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?
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't make it in on Thursday, 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?

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 as far as Australia. Over 100 people attend annually.

The participants at the annual Jewish Outdoor Escape usually range from 21 to 75. The average range is closer to 40-60. Singles typically make up the majority of 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. Full pricing information is available on the Registration page.

When can I register?

Registration will open sometime in the Spring of 2021 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 is in charge of 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 with a love of the outdoors to get back to nature and have some fun. With 12 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.

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 attend the activity or not the next day. Therefore, ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. Activity leaders have the right of 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 on 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 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 Chair people know so they can update the system as such.
Note:
1. Change fees will apply to all on-site changes.
2. You may not be able to change to the other activity as it is maybe sold-out.
3. You may not get any refund for the activity you decided not to attend. Most activities with vendors are pre-paid with that vendor. The majority of vendors refund policies do not give refunds last minute.

Food

Menu: What's the food like?

All meals will be provided by the camp staff. This is basic camp food, menu TBD. Past entrees 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

Housing and Camp Details

What are the accommodations like?

We will be staying at the camp which include overnight accommodations in staff /guest housing, bunk cabins, and bring-your-own tent. All Cabins have showers and bathrooms within the cabin. See Accommodations for more information.

Do the cabins have electricity?

All of 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 August 27^th, the temperature in Parry Sound typically ranges from 59°F (15°C) to 71°F (21.6°C) and is rarely below 49°F (9.4°C) or above 80°F (26.6°C).

The coolest time of the day is from 1:15 AM to 8:30 AM, with the coldest at 6:30 AM, at which time the temperature is below 64°F (17.7°C) three days out of four, and below 68°F (20°C) nine days out of ten.

The warmest time of the day is from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with the hottest at 3:45 PM, at which time the temperature is above 67°F (19.4°C) three days out of four, and above 62°F (16.7°C) nine days out of ten.

Precipitation:On average, there is a 27% chance that more than 0.04 inches of total precipitation will fall in Parry Sound throughout the day on August 27, all of which can be expected to be rain.

For reference, the year's highest daily chance of precipitation is 33% on September 22, and its lowest chance is 15% on February 11.

Water Temperature: Parry Sound is located near a large body of water (large lake). The average surface water temperature on September 4 in Parry Sound is 67°F (19.4C), mostly staying between 66°F (19°C) and 69°F (20.5°C), and rarely falling below 64°F (17.7°C) or exceeding 70°F (21°C).

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?

On Friday, August 27^th, 2021:

Day Length 13 Hrs 5 Min
Sunrise: 6:36 am / Sunset 8:06 pm
Solar Noon 1:21 pm

Moon Rise 10:37 pm / Moon Set 11:58 am / Meridian Moon Passing 5:01 am
Blue Full Moon on August 22 @ 8:01 am

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?

Highly suggested items: a day pack or fanny pack that can hold lunch, water bottle or hydration pack, and other miscellaneous gear. Any gear needed for specific activities. See the What to Bring page for more information.

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't make it in on Thursday, or need to leave early?

That's 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 as well as create camaraderie among fellow travelers.

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?

TBD

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?

We are working on a plan for this. Stay tuned.

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 (does not include driving to the activities), then the transportation is no cost to you.

Leader Info

Where is the Expense, Leader Debrief, Accident Report, Leader Guidelines, and Incident Reports?

You can find these forms under Attendee Information.

Where can I find other MOCA/Event forms?

Go to Resources on Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America.

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 information under Contact.