Camp Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
Camp Life | Program | Staff | Transportation
Camp Life
What sets Grossman apart from other camps?
There are several reasons why parents send their children to JCC Grossman Camp.
- First and foremost, the Jewish flavor of the camp permeates all of our activities and programs.
- In addition, the experience of the supervisory staff is probably unequalled in any other day camp in New England.
- The location and setting of the camp are unique: we are outdoors, in a natural, protected environment created solely for use as a summer day camp.
- Finally, relative to private day camps, our prices are extremely reasonable, and financial assistance may be available.
What is the camp environment?
JCC Grossman Camp is located on 75 acres of the Hale Reservation in Westwood. We swim in Powisett Pond, and have fishing and boating on the opposite side. Even though Grossman is located in the woods, we generally do not have a mosquito problem. And approximately 80% of the camp is shaded, so even in hot weather campers remain relatively comfortable.
What food is served at camp?
We ask campers to bring a dairy (non-meat) lunch, such as tuna, egg salad,
cheese sandwiches, PBJ sandwiches, pizza, yogurt, etc. All food should be
sent in an insulated bag or with freezer ice packs. Parents are
encouraged to also send a cold drink for lunch.
Water fountains are found all over camp and campers are encouraged to drink frequently.
All food served by the camp is kosher. We provide a snack and cold drink each afternoon. On Fridays, at the Oneg Shabbat, campers are provided a special treat like ice cream and challah. We do not allow children to share food for 2 reasons: to prevent allergic reactions and to make certain that the laws of Kashrut are not compromised for those who are observant.
If your child has a food allergy or other special need it is very important that you make that clear on your child's health and profile forms. In addition, on Visiting Day, you should speak with your child's counselor directly. We will make every effort to accommodate children with special dietary needs.
How does Grossman deal with medical care and emergencies?
Grossman is staffed with 2 registered nurses (RNs) who have many years of combined camp experience, and who dispense medications and deal with food and other allergies, asthma, and other childhood difficulties. They carefully read each health form and camper profile to ensure that each child receives the special medical attention they need. We encourage parents to communicate with the camp to let us know of any special needs their child may have.
How does the camp communicate with parents during the summer?
All parents are invited to Visiting Day, which is held on the Sunday before
the opening day of the camp season. Schedules detailing each Unit’s
activities are sent home weekly, and a bi-weekly newsletter goes home
on alternate Fridays. Both of these documents will also be posted in the
Info for Parents section of our website each week. Counselors are expected
to call at least once or twice each summer to give relevant camper updates;
Waterfront staff members also call the parents of our youngest campers.
Family Night are a wonderful Grossman tradition and are held twice each summer for the younger campers (Carmel, Galil, Negev, Aravah) and once for Kehillah.
Do you have any specific enrollment policies?
We require a minimum enrollment of 2 weeks, but they don't necessarily have to be consecutive weeks. So, for example, your camper can be at Grossman for the first week, take time off, and come for the last three weeks, while the unit and busing arrangements remain the same. Most campers attend an average of 4 to 5 weeks, which is ideal as it helps facilitate progress in swim instruction.
What should my child bring to camp each day?
- Backpack with bus tag attached to the outside of the bag
- Dairy or non-meat lunch with a drink in the lunchbox
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Large ziploc bag with sweatshirt and extra underwear (suggested)
We recommend that the children wear sneakers or other footwear appropriate for outdoor activities and sports. It is always a good idea to apply sunscreen before the children leave home for the day. The camp does have sunscreen and will reapply for the younger campers at your request. Older campers generally prefer to do this themselves.
Program
What is the Jewish content of the camp?
Grossman promotes informal Jewish education. Campers will learn traditions, customs and values of Judaism through example, music, a weekly Oneg Shabbat, weekly themes and special program days. In addition, our younger campers have a period of Jewish culture once a week. The Kehilla unit, designed for children from observant backgrounds, offers a full camp experience with daily prayer and special sessions to study the weekly parsha.
