Retreats A-Z Guide
Accessibility
All of our recreational buildings are wheelchair/handicap accessible. If you have difficulty walking, please see a Ramah Darom staff member to discuss accommodations. Please note, we are not able to rent out golf carts to individuals and families.
Accommodations
We offer several different types of housing, including, cottages, deluxe and standard hotel rooms, as well as cabins. All accommodations have attached bathrooms, and heat for colder months. Linens and bath towels will be provided in all housing types. Please bring your own toiletries, hairdryer (if needed) and pool towels.
Arrival & Departure
Please check the Program Guide or Retreat Page for arrival and departure times. If you need help arranging transportation to or from the airport or rental references, please let us know. (Please note, we do not provide free transportation.)
Candle Lighting
We will provide Shabbat /Yom Tov candles for candle lighting. Please do not light candles in your room.
Cars & Parking
The speed limit on campus is 5mph. Guests are asked not to use their vehicles to travel around campus. Guests may park only in approved parking locations. It is extremely important to only park in designated parking areas to ensure our maintenance and facilities team can access all areas of our campus.
Clothing & Packing
Our atmosphere is casual. For Shabbat, we recommend bringing dressier attire. Temperatures can drop quickly in the evenings and early mornings, so we do suggest layering your clothes. Bring comfortable shoes, and rain gear just in case! Most people find bringing a backpack helpful too. And, it’s a good idea to label all of your belongings.
Come prepared! Check out our Retreat Packing List.
Emergency Contact Information
Camp Ramah Darom Address: 70 Darom Lane, Clayton, GA 30525
Welcome Center Phone Number: 706.782.9300
Fitness Center
The gym is equipped with bikes, treadmills, elliptical, bench press benches, cross-fit equipment, multi-purpose weight machine, medicine balls, gym bands, and yoga mats. For safety reasons, only guests over the age of 16 are welcome to use our gym, located on the ground floor of the Levine Center.
Housekeeping
Cabin guests have access to clean towels outside of their bathrooms. If you need an extra set of sheets, please request sheets from the Welcome Center Desk. If your cabin trash is full, please note that there are large trash bins located outside every cabin building where you can empty your trash.
Kashrut
Ramah Darom is a strictly kosher facility. If you are planning to bring your own snacks, please be sure they are hekshered (kosher certified). Note: No personal food or snacks may be brought into the chadar ochel (dining room). Similarly, we ask that no utensils or cups be brought out of the chadar ochel. This is so we can be sure to maintain our strict standards of Kashrut. If you have questions, please ask.
The Atlanta Kosher Commission oversees Kashrut of our kitchen during Ramah Darom Retreats, with the exception of our Passover Retreat. During the summer season, Camp Ramah Darom’s kitchen is under the supervision of Rabbi Joel Roth, the halachic authority of the National Ramah Commission, Inc., and the Louis Finkelstein Professor of Talmud and Jewish Law at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS).
Meals & Snacks
There will be plenty of food at Ramah Darom! We will be serving three meals a day, as well as snacks. All meals begin together as a community with HaMotzi (blessing before the meal) and will end with BirkatHaMazon (blessing after the meal). All special dietary food needs will be served from just inside the prep area of the kitchen.
Whole fruit, water and coffee are available at all times in the chadar ochel (dining hall).
After each meal, please clear your plates and bring all utensils, bowls, plates and cups to the proper dish room in the back of the chadar ochel.
Medical Emergencies & Medication
In the event of an emergency, call 911 or 7-911 from a landline. Be prepared to state the nature of the problem and your location (70 Darom Lane, Clayton, Georgia 30525). Please also dial #9300 internally or (706) 782-9300 to reach our receptionist who will help notify a staff member of the situation. In case of an emergency, the hospital in Clayton is about 15 minutes away.
For minor medical issues, first aid kits are available at the Welcome Center Reception Desk, in the Marcus Lodge Hotel community room (ground floor), in the Mountainside Retreat Hotel kitchenette (lower level), in the Lakeside Hotel sitting room (lower level), and in the Main Dining Room.
Please bring your own prescription medication and any over-the-counter supplies your family may need.
Night Listening
For Family Retreats, during evening adult activities, counselors will be assigned to a specific group of rooms to listen for children who wake up or need something. Counselors are there to respond to needs that arise but are not available to supervise bedtime. One counselor will always be available to get a parent if necessary. Please note that each family will not have its own individual babysitter.
No Pet Policy
Please note that NO pets of any kind may join you for your stay onsite, for any length of time.
Room Keys
Hotel room keys are available upon request. Keys must be returned to the Reception Desk prior to check-out or a charge of $50 will be assessed.
Shabbat
Shabbat at Ramah Darom is a special opportunity to unplug from our phones and other devices so we can connect with family, new friends and nature. Out of respect for this value and our community, we ask that guests refrain from using electronics in public spaces during Shabbat.
Shabbat dress is dressy-casual. It is nice to bring two Shabbat outfits, one for Friday night and one for Saturday morning. Saturday is more casual than Friday night.
Here are some ideas for Shabbat clothing:
- Collared shirt (polo or button-down)
- Skirt and blouse or a dress
- Khaki pants, shorts or trousers
Smoking & Illegal Substances
Smoking is not permitted inside any building on campus. There is a designated smoking area on the back porch outside of the Mountainside Dining Hall. A fee will be assessed to rooms or areas showing evidence of smoking or smoke damage.
Please refrain from bringing or using illegal substances anywhere on campus.
Telephones & Messages
Not all cell phones work in the beautiful mountains. If you need to be reached, please share the following number: 706-782-9300.
Messages received on the number listed above will be delivered daily. Our answering service is always available in case of an emergency, so enjoy a vacation from your phone.
Toys & Sporting Equipment
Feel free to bring some labeled toys and games to share. Board games are great, in case of rain.
Ramah Darom is two hours from Atlanta, in Clayton, GA.
Our campus is located at 70 Darom Lane in Clayton, GA 30525.
See directions into Clayton, GA from your location and then follow the directions from Clayton into Ramah Darom at the bottom of the page. Your GPS may not be reliable in the mountains. Please download and print the direction to Ramah Darom and bring them with you.
If you need assistance, please call the Welcome Center: 706.782.9300
Valuables
Ramah Darom is not responsible for any missing or lost items. If you are uncomfortable leaving valuables in your room, please leave them locked in your car (at your own risk).
Wireless Access
Wireless internet service is available throughout the facility via RetreatGuestWIFI. If you are having any issues connecting to the internet, please call the customer support line at 1.800.257.6290 (no calling card required).
We encourage you to “unplug” during retreats andput your devices away in public spaces.