By Mendel
This is not my first year as a staff member in a Camp Gan Israel, so when the summer started, I knew exactly what I am expecting and I went with a good attitude. So far, it has been an incredible summer.
Now, let me be honest: It’s not the easiest thing to be a counselor for 12 boys for two full months.
During camp, we the counselors are your child’s parents. That means we wake him up in the morning with a smile, we make sure he has what he needs, we make sure he is clean, we make sure he is eating 3 times a day. If that includes cutting the pieces of the chicken or pouring juice, we do that too.
We coach him during sports, help him with games, make sure the laundry is done and if he needs to schlep the dirty linen, we do that. The list literally goes on and one. I short, we are your child’s summer mother and father.
And when it goes tough, we remind ourselves that what we’re doing is the Rebbe’s holy work and changing children’s lives forever. We go to have to have fun but also because it’s a shlichus.
I know parents pay a lot to send their children to camp, but I would like to ask that they show a little appreciation to your son’s counselors this month. Even if there’s no visiting day or if you can’t make it to visiting day, you can still do it.
You have our cell phone number through which you call and text us. Use the same number to ask for our CashApp or PayPal account to send a tip and show us appreciation.
Thank you,
A dedicated counselor
because you received a salary. However big or small, you chose to work for that salary.
Cant compare that to a boy who gives up the chance to work for a salary.
I don’t have any kids that are counselors this year. And thus don’t have much personal interest or gain..
But it’s normal to tip something. Weather it’s $ 50, or 100 per counselor, or less. Something is better than nothing.
Thank you to all parents who show any type of appreciation to your child’s counselors! (even just a tiny card) It is very much appreciated.
Less trips ??? The kids will be bored there is a little trips as it is
How about a crowd funding system such as charidy , match it etc and every parent could give as much as they feel they could afford or desire to give. They could label it in a comment to whom money should go.
Am I the only one with this thought? As a parent who struggles to pay tuition throughout the year and then for camp, I would actually rather prefer that camp provide fewer trips, less expensive costs, and have lower tuition. Is that a crazy thought? Honestly, there must be ways to cut the cost of camp. And the idea that counselor must spend their own money at canteen for the campers – that is insane. When I was a learning teacher at camp 20-plus years ago, I surely did not do it, and I don’t think other learning teachers did… Read more »
I personally witnessed campers who’s parents tipped the counselors getting treated better then the other kids in the same bunk who’s parents didn’t tip
First of all alot of staff don’t have phones second of all alot of calling don’t have service so send an email thru the camp and I’m sure the staff member would love to get back to you
along with the necessary costs (airline tickets, tuition, etc) this is on the list. Besides for showing hakaros hatov, this is for yourself, as a mensch, to show appreciation to someone who is taking care of your child.
Agree, and hatzlacha with your shlichus!
Working in a camp is not a “real” job. That is not to say that staff members do not work hard. I am sure they do work hard. However working in a camp for most staff is not a money making endevore. There is also way too much looking at what some one else has or is making. Lets remember the lesson of Bikurim. “Vesamachtah bechol hatov asher nosan lecho hashem elokech” (and you shal rejoyce in everything that GD has given you). In other words give thanks for what g-d has given YOU. And yes that includes showing gratitude.… Read more »
We paid $2500 for less than 4 weeks (1 month officially). Times 200 campers = $500,000. Then they do boys 2nd month! How can they not pay the 20 counselors $1000 each? Open up the books…
#1 I think it’s proper to tip. #2 Those (especially in the comments) loudly kvetching and demanding tips (don’t send your kids to camp if you don’t believe in tipping etc) sound like the type of personality that will (in 10 years) be loudly kvetching and demanding tuition prices need to be lower for school (and no school is allowed to reject a child because of money). #3 Pretty much everything laid out regarding the work hours and dedication versus the terrible pay etc, can all apply to any out of town (dormitory) Mesivta or girls high school. The Hanhala… Read more »
If u show hakoras hatoiv to ur childrens counsellors & learning counselors and waiters ur poshut showing an example of mentshlichekeit to your children!!
