FAQs

To aid you in your decision-making process and help answer your questions about the modifications we’re making, we’ve compiled this handy Q&A.

How can I register my child?
Please visit our registration page where you will be able to log in and follow the prompts to register your child[ren], Please make sure to register under the “Camp for Children who are Blind or Have Low Vision”

How can I add weeks to my child’s schedule?
Please email us at camp@jcc-brooklyn.org and we’ll be happy to make any needed changes.

What are the ratios for the Camp?
The ratio of children to staff is 3 campers to 1 counselor per group.

Will the staff be allowed to administer my child’s medication?
No, medications must be given prior to the beginning of the camp day or post-camp. We will not b administering medication during camp.

Where is the camp located?
The JCC Brooklyn Summer Camps utilize our Bay Ridge Campus, located inside the Fort Hamilton Army Base. Our Bay Ridge Campus is a beautiful, gated outdoor facility on a country-like campus featuring green grass fields, an outdoor pool, a private eight-lane bowling alley, a movie theater, basketball courts, an arcade and cafe on site, and so much more.

Will the camp cancel activities on a rainy day?
The beauty of having a 177-acre campus is that our parents don’t need to worry about taking off from work due to a rainy day. Our Bay Ridge Campus offers plenty of indoor space and we can easily transition most activities indoors to continue with our campers’ day. The only caveat is that we might need to cancel swimming as our Olympic size pool is outdoors.

Does the camp offer transportation?
We offer bus stop transportation from various neighborhoods in Brownstone Brooklyn: Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Clinton Hill, North Williamsburg, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Ditmas Park, Greenpoint, Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, etc. All transportation options are Free of Charge for our Camp for Children who are Blind or have Low Vision. Support Staff will be present on the bus to ensure each child’s needs are met.
To view our sample bus stop routes, please visit our Transportation page.

Can I tour the campsite?

Please visit our Tours page to learn more about our tour and information sessions.

How will lunch and food distribution be handled?
Campers bring a nut-free lunch from home and will eat in the same groups with individual eating spaces in a picnic-style group that adheres according to the Department of Health regulations.

Can my child be placed in the same group as their friend?
Absolutely! There are two ways that this could be done. As you fill out the application, please add the friends’ first and last name[s] into the question for “special requests”. If you’ve already submitted the application, just send us the first and last name[s] of the friend[s] and we’ll ensure to group the campers together.  As groups and weeks fill up fast, we will do our best to accommodate these special requests for later registrations.  The earlier you submit your application and request, the better chance you have of ensuring that your child and their friends are grouped together.  Don’t delay!

What will my child need to bring to camp each day?
Every day, we ask for the campers to bring in the following items: nut-free lunch, a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, a swimsuit, and a towel, and wear closed-toe shoes. Please feel free to send your child with a change of close as needed.

What facilities does the JCC Brooklyn Day Camp have?
JCC Brooklyn Summer Day Camp’s location and facilities at the Fort Hamilton Army Base in Bay Ridge offer us 177 acres of usable space, which includes sports fields, two outdoor swimming pools, indoor gyms, a theater, a bowling alley, and bike trails. This amount of space — a rare commodity in Brooklyn — allows us to place campers in groups rotating between indoor and outdoor activities every hour, weather permitting.

Can you please go into detail about your plans for personal protection for campers & staff, sanitization procedures, and medical protocols?

Our top priority remains the safety of our campers and staff. Guidelines are constantly being updated and we will keep families up to date with changes. In 2023, the following applied and will continue unless otherwise noted in future publications:

• Medical forms and COVID-19 waivers are required for each participating camper.
• Sanitizing and hand-washing stations will be located in all classrooms, field spaces, and active usable camp spaces. Bathrooms will be deep-cleaned frequently with personal attendants on duty to provide cleanliness checks.

Please keep in mind that our Camp is run on a beautiful 177-acre campus that allows us to maximize time spent outdoors in our separate cohort model!

How will transportation work?
Morning and afternoon transportation will follow the following format:  Camp families will be provided with a list of pre-determined stop locations to select from if interested in utilizing these services. Please note that our stops have been designed to limit the amount of travel time on each highlighted route.

What is the breakdown of all the activities?

• Swimming
• 360 Scooters
• Tandem Biking and Pedal Carts
• Art
• Inflatable Water Activities
• Air Jumper
• Bowling
• Sports
• Dance
• Theater
• Shows and Performances

Do you provide instructional swimming?
We offer our campers Recreational Swimming, where they will have time to enjoy the water with their group friends and their counselors, feel safer and more comfortable in the water, and have great experiences. We will be offering swim testing dates prior to camp

What are the communication procedures?
Communication has always been a key point for our programs. Families will be sent up-to-date correspondences whenever a relevant piece of information becomes available.  Our office hours prior to the camp season are Monday- Thursday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m, Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m, and Sunday 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Our office hours during the camp season (June 28 – August 25) are Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m, emergency contact emails will be provided for outside of standard business hours.

We’d be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please contact us at camp@jcc-brooklyn.org or 718-407-6377