Question 1

Who are Mosh's counselors and how are they trained?

Accepted Answer

The vast majority of our counselors grew up at Mosh and are coming back to serve as counselors, in order to create the same magical experience for the next generation of kids. That means we’ve known them for years, know which positions and teams would work best for them, and how to best support them. Counselors who grew up at Mosh went through our leadership programs in high school, including a summer-long counselor-in-training program. Every summer all staff go through a comprehensive 14-day long staff training program.
 
During staff training, counselors learn about and practice the need to take care of the whole child - their physical and emotional wellbeing, and their social and intellectual needs. Counselors go through, among others, sessions on:
CPR and First Aid
Special certifications for lifeguards and waterfront activity leaders
Camper care and supervision
How to support homesick kids
Child development
Guiding positive behavior
Restorative justice practices
Crafting age-appropriate educational experiences

Before the summer, we will call you to learn about your child’s health, hobbies, strengths, difficulties, etc. Information from these forms, as well as from follow-up conversations, will be compiled and discussed with your child’s counselors so that they’re ready to take care of your child and craft their summer experience.

Question 2

What are the sleeping arrangements at camp?

Accepted Answer

Campers are housed by grade and gender identity. Younger campers (grades 3 - 7) sleep in cabins, while older campers (grades 8-12) are housed in platform tents. Though Mosh is designed to be rustic in nature, the cabins and tents are powered with electricity.

We also offer the option of all-gender housing to campers who identify as gender fluid, genderqueer, trans, and allies. Campers are housed according to their gender identity and where they feel most comfortable.

The cabin area and tent area each have their own bathhouses with well lit paths to and from the living spaces. All-gender bathrooms are available at the campers' bathhouse area and in the Marp (health center).

Question 3

How's the food?  Do you accommodate special diets?

Accepted Answer

Kids are active all the time at camp and they get hungry! That’s why we have three meals and two snacks a day. We know how important food is for the well-being of campers and we make sure that it feels homey - comforting and accessible.

Food is kid friendly, and there are always vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. We serve fresh vegetables and/or fruit at every meal.
 
Here’s what one day’s menu at camp looks like:
 
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, cantaloupe, yogurt, cereal, and cottage cheese.
Lunch: Chicken nuggets/vegan nuggets, French fries, sautéed spinach, watermelon, and a salad bar.
Afternoon Snack: Apples.
Dinner: Burrito Bar with refried beans, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, salsa, and a salad bar.
Bedtime Snack: Chocolate cake and milk.
 
If your child is a picky eater (and many kids are), there are always multiple options to replace or supplement the meal. Counselors and kitchen staff will assist them in choosing and prepare their meal. Options for picky eaters may include pasta, a sunbutter and jelly sandwich, or a cheese quesadilla. If you are concerned about your child's discerning palette, please let us know. We will work with you before the summer to make sure that we are aware of their needs and that our pantry is stocked with the food they will eat.
 
The Mosh kitchen is kosher-style, though we are not under the supervision of a mashgiach (kashrut supervisor).  Our meat is hechshered and never served with dairy products. Mosh does not prepare pork or shellfish, or products containing them, and such products are not permitted on camp grounds.

Our kitchen staff is certified and trained to handle food sensitivities and special diets. We work with parents to make sure that special diet menus are varied and contain the dishes and food items that the camper is used to from home. We have experience with and can accommodate gluten-free diets, nut-allergy diets, diets for campers with diabetes, etc.
 
Mosh is completely peanut and sesame free.

Question 4

What is your policy on electronics at camp?

Accepted Answer

Mosh is a screen-free camp experience!

Did you know that American teens spend over 7 ½ hours a day using electronic devices? Camp is a great time to take a break from the screens and connect with new and old friends face to face.

We ask that all electronics remain at home. These devices have a way of getting lost or broken at camp. The only electronics allowed at Mosh are screen-less music players (e.g. iPod shuffles) and digital cameras.

Question 5

How does Mosh welcome diverse campers?

Accepted Answer

Habonim Dror Camp Moshava is a safe space for children to learn and grow. We believe that a thriving community is one that embraces and celebrates diverse identities -- age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nationality, religion, ability, and socioeconomic status.
 
Known in the Jewish camping world as a leader in LGBTQ inclusion, Mosh received the highest rating on the Jewish Organization Equality Index for LGBTQ inclusion in 2012. Mosh was also the first Jewish camp to offer all-gender housing and bathroom options starting in 2017.
 
Our programming seeks to appreciate the value that each camper brings to camp-because of the individual, the community is stronger, because of the community, the individual is stronger. 
 
Our Melavimot (inclusion coordinators) work with parents, campers and staff to make sure we are meeting our campers where they are. Programs like Asepha Klalit (our weekly community meeting) and the gender inclusive Hebrew we use are some of the ways we empower campers to be their truest selves!

Question 6

What medical forms need to be filled out for my child to attend camp?

Accepted Answer

Please view this page for information about  medical care, policies, and forms.

Question 7

How will my child get to camp?

Accepted Answer

Buses are provided to and from camp at the following locations: North Bethesda, Owings Mills, and northern New Jersey. We strongly encourage families who have access to the bus stops to utilize them. Campers who do not may be brought to and taken home from camp. Please indicate on your application how you would like your child to travel to Mosh.

Nitzanimot families should plan to drop off their campers directly at camp. They may be driven home on Visiting Day.

Question 8

What age group will my child be in?

Accepted Answer

Nitzanimot - Entering 3rd grade
Amelim - Entering 4th/5th grade
Chotrimot - Entering 6th/7th grade
Solelimot - Entering 8th grade
Bonimot - Entering 9th grade
Bogrimot - Entering 10th grade
Rising 11th graders may travel to Israel on Habonim Dror North America's MBI program
Madatz (counselors in leadership training) - Entering 12th grade

Question 9

When can we tour camp?

Accepted Answer

Tours of camp are offering in the spring and fall. Please see our Future Campers page to sign up!

Question 10

What sort of communications can I expect to get from camp?

Accepted Answer

The Mosh blog is updated twice a week, and pictures are posted three times a week, when camp is in session.  Both give parents insight into their child's daily activities and connection with the camp community. We also share the camp kef (fun) on both Facebook and Instagram.

Mosh staff are available to talk with parents about their concerns when their child is at camp. Messages are answered within the same day.
 
The most successful camp experiences occur when a child is fully immersed in camp. Therefore, most direct communication with campers will happen in writing, via old-fashioned snail mail. Parents can also send emails, which we print and deliver daily, except on Shabbat.

Question 11

What is your refund policy?

Accepted Answer

All withdrawals made by March 30 will be fully refunded.

If a camper withdraws by April 30, all tuition, except the deposit, will be refunded.

No refunds will be awarded after May 1, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

If you would like to discuss a refund, please be in touch with Abby Cohen at abby@campmosh.org.

We make camp great