Frequently Asked Questions
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 much does the Event cost?
- When can I register?
- How do I volunteer to help at the Jewish Outdoor Escape?
- What is Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America?
- What are your Covid Policies
- Activities
- What will the schedule look like?
- What is Meet Your Leader?
- Food
- Menu: What's 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?
- When do the Sun and Moon rise or set at camp?
- What kind of clothing should I bring?
- Do we need bedding?
- What other stuff should I bring?
- Transportation
- What airport do I fly into?
- How do I get to camp?
- How do I get to the Pre-Trip?
- When should I plan to arrive/and leave by plane?
- When should I plan to arrive/ and leave by car?
- What if I can not make it in on Wednesday, or need to leave early?
- Do you need my travel information?
- Registration
- How do I register?
- How do I update my registration after registering for the first time?
- Can I register or pay by phone, email or snail mail?
- Can I pay in Canadian currency?
- Can participants on the pre-trip stay elsewhere besides the hotel and still participate in the
activities?
- Are there any discounts for seniors or volunteers?
- Leader Info
- Where is the Expense, Leader Debrief, Accident Report, Leader Guidelines, and Incident Reports?
- Where can I find other MOCA/Event forms?
- Miscellaneous
- What if there is a family emergency?
- When does Shabbat start/end for this weekend?
- What are the Torah and Haftarah portions for this weekend?
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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 Australia. Over one hundred
people attend annually.
The participants at the annual Jewish Outdoor Escape usually are over age 21. The average range is closer to
40s-60s. Singles typically make up the participants, but we also have many couples and parents with their adult
children.
How much does the Event cost?
Add-on costs include upgraded housing, airport transportation, extensions (Pre-Trip), and some activities.
Complete pricing information is available on the Registration page.
When can I register?
Registration will open sometime in the Spring of 2022 or earlier (TBD). See the Registration page for 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 page to see who oversees 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; 2) Encouraging and facilitating the formation and continuation of
local Mosaic clubs to sponsor local/regional activities.
Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America is a volunteer-run organization that allows Jewish adults to love the outdoors
to get back to nature and have fun. With twelve clubs located throughout the United States, Canada and Israel,
our international non-profit, volunteer-run organization promotes an appreciation of the outdoors, nature,
outdoor skills, and conservation while building Jewish community and continuity.
What are your Covid Policies?
Please CLICK HERE to see our Covid Policies.
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Activities
What will the schedule look like?
Friday through Sunday will include a mixture of Hiking, Biking, Climbing (high ropes, ziplines), Kayaking,
Canoeing, History Tours, Archery, and more.
Please see the Daytime Activities, Evening
Activities, Pre-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. You MUST attend these meetings. It may mean the difference in your
ability to participate in the activity or not the next day. Therefore, ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. Activity leaders
have the right to refusal of participation to anyone who did not attend said meeting the night before. During
these meetings, the leader will
- Confirm your registration
- Describe the details of the activity
- List all special equipment/gear that you should bring to the activity.
- Details of when and where to meet the group in the morning to attend the activity.
- Give you a chance to know your leader, so they are easy to find in the morning.
- You must go to this meeting and inform the 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
Chairpeople know so they can update the system as such.
- Note:
- Change fees will apply to all on-site changes.
- You may not be able to change to the other activity as it is maybe sold-out.
- You may not get any refund for the activity you decided not to attend. Most activities with vendors are
pre-paid with that vendor. Most vendors refund policies do not give refunds last minute.
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Food
Menu: What's the Food Like?
The camp staff will provide all meals. This is basic camp food, menu TBD. Past entrees entries 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 the Food page for more details.
Kosher: Is the Food Kosher?
See more information on the Food
page
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Housing and Camp Details
What are the accommodations like?
We will be staying at the camp, including overnight accommodations in staff /guest housing, bunk cabins, and a
bring-your-own tent. All Cabins have showers and bathrooms within the cabin. See Accommodations for more information.
Do the cabins have electricity?
All 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 the camp.
Cell coverage is spotty.
What is the climate around the camp?
For reference, Parry Sound is about 14 miles (23.2 km) west of the camp on a large lake. There will be a slight
variation in the stats below.
Average Weather on September 4 in Parry Sound Canada:
Temperatures:
On Sunday, September 4th, the temperature in Parry Sound typically ranges from 57°F to 69°F and is rarely below
46°F or above 79°F.
