CDC Publishes Study of Ramah Camps' 2021 Strategies for Preventing the Transmission of COVID-19
We are pleased and privileged to announce that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published “Multicomponent Strategies to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Transmission — Nine Overnight Youth Summer Camps, United States, June–August 2021,” a study describing the successful outcome of the multiple COVID-19 prevention strategies implemented at Ramah camps this summer. Among over 7,000 campers and staff at our 9 U.S. overnight camps, there were only 9 positive cases of COVID-19, and no secondary infections identified during camp.
This graphic summarizes the key points of the study.
PDF of the study | Executive Summary
The study was conducted this summer by the National Ramah Commission’s Medical Committee under the leadership of Kim Van Naarden Braun, PhD (Ramah Sports Academy medical chair); Mark Drexler, MD (Ramah Wisconsin medical chair); and Cliff Nerwen, MD (Ramah Berkshires and NRC Medical Committee chair).
See below for a brief summary of the study, along with a list of the NRC Medical Committee members.
We also congratulate the leaders of Camp Ramah in Canada, our five Ramah day camps, and Ramah Israel Seminar. Although not included in the scope of this study, these programs together served thousands more campers and staff with relatively few cases of infection and no outbreaks.
Credit goes to so many groups of our Ramah leaders—the NRC Medical Committee, our camp medical committees, the directors and hanhallah (senior administration) of our camps, our “marp” (infirmary) staff, and all of those who worked tirelessly leading up to the summer and during the summer to keep our camp communities safe and healthy. We are grateful to those who submitted data throughout the summer, enabling us to document our experience.
Many thanks to our core research team, which was led by Dr. Mark Drexler and Dr. Kim Van Naarden Braun and included Dr. Ranna Rozenfeld, Eytan Deener-Agus, and Rebecca Greenstein.
“This project highlights the amazing team members who work at all of our camps and the unbelievable thought, planning, and effort put into making the summer of 2021 an unbelievable success,” according to Dr. Mark Drexler. Dr. Cliff Nerwen adds, “We should all be very proud of the work we accomplished this summer, which demonstrates Ramah’s firm commitment to the health and safety of our communities.” Finally, Dr. Kim Van Naarden Braun observes, “The magic of Ramah was back this summer under extraordinary circumstances due to the unwavering commitment of our very special kehillah. This study demonstrates the core value that Ramah teaches our children and young adults of tikkun olam, as our findings have already and will continue to provide a roadmap for other organizations working to keep their communities safe."
Following publication by the CDC, the study has attracted media attention in the past few days, including references in CNN and the New York Times. Due to the leadership demonstrated by our Ramah team, the CDC has already contacted us several times to provide guidance to boarding schools based on Ramah’s successful protocols.
We would like to express our deep appreciation to our colleagues and partners at other Jewish camping movements, the Foundation for Jewish Camp, and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for their invaluable support and guidance during the many months leading up to summer 2021. We are especially grateful to the American Camp Association and Tom Rosenberg, ACA President and CEO, for bringing much needed scientific expertise to the field of camping throughout this crisis.
We hope and pray for an end to this public health crisis and look forward to another wonderful and safe Ramah summer in 2022.
Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, Director
National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary
Study Overview
During June to August 2021, Ramah’s nine U.S. overnight camps used multiple COVID-19 prevention strategies, including, vaccination, pre- and post-arrival testing, masks, physical distancing (e.g., outdoor programming, staggered and divided indoor/outdoor meals), podding (cohorting), and hand hygiene.
Among the 7,173 staff members and campers who attended these nine camps, six people had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections identified by screening testing, representing a 0.02% screening positivity rate. Three additional cases were identified through symptoms and confirmatory diagnostic testing yielding a case rate of 0.1% across all Ramah camps for the 2021 season with no known spread of SARS-CoV-2 during camp.
PDF of the study | Executive Summary
NRC Medical Committee Members
Dr. Michael Agus, New England
Dr. Alyse Baron, California
Dr. Mark Drexler, Wisconsin
Dr. Sandy Herman, Darom
Dr. Mark Joffe, Poconos
Dr. Andrea Kasowitz, California
Dr. Orly Klein, Darom
Dr. Jeff Kopin, NRC
Dr. Philip Levy, Berkshires
Dr. Irene Moff, Galim
Dr. Cliff Nerwen, Berkshires & NRC
Dr. Marcus Oginsky, Rockies
Dr. Steven Schwartz, New England
Dr. Kim Van Naarden Braun, RSA
Dr. Tanya Wyman, Canada