Does my child have to have a strong Jewish background to attend and be successful at Grossman?
Not at all. Grossman is very accepting of all degrees of religious participation. Some Grossman campers come from very observant homes, while others have secular backgrounds or interfaith parents. Often, we have campers who are not of the Jewish faith, but they enjoy learning about our culture, history and values; however, 90% of the campers are Jewish as is 80% of the staff.
What is the swimming program?
Grossman uses the American Red Cross guidelines that designate 7 levels of proficiency. Upon arrival at camp everyone is tested and is placed in an instructional group that reflects his/her demonstrated skill level.
Each camper has a period of instructional swim for 45 minutes each day and there is usually a free swim period every day. Our Waterfront Director, who has been at Grossman for almost 4 decades of summers, oversees a staff of 22 who either have their Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) or Lifeguard certificate. Swimming groups range from 2-8 campers depending on swimming ability.
On occasion, we have some campers who are very reluctant to swim. It is our philosophy not to force campers into the water, but for those who are exceptionally fearful we assign a staff member to work with the camper one-to-one.
Staff
What is the ratio of staff and campers?
For our first graders and kindergarteners, the ratio is 1:5. For all other campers the ratio is 1:10. However, please note there are extra counselors and CITs in many of the younger units; thus the ratio is significantly reduced. We also have specialists in many camp areas, which helps to reduce the counselor/staff ratio even further.
Who are the senior staff members?
Grossman prides itself in having an exceptionally experienced supervisory staff. The Camp Director, Stuart Silverman, has been with Grossman for more than 30 years, and is a guidance counselor at Lexington High School during the winter, Assistant Directors Sue Green and David Wolf, both Jewish educators, have been at camp for more than 20 seasons. Waterfront Director Josh Shapiro, also a teacher, has spent almost 40 summers teaching kids how to swim at Grossman. Many of the other supervisory staff, from Unit Heads to Specialists, have been at camp for multiple years, and include teachers, psychologists and nurses.
How do you recruit counselors and staff?
We have a return rate of between 60%-70% of staff each year. Our junior counselors are juniors and seniors in high school and our senior counselors are college-age and above. Many are recruited from our CIT program, but each counselor is interviewed and 3 references are checked along with the state-mandated CORI and SORI forms every year. Counselors are invited back based on a summer evaluation process.
What kind of training do the counselors receive?
Our staff receives intensive training during a pre-camp orientation and in three in-camp sessions through the summer. If necessary, psychologists are brought in to deal with occasional specific issues such as bullying, child abuse, and age-related behaviors. At the end of the summer each counselor is given a written evaluation that is used to determine whether the staff member will be invited back for the following summer. Parent feedback is always welcome.
Transportation
How does my child get to camp?
You may carpool or drive your child to camp. Alternatively, we bus children from over 37 different communities. In Newton, Brookline and Sharon, the Grossman bus stops within reasonable walking distance of most homes. In outlying communities such as Framingham, Easton, or Natick, we have centralized stops. To shorten the ride for our campers we offer express buses from Acton, the Leventhal-Sidman JCC in Newton, Brookline High School, Cobb Corner in Sharon/Stoughton, and Temple Emunah in Lexington. Please see the JCC Grossman Camp bus route list for more detailed information.
Is there supervision on the buses?
Yes! All counselors are required to ride the bus, with two designated as "bus counselors." It is their responsibility to take attendance going to and coming from camp, and to supervise behavior on the buses. Bus counselors all carry cell phones and call the camp if anything is out of the ordinary.
A young camper is never dropped off in the afternoon unless a parent or other designated adult is present. You may, however, opt to have your child walk home with a permission slip. A delayed parent should call the camp and we will contact the 'bus counselor' by cell phone. The child will be informed that their parent will not be waiting at the bus stop and they will remain on the bus with the counselor.