I agree but…. the camp never gave me you cell phone number, only your name. I have emailed you and gotten no response about how my son is doing. I gave you my phone number and asked that you send me a whats app if it was easier. Never got a response. Make me excited to tip you!! Make me want to tip you!
as a bochur I think
parents need to make a living to support their family
counselors don’t need to support anyone and they get food and shelter from the camp so all you need to do is to show your appreciation to them.
The bottom line is, while we’re all sweating our fingertips off writing these comments, the staff members are sweating their tucheses off giving your kids a great summer.
All this pontificating doesn’t help them one bit.
So, just do the right thing
As was mentioned, tipping is never mandatory especially here where parents are paying very high tuition, but it would be nice of those that can afford it, no one is trying to pressure anyone Chas vesholom.
Ps counselors do have a lot of work and they do it as volunteers
Seems to me that camps are overcharging and underpaying their staff. COL, please draw this articles comments to camp directors attention. If they don’t read the feedback, no one will show them, as a community service, COLLIVE should also be directing useful information to the community leaders including community members thoughts and concerns.
For the sake of parents are counselor to treat your son well get a good tip because the counselor has that in mind the entire summer
First of all the proof is in the pudding that the ROI on running a camp stinks, hence, though population is growing people don’t wish to open up camps accordingly.
Second of all, You cheapos can be accepted to be treated like dirt when you age and are admitted to hospitals and/or nursing homes because your kids won’t take good care of their nursing/hospital staff because they were trained by you to treat staff like dirt, thus we all know the staff not shown appreciation respond in kind to the patients in their care.
if they went to camp for money, then stupid for them, they are going to have fun, do the rebbes shlichus etc. parents cant afford tips, THE DIRECTER NEEDS TO PAY MORE, but don’t get me wrong, the directer honors the staff with unlimited respect, parents are not at fault for this, nor is the director, staff don’t go to camp to get money, period
The amount of ignorant comments in this section makes me sick. The amount of devotion and care that ur average staff member puts in to his summer is beyond well. I personally remember as being a counselor and there was a very home sick kid in my bunk who cried bli guzma 2 weeks straight morning till night and every morning when he would begin to cry (which was at about 5 am) we would have to bring him outside the bunk house (in order not to wake everyone up) and sit on the steps and talk for about an… Read more »
Being a counselor is one of those jobs that are tip dependent – like a waiter, hairdresser, etc. oF COURSE parents needs to tip. CGI Detroit’s website allows u to do this online which makes it very easy. I think many parents would be happy to PayPal or use an electronic means to tip in the event that visiting day is not an option.
Maybe all parents dont know this but in addition to all the hard work and time that staff put in to every day of camp there wallets are used as well, every shabbos buying goodies for the bunk which has already become a “norm” and a must in addition there’s a new notion of having to take out every or most of the kids in ur bunk or learning class to canteen once a summer this all does not add up to a small sum at all, and all the above mentioned is simply to qualify urself as a decent… Read more »
Shout out to all those counselors who are there giving our kids the summer of their lives and EVERY PARENT MUST SHOW APPRECIATION!
you write “P.S. ABOUT THE COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT COUNSELORS WORK HARDER THEN LEARNING TEACHERS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS BOTH ITS ABSOLUTELY FALSE!” I was a counselor and learning teacher, two summers each, and youre totally wrong, unless you didnt show up in your bunkhouse, there is no way what youre saying is true… yes, learning teachers work hard to prepare and discipline, but cant be compared to being with the kids A LOT OF HOURS and taking care of them the whole time and listening to them etc. im sorry but youre totally wrong.. its a famous debate in… Read more »
the 250$ we get from camp me personally already spent 150$ just on campers so if you want not to tip us and the camp should pay us full wages then camps tuition will come out around 15000$ so instead of complaining be appreciate enough to take out the extra cash and give to your sons counselor so you can have quiet time in the Catskills
Oh and your welcome
I didnt have patience to read all of the comments above, but what i think is: I was a counselor for more than once in different camps, it was fun, BH I worked hard to make sure my campers are taken care of, and as the author of the article wrote to be their mommy and tatty. it was draining but rewarding, i did get tips which was nice, but honestly thats not what stuck with me.. what i do clearly remember and cherish is the parent that wrote a beautiful thank you card which I was able to see… Read more »
please dont take one parents comments and decide that tehy speak for all parents
Will have kids that won’t help them or do any favors when they are older. Those are the people that are all alone in the nursing home with nobody to visit them because their children learned from their example…
Not every kind of job requires a minimum hourly wage.
