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In a few short weeks, your children will be arriving at the gates of camp to the smiling faces of their madrichim and fellow chanichim. That moment of anticipation of the summer that lies ahead is, for many campers, the culmination of a year of waiting to be back at their summer home. For many campers, it will be their very first journey through the gates of the machaneh. For all our campers, it represents a new summer and a new beginning. New beginnings hold wonderful excitement and promise, but they can also provoke feelings of worry about the unknown.
For parents of new campers, encourage your children to check out the Camp Ramah Website so that they are visually acquainted with the space and talk to them about the activities and the daily camp schedule. This can help new campers have a sense of what to anticipate, particularly in the first few days. It will also give them a chance to bring up any issues they are worried about so that together you can think through some possible strategies for any moments of sadness or other potential problems they are concerned about. Having these conversations in advance of camp helps new campers to feel prepared and in control. Above all, communicate to your children your firm belief and confidence that they will be successful. Remind them that there is a great support network available at camp and they should let their counsellors know how they are feeling. Our Camper Readiness resource offers even more tips on how to prepare your campers for this summer.
Please be sure to include your children in preparation and packing for camp. Give real thought to what is going in the bags and, perhaps more importantly, what is staying out of those bags. By involving them in the process they will be more comfortable and more likely to utilize what they have. Be sure to consult our 2024 Packing List.
Reminder: Camp Ramah in Canada is a SCREEN-FREE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CAMPERS. Please remember to leave cell/smart phones, iPods, iPads, laptops, and gaming devices of any kind at home. Campers are welcome to have devices that have no screens at camp for listening to music or taking pictures. To read more about this policy, please click here.
For this summer, we are allowing ebook devices as long as they are not enabled with wireless data connectivity.
If there are any issues, please expect a camp director or your child’s yoetzet to reach out directly to you.
During the summer, questions and issues do arise. As your yoatzot; we are here for you to facilitate home/camp communication. If you wish to speak to one of us, please call the camp office to leave a message or send an email. Our contact information is below.
We very much look forward to being with your kids in camp! Happy Packing!
Dr. Jordan Pelc works primarily as an academic hospitalist at Sinai Health in Toronto. He rotates between two campuses, providing acute medical care at the Mount Sinai site, and rehabilitative care at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. He is the Hospital Medicine Director and Medical Informatics Lead for Bridgepoint, as well as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. For years, he also worked as an emergency and primary care physician in rural communities, including some not far from Camp Ramah. Having spent seven years at overnight camp, he is very excited to be a part of the Ramah community along with his wife Miri, a Ramah almuna, and their three daughters.
Dr. Sophie Gottesman is a Family Doctor who is joining the Ramah Care team for her first summer. She graduated Medical school from Technion Institute in Israel and completed a residency in family medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She has since been practicing family medicine in Toronto. Sophie, her husband (a Ramah alumnus), and their 3 children, are very excited to be at camp this summer!
Dr. Laura Waltman is a General Pediatrician who is returning for her 5th summer as a doctor at Camp Ramah. She graduated from the University of Toronto’s Medical School and completed her Pediatric Residency at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and McMaster University. Laura is currently the Chief of Pediatrics at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington and a Consultant pediatrician in Hamilton. She brings expertise in supporting both the physical and mental health of children. Laura and her husband Ari have a deep love for camp and they are very excited for another summer along with their current and future Ramaniks – Max, Nora and Sadie.
Dr. Tanya Wyman is an alumni of Camp Ramah in Canada. She loved being a camper in the 80’s, staff in the 90’s and is now enjoying working as a camp doctor while her four kids are thriving as Ramah campers and staff. She is a family physician with a practice in Toronto, Ontario. She trained at the University of Toronto Medical School. Dr. Wyman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and is on staff at North York General Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She has been the Chair of the Medical Committee for the past 5 years. This is her eleventh summer as a family doctor at Ramah and is so excited to return.
Dr. Rosenberg graduated from Sackler School of Medicine in 2000 and completed his Pediatric Residency and Chief Residency at Schneider Children’s Hospital at North Shore in Manhasset, New York in 2004. He practiced Pediatrics in New York for almost 6 years before moving to Toronto in April 2010 and joined the Vaughan Pediatric Clinic. Dr. Rosenberg is a returning doctor to Camp Ramah.
