Rama-Dictionary

Below is a glossary containing terms commonly used at Ramaquois that new staff may be unfamiliar with. 

If there are any Ramaquois terms that aren't listed, please let us know:

Rama-Glossary

Term

Definition

Aerial Adventure/TreeTops

A high ropes course located near the End Zone designed to foster self confidence, resiliency and teamwork.

Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

In the mornings, counselors go to either the front or back lot and wait for their campers. For dismissal, counselors will be assigned kids to take to their buses in either the front or back lots. The front lot is near the front office. The back van lot is right next to the 5-pool complex. There will be a map to where the buses will be located at the end of the day. The front lot contains vans that take campers to Manhattan and Westchester. The back lot contains vans that take campers to Bergen and Rockland. Be sure to walk the campers all the way to their buses. If a camper is being picked up by a parent, they must be signed out of the Kessler Cabin.

Attire

All staff must wear a staff shirt, shorts, sneakers, and their name tag.

Back Lot

Parking area next to the 5-pool complex used for bus arrival and dismissal.

Bluejays

Division of Junior Camp Boys entering Pre-K.

Bonzo Ball

A game played on Boys' Side. There is a court next to boys' Side tennis.

Boys' Side

The part of camp for boys entering 2nd grade to 10th grade. Jared Gelb leads the Boys' Side. The boys wear navy blue shirts. This part of camp is located between the office and Fields 3 and 4. It is also known as the Pride Side.

Buddy Board

Used at the pools to keep track of childen in and out of the pool. Kids are buddied together and placed next to each other in the slots. A deep water swimmer will have a green dot and a shallow water swimmer will have a red dot next to their name.

Bunt and Steal

A softball league for boys ages 12 to 15. All games take place on Field 1 (the large field in front of the office). If you see a game in progress, please bring your group around the field in order to not interrupt game play.

CAPs

The oldest campers in Ramaquois, the CAPs work with groups for half their day, and then participate in normal activities for the other half. They are assigned to a group in order to learn and practice being a counselor.

Champs Huddle

A community-building activity in Junior Camp. At different times, according to their schedules, each division has a special activity for their entire division only.

Champs Stadium

Field located behind the bunks at the top of the Junior Camp hill.

Cody's Cove

Cody's Code is the area with picnic tables located opposite watercrafts, in front of the 2-pool complex

Co-Eds

Division of girls entering 5th Grade.

Collegians

Division of girls entering 6th Grade.

Counselor

Counselor going into their senior year of High School (unless they were a CAP here, in which they may be entering their junior year of High School).

Daily Report Form

Daily report completed by the Group Leader and given to the Division Leader summarizing the day's events for each individual camper. Division Leader uses these reports for reference when speaking with parents.

Debs

Division of girls entering 4th Grade.

Deep Water Challenge

Shallow water swimmers must pass this in order to be able to swim in the deep end. They must swim 4 laps and tread water for 30 seconds in the deep end. They may take this as many times as are needed pass.

Dining Hall

Before lunch, please line up your campers outside the dining hall. You will be called in when the dining hall is ready for your campers. Your group will be assigned a table for the summer. Your waiter will bring your food to your table. If you need anything, please ask your waiter or waitress for it, do not go and grab it yourself.

Division Leader

In charge of every camper per division. All counselors report to their Division Leader.

Dolphins

Division of Junior Camp boys entering Kindergarten.

Doves

Division of Junior Camp girls entering Kindergarten.

End Zone

A camp activity that includes the rockclimbing wall, the flying squirrel and a zip line. The activity is for the older campers.It is located by Pickleball.

Explorers

Division of boys entering 5th Grade.

Field One

The baseball field in front of the office. It is where all camp gatherings take place.

Field Six

This is located on Girls' Side. There are two volleyball courts, a basketball court, an open field, GaGa and ping-pong. This is where Girls' Side goes before and for morning lineup. The girls can play games, listen to music and hoola-hoop.

Floater

A counselor that is not assigned to one particular group. A floater is assigned to different groups at different times, as needed, and placement will vary.

Freshmen

Division of Junior Camp girls entering 1st grade.

Front Lot

Parking area on the main road into camp, leading up to the office, used for bus arrival and dismissal.

GaGa

A game in camp in four locations: Girls' side, Boys' Side, Junior Camp by champs stadium and Field 7. The game involves a volleyball being hit with your hand while keeping the ball on the ground and trying to hit it below someone's knee. If it hits below your knee you are out.

Game Tent

The area on boy side under a tent that has multiple games such as ping pong and knock hockey.