Counselors arent employees. They dont file any paperwork or pay taxes. Counselors are participants in the camp program. They receive room and board, trips, laundry, and more. They also have specific dutys and for that the camp (and the parents via tips) compensate them with some pocket change.
Comparing it to a standard shift job is like comparing apples to airplanes.
You are flat out wrong. The well known camps today are for-profit. If they ever open up the books (which is very unlikely) you will eat your words.
Tipping culture in general barely exists outside the U.S. it’s designed to milk you twice. Pay for your hotel, pay for parking, and pay a “tip” to the guy parking your car. Pay a lot for your food, and pay a “tip” to the guy serving you your food.
The poor valet, the poor waiter and the poor counselor are the ones being gypped by the bosses who pocket the money.
In most girl camps you must tip the counselor at least 20
The video guy works aton videoing and editing!
Show appreciaion!
Make sure to tip ur pa guy hes the hardest working ataff member😀
Before anything I’ll like to thank the staff of Gan Israel for giving my boys an amazing summer, possibly the best summer they ever had! When it came to visiting day I came in to see my boys and I was amazed about everything that was going on and the incredible staff that were there and I happy gave the staff who were taking care of my kids a tip. Giving tips I personally think I something menchlich and it shows my kids that when someone helps you no matter how much you always show gratitude, it can be a… Read more »
#tipyourwaiter
The average counselor walks away without about 800.
That’s about 60 cents an hour
Not quite minimum wage
Our camps dont make money and charge the minimum.Tip your kid’s counselors like a mentch.
The one job that is always overlooked and no one tips is the ice cream man so plz next time you see him tip him right away
TIP YOUR SONS COUNSELOR THEY DESERVE IT
At the end of the day all kids one of there favorite parts of the year for them is in Gan Yisroel you ask any adult their favorite summer was in Gan Yisroel and ANYONE who was In camp knows that it’s the counselor who is working very hard and gives your son THE BEST SUMMER HE EVER HAD
As a camper in camp for many years. I felt what it ment when my parents couldn’t make it up to camp for visiting day.
The counselor & other staff DEFINITELY take better care of the tip givers.
Tips helps your child have more fun. EVEN if the counselors were to make good money from camp.
NEXT.
Any bocher or girl for that matter that goes to a Chabad camp, knows that 99% is the Rebbe’s work.
1% fun.
