Keshet Vocational Program

Apachi Northside, located at Northside College Prep, 5501 N Kedzie Ave in Chicago.

On a typical day, the program hours are 10am-2pm on Monday-Friday.

Apachi Northside runs from Tuesday, June 20-Friday, August 4. There is no camp on July 3 or July 4.
Staff Training takes place from Monday, June 12-Friday, June 16.

For participants coming from the suburbs, we will provide transportation to/from the Keshet Business Office in Northbrook at 610 Academy Drive.

The van will leave at 9am for a 10am arrival at camp. Please arrive prior to 9am so we can leave on time. The van will depart camp at 2pm for a 3pm arrival in Northbrook. Due to construction on the Kennedy and elsewhere, these times may need to be adjusted as we learn how long it takes.

Participants may also meet the group at camp each day. If that is the case, please arrive at 10am and be ready for pick up at 2pm.

Participants will need to wear Apachi Day Camp shirts each day. These shirts will be provided to the participants during staff training week.

Please come dressed for your job. Shorts and gym shoes are sufficient. If your job is inside, you may want to bring a sweatshirt in case the room is cold.

We suggest bringing sunscreen, a filled water bottle and a bagged lunch. Lunches can be refrigerated when you arrive at camp. If there will be swimming on a particular day, you will know in advance.

If you pack your belongings in a backpack, there will be a place for you to keep it during the day.

You can bring your cell phone with you to camp. There are rules at camp about using cell phones that will we review with you during Staff Training Week.

Each morning will begin with a quick group meeting to preview the day, learn about any changes to the schedule and get settled. You will receive your daily schedule at that time (we will go over the daily schedule with you during Staff Training Week). You will then report to your job where you will check in with your supervisor and get your schedule for the day. There will be a break for lunch. After lunch, you will return to your job. The day will end with a group meeting to discuss how things went and what to look forward to for tomorrow.

There will be some days when we have special workshops planned.

Staff bring their lunches. Your lunch can be refrigerated when you arrive at camp. If you are working as a counselor, you will eat lunch with your camp group. If you are working in a specialty area or office, sometimes you will eat with your coworkers and other times we may eat together. Lunch typically takes place at tables outside.

There are two days each week where lunch is provided for campers and staff:

Tuesdays: Pizza
Friday: Hot Dog Cookout

If you like pizza and hot dogs, you do not need to bring lunches on those days.

Keshet’s Vocational Program starts during Staff Training Week. This is a time to become familiar with the camp and meet other staff. There is a lot that goes on during Staff Training. The schedule is not the same as regular camp. Even the beginning and end times of the day are different.

Monday, June 12
8:15am-12:45pm
With Northbrook Transportation: 7:15am-1:45pm

Tuesday, June 13
10:00am-2:30pm
With Northbrook Transportation: 9:00am-3:00pm

Wednesday, June 14
9:30am-2:00pm
With Northbrook Transportation: 8:30am-3:00pm

Thursday, June 15
11:45am-3:45pm **Pizza Lunch is Provided
With Northbrook Transportation: 10:45am-5:00pm

Friday, June 16
10:00am-1:00pm
With Northbrook Transportation: 9:00am-2:00pm

Participants will receive an email with a complete schedule of each day prior the start of the week.

The expectation is that you will be at camp all five days each week, but we know that sometimes things do come up. As soon as you know if there are any days you can’t attend, please notify Bob. If you are sick and cannot come to camp that day, please let Bob know in the morning.

We will go over all of this during staff training. There are plenty of other staff around to help. Bob will be there as your job coach and you will see him all of the time. Katie and Mel are other Keshet leaders who are on site. We will also have a designated place for you  to go to cool down or take a break.

Before camp begins, you can reach out to Katie Brock at 630-299-6573.

During the camp session, Bob Kulanda is your main contact. (Contact info coming soon!)

Keshet’s new Vocational Program at Day Camp is a dream come true. It’s something we’ve wanted to do for many years. JUF has provided funding for us to operate this program at Apachi Northside as well as a pre-vocational program for 8^th graders at ‘Z’ Frank Apachi in Northbrook.

Our goal is for participants to learn and practice skills that can be transferred to other job settings. All of the participants are unique and placed in a job that matches their skills and interests. Although Keshet is providing additional support and job coaching, the Vocational Program participants are part of the staff team at camp. Our vision is that our support will lessen during the summer as natural supports are developed.