1. When does the retreat start and end?
For people who have registered, the retreat starts Friday, June 6. People can arrive at Camp Avoda anytime after 4PM, with the first activity starting at 6:30PM followed by dinner. We need to be cleaned up, and exiting the camp by 2PM. The last meal will be an 11AM brunch on Sunday.
2. Where is the camp?
The retreat is being held at Camp Avoda, 23 Gibbs Road, Middleborough, Massachusetts, which is off I-495 South toward the Cape. Without traffic, it takes approximately 45 minutes to get there from CDT. With rush hour traffic, it is best to budget one hour and 20 minutes (which is the Google maps estimate for Friday, June 6).
3. What does the schedule look like?
The schedule will generally look like past weekend retreats. The retreat begins on Friday with arrival schmoozing and Friday evening dinner followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and then various evening activities for kids and adults. On Saturday, the Shabbat program begins after breakfast with various options for services. Then following lunch there will be a lot of options, from study, schmoozing, sports and games, swimming and boating, and a supervised climbing wall. Then dinner, Havdalah, and the famous CDT campfire with smores and singing. On Sunday, a few more activities, brunch, and closing ceremony.
4. Will the site and the activities be wheelchair-accessible?
The terrain is uneven and the camp is large, so depending on what type of wheelchair you have, it may be unsuited to the grounds. More information about the accessibility of activities will be made available once the activities and their locations are confirmed. If you have any specific questions or concerns about accessibility, please contact the retreat coordinator at retreat2025@dorsheitzedek.org.
5. Can I bring my pet?
Unfortunately no pets are allowed. If you have a service animal, please contact Steven, the retreat coordinator at retreat2025@dorsheitzedek.org.
6. What about the sleeping arrangements?
We did our best to match everyone with their housing request. Due to weather, if you would like to move inside, please email retreat2025@dorsheitzedek.org as soon as you know your preference has changed.
7. What should I bring?
Overnight Guests:
- Pillows/Sheets/Sleeping bags/blankets (NO LINENS AVAIL)
- Toiletries/Personal Medications
- Weather appropriate clothing, including a jacket or rain gear
- A hat, sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Flashlight
- Swimsuit & Towel
- Sneakers, sandals
Day Attendees:
- Weather-appropriate clothing, including jacket for evening
- A hat, sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Flashlight
- Swimsuit & towel
- Sneakers, sandals
Optional:
- A book or other relaxing activity
- Baseball mitt
- Pickle Ball equipment
- Board games
- Yoga mats
- A camp chair
- Empty 2-liter bottles for the bottle rocket activity (please bring even if you are not participating!)
8. My family has special food restrictions, do I have to pay for food at the retreat?
We will provide food for the most common food restrictions, and all meals and snacks are included. In addition to 5 meals during the weekend, we will have a snack station with additional food items.
9. How can I help?
For the retreat to be a success, we need lots of people to volunteer! Please check the schedule for an empty, yellow cell and add your name, or help us clean up and load a car on Sunday!
With everyone helping out, we will make this the best retreat yet!
10. What if it rains?
Camp Avoda has multiple inside spaces. Unless there is a tornado, nor'easter or other cataclysmic weather event predicted, it's on! Please bring weather appropriate clothing.
11. What are the COVID protocols?
As a congregation, we will be cautious in order to enable as many congregants as possible to participate. Happily, many of our members are fully vaccinated. We may have attendees who are not eligible for vaccination as well as other immunocompromised/high risk attendees who still depend on the community to take precautions to protect them. Our hope is that the weather is excellent, and a majority of the activities will be outside. This, in addition to our protocols, will provide a layer of protection to all participants. We also ask participants to not attend if they are not feeling well. Our policies will be detailed below as they are confirmed.
