FAQ

FAQ

Click on the heading to jump that list of questions below. 

General Questions

  • What is Mosaic's Jewish Outdoor Escape?
  • Who goes to the Jewish Outdoor Escape?
  • How do I volunteer to help at the Jewish Outdoor Escape?
  • What are the details for this year's event?
  • How much does it cost?
  • What is Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America?

Activities

  • What does the schedule look like?
  • What is Meet Your Leader?

Food

  • Menu: What is the food like?
  • Kosher: Is the food Kosher?

Housing and Camp Details

  • What are the accommodations like?
  • Do the cabins have electricity?
  • Does the camp have cellular reception and/or internet access?
  • What is the climate around the camp?
  • What kind of clothing should I bring?
  • Do we need bedding?
  • What other stuff should I bring?

Transportation

  • What airport to fly into?
  • How do I get to camp?
  • How do I get to the Pre-Trip?
  • When should I plan to arrive/leave by plane?
  • When should I plan to arrive/leave by car?
  • What if I can't make it in on Thursday, or need to leave early?
  • Do you need my travel information?

Registration

  • How do I register?
  • How do I update my registration after registering the first time?
  • Can I register/pay by phone, email, or snail mail?
  • Can I pay in Canadian currency?
  • Waivers

Leader Info

  • Where is the expense, Leader Debrief, Accident report, Leader Guidelines or Incident Reports?
  • Where can I find other MOCA/Event forms?

Misc.

  • What if there is a family emergency?
  • When does Shabbat start/end for this weekend?
  • What are the Torah and Haftorah portions for this weekend?

General Questions

What is Mosaic's Jewish Outdoor Escape?

In short, a summer camp for adults (21 and over). Mosaic's Jewish Outdoor Escape is held every year on Labor Day Weekend. It gives Jewish outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world the opportunity to spend time with each other, enjoy the out-of-doors and explore Judaism in a natural setting. We stay at a summer camp and do all kinds of activities which vary every year depending on the locale. About 100 to 200 like-minded Jewish adventurers attend this event each year. This year, the event will include hiking, kayaking, biking, nature walks, trips and tours, dancing, workshops, swimming, campfires, photography and a few more surprises!

Who goes to the Jewish Outdoor Escape?

People that want to have fun! Jewish adults of all ages from all backgrounds, and levels of observance. Previous participants have come from all over the US, Canada, Israel and even as far as Australia. Over 100 people attend annually.

What are the details for this year's event?

We will be staying at Cedar Lake Camp in Milford, PA from Thursday August 29th to Monday September 2nd, 2019

How much does the Event cost?

The base price is yet to be determined, but you may pay less or more than that depending on when you register.  Add-on costs include upgraded housing, airport transportation, extensions (Pre-Trip) and some activities. Full pricing information is available on the  Registration Page.

When can I register?

Registration will open sometime in June. See Registration Page for more details.  

How do I volunteer to help at the Jewish Outdoor Escape?

Check out the Volunteer page for full descriptions of areas we are looking for volunteers. Then go to the Contact Us page to see who is in charge of each department to see who you should contact.  

What is Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America?

Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America (MOCA) integrates Jewish values with an appreciation of the outdoors. It brings together members of the Jewish community to celebrate and explore the great outdoors in a social setting. This is achieved by: 1) Sponsoring activities on a national/international scale; and 2) Encouraging and facilitating the formation and continuation of local Mosaic clubs for the purpose of sponsoring local/regional activities.

Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America is a volunteer-run organization that allows Jewish adults with a love of the outdoors to get “back to nature” and have some fun. With 12 clubs located throughout the United States, Canada and Israel, our international non-profit, volunteer-run organization promotes appreciation of the outdoors, nature, outdoor skills and conservation, while building Jewish community and continuity.


Activities

What will the schedule look like?

Friday through Sunday will include a mixture of Hiking, Biking, Climbing (high ropes, ziplines, canopy tours), Whitewater Rafting (Class II > III), Kayaking, Canoeing, History Tours, Archery and more. 

Please see the Daytime ActivitiesEvening ActivitiesPre-Trip  and Post-Trip pages for more details of the schedule.

What is Meet Your Leader?

We will hold a Meet Your Leader Meeting the night before every activity. The meeting will be a chance for you as a participant to learn some specifics of the activity you will be doing the next day along with important updates that may be unknown until now. It is extremely imperative that you attend these meetings. It may mean the difference in your ability to attend the activity or not the next day. Therefore, ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. Activity leaders have the right of refusal of participation to anyone who did not attend said meeting the night before. During these meetings, the leader will

  1. Confirm your registration
  2. Describe the details of the activity
  3. List all special equipment/gear that you should bring on the activity.
  4. Details of when and where to meet the group in the morning to attend the activity.
  5. Give you a chance to know your leader, so they are easy to find in the morning.
  6. You must go to this meeting and inform leader if you are changing. If you are changing into another activity, you MUST go to that meeting as well. Then after these meetings you need to let the Mosaic Chair people know so they can update the system as such.
  7. Note:
    1. Change fees will apply to all on-site changes.
    2. You may not be able to change to the other activity as it is maybe sold-out.
    3. You may not get any refund for the activity you decided not to attend. Most activities with vendors are pre-paid with that vendor. The majority of vendors refund policies do not give refunds last minute.

