Frequently Asked Questions

As one experienced camp director noted, “We have few homesick children, but we have homesick parents by the dozens.”
© American Camping Association

Sending a child to camp can be scary! Here are answers to a few commonly-asked questions. Please feel free to send us an e-mail if you have a question that is not answered here.

What kind of supervision will my child have at Camp Wise?
Every camper lives in cabin with 8 to 12 campers and 2 to 4 staff members. Our counselors and specialists are all certified in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR, and all go through an intensive week-long staff training seminar prior to camp. The counselor selection process is competitive, and all counselors must submit an application with references and have an in-depth interview and background check. Our counselors range in age from entering 12th grade through entering senior year of college.

Several cabins comprise a village, and each village has a Village Supervisor. Village Supervisors are members of Head Staff, who each come with years of camp counselor experience and additional leadership and supervisory experience and training.

Each program area of camp is led by an excellent, well-trained specialist, many of whom work outside of camp in their specialty area, as professional Jewish educators, environmental educators, artists, sports coaches, or actors. Our Pool and Lake staff are all American Red Cross certified lifeguards, and participate in a rigorous water safety training program at camp. Our Ropes Course, Climbing Tower and Horseback staff are also appropriately trained and certified.

What happens if my child gets sick at camp?
Our infirmary is staffed 24-hours-a-day with registered nurses. Volunteer doctors are always either on-site or on call. We are within a few minutes of a complete network of health care providers. If your child is not feeling well at camp you can be confident that he or she will be receiving comforting, excellent, professional care and attention.

You WILL be notified if: Your child has been in the infirmary for more than 24 hours, your child is placed on prescription medication, or your child has been taken to an out-of-camp doctor, emergency room, or hospital.

You will NOT be notified if: Your child spends less than 24 hours in the infirmary, your child receives a routine diagnosis and treatment, which could include cuts, colds, bug bites, stomach aches, sore throats or headaches.

What if my child has special dietary needs or food allergies?
We do our best at Camp Wise to accommodate campers with special dietary needs or food allergies. Please contact Camp Wise Director Jodi Sperling prior to camp if your child has serious food restrictions or allergies so that we can prepare for their needs. We provide lactaid, soy milk, and vegetarian meal options at every meal.

How does my child get to and from Camp Wise?
Transportation is provided for all Cleveland-area campers to and from the Mandel JCC in Beachwood. We believe camp begins on the bus, and our bus counselors immediately engage campers in games, songs, and cheers, so when the campers step off the bus they’re already feeling comfortable and safe. Transportation for campers from other communities is arranged based on that community’s camper numbers. More detailed information for our Toledo, Akron/Canton, Youngstown, Dayton, and Columbus campers is sent out each spring.

What if I am unable to afford Camp Wise this summer, but I value the importance of overnight camp for my child?
We offer several payment plans for families that would like to spread their payments out over the course of the year. Additionally, limited scholarship dollars are available for members of the Cleveland Jewish Community Center. Non-members and out-of-town families are welcome to contact the Camp Wise office for more information regarding other resources for financial assistance.

Can my child request bunkmates?
Once registered for camp, you will receive a Parent Handbook and several forms, including a bunk request form. Your child will be allowed to request a friend to bunk with. While we do our best to grant one request for each camper, we cannot guarantee this, and mutual requests always get priority. Please remember that one of our goals at Camp Wise is for every camper to make new friends and break down social cliques – therefore, we try to avoid cabins consisting entirely of children from one school or synagogue. We do not grant requests to be with campers in other villages. If we are not able to accommodate any of your child’s requests you will receive a phone call prior to your child’s arrival at camp.

What’s the best way to keep in touch with my child?
Write letters! We strongly recommend this form of communication, because opening an envelope is still much more exciting than just reading an e-mail! Write as often as you want. In fact, we even recommend mailing a letter or two before your child leaves home so that it is there when he or she arrives at Camp Wise. The American Camping Association recommends that you keep letters upbeat and ask specific questions about your child’s favorite activities, cabin life, and friends. Although you may want to keep your child informed on what’s going on back home, don’t go into great detail as your child may feel like they are missing out. Also, letters or e-mails are not an appropriate means of letting your child know bad news, such as a sick relative or pet.

You may also send faxes or e-mails to your child that will be distributed with the mail each day.

Campers are encouraged to write letters often, and several times a week campers must turn in a letter home to receive canteen. Campers are not allowed to send e-mails or faxes, or make telephone calls from camp.

We’re going to be driving by Chardon next week. Can we just stop by to give our camper a hug?
Camp Wise has a strict No Visiting policy. As much as we love our Camp Wise friends and family, visitors are disruptive to the camp program. In addition, visitors coming and going decreases our ability to provide a secure and safe environment for your children. If you would like to see our facilities, please go to the  events page to learn about our spring Camp Wise Open House, where you will be able to meet some of our staff and have a tour of camp.

My child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah is in the fall. Can they receive tutoring at Camp Wise?
Yes! At Camp Wise we have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring program available. We will set your child up with one of our staff members trained in tutoring, and they will work together throughout the session to make sure your child is ready for their big day! This must be arranged prior to the summer, so please contact our office for more information. All materials should be sent with your child to camp.

My child will be at camp for his or her birthday. What does Camp Wise do to make it special?
Birthday celebrations at camp are AWESOME! Counselors go all out to make sure the day is special for your child, and camp honors each birthday boy or girl with a special cake and celebration. We recommend that you celebrate your child’s birthday with them before or after camp, but if you would like to send them something special you are welcome to send any non-food gifts to our camp office for your child’s special day. Birthday packages should be addressed to "Your Child's Name -- Birthday Package."

Can I send my child packages to camp?
After input from many of our camp families, we no longer accept packages at Camp Wise. All packages will be returned to the sender. We only allow flat, non-padded envelopes (maximum size is 8.5" x 11"). If your child forgets a necessary camp item, you can address the package to "Camp Office-- Forgotten Item" and clearly mark inside the package your camper's name. Our office staff will open the package and make sure your child receives the item. As mentioned above, non-food birthday packages are still permitted and should be addressed to "Your Child's Name -- Birthday Package."

What is canteen?
Canteen is our “camp store.” Every day campers can choose one snack from the canteen. This is included in the camp fees and has no additional fee.