Girls' Side

This part of camp is for girls entering 2nd grade to 10th grade. They wear light blue shirts. Jann Reissman leads the Girls' Side. It is located between gymnastics and woodworking. It is also known as the Spirit Side.

Green Bracelet

Indicates deep water swimmer. Must be worn by ALL deep water swimmers. Allows them to go in the lake and boats without a counselor.

Grenadiers (Grens)

Division of boys entering 7th Grade.

Group Leader

The head counselor of a group. A group leader is going into their second year of college or older. They are not allowed to leave the group at any time (unless for a meeting). Also in charge of filling out the daily report form.

Heatwave

On days where it is particularly hot out, Ramaquois goes on a Heatwave schedule. More swim and indoor activities are planned, and campers and counselors must stay hydrated and make a point of getting water throughout the day. Groups will be given revised schedules for those particular days.

Hurricanes

Division of boys entering 6th Grade.

Indoor Gym

The air-conditioned building is across from the office. It has activities such as a gym, Cooking 1 and 2, Ceramics, Digital Design and DJ Karaoke.

Interactive night

Parents visit camp after hours for campers in grades 1 through 10 on assigned days. Campers take their parents around to different activities throughout the night. All counselors are required to stay for their division's interactive night. It is a chance for you to meet all your campers' parents. Robins, Bluejays, Doves, and Dolphins have a visiting day, in which parents come for lunch and activities.

Jitney

Ramaquois provides a Jitney service for campers on Friday afternoons for campers going back to the city earlier than regular dismissal.

Jungle Gym

The gymnastics area located in Junior Camp.

Junior Camp

The side of camp for children in pre-k through first grade. Jackie Port leads the Junior Camp. The campers wear gold shirts. They are also referred to as the Junior Champs.

Kessler

Arthur and Natalie Kessler have spent 41 summers as the camp's owners and directors.

Kessler Cabin

Your Division Leader will inform you if one of your campers has an early dismissal. If so this is the place you must escort your camper at the specified time to be picked up. It is located right passed nature.

Kidz Zone

The building in Junior Camp located between the 2-Pool Complex and Junior Hockey, where most Junior Camp groups go for Arts & Crafts, Ceramics and Woodcrafts.

Lake Rules

When your group is scheduled for watercrafts, please bring your campers to the wooden benches by the lake. Have them get ready for their specific lake activity and have them sit quietly for further instructions. Make sure you have your campers counted and NO standing on benches! Clean up all towels before you leave.

Lakeside Theater

Located next to bumper boats and the office, the Lakeside Theater is used as a performance area for special events, as well as a meeting area for divisions and informational meetings.

Line-up

In the mornings, Girls' Side, Boys' Side and Junior Camp congregate on their respective sides for a meeting and run down of the days' events. In the afternoon, there is a division line up at a designated location before dismissal.

Lower Lot

Parking area next to the Indoor Gym used for bus dismissal.

Lunch

The dining hall is located by the five pool complex. This is where all groups eat lunch. Girls' Side eats first, then Junior Camp then Boys' Side. Lunch is periods 3,4 and 5.

Middies

Division of girls entering 2nd Grade.

Moving Up Ceremony

At the end of each 4-week session, the Pioneers and Freshmen participate in a Moving-Up ceremony to celebrate their upcoming entrance to the Boys' and Girls' side of Ramaquois, respectively.

Musketeers

Division of boys entering 4th Grade.

Name Tags

You must wear your nametag every day. It is part of the camp attire.

Nurse Rules

If a camper must go to the nurse, it is preferred that a senior counselor or counselor take the child. When you go in, you must sign your child in and take a seat. The main nurses office is located by the junior camp pool. There is also a "Bumps and Bruises" tent by the 5-Pool complex for minor injuries.

Office

The Ramaquois office is located between the Lakeside Theater and Field One.

Option

An activity period where the campers and/or Division Leaders choose the activity. Some option periods are indiviual camper choice, some are group choice. After a specified time, the option cycle ends and new activity choices are made.

Order of the Arrow

A Boys' Side tradition where one camper from each division is selected by the counselors and division leaders as the best camper in their division that summer.

Overlook Café

Outside, tented area of the dining hall where some groups dine.

Parking

All staff must park in the back staff lot. You will be directed where to park when you arrive. You must be at camp before 8:45. When leaving camp grounds, you may only make a RIGHT turn out of camp.

Pickle Ball

Basically a giant version of ping pong. The rules are similar to those of tennis. The pickle ball courts are located by Fields 7 and 8.

