FAQ

What are the important dates we need to know?

• Sunday, September 10: Early Bird Registration opens ($425)
• Sunday, September 10: Scholarship applications open (apply here)
• Friday, September 29: Early Bird Registration ends at 11:59pm (price will increase to $475)
• Sunday, October 15: Scholarship applications due by 11:59pm
• Friday, October 27: Registration closes at 11:59pm. No refunds will be given after this date. No late registrations will be accepted.  (See full cancellation/refund policy below)
• Sunday, November 5: CampDoc medical/dietary information due online
• Thursday, November 9 - Sunday, November 12: Fall Ruach Regional Convention

Please see below for more Convention information:

What is the cancellation/refund policy?  The deadline to cancel with a full program refund is October 27th at 11:59pm. Until that date, full refunds will be granted for cancellations in writing (e-mail is acceptable), for any reason. After the registration deadline, partial refunds may be available based on convention expenses already paid (hotel, transportation, etc.). Within ten days of convention we’ve already confirmed final counts with our vendors, and no refunds will be given. “No shows” will not receive a refund.

COVID GUIDANCE FOR RUACH CONVENTION- please read all the way through as our BBYO policies have changed since Fall Convention

What are your COVID procedures? BBYO follows the CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 vaccination and as a result, highly recommends each participant be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 including the most recent booster available. Boosters are an important part of protecting yourself and those around you from becoming seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. BBYO is following the guidance of many public health institutions, scientists, and medical professionals who have led the battle against the coronavirus and are recommending that people be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination is no longer mandatory, but encouraged, to attend a BBYO overnight as with previous conventions.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision that all participants attending Ruach Convention must provide evidence of a negative Covid test. Teens’ negative COVID test proof will be checked by staff members at the bus stop, or at the convention check in table. We will only accept tests taken between November 7th-November 9th. 

PCR tests or rapid antigen at home tests are both acceptable for this convention. If you are submitting an over-the-counter or take-home test that does not come with a lab report, please take a picture of yourself holding your test results with the teens name and date. We must be able to see their face and their test results in the picture.

If for any reason you are unable to do this please contact Evergreen staff at [email protected] immediately. 

We recommend going to a Covid testing location that provides fast turnaround times. Here are some recommended options: 

• Check out local Covid-19 Testing Websites-
  • Seattle: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/testing.aspx#sites
  • Portland: https://www.ohsu.edu/health/covid-testing-portland-expo-center
  • Eugene: https://lanecounty.org/government/county_departments
• CVS – Multiple area locations offer rapid testing
• At Home Rapid Tests are sold at many drug stores
• Any other location convenient to you, we recommend asking how long the results will take to ensure you get them in time for Thursday.

Additional Covid Procedures:

• Masks
  • Participants are asked to pack enough masks to wear for the entire weekend incase we are faced with a situation that we will need to wear one. Staff will have extra masks and hand sanitizer available as needed, but not enough masks to provide for everyone.

PREPARING FOR CONVENTION                                                                                                        

What medical form does BBYO need? Within a week of registering for convention you’ll receive an email from CampDoc.com, if your teens CampDoc's profile is incomplete, and will be able to fill out the form electronically. Please note that if you have attended another BBYO convention or will be attending International Convention you will use the same login and only need to update your information. You do not need a physical for this convention. If you do not receive an email from CampDocs pertaining to convention then your profile is complete.

What if I take medication? Teens will be responsible for keeping and taking their own medications. These medications should be noted on your CampDoc medical form. We will not have a professional nurse on staff. We will have over the counter medicines if need be (Tylenol, Tums, Advil, etc.) and we do keep track of when teens are taking these meds from us.

What is the recommended dress? Stay tuned for a complete packing list. You’ll want to check in with your teen’s chapter for their planned spirit items. Teens will be at a camp, so pack accordingly. Clothing that is profane or references to drugs or alcohol is also not permitted. We do not permit any spirit wear that is potentially offensive to any race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. More specific information on acceptable clothing choices will be sent in the Ruach spirit guide.   

What should I pack? The recommended packing list includes:

• BBYO chapter spirit clothing (chapter-specific information will be sent by each chapter)
• Toiletries
• Jeans/slacks
• Casual shirts/blouses
• T-shirts
• Sweatshirts/sweaters
• Shabbat appropriate attire- Friday evening Shabbat attire should be nicer than typical casual clothes.
• Sneakers/casual shoes/dress shoes
• Pajamas
• Kippah, Tallit and Tefillin (if desired)
• AZA and BBG pins
• A camera
• Spending money (optional- see below)
• Masks
• *BBYO is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please leave all unnecessary valuables at home.

