Experience Shabbat in community with other Early Childhood families, and enjoy a weekend of learning, fun-filled activities, and time in nature. This weekend is a great opportunity to connect with old friends and meet new families! 

This year’s retreat theme is BJ@Play. For the kids, this means explicit permission to focus on what they do best. For the adults, we will be embracing our inner child: looking at the world through a lens of joy, curiosity, and wonder, and highlighting the importance of play as holy work that both parents and kids can partake in.

This retreat is targeted at families with kids ages 0-7 but older siblings are welcome to join. 

REGISTRATION

  • Adults: $220 (BJ Member) | $270 (Non-Member)
  • Children 3–13 years: $100 (BJ Member) | $130 (Non-Member)
  • Children ages 2 and under: Free

Transportation between BJ and the retreat is available for a limited number of participants.You can book a seat as part of your registration for $50 per person return.

Register

Registration closes Friday, April 19, at 1:00 PM.

FAQ

What is the camp like?

The camp is absolutely gorgeous. You can take a virtual tour of the camp here. Most of our programs, services, and hangout time are spent on the lawn that is right next to a beautiful lake. The camp also has a pool, hot tub, coffee cart with a barista, and campfires. All of the buildings on campus are clean, nice, and comfortable.

What is the food like?

The food is quite good. The kitchen at the camp takes note of all allergies and dietary restrictions and makes sure there is something for everyone to eat. There is always a kid-friendly option (chicken fingers, mac and cheese, pasta, fruit, etc.). The camp also puts snacks out throughout the day for families to enjoy. These snacks include: chips, fruit plates, brownies, etc.

B’nai Jeshurun adheres to specific laws of kashrut. All meals provided on our trip will be kosher. Any other food or snacks purchased or consumed on the trip must be vegetarian or marked kosher. This includes any snacks or meals brought from home.

What is the schedule like? Are there programs for all ages?

Click here to see the schedule from last year. Yes, there are programs for all ages. We typically split up the children into two groups based on age to make sure they are in age-appropriate programs that are engaging. Additionally, there are also parent-specific programs. Everyone who attends the retreat will be able to participate in programs that are engaging for them.

What is housing like? Where do babies sleep?

Each family gets a private room with a private bathroom attached. Depending on the number of people in your family, we will make sure you have the correct number of beds. Some rooms have queen-sized beds, some have twins, some have bunk beds, and most have some sort of mixture of these types of beds. If you have a baby that still sleeps in a crib, you will need to bring a pack-and-play for them to sleep in.

Is there time for parents to socialize without kids? Are there babysitters?

Yes and yes. There is built-in time in the schedule for parent programs. During these parent programs, your children will be partaking in programming, especially for them, where they will be entertained by babysitters and or staff. Additionally, there is time in the schedule for parent schmoozing at night after the kids are asleep. Babysitters and/or staff will also be watching kids during this time.

What is the weather like in May in Copake, NY?

The average temperatures in Copake in May are 70° / 44°. Last year we were lucky enough to have the sun out the entire weekend. However, there have been other years where it is raining for much of the weekend and we do most of our activities indoors. Please pack for all weather, and check the weather forecast before you go. We will provide a full packing list that will get sent out closer to the retreat.

How to get to Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp?

Most families drive themselves to the camp either with their own car, a rental car, or via carpooling with another Early Childhood family. BJ will provide transportation for a limited number of people at a cost of $50 per person. Information about transportation will be up on the website soon, but in the meantime, feel free to email mkorbey@bj.org if you wish to reserve a spot in the BJ vans.

The camp address is 159 Empire Rd, Copake, NY, 12516. It takes about 2.5 hours to get to the camp from BJ.

What if someone in my family has specific needs (lactation needs, sensory needs, etc.)?

We will do our best to meet all of your needs. Last year, for parents who were breastfeeding and needed access to a fridge, we made sure they were given mini-fridges in their room, or were placed in a room next to a building with a fridge. We also bring our sensory box with us, which has fidget toys, noise-canceling headphones, books, etc. If you have specific questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to mkorbey@bj.org.

What are the Shabbat policies?

B’nai Jeshurun is a Shabbat-observant community, and all trip participants are expected to follow the rules and traditions of Shabbat in public spaces. This includes refraining from the use of all electronics, writing, cooking (e.g. using a toaster), and anything else the staff deems off-limits.

The majority of our retreat will be taking place during Shabbat, so we ask that all technology remain in your room from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Even when it is not Shabbat (Friday during arrival and Sunday morning), we do request that you refrain from using your phone when outside of your room in order to be present with one another and build community.

Is this retreat just for BJ members?

NO! This retreat is open to both members and non-members.