I To Life!

CAMP

GUIDE

Ideal
Choices

The camp experience can be generational,
individualistic, or just plain fun.

Ronelle Grier
Special to the Jewish News

bile many people have been influ-
enced by their childhood camping
experiences, 7-year-old Owen
Farber of West Bloomfield could say that
Camp Tamakwa literally shaped his life.
Owen is a third-generation Tamakwan,
carrying on a tradition that started with his
maternal grandfather, Donald Sofferin, who
was a camper in 1936. His parents, Stuart and
Donna (Sofferin) Farber, met during Donna's
first summer at Camp Tamakwa in the late
1960s. Stuart, who was 16, was "Tripper Stu','
in charge of supervising the overnight canoe

trips.
Donna, then 11, was somewhat intimidat-
ed by Stuart, who took notice of her stamina
and exceptional athletic ability.
"Donna was one camper I always remem-
bered',' said Stuart. "I can still see her walking
a trail during one of the canoe trips with a
determined look on her face. She has always
exhibited more strength of character and
determination than anyone I ever knew."
Stuart and Donna did not stay in touch
with each other, but they remained connected
through their siblings, who also attended
Camp Tamakwa and developed close friend-
ships there.

In 1993, the feature film Indian Summer,
written and directed by filmmaker and for-
mer camper Mike Binder, was released. The
movie was based on Binder's experiences and
starred Alan Arkin as Lou Handler, one of
Tamakwa's previous owners.
To commemorate the film, a Tamakwa
reunion was held, and many nostalgic alumni
traveled to Algonquin Park, Ontario, for the
camp event, including Stuart, who resided in
the Detroit area, and Donna, who had moved
to California. It had been more than 25 years
since they had seen each other, but their

Ideal Choices on page 34

From top: • A campsite beckons.
• Waiting for the camp bus are
Dina, Henry and Jeffrey Shifman.
• Marlee Shifman and a friend pre-
pare to board the Tamarack bus.
• Henry Shifman is ready for any-
thing at Camp Tavor.
Right: Owen, Alaina and Shirah
Farber at Tamakwa.

air

December 1 . 2005

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