Will I need spending money? Teens are advised to bring a small amount of cash to Ruach. Teens may choose to purchase items at the Shuk (marketplace), showcasing BBYO ‘swag’ and apparel from chapters across the region. Items at the Ruach Shuk typically cost between $1 and $35. BBYO is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please leave all unnecessary valuables at home.

Need Extra Care? Conventions and overnights have their challenges for teens, especially our younger members. If your teen needs extra care during the Convention, either socially, physically or otherwise (anxiety, shyness, etc.), please reach out to Evergreen Staff at [email protected]. For the safety and well-being of all our members, only our professional staff is able to arrange and/or provide extra care.

ON-SITE LOGISTICS

How do I get to convention?

• Seattle: Bus transportation to convention is provided and timing is subject to change. Bus pick-up will be at 2:00 pm on Thursday, please plan to arrive by 1:30 pm. Drop-off is generally around 3:00pm on Sunday, pending return traffic. Bus timing and locations will be sent after registration.
• Portland: Bus transportation to convention is provided and timing is subject to change. Bus pick-up will be at 1:00 pm on Thursday, please plan to arrive by 12:30 pm. Drop-off is generally around 4:00 pm on Sunday, pending return traffic. Bus timing and locations will be sent after registration.
• Eugene, Corvallis, Bend, and Ashland: Bus transportation to convention is provided from Eugene and timing is subject to change. Bus pick-up will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, please plan to arrive by 10:30 am. Drop-off is generally around 6:30 pm on Sunday, pending return traffic. Bus timing and locations will be sent after registration.
• Boise & Tacoma families will be sent information regarding transportation after registration.
• Please direct any travel questions to Evergreen Staff at [email protected].
• Teens may NOT drive themselves to/from convention. There are no exceptions to this policy. If a teen drives to convention, they will not be allowed to participate in the program.
• What if I have to come late or leave early? No problem! If you have other commitments throughout the event that you’re unable to miss- don't worry! We will work with you so can attend. Late arrivals and early departures are typically no problem as long as we know in advance. Teens may not drive themselves to/from convention. Prorated convention costs are not available. Please email [email protected] by October 27th at 11:59pm if you have late arrival or early departure needs.

How does rooming work? Teens are roomed randomly in rooms. We do our best to room teens with 1 other teen from their chapter although odd numbers and late registrations may cause this to not be possible. We also do our best to room teens with teens that are within 1-2 school years of one another. While we do not allow for room requests or room changes, any serious rooming issues should be brought to the staff’s attention immediately upon registration.

BBYO as an organization seeks to provide an inclusive rooming community and recognizes that our teens have a variety of gender identities, not limited to only male and female. Offering gender inclusive rooming creates a BBYO community where all teens are welcome and safe.

Based on teen feedback we have chosen, in addition to having gender inclusive AZA and BBG cabins, to provide an option for teens to room in a non-binary and non-gendered BBYO cabin! Non-binary is defines as an umbrella term for gender identities that are not solely male or female‍, or ‌identities that are outside the gender binary; while non-gendered is defined as not relating to people of one particular gender.  If a teen identifies as non binary or gender non conforming, in addition to gender-inclusive rooming, they will have an additional option to stay in our BBYO cabin.

Upon registering you will be asked about teens preference for rooming. They may choose between a BBG, AZA, or BBYO cabin to room in. Please note that all teens who would like to be placed in a BBYO must have parent, or guardian, consent to be placed in that cabin. A follow up email will be sent to confirm consent.

What are the meals like? What if I have a dietary restriction? Camp Solomon Schechter is a kosher camp with vegetarian and vegan options. We ask for allergy information and food needs on the online medical form and we appreciate you sharing information as soon as possible so that we can accommodate specific food needs and limitations. All BBYO conventions are peanut nut-free.

What is BBYO's supervision policy? BBYO has a minimum supervision ratio of 15 teens to every adult. All of BBYO’s professional staff have had background checks and are trained to work with your teens and keep them safe. The staff and advisors help to supervise teens before, during, and after programming. Teen safety is our #1 priority.

What is BBYO’s discipline policy? As a reminder, when you registered for membership you signed BBYO’s Code of Conduct, which outlines our policies for substance abuse, property damage, and behavior guidelines with the full understanding of our behavioral expectations as a member of BBYO. Rules and guidelines will be made clear to all participants upon their arrival at convention opening. Should one of our teens choose to act outside of our Code of Conduct, the incident will be addressed by the appropriate staff members. We have a zero-tolerance approach to any violation of the Code of Conduct and any discipline matter that comes to the attention of staff. If you are (or your teen is) dismissed from Ruach for disciplinary reasons or Code of Conduct violations, BBYO staff will arrange for travel home immediately, at your family’s expense and without a refund.