Tamarack Brighton
On Market This Month

RUTH !HAMM STAFF WRITER

Seminars Kick Off
AJE's New Approach

LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER

F

, ()Rowing months of staff,
ideology and image
changes, the Agency for
Jewish Education has
moved beyond the phasing out
of United Hebrew Schools into
programming it hopes will
prove its new status.
In October, two separate
workshops will be offered
through the AJE to begin its
work in assisting supplemen-
tal, Sunday and midweek Ju-
daica and Hebrew schools.
The theme of building a com-
munity in the classroom and in
the schools will be the topic of a
community-wide educators'
workshop from 8:45 a.m. - 3:15
p.m. Oct. 31 at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek.
The Jewish Educators' Coun-
cil co-sponsors the event, where
San Francisco Rabbi Peretz
Wolf-Prusan, Reform spiritual
leader and education advocate,
will be keynote speaker.
"He has revolutionized the
classroom and ideas we have
about Jewish education. He has
shaken up traditional struc-
tures and approaches," said
Howard Gelberd, executive di-
rector of the AJE.
In addition, 40 workshops
will be available, focusing on
topics like creative teaching
methods and utilizing the or-
ganized Jewish community and
incorporating it into the class-
room. Hebrew, art and music

seminars will be held, and an
emphasis will be on teen edu-
cation and issues.
Oct. 27-28, congregations will
be invited to bring educational
and lay leaders to a separate
workshop conducted by the
Whizin Institute — a branch of
the Conservative movement's
University of Judaism focusing
on family education.
Congregation representa-
tives will create teams for the
5-9 p.m. meeting at AJE on the
27th, and the continuation from
8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. on the 28th.
The focus will be developing
programming to meet the needs
of families.

"We have to be so
in tune to the
educational world,
to offer real
solutions."

Howard Gelberd

The aim of both seminars is
practical experience.
"We're looking for the teach-
ers to walk out with hands-on
skills they can directly apply to
the classroom," said Ellen
Krivchenia, AJE coordinator of
special projects-school services.

Mr. Gelberd added, "It's im-
portant that these workshops
be exciting. Teachers cannot
leave feeling bored, dumped on
or overwhelmed. They need to
walk out with practical solu-
tions."
Both Mr. Gelberd and Ms.
Krivchenia view the pro-
gramming as a kick-off for a
one-year track to include ad-
ditional workshops, facilita-
tor in-service, and interactive
learning.
"We want to help turn
teachers back on," Mr. Gel-
berd said.
Mr. Gelberd was quick to
point out the difference be-
tween helping schools and
telling them what to do.
"We will work collaborative-
ly with the temples and syna-
gogues. We push, but we don't
make value judgments like in
the past," Mr. Gelberd said.
`This approach says, 'It's not up
to us to define a specific school's
ideology and goals.' We look at
their needs, push them, en-
lighten them with what is hap-
pening nationally.
"An individual school does
not usually have the time or re-
sources to know about a speak-
er from another city, a
non-Jewish leader who is great
on classroom management or a
curriculum on hunger and Jew-
ish values."
As the AJE works on devel-
oping its own image and be-
coming better known in the
community, it also will assist
the schools in their own identi-
ty building and marketing.
"We have to be so in tune to
the educational world, to offer
real solutions," Mr. Gelberd
said. "There are congregations
which haven't changed a text-
book since 1955. There are oth-
ers whose educators need help
dealing with the mix of new and
old in the classroom. We can
deal with all of this behind
closed doors. Listen, let them
vent and give them guidance.
We need to be a quiet, honest
broker."
Although the transition has
been a lengthy process, Ms.
Krivchenia believes AJE is
gaining community acceptance.
"I think we do have the sup-
port and excitement of the
synagogues," she said. "And
we continue to build relation-
ships through the Jewish
Educators Council and our di-
rector of school services, Shawn
Locke. We've gained a sense of
trust." [I]

C

amp Tamarack near
Brighton soon will be on
the market with a price
tag of around $2 million,
said Harvey Finkelberg, execu-
tive director of the Fresh Air So-
ciety.
Mr. Fink.elberg denied rumors
that the 193 acres of Hartland
Township land have been sold,
but said he has received a few
inquiries from potential buyers.

to the highest bidder.
Hartland Township does not
have assessors' records that doc-
ument the value of the land be-
cause the Fresh Air Society is a
nonprofit agency exempt from
property taxes.
Realtors not associated with
the sale say it is difficult to de-
termine how much the land is
worth. Variables like wetlands,
rolling hills and woods affect the

Camp Tamarack will merge with Camp Maas.
"It may sell as a camp, a re- price.
But John Ripley, general
treat center or as a develop-
manager for Century 21
ment," he said.
The Fresh Air Society — Brighton Towne, said the land
which operated Fresh Air Camp values in Hartland Township
and then Camp Tamarack at the have been increasing 4 to 5 per-
site from 1926 until late last cent since 1990. This is due to in-
summer — will merge the facil- flation and an increasing
ity next year with its counter- population of young families and
part, Camp Maas in Ortonville. middle-age individuals drawn to
Fresh Air Society adminis- the rural area's skiing, camping
trators hope the consolidation and hunting sites.
will help save money and bene-
fit campers by enabling them to
spend consecutive summers at
one location.
"The program facilities for
younger campers will also be in-
creased," Mr. Finkelberg said.
Harvey Finkelberg
In the past, campers between
the ages of 7 LIM 11 spent sum-
The Fresh Air Society and
mers- BrightOn. Children 12
16 stayed at fliesOrtonyille site. United Jewish Charities aim to
United Jewish Charities, the list the property in real estate
Jewish Federation's real estate sections of local publications by
arm, has formed a committee the end of this month, but the
with the Fresh Air Society,. in agencies have not yet chosen a
part to assess the value of the broker.
"We'd like to have it sold as
land. UJC's Michael Horowitz
says committee members have soon as possible," Mr. Finkelberg
consulted appraisers and bro- said. "It could take a year. It
kers but have not yet deter- could take three years. We're
mined a definitive price tag for hoping for the best."
Proceeds from the sale will be
the property, which includes 16
used to offset the cost of con-
acres of lakefront land.
Camp Tamarack likely will structing two new villages at
command a higher price if sold Camp Maas. The Fresh Air So-
as a camp because cabins and ciety is relying on private en-
other facilities are still there, he dowments to make up the
said. Ultimately, it will be sold difference.

"It could take a
year; it could take
three years."