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Who are we?
Who is Camp Ben Frankel affiliated with?
We are a K’lal Yisrael (All of Israel) camp open to Jews of all backgrounds.
Our camp is kosher and observe the Shabbat. Our campers, approximately
100 each summer, come from a range of religious observances. Our campers
come from all backgrounds (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Community),
we have a large number of campers who attend synagogue or community religious
schools. Our goal is to build a community from these diverse backgrounds
and each and every camper finds a place at Camp Ben Frankel that is comfortable
for them. Some families come from more rural settings and find Camp Ben
Frankel offers their child a strong Jewish base that lasts them from summer
to summer! Click here to read about our camp
philosophy.
Where do Camp Ben Frankel campers come from?
Our largest draw is in the Southern Illinois area. We have quite a number
from the St. Louis area (we provide bus transportation to/from St. Louis),
and the Kansas City area. In addition to those locations, we attract campers
from several other states in the U.S.
Where is the camp located?
We are in southern Illinois, 10 miles south of Carbondale Illinois. If
you are driving to camp on a weekend or Friday afternoon allow extra time
due to traffic. Click here for driving instructions.
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Jewish Experience
How does camp deal with t'fillot (prayers) for kids from diverse backgrounds?
Camp has a general egalitarian services available to our campers. T’fillot
are camper led with input from our staff including our teachers.
What is the Jewish educational program at Camp Ben Frankel?
Camp Ben Frankel was established as an educational Hebrew speaking Bar/Bat-Mitzvah
camp in 1949. Primarily designed for children soon to be a Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
The camp remains educational and although it is no longer Hebrew speaking,
we make announcements using Hebrew words, refer to buildings and activities
in Hebrew. In addition, the campers take a Hebrew/Judaism class daily
with our professional teaching staff. Each summer we have a theme that
is woven into the fabric of the camp. We boast of our wonderful warm Shabbat
atmosphere and strong Israeli programming (led by Israeli Scouts). Camp
Ben Frankel also teaches some Yiddish by teaching them songs in Yiddish.
Is tutoring available?
We offer the following tutoring: bar/bat mitzvah lessons, and Hebrew language.
You will need to request that we arrange lessons with a teacher. If you
just want someone to listen to your child in preparation for their upcoming
Bar/Bat Mitzvah, we can also arrange for that as well. There is no fee
for tutoring.
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Communication
How will I be able to communicate with my child while he/she is at camp? Parents are encouraged to write letters to their camper. Mail is delivered and sorted on a daily basis during the week. Over the years we have found that when parents show up to camp to visit or call their camper on the phone, they make their camper feel homesick. Other campers whose parents do not call or visit may also become angry or homesick. Therefore, IT IS OUR POLICY THAT PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT OR PHONE THEIR CAMPERS DURING CAMP. LIKEWISE, CAMPERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING CELL PHONES. Any cell phones sent with campers will be confiscated and held until the end of camp. We welcome parents to come the first day of camp to drop off their camper and see the camp facility. Parents are allowed to drop their child off on the first day and pick them up on the last day.
Can I call my child while they are at camp?
Most children adjust very quickly to being away from home. For some campers
the adjustment is longer and a bit more difficult than for others. Speaking
with parents while at camp can create a situation where children miss
home and need to go through their adjustment all over again. Email or
regular mail is highly encouraged on your part and the campers must write
home twice weekly. The campers may not email or call home.
Can I stop by and visit while I am in the area?
No. Parents are not allowed to just stop in to camp. For the same reason
that we don’t allow phone calls, parent visits can be incredibly
disruptive to the campers and the camp program. Please do not stop by
when in the neighborhood.
How can I see what is going on at camp during the summer?
Check out the blog section of our website. It will be updated regularly
with pictures and news from the staff. You will receive the password on
opening day.
Is there a way to know how my child is doing at camp?
Yes! Every week we will be posting blogs and pictures from your childrens
activities. We make every effort to keep these postings up to date and
informative. Campers are also required to write home twice a week however,
many campers write very little of substance in their letters but basically
the old adage that no news is good news holds here. If you have any concerns
or questions regarding your child please email us at campbenfrankel@gmail.com.
Also, please feel free to call the camp office at 618-975-2416 anytime.