For reference, on July 26th, the hottest day of the year, temperatures in Parry Sound typically range from 61°F
to 76°F, while on January 29th, the coldest day of the year, they range from 7°F to 25°F.
Precipitation:
On average, there is a 29% chance that more than 0.04 inches of total
precipitation will fall in Parry Sound throughout the day on September 4th, all of which can be expected to be
rain.
For reference, the year's highest daily chance of precipitation is 33% on September 23rd, and its lowest
chance is 15% on February 11th.
Precipitation is most likely between 2 PM and 3 PM and least likely between 7
AM and 8 AM.
Water Temperature:
The average surface water temperature on September 4th in Parry Sound is 66°F, mostly staying between 65°F and
68°F, and rarely falling below 63°F or exceeding 69°F.
See: https://weatherspark.com/d/19235/9/4/Average-Weather-on-September-4-in-Parry-Sound-Canada
When do the Sun and Moon rise or set at camp?
Sunrise on Friday 9/1/2022 is 6:41 am / Sunset is 7:57 pm
Moonrise on Friday 9/1/2022 is 12:24 pm / Moonset is 10:23 pm
The moon will be in the first quarter phase on Sunday 9/3/2022
| Planet rise/Planet set, Thu, Sep 1, 2022 |
| Planet |
Rise |
Set |
Meridian |
Comment |
| Mercury |
Fri 9:10 am |
Fri 8:31 pm |
Fri 2:51 pm |
Difficult to see |
| Venus |
Fri 5:30 am |
Fri 7:31 pm |
Fri 12:31 pm |
Fairly good visibility |
| Mars |
Thu 11:26 pm |
Fri 2:27 pm |
Fri 6:56 am |
Perfect visibility |
| Jupiter |
Fri 8:50 pm |
Sat 9:04 am |
Sat 2:57 am |
Perfect visibility |
| Saturn |
Thu 7:12 pm |
Fri 5:04 am |
Fri 12:08 am |
Perfect visibility |
| Uranus |
Thu 10:25 pm |
Fri 12:55 pm |
Fri 5:40 am |
Average visibility |
| Neptune |
Fri 8:23 pm |
Sat 8:00 am |
Sat 2:12 am |
Slightly difficult to see |
What kind of clothing should I bring?
Please look at the What to Bring page for details.
Do we need bedding?
You will need a pillow, sleeping bag and/or sheets, blankets. Bedding and Towel Packages are available for
rental. See the What to Bring page for more information.
What other stuff should I bring?
Any gear needed for specific activities, day pack or fanny pack that can hold lunch, water bottle or hydration
pack, and other miscellaneous equipment. See the What to Bring page for more
information.
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Transportation
What airport do I fly into?
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ): Please see the Transportation
page for more information.
How do I get to camp?
See the Transportation page for more information and other options
How do I get to the Pre-Trip?
Please see the Pre-Trip page.
When should I plan to arrive/and leave by plane?
Please see the Transportation page.
When should I plan to arrive/ and leave by car?
Please see the Transportation page.
What if I can not make it in on Wednesday, or need to leave early?
That is okay with us; we will leave the light on for ya'll. Unfortunately, you will 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. Please see the Transportation page for more details.
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 and create camaraderie among fellow travelers.
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Registration
How do I register?
Go to the Registration page. Read the valuable info on that page. You will find
the link to the registration website at the bottom of that page.
Note: Spend time deciding on your activities for each day BEFORE registering.
How do I update my registration after registering for the first time?
Change your mind or want to go back to look at something during your registration? Then click on the progress
bar on the top right corner of registration. Then click the page in question to revisit the page and make your
changes. Please remember to REMOVE your initial choice BEFORE selecting another one.
Can I register or 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?
Click HERE for more information.
Can participants on the pre-trip stay elsewhere besides the hotel and still participate in the activities?
Yes, you can. There is a "no hotel" option for registration which includes:
- Preloaded PRESTO tickets for Wednesday and Thursday
- MOSAIC administration fees.
- Tuesday night dinner
Are there any discounts for seniors or volunteers?
There are no discounts for seniors or volunteers. However, if you would like to volunteer as a van driver to the
Event and from the Event (which does not include driving to the activities), the transportation is at no cost.
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Miscellaneous
What if there is a family emergency?
We certainly hope this is not 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. Find more details under Contact.