Food

Menu: What's the food like?

All meals will be provided by the camp staff. This is basic camp food, menu TBD.  Past entrees have included falafel, chicken, beef, salad bar, etc. Vegetarian, Gluten and Dairy Free meals are available for those who requested them via their registration. See Food Page for more details.

Kosher: Is the food Kosher?

See more information on the Food Page


Housing and Camp Details

What are the accommodations like?

We will be staying at Cedar Lake Camp which include overnight accommodations in staff /guest housing, bunk cabins, and bring-your-own tent. See Accommodations for more info.

Do the cabins have electricity?

All of the cabins have electricity, but the numbers of outlets are limited. Please bring battery-operated devices when possible, especially a battery-operated alarm clock. Extension cords and power strips are highly recommended.

Does the camp have cellular reception and/or internet access?

Internet access: Wi-Fi is available in some parts of camp.

Cell coverage is spotty. AT&T has the best coverage, Verizon the worst.

What is the climate around the camp?

During September, the temperature in Milford, PA typically ranges from 61°F (16.1° C) to 79°F (26.1° C) (and is rarely below 52°F (11.1°C) or above 88°F (31.1°C)). Check out our page for more details about Milford, PA and surrounding area for climate conditions.

What kind of clothing should I bring?

Please look at the Misc. Page for more details.

Do we need bedding?

You will need a pillow, sleeping bag and/or sheets, blankets. Bedding Packages are available for rental and Towel Packages are available for purchase. See Misc. Page for more info.

What other stuff should I bring?

Highly suggested items: a day pack or fanny pack that can hold lunch, water bottle or hydration pack, and other miscellaneous gear. Any gear needed for specific activities.  See Misc. Page  page


Transportation

What airport do I fly into?

Newark Liberty Airport (EWR):  Please see the Transportation page for more information.

How do I get to camp?

You can:

  • Fly into Newark Liberty Airport (EWR)
  • Take a train via NJTransit to Port Jervis.
  • Ride a bus from Port Authority in NYC to Milford, PA
  • Ride a Passenger Van from Toronto to camp
  • Drive directly to camp. 

Please see the Transportation page for more information.

How do I get to the Pre-Trip?

Look at the Pre-Trip Page for Details

When should I plan to arrive/and leave by plane?

Please see the Transportation page for more information.

When should I plan to arrive/ and leave by car?

ARRVIALS: Check-in at camp opens at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday August 29th

DEPARTURES: Plan to leave camp after 9:30am on Monday September 3rd. Everyone must be out of camp by 11:30 am

Please see the Transportation page for more information.

What if I can't make it in on Thursday, or need to leave early?

That’s okay with us; we’ll leave the light on for ya’. Unfortunately, you'll have to make your own travel arrangements. Please let us know the details. There are no discounts or refunds for late arrivals or early departures.

Do you need my travel information?

Yes. Please be sure to provide your travel information so we know when and where to find you! We make every effort to make sure everyone is taken care of. This includes rides shares, Airport Shuttles, and matching people with similar travel plans to cut down our carbon footprint as well as create camaraderie among fellow travelers.


Registration

How do I register?

Go to the Registration Page, read the valuable info on this page, you will find the link to the registration website at the bottom of this page.

Note: Spend time deciding on your activities for each day prior to registering by looking at the links of daytime activities to the left. 

How do I update my registration after registering the first time?

 

Can I register/pay by phone, email or snail mail?

No. All Registrations MUST be done ONLINE via the registration website. If you have difficulty completing your registration, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you. Please be considerate as we are volunteers.

Can I pay in Canadian currency?

All payments are via Credit Card or Paypal. All amounts listed are in US dollars. Foreign payments are automatically converted to the appropriate currency.

Waivers


Leader Info

Where is the expense, Leader Debrief, Accident report, Leader Guidelines or Incident Reports?

Go to Attendee Info Page

Where can I find other MOCA/Event forms?

Go to Resources Page on the Main Mosaic Website


Misc. 

What if there is a family emergency?

We certainly hope this isn't necessary, but, in case of an emergency, the phone number to call is: 1-888-MOSAICS. We will provide additional emergency contact information after you register. More info on the Contact Us Page. 

Shabbat

Candle Lighting Times

Friday, August 30, 2019 / Av 29, 5779 Light Candles at 7:18 pm

Saturday, August 31, 2019 / Av 30 5779 Shabbat ends at 8:16 pm

Torah

Torah Reading: Parshat Re'eh interpretation by  Chabab  

Re'eh, Reeh, R'eih, or Ree (רְאֵה‬ — Hebrew for "see", the first word in the parashah) is the 47th weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה‬, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the Book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17. In the parashah, Moses set before the Israelites the choice between blessing and curse. Moses instructed the Israelites in the laws that they were to observe, including the law of a single centralized place of worship. Moses warned against following other gods and their prophets and set forth the laws of kashrut, tithes, the Sabbatical year, the Hebrew slave, firstborn animals, and the three pilgrim festivals.

Parashat Re’eh Discussion Questions

  • In everyday life, how do you think God blesses and curses us?
  • Why is what we eat so important that Moses adds it to his last speech before the people?
  • What does it mean that in the promised land God will choose a place to give God’s Name habitation? Is there such a place in your community?

Haftarah

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11–55

Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America Newsletter

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