Bay Yachad Fall Retreat 2024
Join Jewish teens from all over the Bay Area celebrating Shabbat in nature!
What is Bay-Yachad?
Bay Yachad (togetherness in Hebrew) is a Bay Area-wide partnership amidst a broad coalition of synagogues and teens-serving organizations. Last year our retreats reached 9 different Jewish youth-serving organizations, with participants traveling from Marin County to Southern California. This fall we are returning to the redwoods with teens from all over the Bay Area. Our partners are committed to creating a unique and safe retreating experience for our Jewish teens over a weekend. Bay-Yachad retreats are hosted by Contra Costa Midrasha.
Our Fall Bay-Yachad Partners: Contra Costa Midrasha, Berkeley Oakland Midrasha, Sherith Israel, San Francisco; Am Tikvah, San Francisco; Congregation Beth El, Berkeley; Temple Beth El, Aptos, and Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame!
What are the goals of Bay Yachad Retreats?
Bay-Yachad Retreats are about Jewish teenagers unplugging from technology and spending time bonding together in nature. Our retreat weekends offer teenagers an opportunity to disconnect from their school lives and reconnect with Jewish values of spiritual well-being. We believe that youth group retreats are a mental health protective factor, and we plan retreats that allow each participant to grow their Jewish community and Jewish practices. On retreats we celebrate Shabbat with a short Kabbalat Shabbat service Friday night, a teen-led Torah service Saturday morning, and a starry sky Havdalah and campfire song session.
What happens on retreats?
The Details:
- When: November 8-10, 2024
- RSVP & Financial Aid Deadline: Thursday, October 24th
- Where: A beautiful retreat site amidst redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains
- Who: [Jewish] teens in grades 8-12.
Cost & Coupon Codes:
- Cost: $385 per retreat. (Scholarships, financial aid, and payment plans are available, contact your organization’s youth director and/or CCM's Director, Devra Aarons to get your discount code or discuss financing options.)
- CCM Parents: Did you pre-pay for the whole year of retreats when you registered your teen? If so, use code "PrePaid" for a zero balance. Please still fill out the form for each retreat so that your teen is formally RSVP'ed.
- Already paid a Retreats Deposit to Contra Costa Midrasha? Use the discount code, "CCM" in the coupon code area at checkout apply your $225 deposit towards this retreat.
Health & Safety Forms & Code of Conduct
- After completing registration, parents will be emailed a Code of Conduct, a Medical Release form, and a Liability Waiver that must be filled out completely and emailed back to [email protected] no later than Monday, November 4, 2024.
- One medical release form per school year is sufficient unless any updated health needs for your teen require our awareness.
Retreat Transportation Schedule
Friday Bus Pickup will be emailed to you after registration.
Sunday Bus Drop Off will be emailed to you after registration.
Refund Policy
- If a teen cancels before the RSVP deadline then a full repayment will be made, minus a $25 administration fee. If the cancellation happens after the RSVP deadline, then half the fee will be refunded or the funds can be applied to a future retreat in the 2024-2025 year.
- If a teen has symptoms or might be ill, please have them stay home and inform our Midrasha office. You will be refunded for the weekend minus a $25 administrative fee.
Covid Protocols
- A negative Covid antigen test must be sent to [email protected] by 9 am on Friday morning of each retreat to get on the bus or attend the retreat with the teen's name on the e-mail and should be administered within 24 hours of getting on the bus or arriving at camp. (If needed, test kits can be picked up at each host institution.)
Security Protocols
- The physical and emotional security of retreat attendees is our highest priority. CCM and its partners are working hard with our staff, the camp, local security, fire, and police departments to make sure all aspects of the retreats are safe. If your teen is registered for the retreat and you want to know details of security protocols, please contact CCM's Director, Devra Aarons for more information.
FAQ
Who can come to Bay Yachad?
Any Jewish teenager in 8-12th grade who is involved in any Jewish teen program in the Bay Area
What happens at Bay Yachad?
Bay Yachad is a weekend-long retreat in the redwood forests! Teens enjoy Shabbat in nature and Havdalah under the stars!
Our retreats are modeled after Dan Siegel’s Healthy Mind Platter
Where does Bay Yachad happen?
A beautiful retreat site amidst redwood trees in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Bus transportation is included in registration. Our bus stops in Danville, Walnut Creek, Berkeley, San Francisco, and the Peninsula.
Where do teens sleep?
Teens sleep in bunk beds in heated cabins with in-cabin bathrooms and at least one adult counselor per cabin.
What is the food situation?
All food served will be kosher style (no milk and meat, shellfish, or pork)
If requested, we can provide vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, Glatt Kosher, and/or allergy–sensitive (such as nut-free) foods
