Schedule

Camp days are packed with activities designed to excite and challenge campers of all ages. We follow a traditional camp formula that includes a balance of instructional and free-time activities, structure and individual choice. Late Wake-Up Days, BBQ Dinners, Shabbat Activities, Special Events and Out of Camp Trips add variety to our weekly routine.

Sample Daily Schedule

  • 7:30 Wake-up
  • 8:00 Flag Raising
  • 8:15 Breakfast
  • 9:00 Bunk Clean-up
  • 9:00 Health Call
  • 9:45 Hobby 1
  • 10:45 Activity Period 1
  • 11:45 Activity Period 2
  • 12:45 Lunch
  • 1:30 M'nucha (rest period)
  • 2:25 Activity Period 3
  • 3:25 Activity Period 4
  • 4:25 Hobby 2
  • 5:15 Shower Time
  • 6:00 Flag Lowering
  • 6:15 Dinner
  • 7:00 Health Call
  • 7:00 General Activity
  • 8:00 Evening Activity
  • 9:30 Lights Out

*Lights Out, Extended Evening Activities and Canteen Visits vary by Division.


Hobbies

Perlman Camp offers campers the opportunity to make choices and participate in the activities that they enjoy. Our broad range of exciting options allows campers to explore various interests, strengthen existing talents and discover new skills while developing relationships with campers in other age groups. Activities are geared specifically to small group environments and give campers the opportunity to specialize in specific areas of interest. Because Hobbies are led by our counselors and specialists, selections vary from year to year depending on the talents of our staff. The usual favorites include basketball, mountain biking, woodworking, nature, soccer, ceramics, aerobics, drama, cooking and archery. However, we have been fortunate to be able to offer such things as rock band, climbing wall, magic, campus golf, yearbook and Hebrew! With 2 Hobby Periods and new Hobby selections every 2 weeks, campers can pursue several different areas of interest throughout the summer.


Activity Period

During activity periods, campers travel with their bunks to participate in the wide variety of activities that camp has to offer. Activities are tailored to the age and developmental level of the participants and are designed to encourage campers to explore new interests, develop skills, enhance relationships with peers and appreciate the diversity among them. Each bunk is scheduled for one activity period at the waterfront (pool or lake) each day. Instructional swim at the pool is provided for campers in grades 2-6. Older campers have the option of signing up for our Red Cross Certified Guard Start and Life Guard Training Programs.


General Activity

This supervised 'free time' allows campers to choose from a variety of activities in specifically designated areas of camp. Many campers choose to write letters home, catch up on their summer reading, listen to music or visit with siblings. Others use this period for play rehearsal, athletic tournament practice, finishing a project in art & crafts or playing tennis with friends.


Evening Activity

Each evening, campers enjoy a fun and creative activity planned by our programming and supervisory staff. ‘Camper Choice’ evening programs enhance leadership skills by allowing campers to suggest, choose and assist in planning one evening program each week. A balance of bunk, unit, division and all-camp programs combine to create a summer fun…a lifetime of memories!

Popular evening activities have included:

  • Campstock - our very own all-camp talent show!
  • Gold Rush - an amazing evening of campers in western gear, staff bandits and an amazing race to gather gold and win fabulous prizes!
  • Puttin' On D Hits - a lip synch event like no other!
  • Theme Nights - Monster Makeover, California Livin' and many more!
  • TV Land - Perlman's version of popular game shows and reality programs such as Survivor, Name that Tune, Trading Spaces, and Jeopardy!
  • The Camp Play - a musical production made possible by our dedicated Arts Department and incredibly talented campers who audition for roles, build sets, serve as Stage Crew, create costumes and provide musical accompaniment!

Special Events

In addition to the fantastic activities incorporated into our typical daily schedule, Perlman Camp adds extra excitement each week with Special Events. Special Days add to the quality of our program and create memories for campers that keep them coming back year after year. Professional entertainers and community leaders are invited to camp to share their talents and enhance the scope of our programming. Our Scholar and Artist-in-Residence Weekends have been extremely successful in allowing campers exposure to new ideas and exciting activities.

Although the names and themes may change, campers look forward to these popular all-camp events each summer.