the bochurim should be doing this as shlichus
they don’t need money like the parents need money
when they will be parents they will understand
it’s a system we all benefit from
if they were paid minimum wage, the quality and the quantity of the staff would be reduced like any cost center in any enterprise is reduced
if you can afford to tip, then tip
if you cannot, then don’t
bochurim shouldn’t be blegging on the internet
Every parent understands what it’s like to care for your own child(ren). When you send your kids to us we become their “parents”. When they need the slightest thing, we are there for them to give them attention, care and love. The difference is that we are TEENAGERS. It is much harder to care for children when even you yourself haven’t completely matured yet. The are moments when you feel lost and hurt and defeated. What keeps us going is knowing that we are on the rebbes shlichus. The problem is that just like everything else in life our yetzer… Read more »
I did. My boys are having the greatest time! Camp is great. Staff is incredible. Director is attentive, available & above all…NOT RAKING IT IN & STEALING ANYONES $$$$ So to all you who feel tipping is not needed…you may be right. However, appreciation is needed. Realizing that way more goes into a successful summer then the few thousand you pay in tuition. Can the camps pay the staff more??? I don’t know & it is not my business unless I want yo take over & do their job. I don’t. So if you don’t want to express your gratitude,… Read more »
as a mother of both counsleors and campers.. i will say that i do tip my sons counselors ( $100 each for the summer ) becaus ei have sons who are counsleors and i see how not nice it is wwhen parents dont tip at all… some gave a small token $10 which is appreciated but some dont even give a thank card . I know we all pay heavily fotr our kids to go to camp and i jknow that the camp should pay the counselors, but they dont. SO raise yourself above that and give y our sons… Read more »
HONESTLY I THINK THE MAIN MISCONCEPTION IS THE MONEY. YES WE ARE HERE TO DO THE REBBES SHLICHUS AND CARE FOR EVRY SINGLE CAMPER ENTRUSTED TO CAMP. HOWEVER NO ONE AND I MEAN ALMOST NO STAFF MEMBER IN ANY CAMP IS ONLY COMING BC HE THINKS HES WALKING OUT OF CAMP WITH A LOAD OF MONEY. ITS THE APPRECIATION,THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS LETS JUST SAY THE DIRECTORS WOULD PAY MORE MONEY TO THE STAFF APPRECIATION WOULD STILL BE NICED AND ASKED FOR WHEN YOUR WORKING HARD YOU WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED AND YES A LITTLE RECOGNITION CANT HURT EACH TO… Read more »
The parents of the staff should tip their kids the amount they can’t get from the campers parents after all the parents are saving buying food for their kids and getting it for free from camp. $10 a meal equals $1800 a summer
SUCH A NICE LETTER
Not asking for money , just showing appreciation means a lot,
a note with a bar of chocolate, , a card or a phone call.
Thats it, I just a smile note. yes camp costs a lot of money but even if a parent gets a call to say what a great job your son/daughter is doing.
Until that happens ….your sons learning teacher gets $250 from camp.Most of that $250 gets thrown right back into the directors pocket because the average learning teacher spends about $200 over 2 months to buy the kids food and nosh in canteen.This is not our choice rather its forced upon us because there is an inadequate reward system set up by camp hence it does not make the children behave in class rather we have to find our own reward system I.e canteen. So again until a normal paycheck is given, appreciation lies in the hands and hearts of the… Read more »
Everyone should be giving a tip .
You eat at very expensive restaurant and pay a fortune .
You are not going to tip the waiter ?
Or you are going to blame the restaurant that they are making killing ,and it’s their responsibility to pay more to the waiters?
Same thing applies here .
WAKE UP
You have no idea what you are talking about, maybe because you were a bad counselor, but a this is a normal thing for all counselor to do and for the kids this is a standard thing to do. Counselors and other staff work very hard for your kids and all they want is something to show thank you, it can be verbal, a note, a handwritten card by your kid, money, cookies doesn’t matter what but we want to be shown that the parents care
Well after reading the article with all the mixed feelings of peoples replies well i truly understand that parents are giving over everything they have to send their kids to camp and i totally respect that but let’s just say you sent your child to camp without giving everything over rather it came easier for you then I’ll telling you that you have no idea what kind of work we the counselors are doing like mentioned above in the article not like a comment earlier the said” lets be true counclers don’t do that” that is so not true we… Read more »
It’s not about the money, it’s that the parents care and appreciate your work! It has nothing to do with the fact that the directors don’t pay well etc…
Parents! Show us that you care about who is taking care of your child! Show us that you care about how your child is doing! Show us that you appreciate all the long hours and energy that we will spend just to make your child happy!
This artical is so true in every way!
We used to have two visiting days and now we have 1 please tip the same way you would if there was two
Come meet your staff in Parksville this year, I dare u! Best staff you’ve ever seen. No camp has ever seen such an incredible group.