Pioneers

Division of Junior Camp boys entering 1st Grade

Pools

There are three pool areas. The 5-Pool Complex is located next to the Dining Hall. The 3-Pool Complex is located near Junior Camp and has a duck slide. The Junior Camp pool is located near the infirmary and in front of the office. During swim instruction, counselors are paired with a lifeguard. They must help supervise the water during instruction. During general swim, there are four positions that a counselor can hold (buddy board, stand shift, in the pool, off). Buddy board is in charge of keeping track of campers coming in and out of the pool and recording changes on the buddy boards. When a counselor stands shift, they must stand on the perimeter on the pool and watch the water for unsafe behavior. When a counselor is in the pool, they stand at the line between the shallow end and deep end and make sure only those with green bracelets go into the deep end. When a counselor has off, they must stay outside of the pool area, but must still pay attention to the pool area and take campers to the bathroom or nurse. You must always wear a bathing suit (one piece for girls) and must have your shoes and socks off while in the pool area.

Pride Shack

This is located on Boys' Side. It is where the Division Leaders desks are and where they meet.

Rainy day schedule

If it is a rainy day, your Division Leader will tell you to use a rainy day schedule. There are eight rainy day schedules. Follow this schedule until you are told differently. Your kids do not need to be changed into bathing suits but should wear raingear or sweatshirts.

Rama-Birthdays

For camper and counselors birthdays, ice cream sundaes are served during snack time. You pick these up at the snack shed and can eat in Cody's Cove with your group.

Ramagames

Three day color war event, in which the camp is divided up into four teams (red, blue, gold, white). Campers and counselors compete against each other in different activities and closes with plaque, banner, and a song and cheer event. Certain counselors are chosen as Generals and Lt. Generals for each team. CAPs are chosen as captains for the teams also. While you may be chosen as a leader for a team, you still are required to be active with your group.

Ramatheater

Located near Junior Camp and Yoga, the Ramatheater is used as a performance area for special events, song and cheer, and many other Ramaquois events.

Rangers

Division of boys entering 2nd Grade.

Red Bracelet

Indicates shallow water swimmer. Must be worn by ALL shallow water swimmers. Prohibits campers from going into lake and must be accompanied by a counselor on boats.

Robins

Division of Junior Camp girls entering Pre-k.

Schedule

Camp runs on an 8-day schedule. The day will be located on the front of the office and the side of the dining hall (by the pools).

Seniors

Division of boys entering 9th Grade.

Senior Counselor

Counselor going into their first year of college.

Skippy Ball

Softball played with a volleyball rather than a softball. The ball is bounced once before the player must hit the ball. Gloves are not required.

SNAPS

A sports league for girls of ages 12-15. This league includes sports such as BBK( a combination of basketball and kickball), soccer, softball. Each team is responsible for coming up with a team name and also creating a plaque (which is worked on over the summer with your team) and song for judgement night. Judgement night takes place after camp. On this night parents come to watch their children in a round of SNAPS and to be a part of the judgement night festivities.

Song & Cheer

Each division in camp is expected to write lyrics to a song for their side's song and cheer. There is a different song and cheer for all of the sides.Song and Cheer is held on a different day for each side. Lyrics should be about camp and should not be TOO offensive. All songs must be approved by their Division Leader.

Song Fest

Junior Camp's version of Song & Cheer. See above.

Sorority

Division of girls entering 9th Grade.

Sr. Varsity

Division of girls entering 8th Grade.

Staff Website

Here you can find the staff contract, the staff handbook, helpful links, files and videos, and answers to important questions that you may have. There are contacts of people to help you with any questions you may have. www.ramaquois.com/staff

Super Grenadiers (Super Grens)

Division of boys entering 8th Grade.

Varsity

Division of girls entering 7th Grade.

Teenas

Division of girls entering 3rd Grade.

The Pit

Located by the nature and the Kessler Cabin. Campers and counselors make s'mores and learn camping skills.

Towel Procedures

One counselor should grab towels for their group before swim. After swim, a counselor should collect all towels and bring them to the towel shack on their side. Please put all towels into the red bags.

Trek

An extended elective period for campers entering 5th and 6th and 7th - 9th grades. This activity occurs once every eight days for these two age groups.

Trips

Trips are for grades 3 through 10. Not all campers go on trips. Those who do not go will stay at camp and will follow a normal camp schedule. Campers in grades 3 and 5 may only go on day trips. Campers grades 6 and up are allowed to go on overnight trips and also the day trips. Counselors will be asked to assist on both overnight and day trips.

Warriors

Division of boys entering 3rd Grade.

Waterworks

The waterpark located by Field 1.