The Campers Return

After a minor flu scare, all Camp Sabra campers returned on Tuesday, June 30.

Camp Sabra Director Terri Grossman promised that the kids will have the “best ten days ever.”

Sabra had been closed for 1 week, but with all problems addressed and fears quieted, dozens of eager kids and teens boarded the buses back to camp.

More than 200 of the original 250 campers returned for the last ten days of the first session. For those families who had children that did not return, Sabra willingly agreed to work with each to best accommodate their specific financial situation.

As a final precaution, all campers had their temperature taken immediately prior to boarding. All campers whose temperature fell into a normal ranger were allowed onto the bus. If not, it was recommended that they returned home.

No known cases of abnormal temperature have been reported.

Campers can expect regular activities to resume tonight, with an excited “welcome back” by counselors and staff.

Camp Closed for 1 Week: jewishinstlouis.org Reports

The following is from www.jewishinstlouis.org:

Flu Outbreak Temporarily Closes Camp Sabra; Decision made to close the camp for one week.
Sabra will reopen Tuesday, June 30.

Camp Sabra, the Jewish Community Center residential camp in the Ozarks, is closing for one week due to an outbreak of several strains of the flu, including swine flu. The camp is scheduled to reopen by next Tuesday, June 30, said. Lynn Wittels, JCC President and CEO.

“After consulting with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, we made the very difficult decision to close Camp for one week to break the cycle of infection among counselors and campers. Two confirmed cases of the H1N1 (swine flu) have been reported. In addition, many staff and campers have come down with a range of flu-like symptoms lasing 24 to 36 hours,” said Wittels.

Wittels emphasized that the entire Sabra team has been incredibly responsible and professional in how they’ve handled the situation, “keeping the best interests of staff and kids top of mind. I’d personally and publicly like to acknowledge Craig Neuman, Terri Grossman, the medical staff and entire Sabra team for their persistence, patience and assistance as well as Eli Abeles, chair of the Sabra Committee, who helped make the decision to close Sabra for a week.”

Wittels added that “By next Tuesday, we hope to welcome back a full compliment of campers and counselors and hope one day we can look back at this situation with the assurance that we did the right thing.”