Firstly to comment 41 that is a pretty outrageous and disgusting comment to make which is עובר on several לאוין, you should be utterly ashamed of yourself!!! Im wondering how you would feel and can’t wait for the day that someone writes an Op-ed exposing your life and publicly embarrassing you, whilst hiding behind a screen somewhere, you should be ASHAMED! To answer some other points, Having spent at least one summer in all main Lubavitch overnight camps, I can tell you from the inside. In some of the camps, over 50% of the parents are on tuition breaks, pay… Read more »
Very nice point.
We are ruining our own system Not everything is about the money When I was a younger girl, I worked in overnight camps for free – many times – and I did it happily because it was my turn to give back to the community. Our grandparents did it, our parents did it, and now it’s your turn to do it. And G-d willing, one day, your children will do it too Want to earn a proper salary? Get a job in Walmart for the summer. This ludicrous concept of being paid for every.single.thing a person does is insane. We… Read more »
Totally agree with you ( #58) to number nine that’s a little harsh the counselor works hard and deserves a appreciation
I just sent my son to CGI Toronto and gave the tips to the staff member on the bus there is no excuse for not tipping as a counslor mentioned there are other ways to show your appreciation if money is tight but the thought really counts .My daughter was a waitress last year in a camp and only 3 parents tipped the camps also need to make it easy for the parents to do so before and during camp with payment options to get it to a staff member not sending the addresses of staff towards the end of… Read more »
Tips aren’t so much about the money they get.
You’re tipping your child’s counselor as a sign of appreciation. Not because you’re paying their salary!
Bottom line:
Appreciation is always in order no matter who or what.
However, unlike the restaurant waiter, delivery boy etc this is their livelihood. A bochur or girl in camp is seldom if ever doing this for the money. If you do it’s a terrible way to earn money.
I was a counselor too, I did it for the inyan and to have fun.
If you get a tip great, if not, big whoop.
you can tip online . i did by paypal with my boys in parksville.
If you want this particular counselor to care very much about your specific child – it is in your best interest to show them extra TLC. Who owes the tip to them is a different topic – your child is among many others and if you want him/her to be noticed and cared for show that counselor that you appreciate him/her
All those nasty parents: stop living in a bubble. If you can afford the $3,000 that you feel is “necessary” for your son’s “chinuch”,than you can afford another $20 to show GRATITUDE, RESPECT, AND APPRECIATION. Somehow you don’t have ANY problems serving YOURSELF, but when it comes to OTHERS ,you loose all sense of basic mentchlikiet. You expect the counselors to spoil your kid, but don’t think they deserve anything in return. And no shame in posting that on a public forum. I HOPE THAT YOUR CHILD ISNT IN MY SON’S BUNK.
Showing hakoras hatov to someone caring for yoyr child has nothing to do with the persons wage. It has to do with you being a mentch. You tip a waiter. Mailman. Garbage guy. Etc because its the decent respectable thing to do once a year…. woudn’t your child’s camp staff deserve at least the same???
BS”D These comments are just the TIP of the iceberg. A Healthy summer to all and a Good Shaboos
Let’s be real. Most counselors do not do everything mentioned. A parent/child would be lucky if that was the case.
And don’t judge the parents so harshly. Most of us parents are buried in debt or had to take out a second mortgage to afford the camp in the first place. This sounds like there is a political misappropriation of funds if you ask me! The counselors should be earning a livable wage if the camp costs thousands of dollars and not expecting tips from the overburdened parents.
Your camp tuition goes to pay food, lodging, trips, supplies, laundry, transportation, salaries etc. The mentchlich thing to do is to tip because unlike school teachers, if counselors are paid, it’s minimal thus you show appreciation even if $20. Hence it’s called a tip just like when you tip a waiter even though you paid the restaurant too.