Is there anything else concerning communication I should know about?
Yes. Our head staff all use email on a regular basis. The head boys and
girls counselors are accessible by email and will return an email back
to you within 24 hours.
To email the Head counselor
for your child click here.
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Camper Registration and Camp Visits
How do I register for camp and when?
Registration for new families begins in mid November. Call the camp office
618-975-2416 or email us at campbenfrankel@gmail.com
if you would like us to send you a registration packet.
Am I guaranteed a space at Camp Ben Frankel?
Unfortunately the answer is no. Camp Ben Frankel is a very popular camp
with a limited enrollment of approximately 100 campers. Anyone who does
not get into camp is put on a waiting list.
Is Scholarship available for camp?
Camp Ben Frankel has a scholarship program to help ensure that camp is
available to families regardless of ability to pay. If you would like
to see more information on scholarships, please
click here. If you would like to help campers who are requesting scholarship,
you can contact me by clicking here
to make a donation to our scholarship fund.
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Food at Camp
Is the food kosher?
Yes. Camp Ben Frankel keeps a kosher kitchen with different dishes for
dairy and meat. We do not allow anyone to bring in outside food. To help
ensure a healthy environment and maintain a kosher camp, we open all packages
prior to delivery and confiscate food, candy, and any “contraband”.
Is the food really as good as we hear?
The food is great. We bring a Chef in from Israel that oversees all meals.
Our kitchen staff listens to the desires of our campers, watches what
they like and dislike and considers the needs of kids both from a taste
and nutritional perspective. For the occasional picky eater, we always
have a salad bar with many tasty ingredients, lots of fresh fruit and
vegetables, and a vegetarian choice at all meat meals. And fresh fruit
is always available for snacks.
Is it true that you don’t allow food to be sent to camp?
It’s true! We provide nutritious meals with great desserts, snacks
during the day, trips to our canteen to get candy, soda etc, and we have
parties for every camper's birthday. We don’t allow food as it attracts
critters to the bunks (since we are in the woods).
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Miscellaneous
Can my child choose his/ her activities?
Yes. As part of the application process each camper has the opportunity
to choose activities that interest him/her. Activities are assigned by
the program director on a first come, first serve basis when forms are
turned in.
Can campers pick their cabin?
All campers of the same grade are grouped together. There is only one
cabin per age group. In rare instances the number of campers may exceed
the number of beds in the cabin, in which case the campers will be split
into separate physical cabins but still be considered one cabin group.
Additionally, depending on group sizes, grades may be combined for living
purposes into one physical cabin. The sub-groupings of large grade groups
or combinations of grades into one cabin are made based upon a combination
of considerations including age proximity, friends, and special needs.
Cabins are assigned by the program director in consultation with the camp
director and are based upon number of campers in a cabin and space available.
Do I need to pack enough clothes for all four weeks?
No. Camp laundry will be done once halfway through the camp season. If
a camper needs emergency laundry, camp will do it for him/her and then
bill the parents. Otherwise, the laundry fee is included in your camp
tuition. For a suggested packing list, please refer to the parents manual
available for download from the form page.
Why do we need to send so many towels to camp?
Believe it or not, the kids can go through them. They use even more towels
in a wet summer. The towels don’t have a chance to dry out so fast
in the wet weather. If we knew that we would always have beautiful dry
sunny weather we would recommend less towels, but it’s the Midwest
and the weather is unpredictable.
Does my child need to bring any money to camp?
No. There will be no activities or programs for which your camper will
need money. Additionally, campers are prohibited from purchasing food
and drinks when off the camp grounds. However, campers do have the option
of purchasing merchandise from traveling guests (i.e., purchasing a CD
or t-shirt from a visiting musical group) so they may want to bring a
small amount of money for this purpose.
Can my child bring their Game Boy to camp? How about an iPod?
Yes…. However, camp can be a good place to get away from attachment
to video games and television. Please consider that although some kids
do bring video games, many leave them home. There are lots of appropriate
board games and card games that encourage the kids to play with each other
instead of playing with the screen. iPods that play only songs are allowed.
We don't allow any devices that play videos or that can communicate with
other devices. This includes playstation portables (PSP). Please Note:
We are not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen electronic devices.
They are brought and used at the child's own risk.
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