FAQs

Will my child be inside all day? We believe that active minds and active bodies are necessary for a complete camp experience. We design our programs specifically for the camp environment, which means they include active, outdoor learning experiences. Campers participate in recreation time each day, where they can choose from a wide variety of activities. Campers can play games like gaga (Israeli dodgeball), explore our 450 wooded acres with their counselors, and engage with each other in outdoor sports and games of their choosing. We even have a walking club!  Additionally, we gather in our beautiful outdoor sanctuary each morning for Boker Big Bang and for Shabbat services on Saturday morning.

What types of activities do you have at camp? We have four types of activities at camp:

1. Workshops: Campers attend their workshops every day (except for Shabbat/Saturday) of the session for about 2½ hours a day. You register for their workshop when you register for camp (although we’re happy to switch before camp starts if they change their minds and if space allows!). Topics are the same for each session during the summer, but the projects change from summer to summer so returning campers can return to explore their passion year after year. Most campers choose a workshop they already have a strong interest in or a workshop they want to learn more about. Due to the curriculum staying the same each session during a summer, campers who stay for multiple sessions must choose a different workshop per session enrolled per year. However, many campers take the same workshop each summer!
2. Electives (chugim): Campers have two elective periods a day, and the electives change halfway through the session. Unlike workshops, campers select their chugim AT camp and not before. Campers select their electives throughout the session, and most campers use electives to explore new interests and subject areas or to connect with other campers who like the same things they do outside of their workshop. Chugim are STEM-based, movement/sports-based, or connection/community-based.
3. Sababa: Meaning “cool” in Hebrew, Sababa is our supervised free time at camp! Campers can hang out with their friends, play card games, make friendship bracelets, or read a book under one of the many beautiful trees! There is also various sports equipment available and a playground for campers to be more active during this time. Sababa also gives campers the chance to socialize with one another in an informal setting and get to know kids from other halls.
4. Kinesthetic Sciences: During Kinesthetic Sciences, campers can select from several sports or outdoor activities each week, like soccer, basketball, walking club, LARP, or Gaga. This activity is led by our professionally trained staff, who help campers stay active and to understand the importance of a healthy body. The activities change each week and each summer based on the skills and passions of our counselors and the interests of our campers.

What do you do on rainy days? We are fortunate to have many indoor spaces, including:

• All science classrooms and laboratories on campus in our Technion Building
• The Kaiser Visual Arts Center, including its video lab and photo lab
• The hockey rink, which serves as a massive indoor area for sports or programs during the summer
• The gymnasium complex, which includes four basketball/volleyball courts and other all-purpose space
• An all-purpose activity room in the Frost Building
• The Performing Arts Center, with rooms for digital music production and dance
• Dorms and common rooms

Our program coordinators and activity specialists plan to ensure that all programs can be moved indoors if need be and that campers never miss an activity!

Who teaches the various activities? Workshops are taught by our lead instructors – professionals in the field, advanced undergraduate or graduate students, and/or educators with a deep passion for the field of study and for teaching children of camp age. Chugim (electives) are taught by counselors, typically young adults studying science, technology, education, or Jewish studies at universities with experience teaching and working with children.

What does 6 Points mean? Our name reflects the 6 Points of the Jewish star (Magen David). As our program is built upon a foundation of Jewish values, our name also signifies the important role that Jewish tradition, culture, history, and scholarship plays in our daily lives. It’s also the number of Core Values we have!

What do campers do in the evening? After a long day of experiments, workshops, and play, we spend our evenings in fun and relaxing activities planned and led by our counselors, instructors, and leadership team members.  Some nights, each hall has an activity to help build community and connections among the campers and staff, such as board games or trivia.  On other nights, we gather together by unit or as one camp for various fun activities, such as scavenger hunts around camp or special guest performances.