The parents of today were the counselors of yesterday. We had our turn to work ourselves to the bone giving your generation all we had. Thank you for paying us back by giving of yourselves to our kids, and Iy”H our kids will pay you back one day with your kids…
You go there to enjoy and have fun and do the rebbes work. Stop asking for money. You make money when ur older and have to support your family. Your in no position to ask for tips. This is pathetic. I went and had a blast and no I didn’t make much money and I spent plenty on my campers. Suck it up…
I always wondered why as I teacher I get a plate of cookies at the end of the year, and I am very appreciative of that, but I am tipping 16 yr old counselors 25$ each
As a mother who has sent children to camp and then these children grew up and became counselors…here is what I have learned. Camps DO NOT make loads of money…Our camps that is. The directors need to fundraise to close the gap between money earned and spent. Many children get reduced Rice’s because the parents don’t have the money and the camp knows how important it is for the children to be there!! Second, the counselors are paid very little for the amount of time they put in. One year my boys figured out it was around $1 an hour!!!… Read more »
Well said, it’s the token of appreciation that counts!
When you go out to eat to a restaurant you tip 15% to someone that serves you onece. You don’t think you should tip someone that takes care of your children’????????
I know more then anyone that we DONT POCKET A DOLLAR
Every single dollar plus more is put right back into the program this applies even more so to big camps like Montreal and parksville they don’t make a cent they work they’re tucheses off year round just like we all do it’s a “shlichus'” of hashem and we do it with pleasure youre welcome
Camps will start a mandatory tip of $55 I heard this straight out from a director in a gan yisroel… Balls in your court
Stop being a cheap skate give minimum of $55.75 thanks
If you can’t tip the counselor do us all a favor DONT SEND YOUR KID TO CAMP it’s you smallest way of saying thank you I appreciate your work and dedication….think about it
Maybe you shouldn’t tip a delivery man either cuz the guy who owns the supermarket is rich…STUPID the hard working counselor is relying on your stupid $40-50 dollar tip and DESERVES wayyyyyyyyyyygy more so give the tip and……
That’s the way it is the administration takes all the money and the staff get Penny’s that’s unfortunately the way it is so if you send you kid to camp too bad TIP THE HARD WORKING UNDERPAYD, COUNSELOR/MOTHER/FATHER…if you can’t then DONT SEND YOUR KID TO CAMP
Every ‘director’ of Lubavitch camps are living a lifestyle of luxury. Without naming any one, we all know about the director who has no less than 3 luxury SUVs and the other director who just re-renovated his already beautiful house to the tune of 1.2 million dollars. And what about the directors who own multiple apartment buildings, where did they get the funds to purchase, renovate? The secret lies in the fact that the previous generation donated their hard earned money to build Moisdos, came along the young few, took over the not for profit organization and started collecting tuition.… Read more »
These camp directors should be huge marketing experts highly sought after for their tactics theyre business geniuses they get a couple of hundred of people to work for them for far short of minimum wages for example after speaking to one of the kitchen staff (which is one of the hardest and longest hours jobs in camp) who had made a calculation that his pay check came out to about 2$ a hour!!! even turn it into a entire שליחות because if ithey don’t call it a שליחות yeshivas wouldn’t give their students permission to go as staff
Essentially this is just a ad written by some staff member upset about missing the second visiting day basically the same way the waiters make huge posters… saying tip your waiters as a ad to remind people to tip, difference being this is on collive and not on the fence… of c.g.i
#1-The administration doesn’t pay the staff well #2-the counselor does his job anyways #3 the counselor works really hard and parents you kids for two months…=give him a tip and stop being a cheap skate!
P.s number 2 it sounds like you where never a counselor
The camper to staff ratio is around 1 staff member to every 2 campers. Imagine all the staff got minium wage. That would be at least $6,000 for 2 months (yes counselors work alot of hours). For camp to pay that much would require a lot more tuition than what is being charged. Instead, the way it’s set up (whether it’s right or wrong that’s the way it’s set up), is that camp pays a small amount to the staff (what camp can afford with the tuition they’re charging) and expects each parent to give a tip which collectively adds… Read more »
Still wondering why on earth collive posted this article because all this really is using collive as a platform to push your agenda (of getting tipped) if your there for money go get yourself a normal paying summer job instead of working for a boss who uses the word שלוחית as a marketing tactic (because if you didn’t call it a שליחות they wouldn’t have any staff) and if your actually there for the “holy” שליחות you speak of in the above article then why are you concerned about the amount of money you walk out of camp with
Someone needs to hire a good employment law attorney, and file a claim for unpaid overtime / minimum wage violations. I know David Harrison, Esq., of Red Bank, NJ, is such an attorney. Perhaps he can give these counselors some legal advice? It’s better then begging for money from parents who can barely support their own families.