July 4th is a an All-American Celebration at Perlman Camp that begins with a Carnival, complete with rides, a dunk tank, face-painting, popcorn, snow cones, music, games and prizes, and ends with a delicious BBQ dinner and amazing fireworks display!



College Day is a mini color war that is held during first session. The entire camp is divided into fours teams, each representing a school that participated in the NCAA Basketball Final Four competition. Teams show spirit and teamwork as they compete in a variety of activities and events including a tremendous ‘Half-Time Show’!





International Day celebrated the countries that many of our staff call home – Slovakia, Czech Republic, Australia, Colombia, Canada, England, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Russia, Scotland and more! Staff members decorate areas of camp to show their country’s flag, geography, colors and other interesting information. Campers spend the day rotating through stations designed to give them a taste of the rich culture and traditions of each country. In addition to learning about the country’s language, music, art, games and a little history, campers get a taste of each country (literally!) with traditional cookies, cakes and candy baked right here at camp.



Mars vs. Venus is a true ‘Battle of the Sexes’ where boys (dressed in blue) and girls (dressed in pink) spend the day competing in a variety of games and relays. The ‘Battle’ is more fun than fierce with contests of Name That Tune and Perlman Family Feud.



Israel Day gives our Israeli staff the opportunity to share the beauty and culture of their country with campers as they transform camp into a mini-Israel. Campers enjoy traditional Israeli meals, learn Hebrew words, raise the Israeli flag and sing Hatikvah. They spend the day rotating through a variety of activity areas representing life in Israel. In the past, campers have visited sites such as ‘Negev’ where they sat in a Bedouin tent, made mint tea and baked their own pita bread over an open fire and ‘Jerusalem’ where they created their own version of the Western Wall and filled it with notes and wishes. They’ve endured army training in the ‘Golan Heights,’ learned orange picking in the ‘Kibbutz’ and made chocolate ball treats in ‘Tel Aviv.’ Swimming and canoeing formed part of the Aliya Relay in ‘Kineret,’ and in ‘Eilat’ they enjoyed the Club Med lifestyle with water aerobics, diving for spoons, balloons races and games at the pool.


Maccabiah is an intense, 3-day competition that divides campers and staff into 2 teams that compete in a wide variety of athletic, academic, art and spirit events. Each summer, our creative programming staff comes up with a unique overall theme from which team names, symbols, colors, and Judaic themes are derived. The date is kept top secret and campers eagerly anticipate the ‘Break’ where the announcement of themes, officers and teams are met with thunderous cheers. While swimming, track and field, soccer, basketball and hockey make up a portion of the athletic events, campers also compete in less traditional events such as a Puzzle Tournament, Fishing Contest, Board Game Competition, Sand Castle Building Challenge and Coloring Contest. Other favorites include Golf Cart Decorating, Apache Relay, Hatchet Hunt and Staff Triathlon. Perlman Camp tradition calls for participation from everyone in camp including the Kitchen Staff who prepare drinks, mashed potatoes and cakes in team colors. Each year outdoes the next as our campers and staff present their Banners, Plaques, and Alma Maters at The Sing & Maccabiah Finale. This Special Day is always an outstanding display of teamwork, dedication, creativity, sportsmanship and imagination!


Out of Camp Trips

Out of Camp Trips are always a thrill and campers look forward to a variety of special excursions. All of our trips are planned with a high staff to camper ratio, keeping safety, security and age-appropriateness as our top priorities. All-Camp trips take campers to a Water Park during First Session and an Amusement Park during Second Session.

Our older campers look forward to their very own specially planned, overnight excursions! While 9th graders travel to Lake George, 10th graders journey to Toronto and Niagara Falls. The Pioneers’ traditional week-long trip includes tours of several college campuses, visits to tourist attractions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cedar Point Amusement Park and sporting and cultural events such as a Major League Baseball Game or Broadway Production.

A special Visiting Day Trip is planned for our 2-week campers, as well as our 4 & 7-week campers who are without visitors.

Campers go on at least one ‘Overnight’ during their stay at camp. Overnights allow campers the opportunity to practice outdoor living skills while cooking their own dinner and sleeping under the stars. Perlman’s Overnight Camping & Campfire Site is located on camp property to ensure that supplies, shelter and assistance are always nearby in case of inclement weather or medical emergencies.