FAQs

We offer flexible programs to meet your child’s needs. Rookie sessions for new campers in 5th grade and younger are offered for 10 or 14 days. First Session is 4 weeks, Second Session is 3 weeks and a Full Summer at camp is 7 weeks. Please see our Dates & Rates page for specifics.

Yes. At Perlman we are committed to ensuring that no child is denied a Jewish summer experience at Perlman Camp, regardless of a family’s financial need. Visit our Financial Aid page for more information.

Perlman Camp has approximately 200 campers at any one time. We are proud of the close-knit community we are able to create, and love that everyone (campers and staff included) knows each other by first name. Approximately 50% of our campers attend Perlman for the Full Session (7 weeks), and the remaining 50% are evenly divided between those attending First and Second Session.

Perlman’s community is geographically diverse, bringing together campers from up and down the East Coast and other communities. Campers primarily come to Perlman from the Washington DC Metro Area, New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

Our recently renovated bunks accommodate up to 12 campers and 4 counselors. All of our bunks have their own bathrooms, including sinks, toilets, and showers. The beds at camp are wooden bunk beds. Bunks have a “cubby room” where each camper has enough shelves and hanging space to accommodate all of their personal belongings.

We believe in intentionally building community and starting everything off on a high note, so the first day of camp includes a variety of name games, team-building activities, and introductions to get everyone acquainted. Your camper will be welcomed and introduced to his or her counselors and bunkmates upon arriving at camp, and we ensure that bunk bonding occurs and new friends are made by the end of the very first day.

Our counselors are sensitive to the emotions experienced by campers who miss home. It is not unusual, at any age and even for returning campers to miss home, sometimes tremendously for the first few days. They are kept as busy as possible with extra “TLC” to help them through this potentially difficult time and counselors along with the Division Leader will also work with parents (behind the scenes) to help with the camper’s positive adjustment. Often, the best helpers are bunkmates. Everyone is different and we adapt the “cure” to the child. Our success rate is, fortunately, practically 100%.

It is our goal to make sure that each and every child has a positive experience at camp. We know that every child reacts differently to being away from home and our staff is prepared to give each child the individual attention they require. Our social worker is available to help with the adjustment process and talk through appropriate issues. If homesickness becomes so intense that it interferes with the child’s overall camp experience, parents will be notified by a member of our Leadership Team.

Campers select their hobbies on the first day of camp, and each week thereafter. Campers rank their top three choices and find out the following day where they have been placed. Campers may opt to change hobbies after attending the first day if space is available, but fortunately they almost always receive their 1st or 2nd choice!

Summer birthdays are the best! Campers who have their birthday at camp will celebrate with singing and cake in the dining hall after a meal. Parents also have the option to add an additional pizza or ice cream party for their child’s bunk. Our office will contact you about the best time of day to have your child call home so you can wish them a very happy birthday!

Perlman Camp maintains a 4:1 ratio at all times. Typically, our bunks have 3 counselors.

Our staff is one of the most important factors in your child’s camp experience. We have a rigorous staff selection process that is based on candidates’ ability to relate to and care for your child, demonstrated levels of maturity, dependability and responsibility, and a sincere commitment to helping each camper find success at camp. Each potential hire is carefully screened, personally interviewed, and individually evaluated on their ability to serve as a role model for children. Positive references and background checks are required.

The majority of our staff at Perlman are alumni of our program, many of them having participated in our two-year Teen Leadership program. Additional staff join our team from countries including Israel, Australia, England, and more. Counselors must be high-school graduates, though many of our staff return year after year while in college. Our Leadership Team of supervisors are all at least 21 years of age, and many are teachers and parents themselves.

We provide a mandatory week-long, intensive pre-camp staff orientation program that includes training in safety, communication, emergency procedures, behavior management techniques, child abuse prevention, leadership skills, camp expectations and supervision procedures. Special trainings and certifications are also required for many of our activity specialists (i.e. waterfront, archery, outdoor adventure). Throughout the summer, staff are continuously evaluated and provided with feedback to enhance their performance.

The Perlman philosophy of supervision is based on appropriate, full-time supervision at all times. This includes activities, meals, programs, out of camp trips, informal and free time activities. Our staff are the very best in the business, and our selection process is extremely competitive. We demand trustworthiness, enthusiasm, creativity, responsibility, and dependability from our staff.

Every lifeguard on our waterfront staff has been certified by the American Red Cross (or equivalent), and go through a site-specific training in emergency procedures prior to the campers’ arrival. Campers are permitted at the pool or waterfront only when lifeguards are present. Life jackets are required at all times when the campers are at the waterfront, and campers must pass a swim test to be allowed in the deep end of the pool. Campers in the Freshmore Division receive swim instruction at our pool 2-3 times per week.

Perlman Camp operated safely (and COVID-free) in 2021. Our COVID plan for Summer 2022 will build on our best practices from 2021 and take into account the recommendations of experts as it relates to our policies and procedures moving forward. We will share all of our plans with our camp families as we move closer to the summer.

While we hope to keep our campers as healthy as possible, we have an excellent team of health professionals who are available whenever needed. Our Health Center is staffed 24-hours per day by Registered Nurses and a physician. If your child is not feeling well at camp, they will receive excellent care from our team. Parents will be notified if your child stays overnight in our Health Center, or we feel it is necessary to visit an outside clinic or hospital. Parents can also contact our Health Center Administrator throughout the summer with any questions or concerns about their child’s health.

We accommodate campers with a variety of food allergies, intolerances, and special food needs. If your child has special food needs, please contact us to discuss your individual situation.

All camper medications are kept with the nurses and dispensed at meals and before bed. We have partnered with Pack My Rx to ensure campers’ medication is sent to camp in pre-packaged labeled envelopes.

Yes, we are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). Accreditation means that we have undergone a thorough (up to 300 standards) review of our operation – from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. ACA collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that our current practices reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. Visit the ACA webpage for more information about the accreditation process.

The camp office is open every day from 8:00am until 8:00pm for incoming calls. Our office staff will take your message and pass it along to the appropriate member of our Leadership Team. We do our best to return parent phone calls as quickly as possible on the day they are received. We ask you to be aware that our staff spend most of their day outside with campers, and will not always be immediately available. You can also reach your camper’s Division Leader and our Directors via email.

Parents are welcome to send “snail mail” letters to camp for their child. Additionally, you may email your child through your CampInTouch account, which will be printed and delivered to your child with the mail each day. Campers have the option to reply to parent emails on a special form, which will be scanned back to the parent’s account. Phone calls are only permitted in the instance of a camper birthday, or if your child is considering extending their stay at camp.

Perlman Camp is a “screen-free” environment. Camp is one of the only places throughout the year where children can truly “unplug” and spend their time interacting with others rather than their devices. We have found great success in helping our campers spend time outdoors, socializing with one another, and getting a much-needed break from the world of technology.

Find out more about our screen free policy here.

Bus transportation is provided to camp at no additional cost. Buses are available from Rockville, MD, Paramus, NJ, Jericho, NY, and White Plains, NY. Airport pickups are arranged on an individual basis. Campers may also be dropped off directly at camp.

Yes! Please contact us and we would be happy to put you in touch with current Perlman families from your area.