community welcomes Shabbat with spirit and song. On Fridays, the camp day ends an hour earlier than normal to give campers time to clean their bunks and prepare for Shabbat. Friday evening begins with our song-leaders playing music as the camp walks together to the outdoor amphitheater. Campers are dressed in white as a reminder of the purity of Shabbat. After services, dinner begins with the lighting of the candles, kiddush (prayer over wine) and prayer over the challah. A traditional Shabbat meal starts with EKC’s famous matzah balls, challah, and a chicken or brisket entree. At the conclusion of dinner, EKC’s song-leaders lead the camp in a spirited song session.

Saturday morning begins with a “lazy” breakfast where campers and staff can get something to eat any time between 8:00 and 9:45 am. Services follow and include songs, dramatic presentations of the Torah portion and traditional prayers.

Saturday activities have a relaxed focus and are based on a theme. Activities on Saturdays also include swimming, sports and general relaxation. After dinner we have our Shabbat Concert, where campers and staff perform “live” on stage—performances range from singing, dancing, and other skits and “shticks.” Following Shabbat Concert is a brief all-camp havdallah service signaling the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the new week.

We are happy to provide your child with the opportunity to continue preparing for their B’nai Mitzvah at Camp.  We are able to provide quiet practice space and the ability to connect remotely to a tutor back home.  We encourage you to connect with us if this is of interest for you.