How will I stay in touch with my child? We strongly encourage parents and campers to be in touch throughout the session. We know how much campers love getting mail (and parents, too)! Eletters can be sent to campers via our CampInTouch service (and campers may respond through their electronic letter-writing service). Regular and electronic mail is delivered daily to campers during rest hours.

Can parents call the camp to check on their children? We love hearing from parents and love telling you about your child’s camp experience! Please contact us if you have any concerns or just to check in. We’ll check with your child’s counselors and tell you about their camp experience! Parents can also expect a letter from your camper’s instructors at the end of the session—we want you to know all the great stuff your camper is up to!

Can I visit my child while they are at camp? Parents are encouraged to drop off and pick up their campers at the beginning and end of each session and see our wonderful camp facility. In between, however, camp is closed to parents. This helps us to ensure a safe environment and a smooth program.

Are care packages allowed? We do not allow packages at camp. If during the summer your camper(s) has forgotten or lost an item of necessity that needs to be mailed to camp, please call our office to let us know so that we can expect this item and add it to our approved package list. We will only accept #10 size envelopes or smaller. Please do not send items in padded envelopes or anything larger than a #10 size envelope. All packages larger than #10 size envelope are opened before being delivered to your camper for safety an security purposes and to ensure that the item being delivered is on the approved package list. 

How is Judaism infused into daily life at camp? The values of Reform Judaism are at the core of everything we do. They drive our work in science and technology, from the way we respect each other’s ideas, to the way we choose projects that will benefit our communities. See our Jewish values in action in our Jewish Life at Sci-Tech video created in Summer 2019! We also create an environment where it’s cool to be Jewish, highlighting famous Jewish scientists and innovators through our dorm names, singing in lively song sessions, and developing a connection to worldwide Judaism through programs and personal relationships with Israeli and other international staff. You can learn more about Jewish Life at camp on our Jewish Life page.

Does 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy have a religious affiliation? Yes, we are a Jewish camp part of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). In addition to representing 900 Reform congregations and their over 1 million members, the URJ operates 15 summer camps and several youth Israel programs. Last summer, over 10,000 campers attended our camps! We believe in a progressive, inclusive, egalitarian approach to Judaism and a vibrant, living Jewish community. URJ’s mission is to create a more whole, just, and compassionate world. At Sci-Tech, we accomplish that by supporting the next generation of scientists, inventors, digital creators, and innovators through our values-based STEM education approach!

Do you offer financial assistance? Yes! Need-based scholarships are available on a limited basis. Additionally, all children who have never before attended an overnight Jewish summer camp are eligible to receive up to $1,000 off tuition via the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s One Happy Camper incentive grants program. Please visit our Financial Assistance page for the most up-to-date information on current discounts.

What is the tuition for 2023? You can find our dates and rates on our website.

What is the payment schedule? Upon registering and paying the deposit, families will have several options for payment. Families will receive invoices on or around the first of the month, with their accounts being charged on or around the 15th. Certain plans are not available based on the date of registration. Please note submitting an application is different from the time of registration/enrollment. It may take up to 5-7 business days after submitting an application for a camper to be registered/considered enrolled at camp. Payment plans are based on the registration date, not the application date.

Here are the available payment plans:

• Pay in Full at Time of Enrollment via eCheck – The Union for Reform Judaism will automatically charge your eCheck account for the full amount owed at the time of enrollment.
• Pay in Full at Time of Enrollment via Credit/Debit Card –The Union for Reform Judaism will automatically charge your debit/credit card for the full amount owed at the time of enrollment. A non-refundable 2.75% processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. There is no processing fee for debit card transactions.
• Standard Payment Plan via eCheck – The Union for Reform Judaism will automatically charge your eCheck account for three checkpoints: 1/3 of the tuition on or about January 15, 1/3 on or about March 15 (2/3 of total tuition paid), and the final remaining balance on or about April 15. This plan is not available for families who are registered after January 1. Families registered after January 1 must choose the monthly or pay-in-full plans.
• Standard Payment Plan via Credit/Debit Card – The Union for Reform Judaism will automatically charge your debit/credit card for three checkpoints: 1/3 of the tuition on or about January 15, 1/3 on or about March 15 (2/3 of total tuition paid), and final remaining balance on or about April 15. A non-refundable 2.75% processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. There is no processing fee for debit card transactions. This plan is not available for families who are registered after January 1. Families registered after January 1 must choose the monthly or pay-in-full plans.
• Monthly Payment Plan via eCheck – The Union for Reform Judaism will automatically charge your eCheck account on or about the 15th of each month, beginning November, or the month following enrollment thereafter and continuing through April. This plan is not available for families who are registered after April 1. All families who registered after April 1 must pay their tuition in full by April 15.
• Monthly Payment Plan via Credit/Debit Card – The Union for Reform Judaism will automatically charge your debit/credit card on or about the 15th of each month, beginning November, or the month following enrollment thereafter and continuing through April. A non-refundable 2.75% processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. There is no processing fee for debit card transactions. This plan is not available for families who register after March 31. All families registered after April 1 must pay their tuition in full by April 15.

What forms of payment do you accept? Deposits and electronic payments may be made by E-check (ACH), debit card, or credit card (we accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover). A non-refundable 2.75% credit card processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. Families can pay by E-check or debit card to avoid credit card processing fees. E-Check will allow tuition to be deducted directly from your checking or savings account.

What are the 2023 refund policies? Full refunds will be given without penalty (including deposit):

• If Camp is unable or elects not to open because of government regulations, orders, or guidelines.
• If Camp is required to cancel the session of a child with a pre-existing health condition.
• If Camp is unable or chooses not to open at their own discretion.
• If Camp is unable to secure a rental facility.
• For campers on a “Waiting List” (those not able to be placed in their desired session at camp) upon request if at any time they choose to be removed from the list or are ultimately unable to be placed.

Refunds will not be made if Camper has attended any portion of the session at Camp. This covers all circumstances, including, but not limited to:

• Camper’s homesickness
• Camper’s refusal or inability to participate in the normal activities at Camp
• Camper’s violation of any rules, regulations, or policies at Camp for which Camper has been provided notice, and as described in “Camper’s Participation and Camp Program Expectations” section of the terms and conditions agreed to upon registering.

What are the 2023 cancellation policies? Should a family decide to cancel on their own, all normal cancellation policies will apply.

• Cancellation by January 31, 2023 – 100% of tuition, including the deposit, is refundable.
• Cancellation between February 1 and March 31, 2023 – 100% of tuition is refundable except for the deposit.
• Cancellation between April 1, 2023, and April 30, 2023 – 75% of tuition is refundable.
• Cancellation after May 1, 2023 – no refunds will be given unless stated above.

Is there Travel Insurance available? We partner with a third-party insurance provider to help our families protect their investments and plan for the unexpected. Camp can provide policy details upon request by emailing Business Manager Lisa Rodney at lrodney@urj.org. Please note that Camp IS NOT a travel protection insurance provider; decisions regarding the insurer’s liability are made at the sole discretion of the third-party insurer in accordance with the insurance policy’s terms.

As a science and technology camp, we are keenly aware of the many positives and some of the negatives that come along with the electronics and technology equipment that inundate our world. Camp is an opportunity for campers to unplug from their lives back home and explore their interests, passions, and identity in a safe, intentional, and inclusive environment. Our goal in crafting a Personal Technology Policy is to build a community capable of fulfilling our mission and exemplifying our values, where we use technology to connect and pursue our passions while also embedding ourselves in the “camp bubble” experience that makes overnight camps so special! 

Campers may not bring to camp any device capable of playing video or video games, accessing email or social media apps, making phone calls, sending text messages or DMs, or any other form of communication with the world outside of camp. Families should carefully investigate the ereaders and mp3 devices they send to camp to make sure the device does not have any of the capabilities listed above. 

Read the complete policy here.