Speaking from a counselors perpective: WE DONT GET PAID from camp, (the paycheck barely covers our canteen bill, which btw is spent mostly on campers) Our payment is truly from tips, and please understand that. To blame camp for not paying us makes sense but is not a excuse not to tip, if u feel that camp should be paying us then SPEAK to the director, but till that switches we are relying you. And just to put it out there that the whole reason why there’s no second visiting day was because of requests from parents on collive https://collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=36497… Read more »
since the parents paid money to the camps
and you work in the camp your complaint has to be directed to direction of the camp
the parent pay a lot of money and the camps has to pay its workers
There are some exclusions but lots of parent can tip and are willing to tip so if all you have to say is something stupid about the director who makes sure your son is not depressed at home for two months ten keep your comment to yourself
There is no such thing as proper pay if staff would go for the money they would get a job for the summer. Yes it’s true they go to have fun and do the REBBES inyanim. But that does not take away the fact how much they give over to your son. For what ever the case is they don’t pay a big paycheck the amount that your son gains in yidishkiet and friendship you can’t get in school or the home. The counselors and staff are up nights preparing stuff for the campers it’s only right to show appericiation… Read more »
Being a staff member not too many years ago, and now being a parent with a child in overnight camp, i understand and relate where you’re coming from, but i want to point out, although camps are ridiculously expensive, we must understand, that after the fact, that the camp director’s and administration’s take the good will of our bochurim, and use it out to work hard, literally hold up, and be the pillars on which the camp does function, and pay them even generously at $10 a day for their hard work, the bochurim do it either way, with nothing… Read more »
The canteen staff are one of the most hardest workers in camp we do not get one day off the entire summer to get the least appreciation our hours are long from 9 in the morning till 1at night as all of that I said we only make $1 and $0.17 an hour which is not right at all we feel like we’re being used and we feel unappreciated is not right at all
No one is saying that it SHOULD be the parents’ responsibility… What they are saying is, being that counselors aren’t paid proper wages… If possible it would be NICE if they show some appreciation
just saying the sports director works hard also…
Been a counselor for years. I love what I do and I will always come back, but I’m treated terribly. When we ask for tips, your right, it’s not the parents’ responsibility because the camp should be paying us more. But they don’t because they’re expecting you to. All the fault should be blamed on the camp director. He doesn’t know his staff and thinks we’re his pawns. His pockets are filling because of us! I wish parents would tip more because I doubt they realize what we do. We’re the mother, father, therapist, social worker, role model and best… Read more »
Thanks so much for your kindness and hard work! Children are more chuzbadech nowadays and as a result, the counselors have much more work then that of the last generation. We REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, STAFF!!!! Thanks SO MUCH!
if the camp directors aren’t doing the right thing then you have to either 1) do the right thing by paying the counselors or 2) choose another camp that DOES pay the counselors properly.
The counselor in camp go above and beyond their job description to make sure the kids have a good fun and chassidishe time. It makes sense and it’s menshlich to give a the staff something to show your appreciation. Now it doesn’t need to be money but if parents are paying already for camp and give their kids tons of nash and money, I think it’s do able to give the staff alittle something.
While that is very true… It’s not case for whatever reason so think of it from a counselors perspective who without your tip leaves camp without ANY pay. (After the amount spent on campers…)
A counselors paycheck in an overnight camp is $250… If you think that that supplements the work they do… U probably have never worked before. And no. Counselors don’t go to camp to settle their guilt or boredom!!
