Part of the lure of Arowhcl

A Jellyfish Gamut

"Jewish" camps can have a heavy emphasis
or not even a mild taste of Judaism.

SUSAN TAWIL
Special to The Jewish News

Top: 'Arabs" prepare food for Israel
Day at Camp Young Judaea.

Middle: A play about Jerusalem at
Camp B'nos.

Bottom: West Coast Connection
has many adventures.

1 1 G

1999

58 Detroit Jewish News

Iiir

l ith winter's icy blasts
whistling through the
streets, your thoughts
are likely focused more
on snowballs, skiing, and skating than
on softball, swimming, and s'mores.
But, if you haven't made plans for
summer camp by now, you're late!
"Hot" camps fill up quickly.
Ontario's Camp Ramah has been full

since October. "We don't like to dis-
appoint people," says Assistant
Director Debbie Spiegel, "but this
always happens."
Most campers return year after year
to the same camp. But how do fami-
lies choose the right camp? And how
important is the Jewish component of
these camps?
Word of mouth is the biggest fac-
tor in camp choice, with friends pass-
ing on recommendations. Many
camps send videos to inquiring fami-

lies. There are informational camp
fairs and even camp matchmakers —
individuals who bring information t
families free of charge, then collect
finder's fees from camps selected.
For some families, however, camp
for their kids is almost a matter cf .'
sacred tradition.
Tamarack, Detroit's Jewish
Federation sponsored camp in
Ortonville, has served generations o
campers. Cathy Herman of West
Bloomfield is a former Tamarack

'