For information on applying to be on staff, please visit Summer Staff Information.

Barnhard Mador Staff Program
Camp Ramah in California provides graduating high school seniors with an incredible opportunity to grow as leaders. Participants in the Mador program serve as madrichim (counselors) in an edah (age group) and as moomchim (specialists) in an anaf (specialty department). Through this training, program participants gain invaluable skills that can be used in any future professional and volunteer setting. Some of these skills are important for leaders regardless of whether their work is Jewish, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, and public speaking. Other skills are specific to leadership in the Jewish community such as Hebrew language, Jewish education, T’fillah, and Israel advocacy. The opportunity to both learn and engage in hands-on professional work distinguishes Ramah’s training programs from other camp leadership programs. Participation includes a commitment to participate in workshops specially designed to teach the many skills listed above and to give participants the opportunity to further their own Jewish learning. In addition, each participant will be guided by a yoetzet (parent/staff liaison) who will oversee an ongoing evaluation process aimed at continual self-reflection and improvement. Participants will also be directly supervised and supported both by a Rosh Edah (unit head), Rosh Anaf (department head), and the head of the training program. Participants are expected to be a positive role model at all times – in Tefillot, during meals, late at night on shmira, and all of the time in between.

Madrich (Counselor)
For many who attended Ramah as chanichim (campers), being a madrich (counselor) provides you with the opportunity to transform the fun you had as a camper into an incredible experience for the next generation of Ramahniks on the bunk and edah level. As exciting and challenging as that sounds (and is), being a madrich is also demanding. If accepted, you will have a wide range of responsibilities within your bunk and edah, as well as within the larger camp program. In your own bunk, you will care for the health, safety, hygiene, and general well-being of chanichim as young as eight and as old as sixteen. In your edah you will plan and implement peulot erev and tzrif, T’fillot, and other activities.

Moomcheh (Specialist)
This program allows you to grow a specific skill set as you learn to work with chanichim as a Jewish educator and bring camp to life in a fun, engaging manner throughout the day. Many of you look back on your time at the pool, sports, art or other areas as meaningful ways to have fun in a Jewish setting and would excel at passing these experiences on to our campers. In reflecting back on their experience, many chanichim often reference a specific activity as a highlight – an outstanding reflection on the strong quality of our specialty staff. If accepted, you will have a wide range of responsibilities within your anaf (department), as well as within the larger camp program. In your specialty area, you will work with a Rosh Anaf (department head) to set goals and design activities to enrich our campers’ summer experience. You will also have a hand in the edah level of camp, through your living arrangements. Specialists either live in a bunk or tent with chanichim, or are assigned an an edah to help within t’fillot and peulot erev, but live in staff housing.

Mishlachat (Israeli Staff)
Every summer, as part of our effort in educating our community about Israel, Camp Ramah in California brings a cohort of Israeli staff members from Israel to work at camp in various areas of camp. We partner with the Jewish Agency of Israel to screen, interview, and hire our Israeli staff members. If you are Israeli, require a working visa, and are interested in working at Camp Ramah in California this summer, please apply through the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) Shlichut Program: Click here.