As a counselor in Camp this year I can personally attest to the sleepless nights and long hours that the staff and specifically counselors spent into making this the most exciting fun chayisdike chasidishe summer ever we spend so much time dealing with the welfare of all the campers and I always there for other needs no one is saying that it tip is mandatory but it would be greatly appreciated and yes we understand that parents pay thousands of dollars for tuition but that doesn’t take away from the hard work that we put in every single day starting… Read more »
If this is how u feel about staff in camp I honestly feel bad for ur sons counselors and learning teachers and y don’t u take all that money u r own camp and then u don’t need to show any appreciation
You are so right. I am a retired teacher but I still have notes of appreciation from parents and students (who are parents themselves today!) They meant so much then and still do. Conversely, I remember the parents whose children were “turned around” by me & who ignored me at graduation & who still hurry past if they see me (perhaps I remind them of the tough time they were going through.) To #2 – as a former parent, now grandparent of campers… you are also right. It is wrong that the counselors aren’t paid well, but camp expenses are… Read more »
People have to understand that boucherim are taking time from there summer and going to camp practically for free, all because it’s the Rebbes work. The staff understand that not all parents can afford it, but for all those that can I think it is very necessary that parents give a token of appreciation.
Excuse me the article wasn’t saying that the counselors don’t get ripped off by the director and that the director isn’t making a ton of money all the article is saying is that take out a moment of ur time and appreciate with a letter or with a tip and send it to them if u have a problem with showing appreciation then don’t send ur kid to camp.
Btw he wrote the article he means it and he’s 100% right
Are the camps really “raking it in” after they finish paying their expenses?
Camps charge ludicrous fees for campers. On top of this, most parents have to pay airplane fees, & fees to shlepp the luggage to & from the campsite.
Honestly, I feel the Camps should take 10-15% & give this as a Donation to each Councellor, above what they’re paying them for working. There’s so many campers today, surely this system could work.
There’s no question that the counselors do a wonderful job but the camps are raking it in let them pay the right price to the counselors and their staff it’s a business like any other.In the past few years waiters have to pay to go.before you know it they’re going to be charging counselors to come to camp it’s a money making business let them pay up
Camps like this arrangement. They get to charge a huge amount of money to send out kids to camp and they want the parents to tip too. It’s about time we speak up and tell the camps to pay their counsellors. Only because camps charge sooo much that I feel parents should not have to tip also.
why did they cancel visiting day? i think the parents have a right to see their kids and see the staff members of their children and see the camp grounds does the camp have something to hide?
This op-ed is the epitome of chutzpah.
We did not hire you. The camp hired you. We pay with our blood and sweat to put together the insane camp tuition. We appreciate the job you are doing, but we are not responsible for your wages.
Your camp director is pocketing a ton of money. Camp is a for-profit business that makes the director boatloads of money while they pay you pennies.
The camp must pay the staff a proper wage.
I agree totally
As someone that worked in many camps in many posititions throughout many countries, one thing that will really make a difference for your child this visiting day is if you take the time to speak to each of your childs staff member (each counselor, the learning teacher, etc), thank them but also ask them about your child; 1) Does he get along with the other campers? 2) Does he follow instructions? 3) Is there anything you think I should be aware of? 4) Is there anything you would like me to mention to my child that will help him do… Read more »
100% agree!!
As a counselor, I understood that not every parent can afford to tip their children’s counselors, but every gesture meant so much! One parent baked cookies and wrapped them beautifully, given with a sweet note. Another parent encouraged their child to write a card. One parent gave a mug with a kind message on it and a card. These things mean so so much and touch a counselor deeply. It doesn’t have to be money.
U have no idea what lubavitch boys and girls do for their campers
They are completely dedicated and go above and beyond their “job description”
Please show ur hakaras hatov!
This article subtly implies that the parents owe the counselors. Parents pay boat loads of money to send their kids to camp. While appreciation is in order, the notion that somehow the parents owe the counselors money is ludicrous.
You take the job to have fun, do the Rebbe’s inyan, settle your guilt or boredom. Whatever your reason is, if you feel you deserve more money, speak to your director.
As a parent who would like to show appreciation, please have the camp send us a list of contact info for each bunk. It’s not just you , the counselor. There’s the learning teachers and waiters who we don’t necessarily have numbers for…