Chanie is excited to return for her second summer as one of the camp nurses. After being a camper and staff for many years, she felt there would be no better place to take her nursing career and family, than to Ramah for the summer. In Toronto, Chanie works as a Labour and Delivery nurse at North York General Hospital.
Sherri Bavly is excited to be returning to Ramah for her 4th summer as a camp nurse. Sherri is an experienced nurse in the areas of primary care, public health, and community medicine. Her professional clinical experience encompasses working with families and children, from diverse backgrounds, across the lifespan. Sherri completed her undergraduate and graduate nursing education at the University of Toronto. Sherri and her 2 children are looking forward to spending another summer up at camp with their Ramah family and friends!
Ahsher Zeldin is looking forward to returning back to Ramah for his 2nd summer as a camp nurse. Ahsher is an experienced registered nurse in the areas of acute-care, community nursing, and education. Ahsher has experience as a charge nurse in the hospital, supervisor in the community, and clinical instructor for nursing students. His professional practice encompasses working with acute and chronic illnesses across the lifespan. Ahsher completed his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Western University, Nursing degree from University of Toronto, and is currently completing his Masters in Nursing: Clinical Stream at University of Toronto. Ahsher is excited to spend another summer at camp!
Rachael Greenberg is thrilled to be returning to camp this summer! She has attended Camp Ramah in Canada as a camper, counsellor, and Rosh Edah, and now she is so excited to join the team of Yoetzot! Camp has been part of her life since 1995! During the year, Rachael is a Speech-Language Pathologist in the school board. She is a mom to two young kids, Max and Ava.
Jen Kaner-Byrne is excited to be returning to camp for her 5th summer as a yoetzet. She has attended Camp Ramah as a camper, counsellor, specialty staff, Rosh Edah, and Mador trainer. During the year, Jen works as an educator and lead teacher in the public school system. She is a mom of three children, who will all be attending camp this summer!
Shana has been a lifelong Ramanik. She spent 6 wonderful years on staff, married Rosh Tripping and returned as a Yoetzet when her 3 boys were still in the Gan. She loves everything about camp, especially the agam. Shana is a registered nurse specializing in the area of women’s sexual and reproductive health. During the pandemic she started her role as the School Nurse at The York School in midtown Toronto. Shana is thrilled to be returning as a yoetzet this kayitz!
A former camper, counselor and Rosh Edah, Naomi joined the Ramah Canada community in 1985. Naomi has worked as a Social Worker in New York City and Toronto over the last 19 years. Naomi returned to Camp Ramah as a Yoetzet and then as our Camper Care and Intake Coordinator 6 years ago. Naomi has four daughters, and she is thrilled that they love Camp Ramah as much as she always has!
Danna Lieberman is excited to be back for another year as a yoetzet at camp this kayitz! She has attended Camp Ramah in Canada since she was a baby in the gan – her first summer was 1984 as a two month old! Her parents worked at camp in the 1980s, and then she attended as a camper and staff member in the 90s and early 2000s. Danna has been a yoetzet at camp since 2018 and she is looking forward to another great summer. During the year, Danna teaches junior/intermediate students at a school in York Region District School Board. She is a mom to two young kids, Theo and Annie, and an aunt to many Ramah campers!
Adam’s deep connection to Camp Ramah began in the gan when his father was a camp doctor and has continued until today. His passion for working with youth with developmental disabilities was ignited when the Tikvah program was brought to Ramah Canada in 1992 by Rabbi Mitch Cohen and Dr. Mitch Parker. During the year Adam works with children and youth at NYGH’s mental health clinic. He previously spent nine years working with dually diagnosed youth at the Griffin Centre. Casey is a dedicated professional with experience in both educational and community services settings. Casey began her career working with young adults with Developmental Delay and Dual Diagnosis. During the year, she works as a Special Education and Inclusion Consultant with the Toronto District School Board. Together, Casey and Adam have been the Directors of the Tikvah Program for 13 years. They have 3 children who also love their summers at Ramah.